Zeco immediately twists his wrist.
The angle of his sword changes.
"In that case,"
He pulls the sword straight back.
SCSHH!
One small step drives forward.
"As the final effort of his life…"
SKWHAAAAAAAHMN—
Zeco suddenly charges.
"…he will present everything he can—"
Isabelle pulls her sword back.
"—before his death!"
—Zeco leaps briefly into the air before her, his sword swinging forward—
CLAAAAAAAAAANGHN!
The two blades collide violently—
—SCLASH!
Sparks scatter before their faces.
They both pull their swords back, ready to swing and strike—
CLIIIIING—CLAAAANG—CLIIIIING—CLAAAANG—CLIIIIING—CLAAAANG!
Steel clashes relentlessly once more. Every attack from Zeco is blocked and countered, shifting him from pressure to being pressured.
However—
—one step forward.
CLAAANG—CLIIING—CLAAANG—CLIIING—CLAAANG—CLIIING!
Steel continues to collide. Isabelle reverses the flow, pressing him continuously.
Zeco needs one step forward.
CLAAAAAAAAAAANG!
Zeco attacks again—Isabelle blocks.
CLIIIIIIIIIIIINGHN!
Sparks burst again between their faces.
Both instantly pull their swords back behind their bodies—
"This is it…" Zeco murmurs.
They both swing forward—
—CLAAAAAAAAAAANG!
His attack is blocked again—an overhead strike aimed at her head is stopped.
However—
"…my final attempt!"
—Zeco gains one step forward.
SCWAAAAAAAAAHSH—
From above, he sharply rotates the blade toward Isabelle's ribs—
However—
—SCPLAAAAAAAAHSH!
—Isabelle delivers a full slash across Zeco's entire body. He is beaten to it again.
—SKWHAAAAAHLHSH!
Blood bursts violently. Zeco is stunned as numerous wounds appear across his body.
BLUARK—blood gushes from his mouth, running down his chin.
He has lost too much blood—
"AKH!" Blood surges again from his mouth; he grits his teeth harder to suppress it.
—two more strikes will end his life.
Isabelle does not stop to give space or distance; she draws her sword again.
Zeco's grip trembles and weakens. He staggers backward several steps, no longer able to fully support himself.
Isabelle swings—
Zeco stands frozen, drained of strength. His expression turns flat, brows raised with a bitter gaze.
First slash—
—SCPKLAAAAAAAHSH!
It lands fully, tearing across his body, forming intersecting wounds.
Isabelle raises her sword high.
Resigned—
The final strike is ready to fall.
—Zeco accepts it without resistance. With his wounds wide open, he no longer has the strength to defend.
With that—
Second slash—
"Just end my life!" Zeco says to her.
Isabelle's movement stops—
—she gives space, no longer attacking.
DAK—DUK—DAK!
Zeco staggers backward.
"Hmph…?" he murmurs, confused.
SPKHWAAHSHHH!
Blood gushes again. His body slumps, trembling violently, both arms hanging between his legs.
Isabelle is stunned—
Unnoticed by Zeco, his body begins to stop trembling.
SHHHHSHH!
Steam-like vapor rises from his chest to his side.
His body gradually straightens again.
His grip on the sword tightens.
SHHHHH!
His wounds begin to close. Zeco raises his brows, staring sharply at Isabelle.
"What is this?" he says.
He tilts his head slightly.
"You are the one who is afraid now?!"
For the first time—
Zeco lowers his gaze, staring bitterly at his own body.
—Isabelle frowns, gritting her teeth.
SWHAAAAAAAHMNN!
Isabelle suddenly charges.
"Disgusting…" Zeco murmurs.
Isabelle leaps briefly into the air—
"Tch!" he clicks his tongue.
—drawing her sword fully behind her body.
"For some reason…" he says.
Isabelle has already swung forward—
CLAAAAAAAANGHN!
The two blades collide violently.
They both pull their swords back again, already swinging, both ready to strike—
CLIIIIING—CLAAAANG—CLIIIIING—CLAAAANG—CLIIIIING—CLAAAANG!
Steel clashes endlessly once more. Every attack from Isabelle is blocked and countered, shifting her from pressing to being pressured.
"I feel utterly disgusted with myself, you know?!" he says.
Isabelle frowns, anger rising beneath her fear.
SCSHHH!
She drives one foot forward, pulling her sword back, the tip aligned ahead—
SCWHAAAAAAAHMN!
She immediately charges.
CLAAAAAAAANGHN!
The two blades collide fiercely.
Both instantly pull their swords back again; Zeco has already swung, Isabelle braces to defend and strike, Zeco ready to cut—
CLAAANG—CLIIING—CLAAANG—CLIIING—CLAAANG—CLIIING!
Steel clashes violently once more. Zeco reverses the flow completely, pressing her relentlessly after being pressured before.
"However—" Zeco says.
He swings his arm without resetting or using a stance—
"I feel even more disgusted seeing you before me!"
SCKPLAAAAAAAAHSH!
A full slash lands heavily across her entire body, from the side of the abdomen to the upper shoulder.
SCKWAHSH!
Isabelle is thrown several steps backward.
BRAAKKH!
Her feet slam into the ground.
"It feels…"
SHHHH!
Zeco drives one foot forward; the distance closes instantly, leaving no space for Isabelle—
Zeco stares at her sharply.
"I very much wish to kill you as quickly as possible," he says.
PCKSWAAAAAAAAASH!
From the side of her abdomen to her upper shoulder, Zeco delivers a long, deep slash that lands fully.
THUD—THUMP—THUD—THUMP—THUD—
Isabelle staggers backward several steps.
—CRASH!
She falls forward, head bowed. One knee hits the ground, the other supports her body, her sword planted as she trembles.
CPKHAAAAAAHSH!
Blood bursts violently from her wound—
—BLUARKH!
In only two slashes—
Blood pours from her mouth, running down her chin.
—Isabelle has lost far too much blood—
—two more strikes will end her life.