Under a Looming Shadow

The monstrous bear that towered over them several folds charged towards them on all fours.

Its sharp metallic claws dug up the ground.

Its steps resounded like thunderclaps as it quickly approached.

The jagged spikes from his back scratched against the trees it passed by.

Marionette stared at the terrifying beast with wide eyes before looking back at Lillian, who continued to grin broadly. (10)

"A monster nearing the B-rank. How would you fare against it, Ms Roselle~?"

Since their meeting, Marionette had yet to express any form of negativity on her face.

That was... until now...

She scowled at the sight of the beast and at Lillian.

"No matter... as long as I eliminate you now, I will still get to keep my ranking in first place."

She got rid of the cleaver and summoned her guandao. Grasping it in one hand and stabbing it towards Lillian.

Lillian slightly raised herself off the floor and summoned her sword.

She blocked the stab.

DING!

Due to Marionette's superior strength, Lillian was launched metres away.

'Just from a stab!?'

Her back skidded against the ground before turning into a roll.

She then quickly pushed herself off the ground and into a sprint.

Marionette dashed towards her, blitzing through the gap between them in seconds.

She then strongly swung her chilling guandao at Lillian's back.

However...

Marionette hastily noticed a large shadow looming over her.

BOOM!

The giant paw of the savage bear slammed down on her, brutally crushing her body.

The bear gave a low and unsatisfied growl before noticing Marionette reappearing metres away from her previous location.

Her body was clad in a shadowy darkness before dissipating.

Sweat began to form on her forehead, which was soon wiped away.

Summoning a javelin of darkness in her left hand, she threw it with explosive force.

The javelin shot through the air, embedding itself inside the body of the bear.

This attack, however...

The bear glanced at the small black toothpick in his shoulder and gave a thunderous roar—shaking the entire forest.

"Tch..." Marionette clicked her tongue as she saw it didn't even move an inch.

She then began to manifest an arsenal of dark weapons.

While Marionette was being stalled, Lillian ran and ran—clutching her wound with a pale face.

The fierce battle between Marionette and the bear resounded strongly in her ears.

A minute passed. Two have passed. Three have passed. Until ten has.

She didn't know how long Marionette would last against it.

All she knew was that she wanted her not to last long at all.

She wanted to win.

She wanted to survive.

"Argh!" Lillian tripped, breathing heavily, her vision blurring a little bit. (8)

She took off her blazer and wrapped it around her wound.

She then shakily pushed herself up, and before she continued her sprint...

BAM!

Marionette crashed high up into the tree ahead of her.

She was bloodied and battered. Her blood dripped down the crater caused by her collision.

She pushed herself up from the tree, albeit struggling a bit.

Lillian flinched and quickly changed direction. (3)

Marionette saw her run off again. Her eyes narrowed before she raised her hand—summoning another javelin.

Her eyes fully locked onto Lillian's moving figure. Her arms reared back.

... But before she could throw it.

A humongous ball made of black fur and long metal spikes appeared before her—spinning and approaching rapidly.

She scowled once more and avoided it—becoming a dark ethereal.

BOOM!

The ball crashed through the tree, tearing and sawing through it.

The tree fell and landed against others, causing them to tilt over and snap.

The ball uncurled to reveal the bear.

It stared at the nimble, blooded human—baring its jaws at her.

After a few more minutes of running, Lillian finally came to a stop.

She decided to take a break.

Up until now, she did nothing but run and fight.

Although this isn't her real body, she still feels like she'll die from overexhaustion.

She leaned her back against the tree—her hair stuck onto her face due to the sweat.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Like a child afraid of thunder, she flinched at the sounds of the fearsome battle. (3)

"She has to be low on mana now, right...?" She breathed.

She still remembers how Marionette constructed herself limbs made of darkness. That must be using up not only a lot of mana but also brain power to keep up.

They weren't yet at the tier where they could unconsciously control their mana.

But that's not all...

The spell that allowed Marionette to avoid attacks seamlessly is taxing as well...

"... I hope she is... because I am out of mine." She chuckled before wincing. (4)

She pulled against the blazer and peeked at her wound.

She stared grimly at it before sighing. (2)

Lillian rested her head against the tree. Her eyes briefly closed before shooting awake.

She weakly stared down at her chest to see a broad blade coming out of her heart.

Blood spilt out of her mouth, dripping down and staining her ragged clothes.

She raised her eyes towards Marionette.

She looked awful...

Half of her body was missing, with bite marks as evidence of what happened—replaced by a dark replica of what she had done to her arm and leg.

Her eyes were dark and empty. She breathed heavily as she gripped the guandao in her dark hand.

"T-there's no way you killed it..." Lillian asked, weakly grasping the blade.

"... I merely escaped..." She stated quietly.

Marionette's dark limbs then suddenly gave out and disappeared... she had run out of mana...

Blood poured out of her profusely like an endless stream... and yet she still remained standing on one leg—staring down at Lillian, who began to feel her body go cold.

"I congratulate you on surviving this far, Miss Arius... but you see... I hate losing more than anyone in this world..." Though her face was stoic, her eyes glared with a victorious glint.

However...

"Hah... hahaha..." Lillian gave a slow and quiet chuckle at her statement. (2)

Marionette raised an eye, "Was what I said humorous?"

"... No... it wasn't... in fact..." Lillian gave a short pause, taking in one last deep breath. (2)

"I find it very admirable... but should you be so distracted on me?"

Darkness loomed over them—eclipsing them whole.

"Instead of that thing behind you...?" She said, grinning victoriously.

Marionette twisted her head around, ripping out her guandao from Lillian's chest before a massive paw crashed down onto her.

BOOM!

The strike sent cracks through the ground and dust to rise. After it had cleared, the familiar sight of digital matter replaced where Marionette was previously before disappearing.

Lillian's dead eyes stared at Marionette's brief remains before raising her gaze towards the bear.

Across its body were small and minor injuries. However, that didn't stop it from being pissed off by the woman's mosquito-like attacks.

After having made sure the woman hadn't disappeared somewhere else again, it raised its dreadful gaze towards the other human. It then roared at her—intending to paralyse her already weakened state with its roar.

Lillian, however, was miraculously unfazed.

"Haha... thanks a lot, you filthy creature... I've already won..."

Almost like it could understand her and her insult, it snarled and raised its paw, swinging it at her.

Lillian closed her eyes and awaited the collision.

That was until...

DING!

A familiar system notification rang out from inside her mind...