Chapter(66)

Episode(66) Defeated by a dummy!

SOVEREIGN OF DEATH~(66)

[Tch!]

She clicked her tongue a bit frustrated.

Overpowering this dummy wouldn't be easy in the slightest.

It was just a wooden doll.

It couldn't use magic nor enhance itself and aside from its unusual toughness, she should have the upper hand.

And yet-

Akane had no choice but to increase the distance between herself and the doll.

After retreating, she twisted her body full circle and launched herself vertically using the momentum to increase the power of her slash.

Her skirt fluttered along with each rotation of her body just barely showing above the inner thigh.

Just as the blade sliced down from above seeming about to split open the dolls wooden head, it reacted at an incomparable speed.

Akane simulated in her head, if she was caught she would no doubt be flung to the ground and disarmed in seconds.

Not only would the experience be painful, but it would completely shatter her pride!

'Hehe, but only if you can catch me!'

Moments away from grabbing ahold of the hand slicing down the dagger on its head, the doll could only pause in confusion.

Akane, who should have been attacking it was no longer there.

Yes, she had disappeared.

Instead, she had appeared crouching on one knee below the dolls view.

How did this happen?

Skill, [Escape]. A new skill that belonged to the thief class that Akane had learned a while back.

According to what she heard, normally a thief would only learn this skill after level 50 or higher but due to her hero potential being so high and her blessing as a hero she manifested it early on.

How could you tell how high a hero's potential was?

Simple, the level of their trait could tell whether or not they could become a powerful force.

Both her talents were A-rank and if the words in this world were to be believed she had the potential to surpass level 100 and gain the right to transcend.

But these were things out of her reach for now.

For now, using 'Escape' she could literally teleport anywhere within a 3 meter radius of herself.

It was just that the cost was as high as 100mp per use and it had a cooldown of 60 seconds.

'It's a high costing skill, not to mention the cooldown means that she would definitely lose against an opponent fast enough or skilled enough to counter instant movement skills-'

Even so, if she could use it at the right time then even against a strong opponent she could land a critical strike.

Appearing below the doll's line of sight, Akane immediately targeted its legs with a quick slash.

With her quick series of moves, she thought that this attack would definitely land, but she was wrong.

As if it could sense the attack coming at its feet, the doll bent its legs before leaning its body forward and launched into the air using a front flip.

It then twisted its body into a somersault and performing a series of spins that even the best gymnasts on earth couldn't perform.

'Was that even necessary?!'

This thing was definitely just showing off!

Thinking so, Akane launched off the ground the moment the doll landed and launched a series of strikes at it one after the other.

However with quick reaction speed, the doll thwarted each attack and parried as if it could see the future and predict her attacks.

'Kh'

'The fact that it doesn't even attack makes it all the more painful!'

It would be one thing if it fought back but this damn doll didn't even flinch if she didn't make the first move.

Yes-

She was weak, she knew it well.

The very fact she couldn't even land a single scratch on this doll made this fact even clearer to her now.

Protect who?

With her strength, the only thing she could protect was her fragile little ego.

'Damn it!'

But, she couldn't bring herself to give in.

No!

Not now!

She refused to allow herself to give into that feeling of inferiority and just give in.

Otherwise she'd just be better off dying.

Her rampant thoughts did nothing to halt the continuing battle.

Weaving her daggers left and right as if her life depended on it, Akane spun, twisted, stabbed and slashed. She jumped, flipped and even did cartwheels all over the place.

But, no matter if she just danced for fun the doll warded off every attack she flung with ease.

[Haa…..Haa….Suu…Haaa!]

Heavy panting escaped her pink lips.

Sweat trickled down her face and covered her body causing even her tunic to stick to her displaying making her petite figure more prominent.

Her chest rose and fell provocatively and it was no doubt that any man who saw her now would never believe this was the same tomboy Akane.

Rather they might cover their crotches and flee in a panic.

Akane let out several breaths to calm herself.

In this state she couldn't see a path to victory let alone landing a single hit.

Her body was covered in soil from being thrown around.

She was so exhausted that it really wouldn't be strange for her to fall at any moment now.

Still-

She just couldn't give in.

Reality struck her hard last night. Monsters like that may show up on a regular basis in the future.

Was she, a hero supposed to just sit around and suck her thumbs unable to even fight back?

No, there was only one way….forward!

Rushing forward once again, Akane used a flurry of attacks as a smoke screen.

When she was sure it only had its guard up around its upper body, she fainted a slash but instead swung a low kick at its feet.

Completely unsuspecting, the dolls posture crumbled and it fell to the side like a cut down tree.

Taking advantage of this chance, Akane spun a full circle before launching a kick and sending the doll flying.

As if its hinges had been removed the doll rolled away hitting the ground multiple times before slamming a hand to the ground and stopping its momentum.

It then looked up.

Akane had already arrived above it slashing out both her daggers at the same time.

Shining brightly, the two daggers released visible blades of light straight towards the doll.

However as if to say it wouldn't allow her to fool it twice, the doll performed a set of nimble movements dancing through the slashes of magic.

'Hmph! I already predicted that!'

Turning in the direction the doll had somersaulted towards, Akane threw out her dagger before it could land and think to move again.

Even so, the doll wasn't flustered and mid descent, it set a hand preparing catch the dagger before it could cause damage.

If it continued at this pace the doll would definitely catch the dagger and she would lose.

Normally you would think this, however-

[Item Steal!]

While it focused its attention on the incoming dagger, it didn't see Akane rushing to its flank at full sprint.

Thanks to this, Akane managed to easily get close and the moment she did she muttered the words.

With a 'Shu', the dagger that was almost in its grip vanished appearing right in her hand that was moving through the air.

The blade was just a few centimeters from carving her mark on its wooden exterior.

Akane felt elated!

With this, victory was assured!

At least she thought so.

Shatter*

The moment the blade touched the wooden doll, it couldn't withstand the toughness and shattered like glass.

'Wha-!'

Eye's wide open, Akane almost panicked but she forcefully calmed herself and swung another attack with the remaining dagger.

However, to her dismay, the normally unresponsive doll flipped its switch a complete one eighty.

Before she could even react, at an incredible speed the doll snuck into range quickly closing the distance before gripping her firmly and launching a knee strike into her stomach.

'Guh!'

It then grabbed her hand holding the remaining dagger before flipping her over and pinning her on the ground in a painful position.