THUD!
She continues trying to grip her sword tightly; her body shakes, and fear grows.
THUD!
Zeco steps closer, giving her space to rise.
THUD!
Isabelle forces herself up, her body torn open with wounds.
CKHAM!
One foot stomps hard; she half rises from her bowed position, still gripping her sword as she trembles.
THUD!
Zeco stops before her.
He raises both brows, frowning as he stares at her sharply.
"Be gone from my sight!" he says.
SC—
Isabelle raises her blade straight ahead.
—SWHAAHMN!
The gleaming edge, under the sunlight, points sharply at Zeco.
"Tch!" Zeco clicks his tongue in irritation.
SCKHWAAAAHMN!
Zeco suddenly charges.
SSHHHH!
Isabelle drives one foot forward.
PKHAHMN!
Zeco leaps briefly into the air—
Isabelle assumes her stance…
—drawing her sword back, ready to swing.
…pulling it further back, the tip aligned forward.
Zeco has already swung—
—Isabelle braces for the impact.
SCLAAAAAAAAAANGN!
The two blades collide with tremendous force.
Zeco presses; Isabelle resists, gathering all her strength forward.
CLIIIIING—CLAAAANG—CLIIIIING—CLAAAANG—CLIIIIING—CLAAAANG!
Zeco attacks relentlessly; Isabelle defends with everything she has.
"You will do it yourself…" Zeco says halfway, his sword already coming down from above—
SCLHAAAAAAAAAHSH!
The first strike.
—it cuts viciously across her entire body from shoulder to the side of her abdomen.
"…or I will do it myself!"
Isabelle grits her teeth, holding back the blood surging from her mouth.
THAD—THUD—
She steps back twice…
—CRASH!
…and stops.
SCHSHH!
Once again she drives one foot forward, draws her sword back, preparing to endure, preparing to block the final strike that will end her life.
The wind is no longer felt by them.
The pressure is immense; Isabelle is given space once more.
"Huft." Zeco exhales softly.
Isabelle's breathing becomes ragged; she can no longer remain calm.
"How resilient," he says.
"Why must it be so?" he asks.
SCKHAAAAAHM!
Zeco charges again; Isabelle stands firm.
"What are you waiting for?" he asks again.
Zeco draws his sword back, ready to strike—
SCPCLAAAAAANGGNH!
—their blades clash once more.
"I do not know."
Isabelle gathers all her remaining strength for the next exchange.
"But—!"
CLAAANG—CLIIING—CLAAANG—CLIIING—CLAAANG—CLIIING!
Zeco presses with extreme force, advancing step by step. Isabelle is pushed back repeatedly, her strength completely drained.
A fatal opening appears—wide open.
"I no longer wish to know."
Zeco takes a breath.
"Because you are no longer my equal!"
He pulls his sword back.
His stance changes.
Lower.
"At this point…"
An unusual angle.
Isabelle tries to raise her sword again—
But her wounds restrain her; her movements grow stiff.
SCKHWAAAHMN!
Zeco charges.
Extremely fast.
Extremely close.
Straight into the dead zone of a greatsword's reach.
Too close for a full swing.
His blade curves.
If that strike lands—
"Goodbye!"
—it will end her life.
---
HLAAAHSHH!
The wind blows softly between them.
Both remain still. Leon stands with a flat expression, his pupils absent. His head tilts slightly as his hair sways gently.
Loki is stunned. He turns fully, staring at him sharply.
DAK!
"Is that really you?!" he says, his expression filled with disbelief.
DUK!
Leon steps closer.
DAK!
Loki clenches both fists—
SHCKHWAAAAAAHMN!
—Leon suddenly charges.
"HUH?!" Loki frowns.
Leon leaps briefly into the air before him—
"What are you—"
—All the fingers of one hand sharpen and draw fully back.
Loki freezes, unable to move.
SCKPLAAAAAAAAHSH!
Leon slashes across Loki's entire body—
"UKH!"
—with nothing but his outstretched hand.
Loki furrows his brows.
"AGHT!" Blood bursts from his mouth. Wounds tear across his body from shoulder to side of the abdomen as he staggers backward.
DUK!
Leon steps forward again, closing the gap.
DAK!
"Ekh… damn—" Loki hisses, clutching his chest.
DUK!
"—My adrenaline… it's been too long…" he murmurs, lifting his head to stare deeply at Leon.
DAK!
Leon's steps grow faster—
SHCKHWAAAAAAHMN!
—he charges again.
"LEON—"
Leon does not leap this time. His hand is already drawn back, fingers fully extended.
Loki grits his teeth. The distance is too close—he freezes again.
Leon prepares to strike—
"COME TO YOUR SENSES!"
—However—
CPTKHAAAAAAAAHMN!
Loki kicks his spleen.
"—EGGH!" Leon lets out a strained sound, his face tightening.
SPCKHWAAAAAAHMN!
A short burst of air explodes—throwing Leon slightly away.
SLHSHHSHHH!
His feet drag across the ground until—
BRAK!
—he plants them and stops.
DAK!
His body leans forward slightly, his face tightening—the vital strike has landed.
DUK!
Loki walks toward him slowly.
His attack lands fully, taking advantage of Leon's lapse.
DAK!
"I already know all of this is nothing but a fabricated story—to make us betray and become fugitives of the world."
DUK!
Leon slowly straightens again.
DAK!
Loki stops walking, raising his brows as he stares deeply at him—
In an instant—
SCKWHAAAAAAAHMN!
—Leon charges again.
…Loki smiles faintly, filled with warmth and deep longing.
Leon draws his arm back, fingers extended.
"I truly can't believe this…" Loki says, biting his lip.