The Black Ghost Goes Down! Defeat Sex?!

I advanced with quick, measured steps, curious what the Black Ghost would do next.

She was surprisingly at ease. She even waited for me.

Whoosh, whiff!

I circled to her flank and thrust my sword. The Black Ghost, who'd been watching me with a smirk, casually twisted her body. The sharp blade nicked her skin, opening a thin red line — but I didn't get to see it for long.

THWACK!

"Ghk...!"

A fist came flying out of nowhere and smashed into my jaw. I'd yanked my chin back at the last second — if I hadn't, it would've been over.

I closed the distance again. Every time I launched an attack, the Black Ghost answered with one of her own.

Even when we throw the same punches, hers hit harder and hurt more.

That was the power of a Runner Late.

Then the Black Ghost stretched, and in the next instant she was weaving left and right at blistering speed.

"This is how you throw a punch!"

Whoosh, papap, WHACK!

I couldn't even see her fists. I was barely managing to block with my sword, predicting her attacks from the sound of splitting air and the feel of the wind alone.

CLANG-CLANG-CLANG! CLASH!

I held my sword with both hands and blocked, but it was overwhelming. I couldn't see her fists or her feet. The Black Ghost was toying with me like she was playing with a child.

"Damn it!"

Guarding alone wasn't going to cut it. I had the mask — time to use it.

Whoosh!

I slipped her punches, deflected them, dodged. I focused harder than a pervert peeking into a women's bathhouse — harder than that, even. Read her patterns. Analyze them. Then throw a counter.

"Heheh, going all-out from the start!"

The Black Ghost laughed like she was having the time of her life. Then she unleashed the ki inside her body in a single explosive burst.

What the hell? That size? That depth?

The Black Ghost vanished. A black trail streaked left and right, and then my vision exploded in a flash of light.

"Ugh!"

Don't tell me she was moving so fast I couldn't even see her? This thing was already hard enough to track!

I clenched my teeth. I blocked a few attacks on instinct, but it wasn't enough.

CLANG, THUD!

"Nngh!"

Too fast. The mask had been the only reason I'd been able to slip and dodge until now. So this was what a genuine Runner Late could do?

A massive wall. An opponent I simply could not beat. A presence that made you want to bow your head.

The Black Ghost burst out laughing as she looked down at me, sprawled on the ground.

"Hahaha, human male. That's all you've got? What a letdown — hurry up and die!"

She charged again. Fine. I'd take her head-on.

THUD!

A hook smashed into my cheekbone like a hammer. I still didn't close my eyes.

Next, a high kick from the other side. I raised my sword to block.

CRACK!

A straight punch came boring in like an awl and slammed into my forehead.

Shrrrk!

I was driven backward — not by my own will, but purely by the Black Ghost's raw power. A chill ran down my spine. I spun around and slashed my sword on a diagonal, and the Black Ghost appeared as she evaded the blade.

"Not bad. But you're slow."

A left hook came crashing down at an impossible timing. My mind went blank for a second. I miraculously bit down on my lower lip and held on, and the Black Ghost sent me flying with a spinning kick.

Whoooosh, CRASH! Shrrk!

I slammed into the mansion wall. A black trail rippled toward me, and then she grabbed me by the hair.

THUD, THUD!

She smashed my head into the wall twice, then drove a knee into my gut and wound up for an elbow.

I can't lose. I absolutely can't!

White Thunderbolt, activated in a surprise burst. A flash of pure white light blazed between me and the Black Ghost, then vanished.

The Black Ghost scrambled backward.

But I could see a thin cut between her breasts. Her clothes had torn, and a beautifully shaped pair of D-cups bounced into view.

She didn't seem the least bit embarrassed. She just whistled.

"You're actually pretty damn good. No human's ever landed a clean hit on me before."

Fat lot of good that did me. I was already a wreck. I glared at the Black Ghost and adjusted my grip on the sword.

Damn it. Worth killing in a fight? She could take that kind of "worth" and shove it.

Lumina started bouncing lightly on her feet, and a chill ran through my gut.

The atmosphere just changed. Before, she was just playing around. Now she's actually going to fight.

I might die. No — I would die. That was the only thought in my head.

I gripped my sword with both hands, trying to prepare. In that instant, Lumina was already at my flank. Her rabbit ears twitching, she threw a hook. I'd already turned my body halfway and drove a front kick into her.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

THUD!

"Aigo, my head's spinning! The hell? That barely even hurt."

She was stunned for a moment, then snapped right back to her senses.

Grab!

Instead, she caught the leg I'd extended and yanked it around. I desperately thrust my sword, but she ducked under it and launched a high kick.

CRACK!

The mask absorbed most of the damage, but I still took enough of a hit to see stars. I staggered backward.

Hold on. I have to hold on. Bleeding in a place like this is a bad idea.

Especially if it wasn't a human doing the bleeding — if it was a beastkin, even more so.

Lumina appeared in front of me, and I thrust my sword straight at her.

Lumina vanished into an afterimage. A sudden ache bloomed at the back of my skull. She'd grabbed me by the nape and hoisted me into the air.

The ground and sky flipped. The earth rushed up at terrifying speed.

CRAAASH!

"Gahhk!"

"Heheh, this is fun, this is so much fun! You're tracking me by feel, not by sight!"

I thought my neck might be broken, but luckily I could still move.

Hold on. Please, just hold on!

Lumina grabbed the back of my neck again and hoisted me up. Then she drove a spinning back kick into me.

"Gaaahk!"

