Volume 4 – Chapter 113(Driving Force)

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Author Note:

[ ] = When Twilight is speaking.

{ } = When talking through Telepathy.

' ' = When thinking in your mind.

<< >> = When talking with your Pokémon or Tamed Beast.

--- --- = When describing a certain period of time OR Another place.

** ** = Point Of View i.e., POV

/// /// = In Call

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SWOOSH!!

Asaka moved and appeared in front of Tina in an instant.

Tina tried to bring her hand to her thigh to take out her knife, but Asaka didn't give her the chance.

Instead of drawing her sword, she moved her scabbard forward and hit Tina chin with the pommel of her sword.

DUNG!!

Tina: Kuh!

The attack not only it pushed her head backward, but it also stunned Tina mind for a moment.

Pulling back the scabbard, Asaka right hand grabbed the handle and drew out her sword.

SHIN!!

SPLURT!!

Tina: Argh!!

A painful scream of Tina resounded a slash appeared on her body and blood gushed out of it.

This made her mind return and she acted.

ZZZ!!!

'Asaka: Huh…'

Suddenly, Asaka heard a buzzing sound of an insect flapping its wings. Sensing a danger, she jumped back.

BANG!

The place she was standing got destroyed and a shell of bullet could be seen.

'Asaka: A heavy machine gun!'

Feeling astonished, Asaka hurriedly moved and dodged more bullets coming for her.

BANG!

…..

…

'Asaka: Just who are getting in the way!'

As she moved to a cover, Asaka noticed Tina glaring attentively at her without making a move herself.

'Asaka: Why is she not taking the advantage of this situation to attack me?'

ZZZ!!!

'Asaka: It's the same sound…'

SWOOSH!!

Without a second thought, Asaka hurriedly left her hiding place.

BANG!

…..

…

In the next moment, that place got bombarded by the bullets again.

'Asaka: Tch! Where are they attacking from exactly!'

Even when Asaka gaze turned to where the bullets were shot from, she didn't find anyone. She also noticed that Tina was no longer on her precious spot.

'Asaka: Does she ran away?'

BANG!!

Another bullet came. While dodging it, Asaka moved her head and saw Tina standing on top of another building and was holding an antitank sniper rifle in her hand.

'Asaka: She didn't.'

Holding her sword, Asaka slashed down at her feet.

SHIN!!

CRACK!!

BOOM!!

The floor was destroyed and Asaka landed on the room under the roof.

Next, she hurriedly hid herself. With their confrontation just now, Asaka was 80% certain that Tina planned to kill her right here.

'Asaka: That initiator is not simple. Even when I cut her, not only she didn't fall but I also felt some sort of resistance from her body.'

While Asaka was thinking about it, she heard the same buzzing sound again.

ZZZ!!!

'Asaka: ...This is no longer a coincidence. This sound definitely has something to do with those machine guns.'

From her hiding spot, Asaka tried to locate the source of this sound.

Finally, she saw fist-size round object entering the room.

It barely made a sound as the Bit acted like a living thing and floated mysteriously as it scanned the area around it with lasers, investigating the topography.

'Asaka: What is this thing?'

She thought as the Bit neared her slowly but steady.

--- At the Streets ---

Primis helped Seitenshi up and made her sit at the corner. She seemed to be shocked, and her face was pale as she trembled, gripping the sleeves of her dress with one hand while her other hand was holding the hem of Primis coat.

Since Primis knew that she was trying to find some comfort in this, he let her be.

Taking her phone, Primis called Seitenshi's secretary and ordered her to send a new car since their previous one got destroyed by an Assassin.

Kiyomi panicked and asked whether Seitenshi was fine. After confirming that, she said she will send one with more safety features as fast as possible.

Seitenshi: W-Was that the Assassin you want to d-draw out using me as a b-b-b-bait?

She asked in trembling voice.

Primis: Yes.

Seitenshi: I-I see…

Calming herself down, Seitenshi continued.

Seitenshi: Are you not going after it?

Primis: I have already sent Asaka.

Hearing this Seitenshi took a sigh of relief as smile appeared on her face and she spoke.

