Chapter 20: Those Who Get Hit Never Forget (II)

A dark-skinned woman appeared in the stone arena. She held a scythe in her hands, wearing a tight outfit.

"I'm Senna Esmeralda, a Soldier from the Third Platoon, under Captain Jun."

Dante was high up on the tallest stone of the ruined tower. He stood up with difficulty, keeping a calm expression.

"Alright, alright. Show me what you can do, Senna."

Dante leaped towards her, using the air friction to create a Cosmic Energy barrier around himself. He landed right in front of her, and without seeing her weapon coming, he rotated his heels to the right and threw a punch into thin air.

Senna laughed and blocked the move with the scythe's shaft. Taking advantage of Dante's misstep, she swung the scythe down quickly, but missed by a hair. On the second attack, the curved blade was slapped away, and her arm went with it. The force of the movement made her lose her balance.

As soon as she realized her mistake, the old man's fist came down on her face, sending her flying nearly ten meters back, spinning and crashing into the stones.

"Fun." Dante placed his foot under the scythe and threw it upwards, catching the weapon and spinning it on his finger a few times. "It has good reach, but it's not my type. Here."

Senna saw the weapon coming back toward her. Even though she was hit by just one punch, it wasn't only her chin that burned; her whole body did. Her hand, as she grabbed the scythe again, trembled like a bamboo leaf in the fall.

Standing up, she took a deep breath and calmed her mind.

"You're a Veteran, aren't you?"

"Me?" Dante immediately shook his head. "I'm a Recruit. But this is the first time I've had to fight someone who isn't my enemy. Well, except for my father, who always beat me." He chuckled. "But that's beside the point, girl. Come on, come on, I want you to test everything you know on this old man."

Senna jumped like a spinning top with the scythe, spinning at high speed. The blade scraping the ground made a crackling sound, and she waited for a counter. However, the old man just bent his arm and punched upward.

Senna was sent back again, hitting the ground on her chest and dropping the weapon. Her stomach churned from the impact. She spat blood and saliva. Dante stood still, watching the woman get up once more and grab her scythe as if it would save the battle.

Some weapons were a disadvantage for their users, and she didn't seem to understand that a scythe was one of the worst, if not the worst, weapons to have in hand at that moment. Its wide reach was immense, and its blade needed to have a curvature suited to its user.

Senna didn't have the arm strength of a common soldier, but she was agile. To wield a scythe like that, she had trained harder than usual to reach this level.

Even so, some locks appeared when blocks became invisible to the eyes.

"I don't want to tell you what to do or not, but have you thought about switching weapons?" Dante kicked the scythe lightly, neither aggressive nor disrespectful. "Everyone has their preference, I get yours, but this isn't for you."

She leaned on her legs and slowly got up.

"And what do you know about that? Just fight, sir."

"I'm just warning you. That scythe doesn't extract everything your potential has to offer."

Senna looked at the weapon and then at Dante. Ah, she cared for the scythe.

Dante grabbed it and tossed it again. She caught it and straightened up, tapping the tip of the weapon on the ground, creating a crackling sound.

"Why do you underestimate me, sir?"

Dante furrowed his brows.

"Undervalue you? I don't do that. Actually, I just trust myself. Come on, use your skill or whatever you have more and let's finish this."

Senna took a deep breath and raised the scythe forward. Tired, Dante noticed her breathing and the lack of strength in lifting the weapon. She wouldn't last much longer if she kept up this pace. He landed two hits because he was a bit concerned after finishing the first one in one go, but he'd give her a chance to shine.

"Come on, girl." Dante raised his cigar and smiled. "Show everyone watching what you can do."

Dante observed a frame forming right next to her. It had formed out of nowhere, and within it was her reflection. He turned his head to the right, but she went left. He raised his eyebrows. Damn, damn.

Senna charged, and Dante stepped back; however, his body moved forward. She's mirroring my movement.

The scythe came down from above, turning red. Dante lowered his arm, and it quickly shot upward. The block appeared, and Senna's expression turned alarmed. The old man gave her a crooked smile.

"Extraordinary," Dante praised. "You can alter the perception of reality. So, if I move forward, my body goes back. Incredible, girl. Simply incredible."

"And you noticed that in just a few seconds."

Dante didn't want to reveal it, but he was tested in the worst way at home. Inside the Bamboo Forest, the daily suffering was agonizing. Moving in every possible angle, I now understand what my father meant.

The scythe was pushed away with a force. A second frame formed around Senna, this time showing Dante's back. He got excited again, and when he moved a step, his whole body took half a second longer to react.

"Your skill is… truly impressive." Watching the reaction time of the muscles, the fingers, it was almost certain that it took about a second. "Enough time to die."

Senna was shocked again.

"How do you… do that?"

"It's a habit. I've had many trainings in my life, and having my senses swapped was one of them." Dante took an attack stance. "Even so, it's fun and intriguing to see someone with such a well-developed skill."

Dante advanced, and Senna was caught off guard. She had to step back two paces and used the scythe to push him back, but the old man swung his arm to the side before she completed the move. What kind of reaction is that?

The old man slapped the blade to the side, spun completely, and used his open palm against her shoulder. The pressure almost made Senna faint, but she used the rotation to spin completely and attempt a direct strike. But that damn old man was already crouched and stretched his leg forward.

Senna was humiliated within her own skill.

Without any balance, without strength left, she stepped on Dante's foot and stumbled, falling face-first onto the ground. Behind her, the two frames disappeared. Senna breathed deeply and saw Dante sitting beside her.

"You have potential to improve. Keep it up."

Why am I saying things like my father would?, Dante grunted, realizing he was starting to act like a Veteran.

"I'll improve."

Senna's skin turned white as she was pulled out of the Stone Field. Dante waved, smiling.

"Well, if you ever need a training partner, I'll be in the ring the last few days." He raised his hand.

"You can show up; I don't hit as hard as I do here."

Senna's laugh was relieving. Before her whole body turned into white flakes, she raised her hand.

"Thank you for respecting me, sir…"

"Dante." They bumped fists. "I'm Dante, scythe girl."