A grin stretched across my face, hidden beneath a carefully crafted mask of concern. The Dominion Authority, a towering monstrosity of angelic grotesquery, was proving to be a much more entertaining opponent than those pathetic "bandits." Even with our powers suppressed, it was obvious we could have ended this fight in an instant. But where was the fun in that?

Besides, I had an audience. Gazef and his squad, their expressions a mixture of awe and terror, had retreated to the safety of the treeline, their eyes glued to the unfolding spectacle. Time for a little showmanship.

The Dominion Authority swung its massive mace, the air whistling as the silver weapon cleaved through the air. I leaped back, the ground beneath my feet cracking under the force of the blow. A crater, easily ten meters wide and several meters deep, formed where I had been standing moments before. Dust and debris billowed into the air, momentarily obscuring the creature's form.

Not bad, I thought, for a glorified lampshade.

I darted forward, my movements a blur of suppressed speed, weaving through the creature's massive limbs as I gauged its attack patterns. The Dominion Authority, despite its size, moved with a surprising agility. Its swings were precise, its footwork surprisingly light for a creature that weighed as much as a small tank. I continued to dance around it, pretending to avoid its blows by the skin of my teeth, adding a dramatic flair to my movements for Gazef's benefit.

Asuna, mirroring my strategy, launched a series of lightning-fast attacks, her rapier flashing like silver fire. Her thrusts, aimed at the creature's seemingly vulnerable joints and eyes, were met with a resounding clang, her blade bouncing harmlessly off its chitinous carapace.

"Damn, this thing's tough!" she exclaimed, her voice laced with a theatrical frustration. "I can't seem to pierce its armor!"

It was all an act, of course. She was holding back, just as I was, but she was selling it beautifully.

I could feel Gazef's gaze on us, his astonishment growing with each passing moment. He had no idea how deep this rabbit hole went, how vast the gulf in power truly was. And we weren't about to enlighten him… yet.

The Dominion Authority roared, its voice a cacophony of screeching voices, and charged towards me, its mace held high. The ground trembled beneath its massive bulk, the very air rippling with the force of its advance.

I grinned. It was time to turn up the heat. Just a little.

The ground trembled beneath its gravitational repellent, round, ass-levitating form as it closed the distance, its silver mace whistling through the air with enough force to turn a man into paste. We continued to backpedal, feigning a struggle that was as convincing as a toddler's attempt to lift a boulder. It was time for the next act in our little performance. Time to up the ante.

"Asuna, it's too strong!" I shouted, my voice full of a mock desperation that would have made any over-dramatic theater actor proud. "We need to unlock the next level of restraint!"

Asuna, never one to be outdone in the dramatics department, clutched at her chest, her breath coming in ragged gasps. "I'm already struggling with the combined might of my first two ancestors!" she cried, her voice trembling with a feigned exertion. "Releasing Restraint Level 3 and unleashing the power of twelve generations of my lineage would… it would harm us both greatly!"

I grasped her hand, my eyes wide with mock concern. "It's better than being dead, Asuna!" I declared, my voice ringing with a theatrical heroism that even I found a bit embarrassing. "We can do this! Trust in the enduring power of our love to pull us through!"

Asuna, seemingly convinced by my impassioned plea, nodded, her eyes hardening with a newfound determination. "Very well, Kirito," she said, her voice full of a resigned acceptance. "But if we die, I'm blaming you!"

"Ancestors of the Dukal House of Fam!" she cried, her voice echoing across the battlefield. "Dwell within my body and become an unending tide of strength! Ancestral Equip! Release Restraint Level 3!"

Catching onto her not-so-subtle reference to Magi, I decided to play along. With a flourish, I swapped my sleek, gray and black armor for a flowing red cape and a ridiculously flamboyant outfit that wouldn't have looked out of place in a stage production of Romeo and Juliet. My swords, previously disguised as ordinary steel blades, transformed into menacing weapons that pulsed with an ethereal glow. Asuna, following suit, underwent a similar transformation, her armor shifting into a more elaborate, battle-ready design, her rapier lengthening and sharpening, its tip shimmering with a dangerous energy.