Seitenshi: Then its fine. Though, no offense, but I think it won't be that easy for Asaka to win because that Assassin seems quite skilled to be able to attack with such accuracy from a far distance and in this dark night.

Primis: Win?

Showing a confused expression, Primis looked at Seitenshi.

Seitenshi: W-Well yeah.

Primis: Sorry to pop your bubbles but Asaka don't stand any chance against that Assassin.

Seitenshi: Eh?

'Primis: Even though Asaka has become a stronger in the past five months, Tina still stands on the higher stage.'

Seitenshi: Mr. Herrscher...Who is Asaka fighting?

Primis: IP rank 99. An Owl Initiator and one of the enhanced Mechanized soldiers, Tina Sprout.

[In plot her rank had reached 98.]

Ignoring Twilight, Primis looked at Seitenshi whose brain seemed to have short-circuited hearing that such a high-level Initiator came for her life.

'Primis: In truth, Tina is stronger than some Initiators whose ranks are higher than her. That's because the IP rank defines the combine strength of both the Promoter and his Initiator. However, her Promoter, Ayn Rand doesn't have any combat strength. In other words, Tina rises to IP rank 99 on her own.'

Looking towards were the confrontation of Asaka and Tina was going on Primis couldn't help but shook his hand inwardly.

'Primis: Asaka, it's true that our IP Rank has risen to 53 after the two months of hunt but you forgot that it was me, Ophis, and Scáthach who did most of the fighting. Compared to those in top 100, you still fell short. It was also because of the element of surprise and the lack of information on Tina side that you were even able to land a hit on her. She won't give you that chance again.'

VROOM!!!

At this time, a new car arrived their destination to pick them up.

Primis: We are done here, Seitenshi. Let's return to the palace.

Seitenshi: W-What about Asaka? Are you going to leave her at her own accord?

Without giving any explanation, Primis dragged Seitenshi back to her palace.

--- Destroyed Building ---

DRIP!

...

…

The heavy injured, blood-soaked Asaka was currently leaning on a broken wall with her head looking down.

Just like Primis said, Asaka underestimate her enemy. It was completely a one-sided battle.

With her trembling hands, she tried to pick her sword which was fallen at the side. Nonetheless, it was useless as her body didn't listen to her.

'Asaka: So...Strong...'

Due to loss of a lot of blood, Asaka could feel her mind falling unconscious.

Tina: It's over.

Said Tina who was standing in front of her while four Bits were around here.

Compared to bloody Asaka, Tina only had the mark of slash on her front. Only the dried blood of the cut remained on her cloth as her wound had long healed itself.

Asaka: Yes…I lost.

Next, Tina pointed her rifle at Asaka head.

Tina: I don't know who you are. But I still commend you for your efforts.

Even with gun pointed at her, Asaka didn't seem afraid. On the contrary, she felt frustrated being defeated like this. It was truly a big blow to her self-confidence. Or should she say overconfidence.

Finally, she decided to closer her eyes and rest. She was not afraid of death because she knew it won't happen.

Witnessing her fallen fast asleep, Tina frowned.

'Tina: Did she know she can't escape and decided to accept her fate?'

???: At least with this you now understand that except for your Dad, Mom, and Me, there are still people in this World who are a lot stronger than you.

Shocking that another person appeared behind her out of nowhere. Tina ordered the Machine guns to shoot.

BANG!

...

…

In the next moment, the area behind her got bombarded by the bullets.

Once they stopped, Tina looked back.

However, her eyes wide when someone walked past her.

From the corner of her eyes, she saw an extremely beautiful woman with long purple hair and red eyes. The woman was unscathed, and her indifferent eyes completely ignored Tina as she walked over to Asaka.

Crouching down, she started gently patting Asaka head.

Scáthach: This defeat will now work as a driving force and that will help you improve even more.

While patting her head, Scáthach used her runes to help in Asaka's healing.

Tina: Are you...…her Promoter?

Tina who had been witnessing this for a few minutes asked.

She didn't dare to attack because when Scáthach walked by her before, she sensed an extreme fear from every part of her being. She felt that a death just walked past her.

Standing up, Scáthach replied.

Scáthach: I am not...… I am her teacher.

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*A/N: Please throw some power stones.

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