It felt like a sledgehammer had been driven into my gut. The air left my lungs and I went flying into the wall again. Lumina charged at me with a terrifying gleam in her eyes.

I thrust my sword to keep her at bay. She dodged it and threw a finger-heart from the side.

Suddenly the strength drained from both my legs and my gaze plunged toward the ground.

Damn it. She'd swept my legs?

Zzt, crackle-crackle!

I activated the Ryvern Coat's effect, planning to float up into the air.

Grab!

But she immediately caught my ankle and slammed me into the dirt. Damn it. Flying was officially off the table.

CRACK!

A soccer kick followed as if on cue. As I went airborne, Lumina let out a cheer.

"Here we go agaaain~ Spinnin' kiiick!"

CRAAACK!

I slammed into the mansion wall and slid down. The back of my head was burning, and my entire body was screaming in pain.

I feel like I'm going to die. But hold on. I have to hold on! If I just endure, she'll show up. Hold on, even if it's just for that one moment!

I nearly collapsed, but I held on. I forced strength into my trembling legs and stood up.

Lumina charged, then launched herself into the air and threw a punch in a straight line.

"Finish him!"

I didn't dodge. I stared at her fist. I had to see the exact moment her fist connected and transferred its energy. Otherwise I'd just keep getting dragged around.

TAAANG!

The distinctive sound of a successful parry. I poured every ounce of strength into both arms.

I slashed my sword like a madman, aiming to kill Lumina. She grinned ferociously and shouted.

"Shower Puuunch!"

PAPAPAPAPAPAPAPAT!

Lumina canceled out every single one of my attacks.

This thing is a monster. But if that high-speed movement is all she's got, I can definitely create an opening.

I stepped back. Lumina planted her hands on her hips and flicked her fingers.

"You're actually really fun. You're short as hell, but you fight pretty good."

"They say the small pepper's the spicy one."

"So is that thing spicy too? Hot? Too bad — you're gonna die without ever using it!"

"I already took a number, you know? Hey, friends!"

They were here. I even waved as I shouted, and Lumina's ears perked up.

"You came alone, though? Did I smack your head too hard?"

I pointed behind her.

"That's a female of another race, the kind you've been dying for! Beastkin blood has a strong scent, right? Now's your chance to jump her!"

A pack of goblins appeared behind her. Thanks to my title, they tilted their heads at me, then nodded.

"Heheheh, a beastkin! A beastkin female!"

"Those rabbit ears are so cute! I wanna rub my cock-head all over 'em!"

"Huh, is the chief... talking? Then let's fuck her!"

Dozens of goblins swarmed Lumina all at once. She clicked her tongue.

"Tsk, what the hell. Just goblins. What a pain in the ass!"

She began slaughtering the goblins with breathtaking speed.

I already knew. Even if there were hundreds of goblins, they couldn't stop Lumina. But what if Lumina's attention was completely locked on the goblins?

The corner of my mouth curled up.

They really jumped in thinking I was their chief. All of you, go die.

A black storm raged before my eyes. Every time it touched them, goblin limbs were torn off, heads exploded, and the pieces scattered in every direction.

Brutal. That's some wild-ass skill, I'll give her that. I admit it — I can't beat her one-on-one. But this isn't a tournament match. Why the hell do I have to fight fair?

I adjusted my grip on the sword. Both arms were trembling, like I might drop the blade at any second. My head hurt so badly that blood kept flowing from the split. I tensed my nose and a nosebleed gushed out. I was such a mess that regeneration couldn't keep up.

I've got one sword strike left in me. After that, I might die. But let's ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠try. I've gotta fuck every milf in the world before I go, right?

Turn this chance into a miracle.

I approached slowly. Around the time the goblins were nearly all dead, Lumina complained.

"Ehh, this is boring. So boooring! This is why goblins have zero reason to exist!"

Tatatat!

I struck from behind. Just as I was about to raise my sword—

"Heh, I knew you'd come from behind. Human, I've already figured out your pattern!"

Lumina spun around and threw a backspin blow. But I knew that too. I knew she'd see through something that cheap.

I wrung out the last of my strength and circled to her side, then immediately threw a front kick. Lumina's face went slack with surprise for a moment.

"Urgh, you still have this much power...?"

"Just here to have fun."

I brought the sword down with everything I had. Not with the blade this time, but with the flat.

CRAAACK!

Sacred Strike slammed directly into Lumina's head while she was still stunned and unable to move. No matter how strong she was, a living thing was a living thing.

"Urgh."

Lumina collapsed. I was about to crumple myself when she casually stood back up.

"Khhh, that actually hurt. But I don't lo— huh?"

She tried to stand and collapsed. She tried again, but she couldn't. I looked at Lumina from where I sat.

"You won't be moving well for a while. It's a technique that uses the sword like a blunt weapon."

"Wh-wha...? Why won't my body... wait. I lost? To a human?"

I stood on trembling legs and looked down at her. I gave orders to the few remaining goblins.

"Friends, get lost. Don't ever come back here."

"Ah, the female, slurp... Y-yes, Chief!"

The goblins obediently vanished. I let out a sigh and dropped to my knees.

I could feel my body slowly regenerating. And then...

My dying body recovered through regeneration, and vitality came flooding back.

Hell yeah. All-stat plus five. That's sweet.

Lumina ground her teeth and shouted.

"Damn it, human! What are you gonna do with me? Kill me?"

"I'm ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠not going to kill you. Your skills and your looks would be a waste."

"What...?"

Without any idea what I was about to do, Lumina's eyes went wide. A genuine startled-rabbit look, complete with twitching ears.

I grinned down at her.