“The place the hell are you stepping? Do you wish to die?” Agni grunted as she struggled to push herself upwards. This proved to be unattainable for one excellent cause, Shula’s foot was pressed firmly in opposition to the facet of her face. The blonde haired imp laughed maniacally, which pushed Agni even additional to new heights of anger. Lastly after a number of moments of struggling in useless, Agni gave up — she was tuckered. This, coupled with a trickle of blood dripping from her mouth, was sufficient to trigger Agni to throw within the towel.

*I do know the place you sleep.* Agni thought as she gritted her tooth and sighed.

— 5 minutes earlier—-

“Okay. It is time. Are you prepared? I do not need you to whine in case you get punched within the nostril once more.”

*And I’ll punch you within the nostril once more, and once more..* Agni thought inwardly.

“Ha. Right now’s going to be totally different.” Shula mentioned as she folded her arms and commenced to hover, only a few centimeters above the bottom. The others have been all gathered across the campsite in some vogue, most have been busy doing their very own factor — conversing , sleeping or getting ready for later this night. As standard, solely Katrin watched the 2 sq. off severely. Though it was welcome to have her firm, this had grow to be some extent of competition for Agni. This was largely attributable to Shula’s behavior of embellishing virtually anytime Agni bought the higher of her.

“So no excuses immediately then? In spite of everything, you are at degree 21. You are not THAT far behind me now.”

It was true, in lower than per week’s time Shula had managed to achieve degree 21. This was attributable to their schedule of sparring, then looking Grimlock. The previous few evenings, a lot to Gates’ disapproval, that they had even ventured into crimson shards. Regardless of this, it was nothing that eight skilled adventurers could not deal with. These components contributed to Shula’s accelerated progress price, together with the truth that she additionally gained extra expertise when Agni did as nicely.

“You are simply jealous. Convey it.” Shula remarked as she cautiously circled the succubus.

“I am– so– JEALOUS!” Agni shouted as she dashed ahead,swinging a fist at Shula within the course of.

*I need wings too!* She thought because the battle started in earnest. Hand handy fight wasn’t Agni’s forte. The truth is, she was horrible at it — and that was the purpose. If somebody unskilled in hand handy fight may frequently strike her acquainted, it was an issue! The previous few days had been spent honing Shula’s reflexes. She may now dodge fundamental thrusts and swipes with no concern. Shula swayed to keep away from the primary few blows and flitted backwards, creating distance between herself and Agni.

“So you probably did really get higher. Not unhealthy.” Agni mentioned with a smirk. Then she closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

“Oi. No magic. You promised.” Shula warned as she reduce her eyes.

“I do not want magic.” Agni replied with a smirk. She leveled her hand in the direction of Shula, pointing her fingers outward in a really deliberate movement. Each the pointer and center finger thrust ahead, extending unbelievably quick as they moved. Shula was a second late to react, partially as a result of she was caught off guard. One of many spear-like fingertips grazed her shoulder, inflicting her to wince. The wound was sufficient to attract blood, which in flip brought on Katrin to shoot Agni a disapproving look.

“She’ll by no means be taught in case you preserve babying her. I am not holding again immediately.” Agni replied, uncaring of Katrin’s more and more intense gaze. Her fingers reached their most size and rapidly snapped again, virtually like a rubber band. As if the comment have been a deeply private one, Katrin turned up her nostril and continued her activity of practising her Scribe runes.

“Mama cannot prevent now. Tsk tsk.” Agni taunted with the wagging of her finger. Katrin frowned whereas Shula laughed.

“You are simply jealous as a result of you do not get to drown your self in her luscious, mushy, silky mou–” Shula was so busy teasing Agni that she forgot in regards to the battle. A number of extra spear-like fingers prolonged in the direction of her, one after one other forcing Shula to circle to her left. When she did so Agni was ready.

“Gotcha!” Agni mentioned as she used her free hand to increase an assault, catching Shula in her stomach. This time she used a second skill along with Lengthen, known as Iron Claw, Iron Fang. This specific method hardened Agni’s pores and skin, it had the additional benefit of working notably nicely on fingernails and tooth. The tip outcome was close to metallic claws or fangs. This time one of many blows struck Shula within the higher thigh and pierced the pores and skin. The blood spurted out in wholesome quantities as Agni retracted her finger.

“You possibly can’t anticipate your enemy to take it straightforward on you. Let me know if you’re able to be severe.” Agni admonished. Frankly, Shula’s lackadaisical angle was starting to grate on the Succubus. Over the previous few days she had been racking her mind to piece collectively a method that may very well be thought of “pure” to her. This was largely as a result of recommendation given by Gates and Gigi, each of whom have been rank two adventurers.

With that in thoughts, initially fixated on her Whisper skill. After a while, she realized the 2 expertise she’d simply used have been extra sensible for fight. Lengthen would enable her to ship her digits outwards, whereas Iron Claw, Iron Fang may very well be used to boost the assault. With a view to compensate for what Agni herself perceived as a weak point, she additionally opted to not use magic or weapons. She rapidly realized that her class appeared to concentrate on mid vary fight. She had no lengthy vary weapons to talk of, and all of her weapons may very well be wielded past arm’s size.

