Ellen Obsessed with Uncle (5)
After that, a one-sided sword dance began.
"No! Damn it! You cowardly bastard!"
Chandor swung wildly, and I dodged. The silver lining was that even though he'd gotten faster, the patterns were the same as before. I'd approached cautiously, building up the stamina to hold out now! It was a result made possible by our prolonged probing battle. Training with my master had honed my distance control to perfection. I weaved and evaded every which way, all while running my mouth.
"Heh, is that all you got, you mortal?"
"Gaaah!!"
"Boring me to death... At this rate, you'll never even graze me your whole life."
I hadn't taken a single hit, so I teased him mercilessly. The massive doped-up knight Chandor—this sneaky prick had doused himself in black liquid and sped up dramatically. Yet his sword still sliced empty air. I'd already read all his moves ages ago.
I kept dodging with sharp twists, mulling over my countermeasures. His current boosted state was clearly an awakening. It wouldn't last forever. If it turned into a prolonged fight? His strength would fade for sure, and I'd strike then. That was the plan.
The enormous Zweihänder whistled through the air. I maintained exquisite distance, just barely out of reach. Hadn't even ten minutes passed? Sure enough, the hulking silver knight started heaving for breath.
"Gr... grrrgh..."
Clad in heavy armor, thrashing around, doped to the gills—it was inevitable backlash. From some point, his speed gradually slowed, leaving only desperation at the blade's tip. He was lashing out wildly now.
"Heh... Wanna go at it like men? Bare fists, and I won't run. Scared?"
Those words must've really pissed him off, because he started pounding his helmet in rage.
"Uwaaah!! Uwaaaah!!"
He slammed his palm against it repeatedly to vent. Then, with a clunk, the visor fell off. Naturally, the same metal had corroded there too. One good hit, and it crumbled away.
Revealed was the silver knight's face, drooling thick black tar-like saliva.
"Urgh..."
His blazing eyes glared at me; I could feel how furious he was, skin crawling.
"Gaaaaah!"
Unable to contain his rage, he kept screaming. While cackling at Chandor's clown show, my eyes fixed on his face. Wait... hold up. Doesn't that bastard have no tongue? Looking closer, his teeth were rotted away too.
"Ugh, gross!"
"My god!!"
The watching nobles recoiled in horror at the sight. Corrosive saliva. The price of that deadly trump card was gruesome.
Viscount Artis, grinding his teeth, finally barked the order.
"Chandor, smash that rat bastard flat!! Whatever it takes!!"
In noble society, reputation was everything. A knight vomiting acidic monster goo? Perfect scandal fodder. With the truth exposed against his will, the viscount had to be burning inside. His options were limited. Win the duel, pull off a desperate diversion—or lose and become the hot topic of the social scene.
If Chandor lost, it'd be a PR nightmare, and the territory's finances would crumble. He'd gone all-in scraping up Solaris business rights; spitting them back? Economic collapse guaranteed. So Viscount Artis, desperate, just screamed.
"Kill him!! Kill him, I said!! Just stomp and crush him!!"
No one liked hearing that shit when they were risking their life up front. But Chandor, ever loyal, placed a hand on his chest in knightly oath.
This Chandor prick... couldn't speak, but his loyalty was legit. The moment Artis spoke, he slammed his Zweihänder into the ground like a stake.
"Grrrh!"
Then he clenched his fists into a stance. The giant knight's gauntleted hands were like iron maces. Getting hit by those massive lumps would shred the impact site. If I got hit, that is.
Mana surged through my bloodstream, racing across my body.
"Huuuuh..."
I took a deep breath, eyes wide. As a mana user, I'd learned the hard way that size differences were illusions. The body was just a shell. Even my tiny master didn't toy with me purely on strength.
I circulated energy fully through my meridians, facing down the giant. His fist tore through the air with a heavy whoosh, tracing my form. Predictable. I ducked slightly, then landed a body shot.
"Guuk!"
The hulking silver knight groaned as the blow pierced his breastplate. But he pressed the ferocious assault. Iron-ball fists whistled past my ears, shredding air. Eyes locked, unblinking, I focused. The inevitable gap after each attack. I piled on probing body blows in those windows.
After a few hits, the giant knight sensed something off. Heh... hurts, huh? Feeling your armor fail?
"What's wrong? Not what you expected?"
"Grrruk!"
A guy that size probably never got challenged. The rare punk who tried? One clip upside the head fixed that. Chandor's overwhelming physique had robbed him of bare-knuckle experience... leaving him helpless now.
His back hunched more, face twisting. Bet the inside of that breastplate was black-and-blue. Cumulative damage was no joke now. Fists slowing visibly—ripe for cooking.
