Blanchette's Fury

The clang of broken chains rang out sharply behind the crowd. Jack and Joshua stood, free from their shackles, exchanging glances before their eyes fell on two groaning city guards lying nearby, badly wounded from Blanchette's earlier rampage.

Without hesitation, they walked over and stripped the guards of their bloodstained armor and uniforms. They slipped into the clothes quickly and then turned to bow respectfully toward the fallen men.

"We hope you find peace in the afterlife," they said in unison, heads bowed in exaggerated solemnity.

One of the guards groaned, clutching his ribs. "We're not dead, assholes," he grumbled weakly.

Jack and Joshua quickly stood upright, whistling innocently as they strolled away, pretending not to hear him.

Finding a good vantage point, they stopped to watch the battle in progress, Blanchette squaring off against the fearsome holy knight Joan.

"I never knew Blanchette was this strong," Jack muttered, eyes wide with awe. "If she fought me back when we first met… she would've wiped the floor with me."

"Yeah," Joshua agreed. "But this is two against one. That's not fair."

Grace, who had been preparing to assist Joan, overheard him. She looked over her shoulder at Joshua, thoughtful, before lowering her sword. The glowing cross in her pupils faded as she stepped back.

"You're right, Joshua," she said. "Two on one wouldn't be fair. I'll sit this one out."

Joan snorted. "I never needed help anyway."

She lunged forward, launching a vertical slash down toward Blanchette. Blanchette caught it with her right arm, her knuckle buster gauntlet bracing the blow. She retaliated with a sharp left hook, but Joan parried with the hilt of her blade.

The fight turned into a fierce exchange, attack, block, counter, strike. Neither gave ground easily, their strength and skill mirroring each other blow for blow.

"Blanchette's really strong," Grace commented, her arms crossed. "She's keeping up with Joan, and Joan's the second-strongest holy knight in the entire human kingdom."

Joshua blinked. "Wait, then who's number one?"

Grace smirked proudly. "Yours truly."

Joshua raised his brows, clearly impressed. "Wow, so you must be really strong."

With a playful grin, Grace flexed her toned arms. Joshua stared at her biceps with open admiration. "Whoa, those are serious muscles."

Grace blushed faintly, flattered. Jack, standing nearby, watched the interaction with growing discomfort.

Third-wheeling a flirt session during a death match? Seriously?

Meanwhile, Blanchette managed to block a wide horizontal slash from Joan, but her eyes flicked to the side, catching sight of Joshua and Grace enjoying themselves. She saw Grace flex. She saw Joshua blush. She saw… squats?

Grace was now doing squats with Joshua on her back.

"You're amazing!" Joshua cheered as Grace blushed deeper.

Is he an idiot? Jack thought grimly, glancing from the giggling duo back to Blanchette. Her face was a storm of fury.

"Oh no. He's a dead man," Jack muttered.

Back in the fight, Joan noticed Blanchette's distracted rage.

"Hahaha! What's wrong, Princess? Your little boyfriend having fun with Grace?" she taunted. "Grace told me she likes him. Honestly, I think she's a better fit. She's not… lacking in the chest department."

Blanchette's gaze dropped to Grace's generous curves. Then to her own flat chest. Her eyes twitched.

With a roar, she lunged forward and delivered a straight punch aimed for Joan's face. Joan blocked it with her sword, but the force sent her skidding backwards.

"Oh, did I hit a nerve?" Joan sneered.

Blanchette's eyes suddenly blazed with a brilliant blue glow. She surged forward like a bolt of lightning and drove her knuckle busters into Joan's stomach. The spikes pierced flesh, blood dripped onto the cobblestones.

Joan gasped.

So fast… I couldn't even react! she thought.

She swung wildly, but Blanchette ducked under the slash and unleashed a spinning roundhouse kick to the side of Joan's head, sending her crashing to the ground and dropping her sword.

Then Blanchette didn't stop.

She stomped on Joan's unconscious body again and again, blood splashing up her legs. The crowd fell silent.

A sudden blur, crack!

Grace punched Blanchette across the face, sending her sliding several feet.

Blanchette wiped the blood from her lip, her glowing eyes narrowing dangerously as she stared up at Grace.

"She was unconscious!" Grace snapped. "The fight was over. Don't you have any honor?"

Blanchette sneered, her face twisted in fury. "You talk a lot for a whore. Why don't you shut the fuck up and fight me?"

Gasps echoed around them. Joshua and Jack looked at each other, stunned.

"Did she just say what I think she said?" Joshua whispered.

"Don't look at me," Jack muttered. "You're the one who pissed her off."

Joshua looked bewildered. "What did I do?"

Jack gave him a deadpan stare. "You let Grace carry you like a bride and do squats."

Joshua blinked. "Oh."

Back in the street, Grace's smile dropped completely. She slowly unsheathed her sword, the divine golden cross reigniting in her pupils.

"You've got a filthy mouth for a princess," she said, her tone low and dangerous. "But don't worry. I'll teach you how a real lady behaves… even if I have to beat it into you."

The final battle was about to begin.

And this time, it wasn't about honor.

It was personal.