Disciplining the Lazy Knight (2)
“Ah, aah……! What in the world is happening! Petunia has fallen! One of Reness Territory's proud Three Knights has been brought down by none other than the male gladiator's hand!!”
The crowd erupted in murmurs. Following the announcer's booming shout, the stands grew chaotic. It was proof enough that this situation defied all common sense.
Amid the uproar, I gripped my weapon tightly, eyes locked on the fallen Petunia with heightened vigilance. It wasn't over yet. The strike I'd landed felt too shallow to be a decisive blow.
“……This is weird.”
As if confirming my hunch, Petunia murmured softly, questioning what had just happened.
“I hit you full force without holding back, and not only did you tank it, you counterattacked…… Bro, you really a guy?”
“……Want me to drop my pants and prove it?”
“Nah, no need for that.”
Her calm tone was evidence she still had plenty of composure left after taking my full power. Slowly rising to her feet, she lazily raised her sword and spoke in a sharper voice.
“Well, you can block once by sheer luck, I guess.”
Luck? I'd endured a blow that nearly shattered my limbs and still managed a counter. What a harsh judgment. But she didn't care about my thoughts. With her usual slouched demeanor, she prepared to repeat the same pattern.
“Don't get too cocky just 'cause you landed one hit. Luck runs out when you push with numbers.”
Rumble rumble rumble.
Mana vibrated around her again, the tremor spreading to the ground, making pebbles quiver precariously. The instinctive danger I felt underscored that she was no pushover.
“……You're the one underestimating me. You're the one who got slammed first.”
Still, deep down, I felt this fight was winnable. I'd blocked her full power once, and I'd landed a solid hit once. If I could keep repeating that, victory might come eventually.
Boom!!!
As I steeled myself with that thought, her body blurred into afterimages, explosions ripping across the arena floor. Her speed was absurd, the force behind it anything but light.
But it didn't scare me. The pattern was identical to the first strike I'd blocked. If I could do it once, I could do it twice.
Bang!!
Her blow clashed against my weapon, just as I'd predicted. The impact shoved my body back momentarily, but I suppressed the recoil, readying my next swing. She, meanwhile, faltered, unable to recover her stance after the attack. She'd poured too much power and focus into that single strike, leaving her vulnerable when it failed—a prime opening for a counter.
Thud!!
Her defense-neglect left her staggering wildly. I capitalized, slamming my weapon into her again, accumulating damage to bring her down. The momentum had fully shifted to me. If I kept pressing……
Boom!!!
Suddenly, she kicked off the ground, mana exploding outward. The shockwave pushed me back just enough for her sword to swing, its tip grazing my head and slicing the air. A direct hit would've ended me.
But her counter had overextended her posture again.
Boom!!!
I struck her jaw in the gap, snapping her head back. She staggered unsteadily on the spot. Was she going down? Had I really taken down one of the Three Knights?
“……Urgh.”
No, not yet. She'd endured it, glaring at me with a face losing its composure.
“This is fucked. A guy tanking my attacks with that much mana……”
Was she shocked to be pushed back? Hell, even I hadn't expected to hold my own this well. To unilaterally dominate a swordswoman on par with Martina and Helia? Unbelievable.
“Told you—underestimate a man, and you're fucked.”
But maybe this was inevitable. Her strength outmatched mine, but my talent surpassed even Helia's. If she'd overwhelmed me with skill like the other two, I'd be down already. But in a raw power clash, neutralizing her attacks was feasible. Her real mistake? Laziness dragging her into my specialty—brute force brawls.
“How about getting serious now? Or you might actually lose to me.”
“Cocky little……!”
Her face twisted as she charged again. Fast, but the pattern unchanged. Predictable, monotonous—no surprises. Once familiar, impossible to miss.
Boom!
I dodged effortlessly, striking the opening. Pushed back, she lunged wildly, swinging her weapon recklessly.
“Damn it! Stop being annoying and just fall already!”
Her irritated yell carried frustration, but still lacked true seriousness. Nothing like the mortal peril against Helia or Martina.
Yeah, even the strong could look this pathetic. If she kept it up, she wasn't unbeatable.
