Olivia -2-
The girl's secret hadn't leaked out yet.
It would be resolved by cutting the life thread of that succubus before her sniffing nose started blabbering.
Reminding herself that her pounding heart proved she wasn't too late, she regained her composure.
'No matter how urgent, as Rohan said... no reckless moves.'
Ichinose tensed her thighs and ankles with her eyes closed.
She pinpointed the succubus peering down from the upper floor with her senses.
Under the resolve to kill her cleanly and bury the secret.
She envisioned the sword's trajectory.
She sharpened a cold killing intent that cooled her mind, unheated and precise.
"Huuu..."
Exhaling softly, she attained Meikyō Shisui—a state of mind as clear and tranquil as a still mirror.
She quelled the ripples disturbing her spirit.
Focusing solely on the enemy.
'Yes, no problem.'
The fortunate part for Ichinose.
This succubus named Olivia wasn't gloating over a weakness seized but showed curiosity instead.
Perhaps due to a succubus's innate nature.
She seemed oblivious that this discovery could shatter Ichinose's calm like a weapon.
Tak!
The instant Ichinose gripped her sword and moved, Rohan kicked off the ground and leaped to the upper floor where Olivia stood.
The flesh doll guarding the succubus's side drew its sword as if knowing its foe and charged at Rohan.
—Kaang! Rohan's sword rang out shrilly in midair.
Tangled with the powerful flesh doll, Rohan fell back to the lower floor, continuing the melee.
Ichinose landed butterfly-light on the railing directly facing the succubus.
Within striking range of her blade.
With eyes still closed, she drew her sword like lightning.
Dream Illusion Slash Shadow Flow
Wing Shadow Flash
⟨ ACTIVATED ⟩
Slashes poured chaotically where Olivia stood.
But Ichinose's strikes merely cracked an innocent mirror.
"Up close, it's clear. Such thick essence... if I devour it... hehe."
Olivia, who evaded cleanly, rubbed her thighs together, lost in fantasy.
Ichinose arched one eyebrow.
'Pretty fast.'
This succubus had impressive physical prowess.
Even so, she wasn't versed in martial arts. She achieved that speed purely with leg strength.
'Stronger than those succubi I faced head-on before. Obviously.'
She was certain even two conversing succubi charging together couldn't beat this Olivia.
Chlek!
Ichinose resheathed the exposed blade.
It might seem inefficient to outsiders, but her sword style required sheathing to unleash full power.
Watching Ichinose swiftly complete the sheathing.
The succubus didn't hide her curiosity.
"Why do that? You're clearly human? A succubus half-breed maybe?"
"..."
No intent to chat with the succubus.
Ichinose systematically traced sword arcs, pressing with dense attacks.
Crack! The mansion's mirrors cracked, unable to withstand the girl's sharpness.
Anticipating Olivia's instinctive dodges, Ichinose slashed one step ahead.
Olivia, denied evasion, uncoiled the whip curled like a coil.
Grinning, she gripped the handle.
And swung it simultaneously.
"!"
A chill crawled up her skin.
Ichinose dropped defense for evasion, arching her back.
Swaaak—!!!
A deafening whoosh that numbed her ears.
Straightening, Ichinose knew without looking back.
One whip lash had crumbled the railing and stairs.
'Can't let that hit.'
A direct hit could kill instantly.
Even surviving would tilt the battle decisively.
Deflecting or blocking with sword, her wrists and grip might not endure repeated blows.
"Well, Bianca did say humans do special things too?"
"..."
"Useless except for breeding, yet they consume orally just for excitement and satisfaction."
Olivia prattled on despite Ichinose's silence, stuck on the topic.
Chattering even in combat—her true nature perhaps.
'Rohan...'
Ichinose's senses captured the lower floor.
Gunshots and clashing metal in close quarters.
No sense of him being pushed, as expected.
Fortunate, but Rohan had no leisure to listen here.
Good it wouldn't reach him anyway.
"Don't you think humans, who consume essence unnecessarily unlike succubi who need it for survival, are the lewdest race?"
"...You talk too much."
"Hehe, gotta know before killing. That man-wall's essence?"
"Die."
Cutting talk, another draw.
Blade fully infused with mana, faster than before.
Pssht!
Despite Olivia's dodge, the blade grazed her cheek, drawing a small wound.
Confirming blood with a finger, veins bulged on Olivia's forehead.
"...Such a rude brat. Time for discipline."
The whip began swinging in earnest.
..
..
'As Rohan said, not ordinary mirrors.'
Ichinose thought while dodging the whip snaking from behind.
The mirrors embedded in the mansion.
Whip touching one rebounded, altering trajectory.
A attack style exclusive to this succubus.
'Usable even damaged means I have to shatter them completely...'
Ichinose, independent of sight, could counter the whip's erratic path.
But it was annoying.
Tempting to lure outside, but if the Monolith lurked somewhere in the mansion.
If the succubus didn't follow, Rohan and she would return here.
Thick mirrors on walls made breaking out impossible.
To disable mirrors, force her through the door.
But fleeing might bring flesh dolls and other succubi.
Conclusion: settle it here.
"Slippery like a rat. Crank up the speed?"
The instant Olivia spread wings, fully unleashing mana.
Sguk! Flesh tearing from below.
Olivia's startled gaze dropped.
Ichinose's lips curved in hope.
Rohan vaulted shattered stairs, landing beside her.
"No injuries?"
"Rohan... I'm fine, but..."
Ichinose bit her lower lip at the thick blood scent from him.
Victory, but many wounds.
Rohan assured her he was okay, downed a potion, and tossed the empty vial.
"Definitely not some average joe. I get what 'body remembers' means now."
The flesh doll, mindless, sporadically used honed instincts.
That heavyweight was at least a rank above Rohan in swordsmanship.
Without succubus tampering, Rohan would've been more battered even in victory.
Yet he won.
Stood by Ichinose.
'Still, Baby Yui believed I'd win.'
Rohan's mood lifted from her trust.
He wanted to channel this heat and thrill as painkiller and booster for the fight.
"..."
To the man who defeated the meticulously crafted guard doll.
Olivia smiled not in anger, but satisfaction.
"Won't kill you. Surrender now, and I'll treat you best."
"Why do succubi cling like this? No pride as monsters?"
Rohan grated her nerves, but Olivia kept smiling, unyielding.
Twisting wavy hair up to bare pale armpits, tail squeezing thigh till flesh bulged.
"Hng, don't wanna sow seeds in a beauty like me too? I'll match any wall, bear as many kids as you want."
'Too?'
Odd phrasing puzzled Rohan.
But Ichinose timely shared intel.
"...Rohan. Whip rebounds off mirrors, changes path."
"Speed?"
"Dodgeable if focused. About to speed up, but dizzy?"
"Looks worse than it is. No heavy bleeding. Potion kicking in."
Answering, Rohan checked pistol chamber and mag.
Stigma bullets left: 2. No spare mags.
Holstering the pistol.
He gripped Scorching Blade's sun-like glow in both hands.
"Creepy. That kid over me?"
Olivia showed jealousy toward Ichinose, mana tinting pink.
Seducing women wasn't her taste, but with Rohan joining, no reason not to use it.