Thus, she felt her two best weaknesses have been lengthy and shut ranged fight. Of the 2, she felt agile sufficient to evade most lengthy vary assaults and even perhaps counter assault with magic or Whisper. That led her to forged away her weapons and concentrate on enhancing her personal placing.

The outcome was that Agni was now turning into rather more comfy being up shut and private, however attributable to Shula’s lack of effort, Agni felt that she wasn’t actually being pushed. This drove her loopy in a way, as she felt that the subsequent step may include slightly nudge.

She was starting to remorse her option to “kill two birds with one stone”. Ariadna and Merri would have been rather more appropriate for coaching with shut vary fight. Gigi may need even been overkill, however Agni would nonetheless have discovered greater than battling in opposition to Shula. All of those ideas raced by way of her thoughts, forming right into a single spear known as annoyance.

*I hate losing my time.* She thought as she frowned and commenced strolling in the direction of the imp.

“When you’re not going to take it severely, all bets are off.” Agni mentioned as she lifted her proper hand, coating it in flames. Earlier than Shula may react she dashed ahead. Shula tried to fly away, shifting upwards to keep away from the sudden burst of pace — solely to be grabbed by the ankle. Agni smirked as she yanked downward and thrust her flaming fist into Shula’s face. She then launched a blast of flames which flared up, consuming Shula’s face at level clean vary.

The assault wasn’t meant to harm, however it was sufficient to disorient Shula, who felt the entire oxygen dissipate round her for the briefest of moments. On reflex Shula thrust her foot outward, catching Agni on the jaw. The blow was so sudden that Agni was pressured to loosen her grip significantly. Shula managed to tug away at this second however quite than fly away, she circled round and kicked Agni within the stomach. The blow was nicely aimed, and attributable to Shula’s momentum it carried sufficient weight to make Agni stagger.

She launched a grunt as all air was pressured out of her lungs. Lastly after a second to catch her breath, Agni glanced over on the imp.

“Why did you cease?” She requested. Straightening her posture as she did so.

Shula provided no response, which made Agni much more agitated.

“Do you perceive that we may have died final week? Does not that hassle you?” She requested as she wiped the grime from Shula’s sneakers away from her cheek and resumed her advance.

As soon as once more the battle was on. Agni selected to harden her fingernails, extending them till they seemed like claws protruding from her fingers. She bridged the hole virtually effortlessly and commenced a sequence of swipes at Shula. Regardless of her bravado, Agni was taking it straightforward as nicely. An adventurer’s physique may stand up to rather a lot. Gouged eyes, inner bleeding, damaged bones — all of those would heal just by being left alone for an hour, typically much less.

But she solely attacked Shula in comparatively “secure” locations. The chest, the outer arms, the thighs. All of the cuts have been shallow and superficial sufficient to heal inside minutes. After a number of extra swipes Shula flew upwards, simply out of attain and gazed down at Agni.

After finding out the succubus for a second she sighed loudly earlier than saying a single phrase.

“Nice.” Shula floated downwards and landed on the bottom. She wiped her cheek, a stream of blood dribbling alongside her pores and skin, earlier than she lifted her hand to taunt Agni into motion.

“Come on. And do not maintain again. I will not.” Shula mentioned, providing a cocky smirk. The temper had shifted significantly, thus Agni felt a bit higher about pushing her acquainted beforehand.

“Good.” Agni mentioned as she dashed ahead as soon as extra. The following few moments have been hazy for the succubus, as she had little concept what occurred. Her imaginative and prescient started to blur and fade, just a few steps later she discovered herself falling face ahead. She hit the bottom with a loud thud, however Agni had no clue — she was out earlier than she hit the bottom.

Shula walked over in the direction of the fallen succubus and stared down for a second earlier than lifting her heel.

“S-Shula- wait. The spar is ove–” Katrin mentioned as she bought to her toes, however it was too late. Shula introduced her heel down in opposition to Agni’s face, inflicting blood to concern from her busted lips.

Shula then seemed as much as discover everybody gazing at her with an apparent trace of disgust of their eyes.

“What? She mentioned no mercy.” Shula remarked, all of a sudden her ears have been burning.

“Ugh. What the hell?” Agni whispered. Prompting a stunned look from Shula.

“You are awake already? Actually? Hmm.” She mentioned as she knelt down, driving her foot into Agni’s temple.

“The place the hell are you stepping? Do you wish to die?” Agni grunted as she struggled to push herself upwards. This proved to be unattainable for one excellent cause, Shula’s foot was pressed firmly in opposition to the facet of her face. The blonde haired imp laughed maniacally, which pushed Agni even additional to new heights of anger.

“Oh nicely. At the very least now I do know my new talent works.” Shula mentioned with a smile as a completely drowsy Succubus tried to seize at her in useless.

“Shula, that is sufficient.” Katrin mentioned as she marched in the direction of the 2.

“Oi. Wait, Katrin.” Shula mentioned, holding up a hand — however it was too late. Katrin took one too many steps ahead and fell prey to Shula’s new skill — Sleep Mine. One whiff of the close to invisible cloud of sleep vapors brought on Katrin to fall face ahead with a thud.

“That is…most likely going to harm when she wakes up.” Shula mentioned.

“Transfer your rattling foot!” Agni shouted.