Crash!!
Realizing that, I struck again. She reeled back, legs trembling, face etched with exhaustion. No surprise—she'd been dumping full power without control, eating my hits one-sidedly.
“This is weird. Why am I the one tiring out? Any other opponent would've dropped by now……”
Blind to her own flaws, she panted. Mocking her inwardly, I raised my weapon provocatively.
“Try harder. You're about to lose for real.”
Grind.
Her teeth clenched. Gripping her sword two-handed, thunderous cracks echoed from the blade. A surging blue aura blazed with unprecedented ferocity.
She raised it high and roared.
“Don't you dare look down on me—you're just a man!!”
Whoosh!!!
Mana exploded as she charged. Facing it, I exhaled deeply, channeling mana into my weapon. This mindless strike carried incomparable power. Taking it head-on could kill me.
Instinct screamed danger, but I didn't yield. I charged back. No matter how strong, a miss meant nothing.
BOOMMMM!!!!
Her sword unleashed a mana storm, gouging the arena. The stands shook with screams as I barely evaded, swinging my full-powered weapon at her head.
Boom!!
The blast hurled her head back. Her small body crumpled limply to the ground. As the stunned crowd fell silent, the announcer's voice rang out.
“D-down!! Petunia is down!! A clean hit this time!!!”
Roooaaarrrrrr!!
The previous chaos vanished, replaced by thunderous cheers. The moment the egg cracked the rock. Euphoria swept the stands, praises exploding wildly.
“Incredible!! He really took down a Three Knight!!!”
“But didn't Petunia half-ass it?”
“That's just her. She brute-forced her way to Three Knight 'cause she hates the effort.”
“Tanking those hits multiple times is insane enough.”
“You're the best, Adrian!! Knew you could do it!!!!”
……Heh, bigger reaction than when I flattened that criminal. Makes sense—this was a worthy foe.
But my thoughts were interrupted.
“Ugh, urgh……”
A groan. Petunia stirred, rising again. Chills ran down my spine as I turned—she glared at me, weary but defiant.
Damn, a direct headshot and she's up? Is her durability monstrous?
“Hah, this is humiliating……”
Her voice was ice-cold. Her sword aimed at me, steady without a tremor. Her gaze held a sharpness I'd never seen—like her previous efforts were mere play.
Declaring she'd get serious now.
“……Nah, forget it. I'm done.”
But it was fleeting. She tossed her sword aside, sprawling on the ground, arms and legs splayed, staring blankly at the sky.
As I gawked, she muttered lazily.
“Too annoying to keep fighting. You gotta drop on the first hit to beat me, but I've just been taking them…… I'm sleepy now, so let's call it your win and end this.”
So she had fight left but was too lazy to bother? ……How goddamn slothful is this girl? Getting one-sidedly pummeled by a weaker opponent should've pissed her off.
“Rape her!!!”
A shout from the stands. It spread like wildfire.
“Yeah! Give that lazy bitch what she deserves!!”
“A male gladiator raping a Three Knight? Can't miss this!”
“You didn't win miraculously just to skip the highlight, right?”
Right. Everyone came for this. And the strongest getting railed? A once-in-a-lifetime spectacle.
“Whatcha doing?”
“About to fuck you raw.”
I was itching to crush this brat's ego anyway. As I peeled off her clothes layer by layer, she asked weakly.
“Fuck me raw? What's that?”
“...You seriously don't know?”
“Nah, too lazy to know…… Do I gotta move?”
“Uh, nah…… Probably not.”
“Cool. Then hurry up and finish.”
She even shifted to make it easier. Baffled by her nonchalance, I stripped her fully anyway. Removing her armor piece by piece, sliding off the leotard barely covering her……
Her petite, immature frame stirred something new in me, who'd embraced many women. Tiny stature, modest chest giving a frail impression. Yet slim waist, flawless skin. Aside from her trained build, she could've passed for a girl.
“You are an adult, right?”
Uneasy, I asked. She replied snarkily.
“Rude. I'm younger than you, but I've had my coming-of-age rite.”
Ah, good. No issues then.