Chapter 39: Mana Surge
Nox closed the distance in a heartbeat, the Blade a blur aimed at Lola’s chest. He had put everything into that first strike, hoping to catch her off guard with the speed. For a split second, it looked like she was going to meet him head-on, her daggers raised to parry.
Then, just as his sword was about to connect, she smirked. Her eyes, full of that amused glint, met his. She didn’t try to block. Instead, she moved with a sudden, fluid grace that was almost too fast to follow. She jumped, not back, but up and slightly to the side, twisting in mid-air like some kind of acrobat.
Before he could even register the change, her booted foot lashed out. It connected solidly with his chest, right where his sword had been aimed.
’Oh, shit—’
The impact was brutal. It felt like getting hit by a damn truck. The air exploded from his lungs, and he went flying backward, tumbling through the air like a ragdoll. He crashed hard into the wall of a nearby building, the brick crumbling around him. The Blade clattered from his numb fingers.
He slid down the wall, landing in a heap of dust and broken masonry. His whole body screamed in protest. Every rib felt bruised, if not broken. That one kick had done more damage than the furry boss monster had managed in several hits.
Lola landed lightly on her feet, daggers still held ready, not even breathing hard. She strolled casually towards him, that smirk still on her face.
"Not bad, kid," she said, her voice dripping with condescension. "You’re fast, I’ll give you that. But speed without skill? That’s just a quick way to get yourself killed." She nudged his dropped sword with the toe of her boot. "You’re seriously outmatched here. Just stay down. It’ll be easier for everyone."
He coughed, a wet, ragged sound. He tasted blood in his mouth. He pushed himself up onto one elbow, his vision swimming for a second. His chest felt like it was on fire.
’Outmatched? Yeah, no kidding.’ But that itch, that damn itch for a fight, it was still there, stronger now, fueled by the pain and the sheer audacity of her kick. He didn’t care if he was outmatched. He just wanted to hit her. Hard.
His system pinged, a small, almost unnoticed notification.