Playing and Baiting

"We can't let a lady lose her teeth. I'll go next."

"HAH!?"

Berdan, who had dark skin, muscular and squarish face. With his crew cut, he seemed the guy not to be messed with.

When he thought that he was doing this for Anya, he was speechless by her reaction.

Before anyone could say anything, Ayensi butted in.

"Let her take on the challenge. She is an Imperial Knight too. Don't underestimate her."

"Hmph!" Anya glared at Berdan before going facing Ayensi a few meters away.

"What? I'm not underestimating her, I was just-!"

Berdan was about to justify himself when he felt a pull from below. Justin, who was pathetically crouching even though his teeth were just taken out, looked at him with sympathy and shook his head.

A nerve popped out and Berdan slapped Justin's hand away.

'Don't sympathize with me! I'm far from your position!'

Although he only said that in his mind, his glare was enough to transfer this message.

But Justin only raised his hands and smirked before shaking his head in "defeat"

'This little!' Berdan wanted to punch Justin's face right now.

After all, no matter how strong that punch will be, it's not like Justin will lose a tooth...

Back to the scene, Anya was grateful to Ayensi for not looking down on her.

However, Ayensi only said that because she might be spared. He didn't care if she's a girl, he wants the satisfaction of pulling their teeth out just because they looked at him with disrespect.

If talking about who the most prideful is, Shiena is the second, and Ayensi is the first!

These Imperial Knights' vain could not be compared to these two.

'In other words, from the very start, they were already being punished!' Spirit realized Ayensi's intention.

Anya was actually the strongest under Captain Gragan, overall. But in terms of brute force, she was third.

However, the gap between her and Justin is still vast. If Justin's full power attack was making Ayensi "flinch" she was confident that she could pierce his skin and make him bleed!

"I have a question."

"What is it?" Ayensi tolerated.

"Is a single technique considered one try?"

"Sure, but just make sure that it is a single technique. If you chose that reason to make more hits, then I'll take all of your teeth at once."

"Agreed"

With that in mind, Anya's eyes flickered a spark. She raised her light yet durable sword and attacked.

[Radiance of a Thousand Cuts!]

The sheen of her blade illuminated her surroundings as she executed one chain of movement with a thousand swings!

From her speed, afterimages could be seen forming an orb. Together with sheen, it gave an illusion that there was an orb of light present in her attacks.

"Siii~!"

She used one breath to execute her technique.

'Scratch that one part, little by little until it bleeds!'

Watching from the shadows, Spirit was a bit impressed by Anya's accuracy and precision. Each hit was almost hitting the same spot while having enormous speed without losing the flow and weight of each attack.

Imperial Knights are the cream of the crop in the Mealma's military. After all, they are the ones that will guard the Great Emperor who meets assassination on a monthly basis.

Each assassin is a league of their own.

The shining sword struck a thousand times in just a minute. Her focus and stamina were very impressive.

"Haa..." Anya caught her breath. She was satisfied with the result.

However...

"Two tries left." Ayensi said.

He just had his left palm raised casually.

"..."

Anya was speechless for a moment.

'But that was already my best...'

Seeing the palm without any scratch hit Anya hard.

'H-how...?'

Subconsciously, she stepped forward to observe Ayensi's palm.

"Why is there not even a scratch? I swear I hit the same spot a thousand times..."

"No, there is a scratch. Look here." Ayensi, with a feign of hands, slightly scratched himself. Enough to tear a few layers of his skin but not enough to make it bleed.

"You're right." Anya felt relieved.

'Maybe I used too much focus on that technique that my head got jumbled a bit.'

The sparks in her eyes returned.

'A few more layers and I will surely dig into his skin and cut a vein!'

Thus, she repeated her technique. The awe-inspiring radiance revealed itself again.

...

"One more try."

Anya was stupefied. She was so sure that it was enough. However, she was wrong.

'No, this last one should be enough!'

Seeing the fervor in her eyes, the Guardian of Spirit slightly pitied her.

'You are just getting played...'

Anya pushed herself to her limits and repeated her difficult technique.

...

"Okay, open your mouth."

"H-how!?"

Anya now lost her composure.

Berdan who watched from the sidelines couldn't take it anymore.

"Give the punishment to me!" he ran forward-

"Too late"

Ayensi then took out Anya's front tooth easily.

"You heartless man!" Berdan shouted as he ran to Anya.

Women generally cared for their looks more. If Justin reacted like that earlier, what more of Anya?

"Anya, let me take care of this." Berdan said with a worried tone.

"Shut up!" but Anya pushed him aside with teary eyes, "I can do this by myself! I will try again! That scratch is deep enough. Just a little more, it will bleed!"

She confidently smirked.

At the back, Shiena internally laughed.

'Master Yensi is so mischievous, baiting her like that.'

...

"One more try!"

...

"This time, it will definitely bleed."

...

"Why won't it bleed!?"

...

"Ai kant los!"

...

As if her teeth were her life points, Anya dropped onto the ground after she lost all her teeth.

Ayensi expected Anya to dramatized as Justin did. However, she just laid down there and silently cried.

Somehow, Ayensi didn't found his satisfaction.

"You're heartless, how could not spare her!?" Berdan shouted at him.

'Heartless...?' Ayensi's brows twitched a little. But soon, he ignored it.

"She agreed with the bet. She lost and she deserves it. Are you next?"

Shiena and Spirit both frowned.

'Is Master in bad mood?'