CH 105.2

Looking straight ahead, she scanned the beautiful woman with long, scarlet hair that reminded her of a beautiful sunset.

Katarina.

She was wearing her light clothes and had a tense expression while holding her long, curved saber.

What was so special about this woman?

So special that Cloud pledged her as his lover?

Would the outcome had been different if she was in her place?

She was curious, mystified and puzzled. So, when the chance came, she grabbed it with both hands.

“I am ready!”

“I’m ready too.”

With Katarina and Neria nodding, Cloud affirmed.

“Start.”

As the match began, Katarina took a big step forward, rotating her body on the axis of her foot. With a light movement like a butterfly spreading her wings, she bolted toward Neria.

Neria stood still and waited as the beautiful and splendid sword dance approached.

When she reached close range, Katarina charged faster than she had been showing.

A surprise side cut.

– Kang!

Neria raised her shield to block it off.

Even though her first attack was hindered cleanly, Katarina was unfazed. Because she hadn’t assumed it would work in the first place. She rotated her body to the right and swung the curved edge opposite hers.

– Kang!

This one was also blocked by the shield.

Katarina jumped high on her haunches and pushed her momentum behind the slash. Neria swung her shield and knocked it away, off the trajectory. Neria had the upper hand in the power struggle, so Katarina, being wise in her reflexes, somersaulted off on the push.

‘Neria is stronger than me. I have to go with speed and skill rather than strength.’

Katarina ran toward Neria, holding her breath.

[Wolf Dance]-!

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Like wolves surrounding a prey, Katarina moved about Neria, taking her as the radius of her circles.

She didn’t put her weight into the maneuvers. All she wanted was speed. One step at a time, one leap at a time. A skilled dancer’s sword dance attacked Neria.

As the saber pointed downward, Neria hopped on a leg to avoid it. As soon as she lifted her leg, a sudden shift and the saber was aiming for her head.

– Kang!

She blocked it with her shield.

Even before the ringing of the saber against the shield had quietened, the curved edge that aimed at her lower end was pointed at the back of Neria’s head this time. Even that was blocked by Neria, as she at end moment slipped her stance.

Although none of her attacks went through, Katarina smiled.

One of Neria’s feet hadn’t touched the ground yet.

In other words, her next attack would have to be blocked and not dodged.

Katarina jumped high and swung on her side. She turned her body and spun her two sabers around like a spinning top.

Neria held out her shield towards the top of the blades that could slash through even ferocious beasts.

– Kagagang!!!

The curved sabers screeched as if it were about to punch through the shield, and sparks flew everywhere.

Contrary to the clamor, however, Neria was not pushed back in the slightest, and Katarina, who had landed, had to step back a couple of steps.

‘Doesn’t work whatsoever?’

Not even made her bat an eye.

That much of a difference?

Katarina sensed her impatience and bit her lips.

‘Let’s take it a notch up.’

[Bear Dance]-!

Heavy blows like a bear’s paws rained down on Neria.

Neria, who blocked it with her shield, thought in bafflement.

‘Is she kidding?’

The [Butterfly Dance], which showed swift footwork, and the [Wolf Dance], swinging sabers teething all around the enemy.

Katarina’s sword dance, with her irregularity added to it, was excellent.

However, Neria, who defeated eight knights altogether, was not slightly impressed.

[Bear Dance] that was to break the posture of opponents with its heavy combo attack.

Perhaps because of the difference in levels, it didn’t feel very heavy to Neria.

Even if Katarina was of the same level, she wouldn’t have felt threatened. As heavy as her attacks were, her peculiarity was missing, making it simple. The trajectory of her sword was clearly visible.

‘…this can’t be all.’

Katarina probably wasn’t showing everything because it was a probe battle.

Neria pushed Katarina away with her shield, giving her time to catch her breath.

She hoped that Katarina would now show some sincerity in her attacks.

“Whoa…”

Katarina caught her breath.

She lunged at Neria again, and the ensuing attack…

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There was nothing different from before.

‘..?’

What was she doing?

Why was she attacking just like before?

As if she didn’t know how it worked.

And if it was a joke, it wasn’t at all funny.

Was it because Neria wasn’t attacking in response?

So, Katarina still wanted to probe more?

Thinking that it might be, Neria decided to go a little aggressive. She twisted her body to avoid the curved sabers coming down her line of sight. Before Katarina could spin, she swung her shield towards her abdomen.

“Huh..!”

Hit in the stomach, Katarina backed away as she groaned in pain.

‘…why didn’t she avoid it?’

It wasn’t like she had swung too fast.

It moved, matching accordingly to Katarina’s level.

So why did she stumble back?

It felt like something was wrong with her.

Neria walked over to Katarina and drew her sword down at an angle. The moment she blocked the attack by crossing two sabers before her, Neria’s foot kicked her in the stomach.

“Uck..!”

Unlike being hit with the shield, her kick was tolerable, Katarina froze still for a moment before moving again.

Her mesmerizing sword dance reached upon Neria.

Avoiding them, Neria frowned.

“…what.”

She muttered speculatively

Because she couldn’t understand.

Why was she getting hit by simple attacks?

If she had such good skills, why couldn’t she use them properly?

She was Cloud’s chosen woman.

Unlike her, Katarina had to be special.

Neria let go of her sword.

She punched Katarina, sending her stumbling back.

– Puck!

Katarina spluttered.

At that, Katarina came to her senses as well.

Even without a sword, she realized that the gap between her and Neria had not disappeared.

Her sword dance ensued again.

A raging storm of blades.

Neria’s eyes were cold, looking at it.

She approached, blocking the storm of swords with her shield, and struck her in the side.

Ugh!

The storm of swords disappeared with Katarina’s groan.

Neria frowned.

‘Why is she getting weaker?’

Was it because of the pain from being beaten?

Or was it because she acknowledged the difference in their skills?

Katarina’s eyes grew poisonous. She tightened her grip on the sabers.

A sword dance that she did not want to use in a match because it was too dangerous. She was left with no choice.

The air cooled down.

The murky aura of death wrapped around her and pressed against Neria’s shoulders.

A gloomy pressure hovered in the air.

Signifying the sword dancer’s grit.

[Dance of Death].