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And then, as if defying gravity itself, we began to rise, our bodies lifted by a surge of barely-contained divine power. We hovered above the battlefield, our eyes fixed on the Dominion Authority, which now seemed less like a terrifying monstrosity and more like a slightly oversized, but ultimately insignificant, plaything.

We were no longer pretending to be level 10 weaklings, nor the level 60 mid-level players; we were unleashing an actual fraction of our true power, a level of strength and speed that would have made even the most seasoned video game player of most high-stakes JRPG weep with envy.

The Dominion Authority, its once-imposing form now marred by gaping wounds and scorched flesh, roared in pain and confusion. We danced around it, our movements a blur of motion, our blades flashing like silver lightning. Each strike, carefully calibrated to inflict significant damage without outright obliterating the creature, tore through its chitinous armor, sending chunks of flesh and glowing golden carapace flying through the air.

The blonde-haired commander, his face a mask of abject terror, watched the unfolding carnage with a horror that bordered on the comical.

"No! This… this cannot be!" he shrieked, his voice cracking with a desperate panic. "Dominion Authority! Destroy them! Destroy them!"

But his commands were futile. The Dominion Authority, overwhelmed by our combined assault, staggered back, its movements sluggish, its roars turning into pained gasps. It was only a matter of time before we brought it down.

The commander, realizing the futility of the situation, decided to employ a classic tactic: run away like a little bitch. He turned, his robes flapping in the wind, and bolted towards the forest, his legs churning with a speed that belied his generally unimpressive physique. As if we'd let him escape that easily.

"Oh, no, you don't," Asuna muttered under her breath, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "You're not getting away."

Kirito: Allow me, I have a special move in mind.

I exchanged a quick glance with Asuna, a silent agreement passing between us. It was time to end this charade and bring down the curtain on our little performance.

"For the glory of the Dukal House of Fam!" Asuna cried, her voice ringing with a theatrical intensity as she launched herself towards the staggering Dominion Authority. She moved with a speed that blurred her form, a crimson streak against the azure sky. Her rapier, a silver flash, pierced the creature's chest, her entire body following through with a sickening crunch that echoed across the battlefield.

I, hovering above the monstrosity, seized the opportunity. With a surge of heavily-contained divine power, I rocketed downwards, my twin swords glowing with an ethereal light. My blades met the creature's head, cleaving through its chitinous armor, its flesh, its bone, with an effortless ease that belied the force behind the strike. The Dominion Authority, its body bisected, its essence extinguished, crumpled to the ground in two pieces with as a thunderous roar of pain turned into a screech-like whimper, its form slamming into the ground, each side leaking golden ooze.

We landed gracefully amidst the dissipating remains of the creature, feigning exhaustion, our chests heaving with exaggerated breaths, our limbs trembling with a carefully orchestrated weakness.

Gazef and his men, their faces a mixture of awe and disbelief, emerged from the treeline. They watched in stunned silence as Gazef, with a speed and agility that belied his bulky armor, charged towards the fleeing commander, his soldiers flanking him. He tackled the blonde-haired man to the ground, his movements swift and decisive, the years of training and battlefield experience evident in his effortless takedown.

"You are under arrest!" Gazef roared, his voice a thunderous boom that echoed across the now-silent clearing.

He bound the struggling commander with enchanted cuffs that crackled with energy that seemed to disable magic, then added enough rope and chains to make even the most seasoned bondage enthusiast blush. The commander's struggles ceased, replaced by a whimpering terror as the full weight of his situation sunk in.

I allowed a sliver of my divine power to flow outwards, subtly manipulating the perceptions of those around us. Our bodies slumped to the ground, our breathing slowing, our eyes fluttering closed. To any observer, we were unconscious, victims of exhaustion after our heroic display. But beneath the surface, our minds remained alert, our senses heightened, ready to react at a moment's notice.

Kirito: That was awesome. So much fun.

Asuna's response, a burst of mental laughter, echoed in my mind.

This was going to be a delightfully interesting trip.