"Is it worthy? To continue fighting?" Itsuki asked Jevil, "You already lost an eye, what else you have to lose until you give up and surrender?"

"Heh..." Jevil snorted and spoke through his gritted teeth, "My own life, how does it sound? Does the answer satisfy you?"

"No." Itsuki helplessly shook her head and sheathed her katana once again. She proceeded to glare at Jevil and said with a threatening tone, "Give up already, or else... you might end up losing a few more... things. I won't kill you, but this doesn't stop me from cutting your legs and arms. Better think twice before replying, Jevil.."

Jevil touched the injury in his eye, and his lips twitched with the pain.

Even though he was used to pain, it still hurt after a few years of not getting the slightest feeling of pain.

He has grown weak over the past few years...

He had already recovered his endurance and pain tolerance by now, so the painful injury wasn't much painful after a while.

Jevil raised his hands, entering in fighting stance. His face cracked open with a smiling face, "Come, I won't give up."

Itsuki squinted her eyes after hearing what Jevil said.

She didn't want to follow up with such gruesome plan, but Jevil left her with no other choice than doing this way.

Her face became even more expressionless and cold as her concentration peaked.

As they both jumped toward each other, an outsider would only be able to see a red and blue blur clashing against each other. Their speed had reached an unprecedented level as both fought with ferocity and killing intent.

While Itsuki had to be careful not to kill Jevil, Jevil didn't give a damn and continued to be reckless in his approach, often placing his life of the life to deal some injuries at Itsuki.

Each of her movements and attacks were gracefully made, and she seemed like dancing rather than fighting. He sword gleamed with a cold light and often spikes of ice would come from the ground aiming for Jevil's weak spots.

Jevil, on the other hand, used the most brute and tricky way to fight. He would unleashed a barrage of attacks and search for an opening, then release a power punch at the spot, dealing massive amount wounds. His fighting style was dirty, without any method or training. He fought almost wholly based on instincts. To counter Itsuki's spikes, he would unleash some walls of fire to stop them and continue with his restless onslaught barrage of punches and kicks.

Jevil's eyes gleamed as he created a small distance between him and Itsuki.

Itsuki was confused by Jevil's sudden move and raised her guard.

"HA!" With a shout, Jevil punched the ground with every ounce of strength he had.

*BAM*

Because of the impact, a blanket of snow was sent to the air, creating a curtain made of snow around Jevil and Itsuki.

Jevil also used his Pyrokinesis Tech Ability to send a heatwave as his fist touched the ground, immediately making some snow become steam.

As everything around her darkened, she was unable to see anything around here because of the steam and snow that enveloped her.

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The world seemed to slow down as her eyes calmly scanned her darkened surroundings.

Her ears twitched as they caught a small sound coming from her right.

Without hesitating, she handled her blade and directly slashed at the source of the sound.

*Whoosh*

The katana cleanly cut through the steam and snow, enabling small rays of light to enter her eyes.

She missed. There was nothing there.

Realizing that it was a trap set up by Jevil, the moment she felt that her blade had not touched anything she had already started to turn around.

But she wasn't fast enough.

Jevil's flaming fist caused ripples as it crossed through the steam.

*Bam*

Itsuki was sent flying backward as she moaned in pain by the punch that she received in her back and the burning pain from the flames.

Her back became a mess with the charred injury mixed with blood on her back. The punch burned his way through the armor and easily connected with her skin.

Feeling that the danger wasn't over yet, she maneuvered the Reiketsuna to meet with Jevil's next attack.

*Clang*

The burning fist met with the freezing sword.

More steam could be seen forming as both weapons collided.

Itsuki gritted her teeth and tried to keep her head cool and resist the pain that was slowly spreading throughout her body.

It wasn't just the pain coming from the injuries caused by Jevil. There was also coming from something else.

[I have to finish this...] Itsuki thought as her eyes gleamed with a cold light, [...as soon as possible.]

While Itsuki was able to maintain such a calm mind and sharp eyes for some tens of seconds, this state wasn't something she was able to stay forever.

It wasn't anything natural. To keep herself this cool, with high reflexes and strength higher than what she usually has she had to pay the price.

Her breath started to get haggard. Her limps shuddered after each collision with Jevil's fist.

*Clang*

After Itsuki met Jevil's fist once again, she was sent flying.

*Bam*

Her legs were weak, and she lost balance when trying to land on her feet. She fell directly on the ground.

Itsuki's entire leather armor was covered with some holes and charred marks. There weren't so many wounds outside, only that most of them were internal injuries.

"I knew it." Jevil smiled as he spoke. His face was covered in blood with a few cuts here and there, but none more deep than the one in his left eye. His clothes were almost completely gone from all the cuts he received from Itsuki's katana. Despite his numerous wounds all over his body, he was relaxed and calm, like he couldn't feel anything.

He looked down at Itsuki that was struggling to get up. "So that's one of the Reiketsuna's special abilities, making so that the user could enter in a trance, a special state which shut down most of the brain, and body's operations that aren't needed when fighting. The person would become something akin to a perfect warrior, no mistakes in judgment, not letting any opportunity slip. A calm and cold analysis of the situation, and how to properly fight, and counter, the enemy. That's not even it. From what I can see, this state also enhances your reflexes, thought speed, and even strength. Truly something abnormal and overpower. But nothing comes for free in this world. Such ability surely have some side effects."

Itsuki that was about to get on her feet froze for a moment when he heard what Jevil spoke. [How did he...?] She incredulously stared at Jevil.

Jevil was able to understand so much about Itsuki's weapon and the abilities after less than 2 minutes of fighting.

Seeing the stunned expression on Itsuki's face, he knew that he guessed right.

It wasn't that difficult for him to figure it out. It was impossible for her to change demeanor so fast. She went from angry and reckless to calm and calculative in mere minutes, that wasn't something someone as young as Itsuki would achieve.

Of course, his Agni's Hands also had a special ability, but he couldn't use it, or instead, if it is used, he would end up killing Itsuki, this wasn't something he wanted. For his plan to work, he need Itsuki to live. It was almost in the same lines of Reiketsuna's special ability; it changes the user's mental state and also the body.

Jevil's eyes glinted with malice and hatred as he slowly approached Itsuki that had a place face and was struggling to maintain herself on her feet and keep her eyes open.

He should keep her alive, but... that didn't mean he wasn't allowed to cut her a few times... right?

He calmly cleaned the blood on his face as his smile slowly widened.

He cracked his knuckles when he was just a few centimeters away from Itsuki.

Itsuki tried to move, but her body seemingly wasn't listening to her orders anymore.

[Such beautiful Hylotl...] Jevil thought while shaking his need. [What a waste. Unfortunately, I need to damage such beauty.]

He raised his flaming left hand above Itsuki and was ready to drop it hard on her head.

Itsuki lifted her head and helplessly stared at that flame burning with infinite hatred and fury.

Right when Jevil's fist started to drop, Itsuki's eyes went from fear and helplessness to complete coldness.