Embrace The Chaos

"It's time for round two…" My voice was a whisper, lost in the echo of footsteps as I sprinted towards her at full speed.

"You're quick, but…" She effortlessly blocked my strike with a knife, leaning close to whisper in my ear.

"Not quick enough…"

'Well, it's not like I expect to beat her any time soon but…' As our weapons clashed, I seized the opportunity to deliver a powerful kick to her stomach, sending her stumbling backward.

"I know that I'm weaker than you. I'm a complete amateur at fighting after all. I have the techniques down but no practice. But guess what? I have the perfect stage to get that experience set for me…" Grinning wider, I raised my blade.

"You still want to fight me even though you're aware of your weakness? Do you have a death wish?" She licks her lips, a predatory glint in her eyes.

"Who knows?" I dash, closing the distance again as I slash at her.

"Oh my, You really are an amateur. I don't know where that confidence to beat me comes from, though?" She effortlessly blocks my strike once again. She flicks her wrist, producing a small knife that she throws in my direction.

I manage to almost avoid it but it grazes my shoulder.

"Damn, those are fast…" I glance back at her, but she's already vanished.

I feel a presence closing in behind me and quickly block the dagger with my blade. My feet slightly dig into the ground as I grit my teeth.

"Your senses are decent, but I can't help but think you came at me with the intention to die. Were you somewhat aware of my strength? I'm curious. Very curious indeed…" I feel a surge of danger and quickly lower myself to the ground. The air above me slices in half, a few strands of my hair getting shredded.

'She had two blades?! Fighting her at close quarters was already almost impossible, but now…' I leap back, landing on the ground, but I don't lose sight of her.

"Very good. You're learning at a breakneck pace, but what good will it do if you're dead, right?" She licks her lips, her eyes dangerously narrowing. A shiver travels up my spine as the smile on my face widens.

'I underestimated her. This woman is more dangerous than I thought. I thought she preferred to fight in darkness because she couldn't afford to fight in close quarters but her strength is monstrous. I can't fight her head on or she will crush me…'

"I'm surprised. I thought that one would surely reach you. You're learning at a monstrous pace, considering you fought like a toddler with blades just moments ago." She flicks her hands again, and three small knives close in on me.

"Ouch, lady. Welp, all of my experience amounts to a couple of Jackie Chan movies so I can't really disagree, huh?" I manage to block one of the knives with my blade and evade another, but the third one embeds itself into my thigh.

'She predicted my movements? Damn, so this is how a pro fights…' I grit my teeth through the pain.

An unexpected system message materializes in front of me.

[ Poisoned Status Afflicted ]

"Poison?" My eyes widen as I gaze down at the knife in my thigh.

"Oh my, you caught that quite fast! My poison is undetectable until it starts to take effect. How did you realize, I wonder?" She leisurely walks towards me.

'Fuck, I've already been put on a timer. I got a bit too cocky. I said I would abuse this Authority, but damn does it hurt like shit!' Despite the pain, a huge grin remains plastered on my face.

"You are quite strange. You're still smiling even faced with your potential death…" I hear her footsteps drawing closer.

I grasp the handle of the knife lodged in my thigh and attempt to pull it out.

"AGH! FUCK, IT HURTS!" I manage to get the knife only halfway out.

'They make it look so easy in movies…' A wry, joking smile forms on my face.

"If you put in too much of a struggle, you will only end up hurting more," She says.

'Oh, I can't move… is this the poison taking effect?' My arms hang limply at my sides as I muster the strength to lift my head, meeting her gaze.

She halts in front of me and gracefully crouches down, bringing her eyes level with mine.

"I have never quite encountered someone as daring as you. With a bit more experience, perhaps we could have had a truly exhilarating bout…" She places her hand on my cheek, a touch both gentle and unsettling.

"Oh my, you're still smiling. Let's see." Her gaze locks onto mine, and I'm entranced by the deep, dark abyss of her eyes. They seem like an endless well, pulling me in.

"Let me make a guess. You seem new to fights. That smile of yours reveals an addiction to the rush and excitement of battle. Your life must have been rather dull before all this, wouldn't you say?" She whispers, her calm smile persisting.

My eyes widen as the smile on my face slowly warps into a wry one.

"Yeah, it was boring as hell. Imagine being chained to a bed and being told you could die at any moment your entire life. So…I'm addicted to the rush of adrenaline, huh? Damn…you might be right. Even though it hurts like hell, I still prefer it to that living nightmare…" My eyes, which were locked onto hers, darken.

