Less than a minute ago.
At the same time Aaron and Bulat started fighting, Lubbock had already begun preparations to capture Kiana.
He was, of course, confident that Bulat would win. After all, Bulat had the title of "100-Man Slayer" from his soldiering days. Combined with his Teigu, Incursio, taking down the opponent wouldn't be difficult.
But the problem was, 'taking him down' could mean after a difficult, wounding fight, or it could mean taking him down effortlessly.
In Lubbock's view, if he could first capture this girl who looked easier to deal with, then even if he didn't use despicable means to threaten her teammate, the opponent himself would be distracted.
And in a fight with a master like Bulat, being distracted was the same as throwing the fight, and throwing the fight was the same as losing.
But only after Lubbock made his move did he realize—whoa, this little girl isn't so easy to deal with either.
He had no idea what material her cloak was made of, but it could actually repel Crosstail's threads.
And after she put on Zank's eye Teigu, her evasion and accuracy were terrifyingly strong.
Several times, Lubbock had almost managed to secretly wrap his threads around her legs from the ground, but before he could complete the move, she would always dodge it ahead of time.
And during the fight, Lubbock realized that she was, intentionally or not, closing the distance between them.
Although Lubbock had some combat ability up close, his Teigu, Crosstail, was clearly at its strongest when he kept his distance.
If she keeps getting closer, that little girl's martial arts are much better than mine. Beating me up will be no problem.
Heh. Looks like Bulat's side has found a way to suppress his opponent. In that case...
Right, I'll split the battlefield.
"Bulat! This little girl is too fierce! I'm retreating first!"
After shouting this, Lubbock didn't even care if Bulat heard him and immediately chose to escape into the nearby forest.
In his opinion, the forest was full of cover, with plenty of places to set up his threads.
As long as she chose to pursue him, the moment that girl entered the forest, the fight would be decided.
But he never expected...
After he ducked into the forest, she actually stopped dead in her tracks.
No, wait, hold on, you're just letting me go like that???
"Hey, green-haired turtle in there! You think I don't know what you're planning? I'm not going in. Come out and fight if you've got the guts!"
Damn it, damn it, damn it! I heard Zank's Teigu could see into people's hearts. Looks like that info was right.
Extremely high reflexes, a high-quality cloak likely made from a powerful Danger Beast, two short blades in her hands that can easily cut Crosstail's threads, *and* a Teigu that can read minds.
I give up. My opponent isn't easy either.
Fine, if she won't come in, she won't come in. After all...
Looking at some of the pits in the ground, Lubbock's expression turned serious as he extended his threads toward them.
He had already seen, through the gaps in the leaves, Bulat send that young man flying.
But in the next few seconds, that young man actually turned it around and defeated Bulat... No, how is this kid so ridiculously strong? Bulat can't even fight back??
This is even worse!
In a panic, Lubbock frantically extended his threads from the holes in the ground.
Dammit, I have to make it! As long as I can bind that guy for just one second, Bulat can seize the chance to retreat.
"You win after you take this last punch of mine. But... can you take it?"
Damn it, damn it, damn it! The kid's about to use his ultimate!
Am I too late?
"Whale-Slaying Tyrant Fist!"
Following Aaron's battle cry, Lubbock and Kiana both saw his incredibly direct, yet impossibly fast punch, slam directly into Bulat's chest.
At that moment, time seemed to stand still for everyone.
And in the next instant, Bulat's body was sent flying backward.
Not only that, but Bulat, having taken severe damage, was forced to cancel his Incursio transformation.
After his transformation was canceled, his already shattered armor and the Teigu key within it fell to the ground.
Before Lubbock's eyes, the young man canceled his own transformation at the same time, then nonchalantly walked over to Bulat's body, which was suddenly frozen solid, and picked up the Teigu key that had fallen to the ground.
"Hah. Just by touching this Teigu's key, I can feel an unyielding spirit trying to devour me. Interesting. Very interesting."
Then, Aaron suddenly looked in Lubbock's direction and flashed a grin.
"There's still one left, right? In that case..."
"Incursio!"
As his opponent grabbed Incursio's key and completed the transformation, Lubbock could feel an oppressive aura coming from him, no less than before.
Looking at Aaron walking toward him, Lubbock suddenly had a feeling.
This guy... he might be the more suitable Teigu user for Incursio.
After all...
——Because the aura he gave off... was that of a genuine, thoroughbred demon.
.........................