Penalty II

Kai barely had time to react.

The Weeping Slayer didn't hesitate—her blade cut through the air in a clean arc, aiming straight for his neck.

His body only moved on instinct, if not, he'd probably be dead by now.

He ducked. The sharp edge whistled past his head, missing by a fraction. But before he could even register his narrow escape, he saw it—a knee, coming straight for his face.

'Well...shit.'

There was no time to dodge.

The impact was brutal. A sickening crunch filled his ears as pain exploded across his skull.

The force sent him flying backward, his body tumbling through the air like a ragdoll. But there was no relief, even in his current state.

The Weeping Slayer was already on him, closing the distance mid-air.

Kai's eyes widened as he saw the gleaming edge of her blade, swinging for him again.

'Fuck...she's relentless!'

His body twisted in the air. The blade missed, slicing only through empty space.

He landed heavily on the ground, his feet barely catching him before he staggered. The Slayer landed too, only her landing was far more sophisticated than his.

Her dead eyes were still locked onto him and without any warning she charged.

Her sword became a blur, slashing at him with relentless precision.

Kai dodged—left, right, barely a hair's breadth away from death with each movement. Every single strike felt like it was grazing his skin, just inches from tearing him apart.

Then, at long last, he found an opening.

Kai leapt back, putting a few meters of distance between them. He gasped for breath, his chest rising and falling rapidly. His hands clenched into fists as he tried to steady himself.

But the Slayer stood still, completely unfazed. As if she hadn't even exerted herself.

'How the hell is this a Seeker Class?!...She's way above my league! I haven't even landed a single hit!'

It was then that the cruel realization hit him- The system—the damn system had put him against something impossible.

'What if I just... wish her dead? That could work.'

It was an option. The system had given him wishes before. But then another bitter truth followed.

'No. The system wasn't even working before. And even if it was… would it even work against a penalty it gave me?'

His jaw clenched.

'Even if it did work, I'm sure as hell not wasting one of my two wishes on this.'

His gaze darted to his side, where the glowing interface of the system hovered, still displaying the penalty rules.

[Penalty Rules:

Player will not be harmed if he is on the Sorcery Association premises.

Penalty will not end until player has landed a blow or failed to survive.]

Kai's breath hitched.

'So, following the system's rules… if I make it back to the Sorcery Association, I'll be safe from attacks from the devil?'

But doubt crept in.

'But..The Slayer literally came from the top floor of the Sorcery Association. So how do I even confirm if this is legit?'

He had no chance in a fight. That much was obvious. So that left escape as his only real option.

Still, there was no way the Slayer would let him just walk back to safety. Surely it would attempt to stop him, or was it all just in his head? The system might have left him with some unanswered questions, but still, his options remained unchanged.

'Then I'll force my way in. If she doesn't attack when I reach the building, that means the system's message was true. If she does attack me while I'm on my way, I'll use that moment to strike first.'

It was risky. But it was his only chance.

His eyes flickered from the Slayer to the Sorcery Association building in the distance as he assessed his options.

Then, with a sharp exhale, he darted forward.

His legs pushed off the ground with everything he had, propelling him toward the building. The world blurred around him. He focused only on reaching that entrance, on making it before—

The Weeping Slayer, standing completely still just moments ago, lifted her blade, with her also causal aura.

And then, for the first time, she spoke.

"Fiamma Imperitura."

Her voice was soft. Effortless.

At first, a small, faint glow flickered along the length of her sword.

Then—BOOM!

Flames erupted violently, engulfing the blade in searing fire. But it didn't stop there. The fire expanded, stretching unnaturally, growing longer and longer until it was almost impossible to see where it ended.

Kai barely had time to react before in a blur, she slashed.

A single downward swing.

The flames surged forward, roaring like an inferno, obliterating everything in its path.

Buildings, cars, even the asphalt melted instantly, reduced to slag. The flames tore through everything—except the Sorcery Association.

And they were coming straight for him.

Kai's eyes widened.

"Shit—!"

His body moved before his mind could catch up.

With a desperate leap, he flung himself into the air. The flames barely missed, searing the ground beneath him, leaving behind a scorched wasteland. The heat alone made his skin feel like it was burning.

But he had dodged it...Or so he thought.

The moment his feet touched the ground— A gust of wind, Fast...Too fast, flew pass him

His breath caught as the sudden thought etched in his mind.

'What was that?'

Right then, a sharp, searing pain tore across his chest, forcing a painful yelp off Kai's lips

Kai's vision blurred as his body staggered. Blood splattered onto the cracked asphalt below him, dripping profusely.

Lowering his gaze, his eyes caught sight of a thin, precise cut which had been slashed from his mid-chest up to his shoulder.

Not deep enough to be fatal. But deep enough for blood to pour freely.

He gagged aloud as he staggered, blood oozing from his wounds as well as from his mouth.

However, just when he thought all had been put through enough, he heard it again-

"Fiamma Imperitura."

His heart dropped.

Slowly, his eyes darted back—

The Weeping Slayer stood there. Her blade aimed at him, with her void eyes gazing right at him.

And once more—

BOOM!

A second wave of flames exploded forth, this one, bigger than the last. The fire howled like a dragon's breath, engulfing everything along the street in its path.

This time, Kai had nowhere to run...He was caught in the undying flames.