At this speed and trajectory, I'm heading straight to where Flenn is–head first! Flipping my body over would be better but not ideal either, but I have to do something fast!
This water stream is still flowing strong despite me being launched so far…almost like a water hose or even…a tidal wave?
Vex straightens his legs in an upright position, then places his left foot down on the water stream beneath him–it doesn't fall through. Confirming that his weight is supported, he places his other foot down, now surfing the stream.
"Aha, so that's how this works. Makes sense–Perlina wouldn't do such a thing if it would injure me. Now then…"
Honing in on his target, Vex braces to land right where she stands, regardless of the unaffiliated people around her. The targeted person, quickly becoming aware of the hooded surfer launching at her specifically at high speed, hops to the side only narrowly avoiding the impact landing; if her reflexes were even just a second too late, she would have never known what happened to her. The remaining water from the stream does not conveniently evaporate–it rains down and splashes the surrounding bystanders, who have varying degrees of displeasure.
"Huh?!"
"Keep your gawking to yourself. Let's finish where we left off, shall we?"
"No…no no no, it can't be! You really are…"
"Miss Flenn, who is this guy? Do you know him? He kinda looks like…"
The young girl standing next to Flenn, Jan, scratches her head as she stares at the hooded figure who she can't seem to identify. She is using so much of her brain power to search her memories that she makes no reaction to her soaked hair dripping over her face.
"No, I don't–"
"First thing's first, where's Lily? I know that you took her along with her friend here on your happy vacation, so don't waste my time with your lies!"
The pair of noble guards, recovering from their shock, reinforce their stance.
"Halt! What exactly is going on here? Are you a hostile intruder?!"
"Guards, it's him–the guy I warned you about! He's after me like a deranged stalker!"
"Okay ma'am, you and the girl may take refuge within the palace. Please conduct your order of business–we'll handle this unwanted intruder!"
"Thank you so much for your service!"
"W-wait, Miss Flenn! Wait for me!"
Taking the opportunity provided by the guards, Flenn runs at full speed inside the gates, Jan barely able to tail behind her. Vex, not taking his eyes off his target for even a moment, attempts to follow her through the open palace gates. Before he could take two steps forward, the guards formed a barricade with their armored bodies shoulder to shoulder.
"You guards need to listen to me–that woman is lying! She is a criminal and she needs to pay for her crimes!"
"Shut-up and don't move any further! We'll have you escorted by our enforcement of justice squad. Stay right there where you are or you'll experience both of our curses combined! Geni, can you keep an eye on the people waiting behind? I will keep my eyes on this bloke until backup arrives."
"Got it, captain."
"You won't catch me standing."
"???"
A statement, just a simply said statement with no strong emotion attached to it, snatched the attention of both guards in an instant. By looking at their faces, it's as though one could see that something snapped within their minds.
"Huh?! Care to say that again or are you a little–?!"
CRASH!
The guards step forward simultaneously, but before they can take another step towards Vex, they slip and crash into each other, leaving the golden gates wide open.
"Oof, what the heck?!"
"Since when was the ground this slippery?…"
"Tch, these idiots never listen."
Though that's their problem, not mine!
With my dumb opposition out of commission, no one else is around to prevent me from pursuing my true enemy at the moment: that bunny.
Like a hunter and his prey, Vex pours all of his effort into chasing Flenn, managing to close the distance in under a minute. The palace grounds, made of smooth white stone that is also decorated with light blue accents, are at the mercy of the ruckus of squeaking coming from their damp shoes. Staying true to its namesake, there are small ponds, fountains, and various water structures within the Water Palace–fortunately for the two Dark Mercenaries, and by extension the other visitors, there is protective guard railing that separate the solid ground from the water-filled areas and the decorative plants contained within many. If there were an apt phrase to describe the Water Palace, it would be "an open air aquarium".
Realizing that the external terrain and abundance of sightseers are in no way slowing down Vex significantly, Flenn curses under her breath, retreating into the open palace.
Oh, does she think she can play hide-and-seek inside there? As long as that kid is trailing her, I will easily track her down.
Within the vast interior of the Water Palace contains many things that demand one's eyes to look at it and it alone–all at once. Miniature pools of water gleam in the center point of the corridor, a blueish tint illuminates the palace thanks to the filter of the water and glass windows, combining to create an underwater ambience even more intense than the palace grounds. Placed thoughtfully throughout, bejeweled statues depicting beautiful maidens look down upon their roaming admirers gracefully. If it were not for these statues, Vex would have a direct path to Flenn's tail. As though even the statues were on her side, one in particular points towards an entrance to a separate room from the main hall; Flenn does not think twice about following her guidance.
Dang it! I was so close to catching her in this area...who even designed this impractical palace? I swear if I have to chase her inside a more crowded room, I'm gonna–
BONK
"Ack!"
Against a wall lies Vex's smooshed face. A wall…that is not there at all?
"Huh? What did I bump into?"
No matter how many times I try stepping forward, I'm hitting a barrier despite me clearly seeing nothing but air in front of me…and that bunny running further and further away. There's only one explanation.
"Whoever is responsible for this curse, I kindly ask you to step out of my way. Though if you'd prefer, I can be much less kind about it."
"No thank you, mister bad guy!"
Stepping from behind the statue, a little girl reveals herself.
"Oh, it's you. Kid, this has nothing to do with you–stay out of the way and go play somewhere else."
"This is not a game! I am Jan, and I won't let you hurt Miss Flenn. I will keep you here until you get arrested. Then, I'll get a special treat!"
Now Flenn is resorting to bribing kids to cover her butt just so she can run away? What a low-life coward!
"Jan, I don't have the time or the patience to tell with childish foolishness. Your mother already pissed me off, it'd be better for you not to follow in her footsteps."
