Chapter 25: Juha Bara

"Wonderful!" She cheered and hugs me tightly.

"However, you will do exactly as I say. You will provide me with concrete information if I ask you to, no lies, and should you try to betray me...I will kill you."

"Hmm. I understand." She didn't show any reaction towards my warning.

"And about our...mating..." God, this is embarrassing. She turn towards me with probably an intense gaze despite the mask covering her face.

"We will only do so when I reach the top. You brought me a good argument and since our goals are aligned with each other, I will fulfill my end of the bargain. Once everything is all over...I will make you mine."

"...Oh~ I can't wait, my king."

Haah. I'm probably gonna regret this.

"Let's go."

I turn back and return to my nest. Juha, Whity, and my battle drones follow behind me. Things just got complicated. I can already feel a headache coming from a mile away.

...

"As expected of you. This place is marvelous. I haven't seen this type of achecture before."

We are currently at the heart of my nest. Various drones can be seen working in every facility.

"Your nest looks like a city, my king. For so long, all the sentients I encountered always has a nest that are littered with stenches, gore, and piles of rotten flesh. All of its residence are also has many types of Undead that they decided to recruit. Yours are mostly comprised of machines. This place is so clean that I might mistake it as a settlement of the hannis."

"...hmm. Listen up, now that we are partners in this...quest, you will be provided a room of your own on my settlement. I have plenty of rooms so you can choose any of them if it soothes to your liking."

"Can't I share a room with you, my king."

"No."

"Oh. Party popper."

"Anyway, come at the training facility tomorrow. One of my drones will guide you where it is. We will have a sparring match. I want to know what you're really capable of so don't hold back."

"...very well. If you can make me though, my king. No disrespect of course."

"None taken."

...

Both of us entered the training facility the very next day. I stood on the right side and her on the other. Whity is on the far side, happily devouring some of the undead flesh.

"Don't hold back." I prepared myself as I assume my fighting stance.

"Just like I said before, my king. Only if you can make me."

I suddenly dashed towards her and tried to deliver an axe kick. She tilted to her side and step back for a few distance, letting my attack hit the floor. I immediately followed her and showered her with my attacks. All of them are dodged in a graceful manner. I observe her movements and noticed that her speed is a little bit slower than mine, however I can't seem to hit her. She always timed my attack and phases all of my assault.

I gritted my teeth in realization. She's reading my moves. It's as if she can predict where I would try to hit her. Damn it.

"Come on, my king. I know you can do better than this."

"...fine."

I jump a few feet in the air and landed a a few distance from her. I clinched my fists and tried to call on the power I felt that day.

"...haah..."

A black miasma came out of my mouth as well as my entire body. My muscles had tensed and I could feel myself getting stronger.

Clap. Clap.

Juha just clapped her hands together and looks at me in a weird gesture.

"Wow, that is just so hot~. Just thinking about you using that form when we're finally gonna 'ahem' is just so kinky. A quick question. Does it affect your 'ahem' ?"

"..."

"..."

"...I'm gonna attack you right now."

"Don't worry, my king. I like it rough."

Aaaah!

I dashed at her again with a speed far greater than before. All my attacks carry the weight of a force that can shatter pure diamonds. Despite this, she was still being able to dodge my attack. She didn't use any of her moves do far. She's just the same as before. Not to mention, her annoying comments whenever I failed to hit her.

"So feisty, so wild, oh wow~"

Woman! Just stop talking!

I went down below and tried to kick her ankles but she jumped uphigh and use my chest as a makeshift trampoline to gain a few distance from me.

"Stop playing games with me, Juha."

"Oh? Whatever you mean, my king."

"Take this matter seriously. Try to hit me for once. All you ever did till now is just avoiding my attacks."

"Well, my king. Like I said, only if you can make me. So far, your performance is quite dissapointing. Don't tell me that your victory with Labak is just a fluke? If so, that is just sad."

This is just frustrating. I'm faster and stronger in this form but I can't still hit her. What am I doing wrong?

"How about we play a little game?"

"What?"

"A game. Just a simple cat and mouse game. If you are able to touch me even just barely, I will show you one of my ability."

"...and if you win?"

"Hmm...that's a secret. So how about it?"

I feel like I'm walking into a trap. However, having a visual of another sentients ability may gave me a little understanding of my biology but then...if I lose... no, enough. Focus on victory. Sure her request could not be outrageous, right? Right? Damn it, I'm a little anxious now. I must win this.

"Fine."

"Thank you. Now let the games begin."

I quickly ran towards her and raised my hand as to reach her. She ducked and lightly tilted my form in mid-air, causing me to crash to the floor.

"I will not hit you, my king. But that doesn't mean I won't try other means."

"Very well."

I resume my assault. The training facility was soon became our playground. I would try to reach her but she always avoided my attacks. Not good, I'm not making any progress at all. I have to study her movements...

Our sparring session lasted 2 hours with me just trying to reach her. I finally got a good read on her movements. It just took a lot of trial and error but I was able to analyze her pattern now. I just need a good opening. I dashed at her again and she tilted to her side to try to avoid me. Just like I planned. I went below and tried kick her legs, she jumped up. I immediately extended my hands to reach her. No matter what, you can't dodge in midair. She tilted her body to the side just bare avoiding my hands and flipped a few steps backwards.

Damn it. No matter, let's try again. I resume our session and now I'm currently right at her side delivering a right kick. She ducked and rolled below and tried to gain some distance again.

Not this time!

I spin my body mid-air and reached my left right towards her pointy hat. She tried to increase her speed but it was too late. The tip of my middle finger was able to touch the edge of her hat before she completely vanished from my sight.

I dropped to the floor in a light thud and saw Juha rearranging her hat. Heh, finally got her.

"Good work. As expected of my future husband."

Where the hell did the husband part came from?

"Now since you were able to touch me even just a tiny bit, you deserve your reward. Such a shame though. If I would have won, I could finally fulfill some of my fantasies. Haah. Should have made a timer for that one."

The last one was barely a whisper but I still clearly heard it.

"What?"

"Alright. Now my king, please watch me closely. Ehehehe~"

"..."

A white aura suddenly envelope her entire body. Then her back suddenly bulge and a few moments later, a massive white wings came out of her back. Her white wings is shrouded in pure ice crystals and a white mist is surrounding her all around.

"Bare witness my form. I am all cold. The frost is my strength." Her voice changed. It felt like a voice of a devine being. It echoes softly. So this is a power of a sentient.

"I gained this gained power together with 'him'. When I'm like this, I control all matter of coldness."

She looks...majestic. I can also feel her power from here.

"Is this your full power?"

"Ahaha. No my dear king. This is just a small fraction of it. If I went all out...now that would be telling. So what do you think? Is this enough?"

"It is. Thank you, Juha."

"Always a pleasure, my king."

She reverted back to her old form and started hugging on my right arm.

"Ehehehehe~. My King's arm~"

I let out a sigh. Thanks to her demonstration, I got a few things I learned from it so I'll let her off the hook this time. Whity is already long gone from here.

At least it wasn't all that bad. I talked to Juha about training me to both body and mind and she happily agreed. I put a schedule on what date to train as I focus on improving my battle prowess and work on my projects separately. The following days are gonna be hectic for sure.