The red butterfly worriedly fluttered in the air, her compound eyes observing all.
Viper cast spells with both of his hands.
His already pale face became even paler as his body was briefly surrounded by a blue light.
"No more mana now. Hehe."
He stretched his body and pulled out another knife from what remained of his pants.
"But that just means your time is up!"
Suddenly he sprang forward, his speed greater than before.
Cyril tried to block with his hands, but a large wound appeared on his side as Viper went past him.
"...!"
Blood trickled down until stopping on its own.
I don't have much mana...
Starting to feel a little lightheaded, Cyril faced Viper again.
Don't heal my wounds anymore.
"What kind of freak are you? So little blood from such a wound."
Viper circled him with a confident stride.
"We'll see if you can keep this up."
He shot forward, dagger aimed right at the throat.
Cyril was barely able to move his head out of the way when Viper's other hand shot out, a dagger in it as well.
The sound of a blade tearing through flesh echoed in the room.
Viper, now a distance away, wiped his dagger with a smirk.
Cyril, wounded on his other side, endured the pain as blood flowed down to the stone floor.
Shit...
He quickly pulled out a blue vial, attempting to drink it.
Suddenly, a dagger flew at his head, and Cyril hastily dodged.
Next Viper went at a different angle, striking at him with another dagger.
In response, Cyril shot out a fist, but the man easily dodged it.
His trajectory changed, Viper slashed at Cyril's other arm, cutting it and destroying the vial in the process.
With that he dashed away. In a mere moment, he was already away from Cyril's reach.
"I am not going to let you do that, hehe."
Cyril's body trembled for a moment before he stood tall, more blood flowing down.
"...Do you need my help?"
Selene calmly called out, hands still behind her back.
For some reason, instead of the usual tranquility, this graceful voice only invoked anger in Cyril.
"This…! This…! Aah! We are not done yet!"
Cyril felt as if his heart was lit up on fire, and each breath he took became warmer than the last.
His glare became colder, causing Viper's smirk to widen.
"Haha! That's a better face for you, freak! What? A talented noble can't defeat some old ruffian in the countryside?"
Cyril stood there silently, his knuckles turning white.
Rhamn, get ready.
Viper lowered his body in a sprinting motion, a smile still on his face.
"Hehe, let's do that again then."
In response, Cyril straightened his back and simply spread his arms to the side.
Standing completely open, he glared at his opponent.
"The hell? Are you giving up?"
"..."
Viper glanced at Selene before mockingly glaring at Cyril.
"I can easily pierce your heart like this, you know?"
With that, Viper shot forward.
In a mere moment he was right in front of Cyril, dagger raised high.
However, Cyril remained unmoving, his eyes coldly looking down at Viper's actions.
A moment that seemed far too long lingered, Viper's eyes showed confusion within as his dagger approached the young man's body.
The cold blue completely filled his vision, and a premonition of something dreadful filled his mind.
The next second, Viper was on the other end of the room, outside of Cyril's reach.
A drop of sweat trickled down his forehead.
"Changed your mind?" Cyril calmly turned around, with no new wound on his body.
Viper ended up simply going past him.
"...Something's not right with you."
Viper began circling him again, this time his pace was more subdued.
"A coward. Befitting a worthless thug not fit even for the city outskirts."
To Viper, Cyril suddenly stood infinitely tall, looking down at him from a high tower.
"Tch! You nobles are all the same. Bluff and a sharp tongue are your favorite tools!"
Viper spat on the ground and lowered his body.
Silence settled between them as Cyril once again spread his arms to the side, completely defenseless.
Viper shot forward, suddenly even faster than before.
In an instant he was in front of Cyril.
A furious scowl on his face, he struck with the dagger right at Cyril's chest.
With the sound of flesh piercing, the dagger went inside right up its hilt.
"...!" Viper carefully held his dagger, basking in the familiar sensation of tearing meat.
The next moment he raised his head with confusion at this all-too-easy outcome.
What greeted him were the unflinching, cold eyes that somehow didn't seem human.
"Got you."
Cyril calmly whispered.
"...!"
As terror filled his opponent's eyes, Cyril swung both of his hands, hitting Viper's ears.
A terrifyingly loud clap echoed in the room, and silence settled.
His mouth hanging slightly loose, Viper dropped limp to the ground.
His eyes soon refocused as he glared at Cyril in fear and confusion.
"...How…? I- Your heart..."
Cyril pulled the dagger out of his chest and dropped it. It hit the floor with a loud clang.
He stepped closer, his approach intensifying the fear in Viper's eyes.
Viper's hands and feet weakly struggled about, as he desperately tried to escape while his body didn't listen.
Cyril, his face pale as death itself, stood over him, looking down, and simply uttered.
"You missed."
"...?"
He raised his leg and stomped with all his might.
A loud, wet snap echoed in the room.
Then there was one less human around.
...
A red butterfly landed on his shoulder, fluttering her wings in a congratulatory manner, her antennae twitching in excitement.
Cyril gulped down a blue vial, his face soon recovering a bit of color as the wounds on his body stopped bleeding.
Next, he cast a spell, cleaned his clothes, and took a light breath.
That was really impulsive of me...
"Yes!! But that was incredible! That arrogant, bald, worthless thug got what he deserved! Didn't expect the heart to move around, ha!? Hahaha!" Rhamn hugged her arms and twisted in place, a wicked smile of pure joy on her face.
"Feels good to go out once in a while, right?"
Glancing at her briefly, he turned to Selene.
This mysterious woman had a slight smile on her face.
"I got it." She nodded with satisfaction.
Got it?
...No matter. Will she have questions about my regeneration?
"Is she an archdemon or a human?"
Cyril and Rhamn stood side by side, staring at Selene with suspicion for a few seconds.
Suddenly, his attention was taken by the kids near her, huddling in the corner. They stared at him with pale faces that wanted to scream but didn't dare to.
Ah.
He awkwardly stood still, glancing at the body lying at his feet.
Not a good look...
The butterfly on his shoulder fluttered her wings in a friendly way, but that helped little.
Selene slowly walked closer to him.
"Let's make a bet. If you win, I'll give you my technique without forming any ties between us. If I win, you shall become my disciple."
What now?
He blankly stared at her, his gaze filled with pity.
"Don't be ridiculous."
"If there is anything else you wish to add, say so. I have many resources at my disposal."
"...Do you have Ambrosia, a pitch-black stone, similar to a crystal?"
He asked more so on a whim but received an unexpected response.
"Yes."
He contemplated for a moment, narrowing his eyes.
"...I'll buy it from you. Name your price, I don't lack money."
Selene shook her head. "Money is worthless. A fair bet is a better choice."
"All you need to do is make me move a single step. I am only allowed to use one hand, and I shall obstruct my own vision."
He only tsked and walked past her.
"...Or do you still think you won't win?"
Cyril froze, his hand twitching a little.
This is clearly a trick. She saw me fight and is still confident she can win. I will be a fool to agree.
...But will I really lose with such an advantage?