Kiminage was sprinting through the trees, and Nystral was chasing right behind her at full speed.
"Give the key back, woman!"
"NEVER!"
Nystral immediately started forming a tactic in his mind.
"This woman can create her own clones. The Comp needs to mark her scent as soon as possible, or she'll vanish with a single trick. Comp!"
The Comp suddenly lunged forward, catching up to Kiminage, and spat a green liquid onto her, leaving its scent on her.
"W-What did this stupid beast spit on me? Acid? No… I don't know. Red Crescent!"
Kiminage created six clones identical to herself, all of them running in different directions.
"I knew you were going to do that, woman! But The Comp marked you — you're the one on the right!"
Kiminage kept running deeper into the forest.
"H-How are you still on my tail? Must be because of that damn animal…"
While they were running, Kiminage accidentally slipped and fell into a pit. The pit was nearly ten meters deep, and climbing out was extremely difficult.
"Ahh! My leg! Looks like I'm trapped… I guess I've got no choice but to fight!"
Nystral cautiously jumped into the pit after her.
"So you're not running anymore, huh, woman?"
"One of us is leaving here alive!"
"You're quite confident! Come, then!"
Both of them drew their swords and began fighting.The sound of metal clashing echoed through the deep forest — each strike scared birds away, and their heavy breaths filled the air.
Kiminage swung her sword at Nystral.Nystral grabbed her wrist with one hand and kicked her away.
Kiminage's light-brown yet battered long hair became completely messy, scattering onto the dirt.
"AHHH!"
"I'm warning you one last time, woman. Give me the key."
"You will NEVER have this key!"
"Oh, is that so? Then I'll take your life."
Kiminage burst up with sudden rage and charged.
"Red Crescent!"
She cloned herself five more times, six in total, and they all attacked Nystral simultaneously.
(Inner thoughts)"Six of them… Which one is the real one? I won't know without using G-Technic. GQ#75!"
A black shockwave burst out from inside Nystral, throwing everything around.
"So he can use G-Technic too? I need to counter it! GQ#17!"
Kiminage formed a shield of dark magic and resisted Nystral's shock.
"So your trick is exposed, woman!"
"HIIAH!"
With a burst of anger, Kiminage slashed again.
Nystral failed to fully dodge the attack and received a cut on his arm.
"You bitch!"
Inside the pit, the two suddenly accelerated — clashing swords continuously.One attacked, the other countered, then the roles switched.They circled each other with extreme speed, nearly five times faster than any normal human.
The ground beneath them eroded quickly, and dirt was starting to fill the pit from the shaking.
Their swords clashed once more, the metallic sound tearing through the forest.After nearly two minutes of this deadlocked, brutal clash, both fighters had exhausted their stamina.At that moment, Nystral feinted right and kicked left, slamming Kiminage to the ground again.
Kiminage lay on the ground, breathing uncontrollably fast.Her leg was most likely not broken, but severely twisted.
"Y-Y-You filthy bastard!"
"You're a strong fighter… but this ends here! Give me the key!"
Barely managing to stand, Kiminage took a breath and screamed as she lunged.
"HIIIIIIIAH!"
Nystral raised his sword vertically and swung with all the strength he had left.
The blade cut from Kiminage's left cheek all the way up to her eye.
Her left eye was now unrecognizable — shredded beyond saving.She collapsed to the ground.
"M-m-my… e-eye! I-It hurts!"
Kiminage touched her left eye.When her fingers felt the empty socket, her entire hand came back drenched in blood.
Nystral stared at her calmly, keeping his cold composure.
Ignoring the fact that her eye was gone, Kiminage grabbed her sword from the ground.Using it as support, she tried to stand up—but Nystral slashed one more time, this time cutting down from her right shoulder.The wound wasn't deep enough to kill instantly but reached down to her upper chest.
Kiminage fell once more.
Nystral reached into her pocket, took the Key of Celestial Powers, climbed out of the pit, and walked away.
Kiminage's blood had spread across the entire pit.Her single brown eye stared blankly, unmoving.Her hair was scattered everywhere, partly torn.