Chapter 114: Revenge

I need to know if I got stronger and will I continue to get stronger. That's why I'm here. In this forest.

I went inside and the pressure that once hindered me no longer poses anything to me. I don't know if I got stronger or I'm just used to the pressure but nonetheless, I'm happy with my growth. But it's still not enough. If I beat her, then I'll truly be satisfied.

I traversed the dark murky forest. It wasn't like this before. There's an incredibly foul smell in 'that' direction. From where she lives.

I prepared myself for whatever was going to greet me.

After running for some time, it appears that monsters were guarding the forest. It seems that they're protecting something. "Gazer Form, Come, Pugilist Gauntlets"

The monsters were many in numbers but they're just low leveled ones. It's just goblins some lizardmen and some orcs. They aren't moving and we were in a standoff.

I rushed first and they finally know my intent so they fought back. They tried to overwhelm me with their numbers but it's nothing special. Each time I swung my fists, they all exploded within one punch.

I spent the next hour battling it out with these monsters. They were far too many than I expected. But it wasn't difficult.

After the battle, I stand atop the maybe hundreds of bodies on the ground. I gained some small EXP and leveled up like five times only.

"Recover." A skill wherein I can gain some stamina and some health back. After a few moments of rest, I went into the place they were guarding.

This is the exact same place where Zieglind saves me from that monstrosity. That woman sitting on that chair and drinking tea. It's a tactic to lower the guards of those whose first time is coming here.

But I know her well. "We meet again," I said to her.

She had a look of confusion on her face. "I wonder where? I've been living here for a while. Apologies for the barrier. It must've been tough getting here. Take a seat. Tell me about your journey."

"Still keeping up the saint act? I've come here for you. Show me your true form."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Then maybe you remember my name. Yefa Reysh."

"..." She put down the cup of tea on her hands to the table. "Ah, I see. To come here of your own volition..." Her body begun to twitch as if reforming everything, her bones, face, and her overall structure. "YOU MUST BE SEEKING DEATH AREN'T YOU?"

I saw her form before but this one is much stronger than that. I could feel her killing intent oozing out of her.

"Then I'll respond with everything I've got."

Looking at her, fear is overtaking my whole body. I'm weak. Far too weak. I could only stand there as I saw 'him' run and face an adversary that he... no... we could not beat.

He gave me a life. Then I'll give him one too, my own.

To stand by his side, I need to achieve greater heights. Heights that I didn't know I could achieve. This monster standing before me... you're going to be a stepping stone for me.

Two years. I have two years left to train. I don't care if I surpass him. But as long as I could stand by his side without getting ignored is enough for me. He needs to take responsibility after all. Saving a damsel in distress in the pits of hell without anyone asking and for that, I will be his shield. I will surpass my own limits. Just to stand beside him as he continues to rise at the peak.

"What are you thinking deeply there Yefa Reysh?" I snapped back to reality by hearing her words.

"Nothing much," I replied.

"You're arrogant for taking your attention away at me."

"Come at me."

The monster walked on fours, using her arms and legs for rushing at me. She was too fast for me to react. She has gotten stronger than before.

She grabbed my head, "Mind Control!"

A sudden jolt of pain went through my head. I fell to the ground on my knees as I tried to bear the pain.

"HAHAHA! You're going for the same trick... again!? How foolish. You should've brought your master here with you so that you two could run away again. Well, nothing's going to change either way. You both would've died anyway."

"Yagh!" I swung my gauntlets at her but she avoided it with ease.

She had a shocked and an annoyed look on her face. "You can move? Tsk. You and your master have some annoying skills. To be able to bypass my mind control... AGH!!! Fine! I'll take you on with my own strength."

"Stance Change, Boxing!" I started off with a few jabs in which she dodged it incredibly well.

"Annoying." She jumped back and activated a skill,"Thousand Dagger Rain!" Daggers appeared from the sky and started falling down.

"Blink!" I ran away from it.

"I don't think so!" She caught up to me with her speed and rushed at me with her claws. I dodged it barely.

She then followed up with quick few swipes on her claws that left grazes on my body. It doesn't hurt and it's nothing serious but if I accumulate that much damage in our battle combined with her speed, it's not going to end well with me.

"Let's up the pace. Shall we? Drain Wounds." She began to attack with her claws more fiercely than ever and her speed is getting even far more faster.

"What!?" I was beyond shocked. I continue to dodge by weaving my head and counter attacking with some hooks and straights. It connects at her damaging her for medium damage. But it's enough if I keep this up.

But she's gaining on a lot of advantage on me. I can't follow some of her movements. Our fight right now is basically trying to find out who is stronger and faster and I'm completely inferior on both against her.

She's mixing up her attacks with feints and I'm getting even more confused. But as the fight went on, there was something wrong I noticed on her.

"Huh? Blink!" I backed off for a second and took a good look at her body again. All the wounds I inflicted were all healed.

"Drain Wounds. A new skill I picked up. It allows me to heal myself equal to 30% of the damage I deal on enemies. If you beg for your life as you like my feet I'll kill you without pain. How about it?"

"Screw you. Then that just means I need to deal more damage than you heal isn't it?"

"As if you can do that much damage."

"Explosive Fists, Berserker. Come, let's start round two."

"Tsk. Berserker, Rage, Great Heal."

I just need to touch her for explosive fists to activate. She doesn't care about defense. So I can inflict as much damage as I want. But in exchange, I can get caught up in the explosion too. But right now I don't care. I need to see how far I'll go. I need to win.

She ran towards me and used her claws like hands to swipe me off as if a beast hunting on its prey. I continue to dodge but it seems like it's futile. She's going faster and faster. Dodging is out of the question. This fight is just going to be... an all out slug-fest.

"ARGHHHH!" Our fists began to exchange blow for blow and a small explosion, enough to damage us.

I was damaging her, she was damaging me. Her healing can't keep up this much damage between us.

None of us could touch each other's bodies. Both of us were parrying each other fist for fist. After a few seconds, we both backed off.

I knew this was going to be our final clash so I had to give it my all. "Stance Change, Aikido."

She lunged at me with her claws but I dodged it easily to the side and grabbed her arms and slammed her to the ground. "Stance Change, Tai Chi." I punched her with all my might straight on her face.

It created a massive explosion that burned off the surrounding trees, broke the ground beneath us and left this monster's body destroyed into nothingness.

I was overwhelmed with relief and happiness as I lay down on the ground, exhausted and tired. I dispelled everything on myself and tried to compose myself. I finally did it. I couldn't help but be overjoyed since I beat the monster we ran once from. I can grow much more.

For two years, I'll seclude myself for training and getting stronger.

Just as I was about to rest, a few moments pass and a crack formed in the sky. It thenexploded like a mirror being broken. The curse that this forest was placed with is finally gone and over. It's going to unlock a lot for the people in kingdoms.

I guess this will be my home for some time.

Let's meet again Zieglind. I'll be a woman that will be able to be by you.