"Why would I give up my advantage?" Baal retorted righteously to the demon monkey, "When facing a stronger opponent, one should seek ways to compensate."
"…You… are very despicable."
The demon monkey's eyes narrowed coldly. He crouched slightly, slowly retreating his steps. His two hands scraped the ground, leaving clear finger marks.
Seeing this, Baal re-sheathed her katana, adopting a draw-and-cut stance, her gaze fixed tightly on the demon monkey.
The atmosphere was heavy and murderous.
Like two archers with fully drawn bows, confronting each other, locking onto their enemy. The slightest movement would release the string.
And that instant… would be life or death.
"…Die!"
The demon monkey exerted force with both hands, throwing the dirt from the ground, scattering it towards Kikyo, who was watching, and Baal, who was poised to strike.
And he took advantage of that moment of blinding dust… and ran.
"This Daddy didn't bring a handy weapon today, so I'll let you two little girls off the hook."
Before his words faded, his agile figure had already vanished into the jungle. Only a faint glimpse of the demon monkey leaping among the trees could be seen.
Then, he completely disappeared into the jungle.
From the very beginning, he had no intention of fighting. Although he did indeed like fighting, it was more about the joy of bullying the weak.
And if he had to face a stronger opponent, he had absolutely no interest and would only want to withdraw.
As for fighting for so-called honor… until death.
Sorry, he had no sense of honor whatsoever.
"…He ran away."
Baal sighed, a little disappointed. It was unrealistic for her to try to chase the demon monkey at her speed.
"It's alright, he can't escape."
Kikyo suddenly said this, then she drew her bow, aimed at the sky, and infused the arrow with demon-purifying spiritual power.
Then, her fair, delicate finger gently released the string.
The arrow, like a comet, streaked across the sky, then gradually descended under the force of gravity, tracing a beautiful parabolic arc.
It plunged into the dense forest in the distance.
Then, a painful and disbelieving sound.
Echoed like a clap of thunder.
"Holy crap, he… he actually hit him!"
That was the demon monkey's voice. From this… it could be fully deduced that the fleeing demon monkey had been hit by that arrow.
This was in a densely wooded forest, and the distance was at least two to three hundred meters. It was hard to understand how it was hit.
"I sealed a portion of the demon monkey's demonic power." Kikyo lowered her bow, her beautiful face as calm as water, and whispered to Baal beside her, "The demon monkey's power… should be suitable for your training now."
"…" Baal was silent for a moment, then couldn't help but ask out of curiosity, "From so far away, Kikyo, how did you hit him?"
"…Demonic energy leaves traces."
Kikyo gently tucked a strand of black hair behind her ear, much like a teacher explaining to a student, her voice gentle and patient.
"If Baal wants to learn, I can teach you."
"Hmm, then I'll trouble you." Baal nodded quickly, showing a bright smile. "In the future, I will definitely repay you."
"No need, you've already paid." Kikyo gently shook her head, revealing a slight smile. "Your ability is very important to everyone."
"That's another matter." Baal smiled, her delicate body leaning closer to Kikyo, deliberately drawing out her voice, "My repayment is to offer myself to you, won't you consider it?"
"..."
Kikyo calmly glanced at the mischievous Baal, then immediately walked towards the demon monkey's direction.
However, this didn't mean she disliked Baal's teasing.
Such interactions and jokes between friends were quite new to her, but she just didn't quite know how to respond to these jokes.
She couldn't just jokingly agree, could she?
"Don't leave, I can give you a little more dowry." Baal watched Kikyo leave, hurrying to catch up. "Those are rare goods you've never seen before. If you sell them, they're worth a fortune."
"..."
Kikyo's steps unconsciously quickened a bit. She never realized before that Baal's personality was so lively.
Or perhaps, Baal had opened up after getting more familiar with her.
*
On the other side.
"…Damn it, I can't pull it out!"
The demon monkey leaned against a tree, his eyes bloodshot and ferocious. He gripped the arrow embedded in his shoulder, trying with all his might to pull it out.
But the arrow… was unshakeable, like a bedrock.
"This Daddy just ate a few people, is it really necessary to spend so much effort chasing after me?!"
His voice was filled with fear and anger. He felt no guilt about eating humans; in his eyes, humans were no different from pigs or sheep.
But if he were to be counter-killed by pigs or sheep… then he would be unwilling and afraid.
"Eating people isn't a problem either." Baal's figure emerged, her drawn katana reflecting a cold gleam. "As long as you have the resolve to be preyed upon by humans in return, that's enough."
"Your words… sound like you're on the humans' side!" The demon monkey stared coldly at the girl, his voice revealing a hint of madness. "How shameful, to be raised by humans."
"No, you have a big misunderstanding." Baal shook her head, correcting him with a light laugh, "Actually, I am the divine being worshipped by Kikyo."
"Hahahaha, with your weak strength?" The demon monkey scoffed, looking at the weak girl. "If you are the divine being worshipped by Kikyo, I'll chop off my head to entertain you."
"…Don't go back on your word."
Baal didn't care, she smiled and took her stance.
"Now you can pull out the arrow. Don't try to run away… just fight me obediently."
"..."
The demon monkey pulled hard and found that he could indeed pull out the arrow. However, a part of his demonic power was still sealed.
But even so… it should be enough to deal with Baal.
"You… will regret this!"
With that, he lunged directly at Baal, his five sharp claws, like blades, incredibly keen.
In his current situation, his only hope of survival was to capture Baal and use her to threaten Kikyo into letting him go.
Otherwise, even if he escaped… he might still be shot dead by Kikyo's arrow.
"…I won't regret it!"
Baal swung her katana to meet him, putting all the results of her sword training to use against the demon monkey.
If she were still in her previous life, she would never have made such a crazy move. However, the rules of this world were completely different from her previous life.
More primitive and bloody. If she chose to cover her eyes and pretend not to see, and constantly let Kikyo protect her safety.
Then she could indeed have a period of peace.
But sooner or later, she would encounter situations that only she could face, and at that time, she didn't want to be powerless and at the mercy of fate.
Therefore, she had to diligently adapt to the rules of this world.
Then, climbing up along the rules of this world—that was the choice she made.
Even in battle… she would not flinch.