I hope this barrier thing of yours can hold me cus…"
Just as she was about to attack in order to silence the source of her worry, an enormous wave of killing intent swept over Zesshi as she felt all of her senses screaming danger that caused even her to stop in her tracks.
"I can't be held responsible if it doesn't!"
"BERSERKER MODE!"
In the next moment a violent wave of energy seemed to emit from Lycan as the already enormous beast seemed to grow another size. The wound on Lycan's body started to rapidly heal as he got up.
Even though Lycan had a racial level of 80 he still had five levels invested in the job category. It was just enough for him to obtain the requirements necessary to activate the weakest active skill of the berserker class which increased his healing and other physical stats temporarily at the cost of his sanity.
Zesshi who could still not believe that her opponent was still hiding such a trump card readied herself. The amount of danger that her foe radiated had increased several times and just from a glance it was obvious that he had gotten a lot stronger.
"Looks like you can still dance some more huh. If this goes on…
I might have to…
…Go all out!"
Part 2
At a speed that even Clementine the former 9th seed of the Black scripture would widen her eyes in surprise from, Lycan charged at Zesshi. Even Zesshi who had fought plenty of speed types before was taken aback.
Before she had any time to put a proper guard up, Lycan had already launched his attack. A very wide right hook swing, flying directly at Zesshi in top speed. The fist became ever bigger and was starting to look like a cannonball flying towards her that would rip her head from her shoulders in a blink.
Even Zesshi who excelled at rapidly activating her martial skills could not prepare [immovable Fortress] in time to block. Instead she was forced to take the blow using only her scythe and personal strength.
Who cares if I can't use martial skills? There's still no way that you're stronger than…
Even before she could finish her thought the attack had landed and though by miracle she was able to block the punch itself with the pole of her scythe, the sheer force of Lycan's arm strength lifted her off her feet like a child being pushed around by an adult. The force of the blow was so great the she had flown straight into the walls of the barrier she herself had set up.
She felt it very well, for the first time in her life as the one called 'certain death'. Pain. Not since she had finished her training had there ever been a person that could best her. She who was the strongest monster in human form on the continent, she who could not be matched now felt the most mortal of feelings, pain. This caused her to feel another emotion that she hadn't felt in a long time. Anger.
Before her mind had properly organized her thoughts she felt a sudden urge to cough rising up. Unable to withhold herself, she burst out in a coughing spree. What she coughed up was not air however. A rusty red liquid was starting to leak from her mouth as it dawned on her that she was coughing up blood.
Blood? Internal damage! Damn that freak really did a number on me! Will my gear still heal me?
Zesshi's gear like that of Stronoff had healing properties and normally sustaining this much damage was nothing serious for its wearer. Were it not for the fact that Lycan had ripped off a considerable chunk of it with his ability. If it indeed had been damaged then the wounds inflicted on Zesshi's organs would not be repaired and she would be in a lot of trouble if she was not treated.
"You f*cking beast! I'm the one who carries the title certain death. If u want to die so badly then step right up. I'll show you the power of this scythe and its user."
She received no response from Lycan however. Instead the monster in front of her simply prepared another attack whilst staring at its target with deep dark soulless eyes.
Lycan got on all fours, revealing the true beast that he was, he prepared to pounce like a wild animal attacking its prey.
Zesshi could feel it. If she took the next attack she would most likely be in real danger.
Once again, at an inhuman speed, Lycan charged at his foe with a loud battle roar erupting from his mouth this time as he bared his fangs. A sight that would petrify a few short of all warriors from fear. But it is exactly those few that Zesshi belonged to.
This time she had stood up and prepared multiple martial skills in advance to evade
"I won't be stupid enough to block this time, [Flow acceleration], [Greater Evasion], [Detect Attack]
Using these three skills she was able to predict and sidestep the movements of Lycan who once more had come swinging wide but missed.
What another wide swing? Though the attack is fast, surely he knows I'll dodge it if he does the same thing twice. What is he thinking?
Zesshi looked at the raging monster that it had managed to evade and noticed its eyes were still completely devoid of reason. All that was left was a pair of burning hot eyes that would haunt the nightmares of men both young and old.
Come to think of it he hasn't said anything since he became stronger. No snappy remarks, no mocking laughter and no threats? Is it possible he's lost his mind after powering himself up? I have to confirm.
Zesshi smiled. Even though she hadn't used her real power so far, to use it here would endanger the people living in the houses and because of this she had been hesitant but perhaps she could still settle this without going all out. That would be most fortunate.
Perhaps I'll be able to play around a bit longer…
Part 3
The drops of blood continued to fall and the pavement of the square and were starting to form a puddle of red liquid. This amount of blood loss by now would have killed most adult males, yet somehow Lycan did not seem to die just yet.
Lycan was using every ounce of strength he could just to stay on his feet. The many wounds that Zesshi had caused with her scythe were starting to take its toll on his body and he could feel that losing consciousness was not far away.
With heavy eyes he looked towards the dark figure standing in front of him with a smug smile on her face that told her how self-satisfied she felt right about now.
"Aaah what a shame. It was so fun playing around with you but in the end even you aren't good enough. Though I have to give you points for being the first one to beat me purely in strength since I reached my peak."
Lycan wanted to shout all kinds of insults towards his foe and reach out with his fangs to shred her face to pieces but knew it was pointless. All he could do was continually breathe ragged breaths and try to stay conscious for as long as possible. Even so he cursed Zesshi's cowardly way of beating him.
From the moment he had activated his [berserker mode] Zesshi could no longer compete with him in terms of strength. Even if she could block the actual attack with her martial skills, she would still be blown back due to the sheer amount of force behind it.
For her, who and been trained to fight opponents with all kinds of handicaps the solution was still simple. If she couldn't take the hit she wouldn't and just use her speed and long range of her weapon to continually hurt and wither down her foe.
Although Lycan had a fast step-in, he lacked the flexibility and agility that Zesshi had to keep up this kind of speed as he moved. All that Zesshi had to do was avoid his charge, sidestep and counter with her extending air slash. A cheap and simple tactic but after a few exchanges the results became clear and there was no dishonest way to win a one on one fight to the death.