Belle's eyes blazed with determination like a raging flame.
Judas stood silently, gauntleted fists lowered but ready, his sharp gaze studying her movements.
Then—
Boom!
The ground beneath Belle cracked as she lunged forward.
Her speed had multiplied... her body lighter, sharper, and more precise than before.
The dull ache in her limbs was gone.
Now there was only focus... pure, refined movement.
She struck first, her remaining dagger flashing toward his throat.
Judas tilted his head slightly... only to feel a sudden gust from below.
'A feint!'
Belle pivoted on her heel, her other hand sweeping up a hidden knife she had drawn from her boot, slashing in a clean arc toward his side.
Clang!
Judas barely managed to block with his gauntlet.
The sheer force behind that strike surprised him... it wasn't just raw power; it was perfect timing and leverage.
'I can see it... the shadow of Miss Alfia in her movements.'
'Just how much grueling training has she endured until now?'
A faint smirk crossed his lips.
Belle pressed on, her focus razor-sharp.
She moved again, her style now a blur of rhythm and precision... every motion flowing seamlessly into the next.
Her footwork was tight and deliberate, each step guided by instinct, her center of gravity shifting effortlessly to maintain balance.
Her eyes tracked every twitch of Judas's muscles, reading his movements before he could even react.
A dagger thrust... redirected into a spin.
A block... turned into a counterstrike.
Every motion was a lesson carved into her bones through years of harsh drills under Alfia's unyielding gaze.
Judas blocked another flurry of attacks, but even he had to take a step back.
The rhythm of her offense was suffocating, unrelenting, and beautifully calculated.
'Impressive... she actually made me take a step back.'
'She's not fighting like a rookie adventurer. She's fighting like someone who's faced death head-on many times.'
Belle ducked under his sweeping strike, rolled to the side, and with a flick of her wrist, sent her dagger spinning toward his blind spot.
Judas caught it midair with his gauntlet... only for Belle to use that split-second distraction to close the gap.
Her knee shot up toward his chest.
Thud!
The impact forced Judas to slide back a few inches, his expression tightening.
'That was close.'
He sighed in relief and looked at Belle, whose cheeks puffed up in frustration.
"I almost landed a hit... Judas, you're so unfair."
She pouted at the palm that caught her knee, halting her assault completely.
He released her and quickly regained his stance.
Belle twirled her dagger back into her hand, her breathing steady despite the pace.
"You're not bad yourself."
"You've learned to read movements... and predict intent."
He said, brushing dust off his shoulder.
"Mother doesn't go easy on me. I learned the hard way that she punishes every wasted motion."
Belle smiled faintly, wiping the sweat from her brow.
"I can tell."
Judas replied with a soft chuckle.
"It seems like you've found your own style."
He straightened, exhaling through his nose.
"I had to," Belle said quietly.
"I want to become a hero... so that the people I care about can smile. And also..."
Her grip tightened on her daggers, color rising to her cheeks.
"There's someone I look up to. Someone I admire very much... and I want to be worthy of standing beside that person one day."
Her voice nearly squeaked, but her eyes remained unwavering.
If Freya could see Belle's soul right now, it would be shining brilliantly... brighter than ever before.
The Falna on her back flared to life, the divine symbol of Hestia's blessing glowing in threads of light.
From the sidelines, Alfia leaned forward slightly.
"Limit Off."
She muttered quietly as her eyelids opened.
'What!?'
Shock flickered in Judas's eyes... not because Belle had unlocked Limit Off, but because of her earlier words.
'A person she admires? She already has one?'
His mind drifted to the golden-haired girl of the Loki Familia... the heroine of the story, Ais Wallenstein.
'No... wait. Those two shouldn't have met yet.'
Then he saw the dreamy, soft gaze in Belle's eyes... locked firmly on him.
'The person she looks up to... is it—'
He didn't dare finish that thought.
"Judas, I want to win!"
Belle shouted. She could feel a power surging within her, strengthening every part of her body.
She didn't know what it was... but she didn't have time to think.
The only thing she knew, deep in her instincts, was that in this state... she felt like she could win against anyone.
"You want to win?"
Judas said, his tone low and fierce.
"Then earn it."
In an instant, they moved again... two blurs colliding beneath the soft light filtering through the training grounds.
Each strike was fast and sharp.
'Faster!'
Belle's daggers clashed against Judas's gauntlets like ringing chimes of steel.
'Stronger!'
She roared in her heart.
To anyone watching, it would've been hard to believe this was the same clumsy, timid girl who idolized heroes.
Now, her technique... her composure... was that of one.
When the clash finally broke apart, both stood several paces away, breathing heavily but smiling faintly at each other.
'Amazing... if Belle had fought Zanis Lustra like this...'
He compared the captain of the Soma Familia to the Belle before him.
'She might've actually won.'
He had no doubt about it... Belle could contend with a Level 2 adventurer with her level of skill and technique.
And with Limit Off active, her chances of victory tilted even further in her favor.
For a moment, silence filled the air.
Then Judas smiled faintly, eyes gleaming with genuine respect.
"Belle... I'm ending this right here and now."
His tone was calm, but resolute.
"What a coincidence, Judas... I was thinking the same thing."
Belle lowered her stance, her dagger poised to strike again.
The ground cracked beneath her feet as the next round began... fiercer, faster, and far more intense than before.
Belle hurled her dagger like a silver star.
Judas blocked it with his gauntlet as it ricocheted off.
But that was only a distraction.
Grabbing the spare dagger on her waist, she crouched low before him, striking while his arm was still raised.
Her dagger darted forward... fastest, cleanest, most precise strike she'd ever thrown.
'I can do it!'
Her heart pounded... victory within reach.
However—
"Too slow."
Reality hit.
Judas moved faster than her eyes could follow, his fist slamming into her gut.
"Argh!"
Belle grunted, the dagger slipping from her grasp.
Before she could recover, Judas kicked her weapon away and stopped his fist an inch from her cheek.
"It's my win."
----
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