"Ara…I like those eyes. Boredom, huh? Funny, isn't it? How boredom, like a silent assassin, can slip into the room of a man's soul. Your life was a stagnant pond, chained to a bed of monotony. But fear not, for today, I shall grant you the sweet release of excitement. Embrace the chaos, my darling, for it is far more invigorating than the slow death of a dull existence." She whispers, her fingers sensually running through my hair.

Her words strike me to my core, and I find myself rendered speechless, staring blankly back at her.

"Embrace the chaos…" A wry smile graces my lips.

"That sounds like something straight out of a chuuni novel, but I have to hand it to you. You probably summed up my entire life better than I ever could…" I close my eyes, surrendering to the sensation of her touch.

"Oh my, how cute. Look at you, you look like a baby…" She pinches my cheek with her fingers and playfully pulls on it.

"Shtaap it…" I protest as she lets go, and I pout at her.

"How cute, it makes me want to see the color of your insides even more…" The smile on her face widens as a faint blush rises on her cheeks.

"…" All she receives from me is a blank stare.

"Honest question. How do you expect me to react to that?" I inquire with a deadpan expression.

For the first time in her life, Elsa Granhiert felt genuinely stumped.

"I really thought that would elicit some fear from you. Alas, I was disappointed. But this is fine too." She raises her knife at me.

"Don't go for the belly, pretty please?"

"Oh? You know of my preference?" She raises an eyebrow.

"Yep, learned it the hard way…" I mutter.

"So? Any last words?"

'Game over, huh? Will the Authority work again? Fuck, I'm getting second thoughts about this…'

"Hm…Let's see…" A thoughtful expression crosses my face.

"Ah! I never got your name." I direct my gaze at her.

"…" She meets my eyes with surprise.

"Haha…you are the most interesting human I have ever met in my life…" An amused smile graces her face as she gazes back at me.

"It's Elsa. Elsa Granhiert…"

With those final words, she swings her blade and separates my head from my shoulders.

…

"Ryota? What's the matter?" I hear a soft voice.

"…woah." I mutter.

"That felt seamless as hell. Thank god it worked…I was getting worried at the end there…" I sigh in slight relief.

"Ryota? Why did you stop?" I look up and find Emilia looking back at me.

"It's nothing. Don't worry." I glance down at my body and flex my muscles.

'Everything seems fine. Fucking hell, what a broken ability…' I smile wryly.

"Oh yeah, Puck! I have a request! Can you come out of Emilia's freaking hair for a second?" I say with an exasperated tone.

"Haha. Why do I get the feeling that you're jealous~nya?" He playfully flies out of Emilia's hair, landing in my palm with a smug face.

"Is it really that comfortable in there?" I ask as I playfully rub his head with my finger.

"Of course it is! It's nice and fluffy, and it smells good too. How about it? There might be a spell to shrink someone in the Forbidden Library…"

"That doesn't sound bad at all…" I reply with a serious expression.

"Ryota! I'm not letting you live in my hair!" I hear an embarrassed voice.

"Anyway listen, Puck. I have a request. You can use ice magic, right? Can you make me a pair of ice daggers that I could use?" I ask.

Puck looks up at me with a confused and curious expression.

"Ice weapons? Well, I suppose, I could shape a decent blade with my ice. Believe it or not, my precision with ice is second to none!" The small cat puffs out his chest.

"But what is it for?" The cat asks me curiously.

"I don't have any weapons. What if someone attacks us? I don't want to be dead weight for you guys." I give an excuse.

"Well, that makes sense. I can only ensure the weapons won't melt for two days without a proper mana supply, though."

"Yeah, that's perfect. Make sure they're sharp and durable. Make it so that they can handle multiple hits from sadistic hot women that want to slice my stomach open."

"That is oddly specific. Okay, here goes!" Puck raises his paws in the air as the temperature around us drops.

Slowly, two exquisite ice daggers materialize, reflecting the ambient light in a mesmerizing display, appearing as delicate as glass.

I touch the blade handle and examine it.

"The handle doesn't feel cold to the touch. Are you sure this will withstand heavy strikes? It looks fragile as hell." I raise an eyebrow.

Emilia inspects the blade and looks at me.

"Don't let its appearance deceive you. They are made from spirit magic. They won't break easily. To be honest, they are more likely to melt than break from anything…"

"Perfect…" The two blades dissipate into thin air as I turn to Emilia.

Emilia looks surprised at the blade's disappearance but doesn't get the chance to ask me any questions.

"Emilia, I will find your insignia, so stay here." With that, I turn around, leap onto a nearby rooftop, and sprint towards the direction of the slums.

"Ryota!" Emilia calls after me.

I continue running in the slum's direction, a smile rising on my face.

'Here we go again…'