I grabbed his arm with both hands and wrenched it back.
"Gaaak!!"
I listed his crimes one by one.
"You sneaky bastard! I spared you, and this is how you repay kindness with enmity?"
I yanked one arm straight back; Chandor's eyes bulged in shock.
"Guuuk! Gaaaaak!!"
I used my whole body like a lever, pulling sloooowly. As the angle worsened, his pitch rose.
"Kieeeek!! Kieek!!!"
The silver knight shrieked like a little girl. But I kept pulling, relentless. At some point, a sickening crack transmitted through my palms.
"Grraaaaaah!!!"
Tears and snot streamed down his ugly mug as he screamed. Stopping here felt unsatisfying. This filthy, drooling dirtbag! Daring to turn my precious weapon—master's gift—into scrap?
I mounted the rolling knight, pinning his arm to the ground.
"Bite down."
Merciless pounding ensued. With the visor corroded off, perfect for pummeling. Avoiding the mouth to dodge acid, I focused upper cheeks and jaw with a barrage.
"Kuk! Guuk!! Gruuk!!"
"Arms away, asshole!"
Every guard attempt, I pinned his dislocated arm with my knee. Like automatic doors, openings flew wide; I smashed them with emotion-fueled fists. I wore gauntlets too. A few solid hits caved his nose and shattered cheekbones.
"Insolent cur!! You need more!"
Resistance weakened, but my rage wasn't sated. Half-ass it, and he'd backstab again? I'd eaten that once thanks to the shitty referee... twice would make me the idiot. Stabbers needed half-crippling for peace of mind.
I stood atop the silver knight's torso. The giant twitched feebly, resistance gone, eyes meek like a kid beaten by the neighborhood bully.
"Heh... you little shit. Finally opening those pretty eyes."
So far, self-defense. Now, punishment. I leaped to his lower body with full force.
"Thousand-Pound Drop!"
Landing heel-first on Chandor's ankle!
"Grhiiiiaaak!!"
Fresh tears cut through his bloody face. The giant's ankle twisted 180 degrees. Wanted to hack it off, but... Hooo... I reined in reason, approached the referee.
"You. Say it clear this time...!"
Adrenaline pumping, vision tunneling. My killing glare made him gulp, then bellow:
"Winner! Absolutely, Lee Dodo!!! No takebacks!!"
Cheers erupted again. Ears rang for some reason. No elation this time. Narrowed vision widened, body going limp. Phew... Eyes fell on the trash-heap Chandor. He'd limp like a cripple forever. Better to kill him? ...No. That thought disgusted me momentarily. I shoved it away.
Time to savor victory. Losers got what they deserved. Feeling good! Grinning, I headed to master.
A bit embarrassing, I scratched my head. "Uh... Master, it was kinda sloppy... but hey, won without a scratch."
But master's face was serene. Quietly, she pressed my gauntlet to her cheek.
"Master...? It's dirty."
Mana restricted, yet her grip was iron—couldn't budge.
"Child, didn't I once say? No need for masks before me."
"M-Master, that's..."
With loving eyes, she stepped closer. Then Tia master hugged my head with all her might. Worried she'd crush instead. Stifling, but not uncomfortable.
"Child."
"Yes."
"That brutality you loathe... it protected me and your dear friends."
Her embrace felt dreamlike haze.
"No shame, no fear. The blood on your hands... is the pride you earned staking your life."
"..."
No words. The lump in my chest melted away. Not sad, yet tears welled.
Master calmly wiped my eyes. "Boys who cry over this... won't find a bride."
"Hehe... then I'll live with you, Master."
She chuckled softly. "Hehe, my dream is you finding a fine partner. Don't say such things."
Had I ever opened my heart like this? Through orphanage and past life. Master's side felt impossibly soothing. Wanted that damn mark gone quick, for Tia master to live forever.
Lost in our world, a voice shattered the warmth.
"Dodo!! You won! So proud, really really!!"
Fully recovered Ellen bounded over, slapping my back.
"Heh, mind your poise, miss."
I grinned and teased; she finally dialed down her bouncing energy.
"H-Hmph! I know that! More importantly!"
Ellen inhaled deep, then yelled to all:
"Everyone!! Bell and I, we're getting married nowwww!!!"
"H...? M-Miss!"
Oof...! Even a lame cow goads when cornered—Ellen floored it, nailing the fait accompli. Absurd, but hilarious. Timing to trap Roni perfectly. Was this our wild Ellen? Compared to her tantrum days, heart swelled.
Thunderous cheers and applause rained. Ellen, drawing all eyes, looked every bit the leader. I smirked at Roni amid stifled laughs. Heh... poor bastard's eyes trembled nonstop.