"Uh-uh, I'm not listening to you!"
"Tch!"
There's no way her curse has infinite range. I should be able to walk around it and–
Thump!
"?"
Okay, if not to the right, then the left?
Thump!
Backwards?
Thump!
"Kid…are you locking me in place?"
"Maaaybe. Still not listening!"
"Dang it! Move out of the way now!!!"
Despite Vex raising his voice, despite his grave tone, and even scowling face, Jan moves not an inch from her spot, instead closing her eyes and sticking her fingers in her ears.
"You are now my opponent…I will treat you so accordingly."
Her curse has a limitation. It seems that she can place invisible barriers around one particular target at a time, else the people who are walking around freely would also be stuck like me. Beyond that, her stance is unorthodox; ever since she appeared from behind that statute, she has stood perfectly still in that one spot. Why wouldn't she just trap me here and run ahead with Flenn?
"Unless…"
Diving into the depths of his pockets, Vex pulls out a dull silver coin and tosses it upwards repeatedly.
Just as I thought, I'm the only one bound. I hate to waste money, but this is my only option.
Squinting his eyes, Vex bends his finger back, aiming right at an exposed forehead who is paying him no mind.
"...there."
Flick!
Ching!
"?!!! OWWWW!!!"
Taking a direct hit to her forehead, Jan stumbles onto her knees, rubbing her head in a desperate attempt to subdue her pain. All she can see in her teary-eyed vision is the tail end of a purple cloak wheezing past her.
"Buy yourself a sucker, kid!"
Fortunately, that only took a couple of minutes to figure out. And even better…
"?!"
"The bunny is trapped in a one-way room. How fitting."
"Damn you!"
Within a smaller space 1/4th the size of the main corridor, albeit still spacious, one large hexagonal fountain resting in the center of the enclosed spring was the only thing separating the two fated rivals.
"You idiot, you made me mess up the directions to where I was trying to go! Why are you still here after all of that? Take the hint already and leave me alone!"
Vex continues marching forwards, gradually cornering her back against the back wall serving as a dead end. Without even saying a word, his very demeanor forces Flenn's physical body into submission, though of course, her spirit refuses to back down.
"..."
"Didn't you hear me? I said–"
SMACK!
"Huoh!!"
Spit flies out of Flenn's mouth, getting all over her reddened cheek. The culprit, Vex's backhand, remains unscathed.
"My words can't convey my thoughts to the fullest extent–hopefully my hand is a more reliable communicator."
The shock from the audacity of Vex's slap stunned Flenn in place for what felt like a moment that froze time itself, until she was washed over with red.
"Hyaa!"
"Yeeeow!"
Dang it, that stings!
With the strength of her rabbit legs, Flenn forces her foot into Vex's crotch with adequate precision, catching him off guard to the point of making him stumble backwards, hitting his back on some railing perpendicular to the back wall.
"Oh? You really thought that I'd let you slap me without a fight. I'll admit, the fact that you are still conscious after me kicking your balls is impressive. No man has ever tanked that. Castrated, perhaps?"
Flenn manages to manufacture a smug grin, all the while a red handprint remains imprinted on her cheek.
"Earn the right to taunt once you kill me, you dumb bunny. You've already failed once."
"With pleasure, Mr. Impotent!"
Flenn charges from above with a dive kick, Vex narrowly dodges, causing her to land on top of the railing with bent legs. Wasting no time, Vex then grabs her by her exposed tail and chunks her towards the fountain. Before crashing into the base of the fountain, Flenn readjusted her position, managing to land with reduced recoil. Although not without any impact, as she rubs her butt irritated.
"You dirty man…"
Vex runs up to her, winding a punch, but Flenn quickly leaps to the side. Undeterred, he continues to throw rapid strikes, but in a similar vein, Flenn keeps jumping away, retreating just outside of his range.
"Feeling tired yet? Aww, how cute."
"Just shut up."
Her strength is notable, but I surpass her in that department without a doubt. Her agility in tandem with her ability to jump high and with prowess is clearly out of my league. At this rate, some guards will catch up to us and she will play the victim again…right, that's her plan. As long as she remains intact, avoiding fatal blows, she can stall the clock and win guaranteed.
Or so she thinks.
"...oh? You really are out of shape, aren't you? Look at you, you can't even bring yourself to move anymore!"
Capitalizing on the opportunity, Flenn amplifies her mocking at the sight of Vex's sudden halt. Paying her taunting no mind, Vex clenches his fists, reaching his hands behind his neck.
"Planning a desperation attack? Please, surely you are more sensible than that…!"
With his purple cape clenched between his fingers, Vex exerts as much force as he can muster to propel him towards Flenn, who is standing idly. After a split second of shock, Flenn shakes her head dismissively.
"Yep, you've really lost your mind, Vex."
Flenn bends her legs and jumps over Vex's head, completely avoiding his sudden approach. As she lands on the railing behind him, Vex immediately pivots his momentum–
Whoosh!
"?"
–and throws his cape directly at Flenn's face, obstructing her vision.
"Tch, what a pathetic trick. And to think there were rumors about you…"
Looking upwards towards the ceiling, the only unobstructed view available to her, Flenn springs off the railing, once again leaping over Vex–even higher than before. Though as she moves through the air, Vex does not budge from his placement–he never did even after throwing his cape. Instead, he faces towards the fountain that Flenn is gradually landing towards.
"PERLINA, now!"
"Who are you–?!"
SPLOOSH
Just as she realizes that something was amiss, a giant hand emerges out of the water, grabbing Flenn from mid air.
A look of satisfaction spreads across Vex's face. This expression, depending on one's perspective, could be viewed as joyful relief–or pent-up wrath, escaping through a sinister smirk.
"Checkmate."