Troublesome Fight

As the last enemy collapsed to the ground with a lifeless thud, silence swept over the battlefield. Blood soaked the dirt, steam rising from the fresh corpses. I let out a soft sigh,

"She looks pretty strong in that form," I muttered under my breath, watching her. "I might actually Struggle if her rank is much Higher..."

She stood in the middle of the chaos she had created, surrounded by bodies, her crimson eyes glinting with satisfaction. Her posture was regal, unbothered, the giant obsidian scythe resting easily in her grip as if it weighed nothing.

And then, she turned. Her gaze swept the carnage, sharp and slow, until it finally locked onto me.

She smiled.

"Oh?" she said, her voice like velvet laced with frost—soft, feminine, and yet unnervingly cold. "You looked pretty strong there."

I didn't answer. Instead, I walked past her, ignoring the dangerous gleam in her eyes, and crouched beside Aria.

Her breathing was shallow, and blood had soaked through her side. Without hesitation, I pulled a healing pill from the system's inventory and pressed it gently into her mouth. The pill dissolved instantly, its golden glow seeping into her skin as her wound began to mend—slowly but surely.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Jasmine start walking toward me, her boots clicking against the stone floor with an eerie rhythm. Her movements were fluid, confident, like a predator who had spotted a new prey.

When I was just far enough from Aria to avoid putting her in danger, she moved.

Like a flash of shadow and steel, she exploded forward. Her scythe gleamed with a malevolent light, slicing through the air with brutal precision. She came at me like a storm—silent, fast, and deadly.

I scoffed coldly.

"Let's see how you handle this."

In an instant, I activated the fourth form of the Moonlight Sword Technique.

It wasn't an offensive skill—but an enhancement. I felt every cell in my body surge with power. My muscles tightened, senses sharpened, and the world slowed down as my physical abilities doubled. My body felt like a coiled spring, ready to unleash at any moment.

I summoned my sword Light its radiant glow humming with power—and met her scythe head-on.

CLANG!

The impact rang through the air like a bell. Sparks flew. She stepped back, eyes wide, clearly surprised that I'd managed to block her attack so effortlessly.

She stared at me for a second too long. There was something in her expression—curiosity? Excitement? Pleasure?

She Sighed She had made two promises, To protect Aria… and to free her from me.

She grinned, the corners of her lips tilting upward, eyes dancing with twisted amusement. "Hmm, I guess this will be… troublesome~"

With a sigh, I transitioned into the third form of the Moonlight Sword—a technique meant to cut everything in its path. The ground beneath my feet cracked from the pressure as I slashed, sending a wave of moonlight arcing toward her.

She spun her scythe in a graceful motion, deflecting the attack mid-air. Blades of light shattered against her defense like glass. My power was doubled, and yet… she still parried everything.

Impressive.

But then, her movements started slowing down. Her breathing became uneven. She staggered slightly.

"This body… is too weak…" she whispered, frustration coloring her voice. "I guess… I won't be able to fulfill the second promise after all."

She stopped moving, and I did the same.

Blood trickled down her arm in thick streams. Her scythe trembled in her grasp. She looked at her limb—numb, useless. She had blocked my last attack directly, and though her technique was flawless, her body clearly couldn't handle the force.

And yet, when she looked at me again, there was no hatred. Only fascination. First curiosity… then interest… and then something else I couldn't quite place.

She smiled.

It was… mesmerizing.

Beautiful.

But it sent a shiver down my spine.

"Fine," she said softly, her voice like silk brushing against a blade. "I lost~ Don't tell me… you're going to kill this poor, fragile body and soul?"

I sighed. "Stop being so dramatic."

Reaching into the system again, I pulled out another pill—this one far more precious. A Mid-grade healing pill, capable of restoring severe injuries in under a minute.

I handed it to her without a word.

Her eyes widened for a brief moment, then a wicked smile bloomed on her face. As the pill's energy spread through her body, color returned to her cheeks, and the blood on her arm began to dry and fade.

She let out a soft, almost sensual sigh, tilting her head back. "Ah… I can feel my fingers again. How kind of you."

Her sadistic personality was palpable. The way she enjoyed even pain was unsettling. I sighed again, rubbing my temple.

"What's wrong with you? Are you another personality or something?"

She giggled, a sound far too cheerful for the situation.

Then she stepped closer.

Too close.

I didn't sense any killing intent, so I let her come. Still, I stayed on guard.

To my surprise, she reached out and touched my chin, gently turning my face toward hers. Her fiery red eyes burned into mine with a piercing intensity, as if trying to read the deepest parts of me. I stared back, not flinching, though confusion tickled at the back of my mind.

And then… she smiled again.

That same hauntingly beautiful smile.

"Hmm… You're perfect. Just perfect," she whispered, almost dreamily. "You'll make a fine husband~"

"…What?" I blinked.

Did I just get proposed to… by my enemy… right after trying to kill each other?

Her eyes twinkled. "What? You looked right into my eyes and didn't even flinch. You're strong, handsome,That's husband material if I've ever seen it~"

I stared at her, stunned. "What kind of logic is that?"