"Wah!"
A solid fist wreathed in white Battle Aura slammed mercilessly into the girl’s slender waist. Her waist visibly caved in before she flew backward, crashing into the wall behind her.
"Puh—*cough*—haha." Blood sprayed from her lips as she coughed, staining her chin before she finally caught her breath.
"Take this—Dragon’s Decapitation!" A massive sword engulfed in blinding Battle Aura slashed down from above, targeting the man who’d just sent the girl flying.
The man leaped back, narrowly avoiding the terrifying strike. Where the blade missed him, it carved a deep gash into the earth—ripping through the ground and cleaving clean through several buildings ahead.
"Hah!" The retreating man didn’t flee. Instead, he lunged forward, fist crackling with Battle Aura aimed at the swordsman.
CLANG——
The swordsman barely raised his blade in time to block. Neither man budged an inch, but the collision sent an invisible shockwave rippling outward, scattering rubble in all directions.
"Ow! That hurt!" The girl yelped, clutching her head. A trembling stone lay beneath her—dislodged by their clash. "Hey! Pay attention! There are other people around! What if I get a scar? You’ll have to marry me off!"
They spared her a glance before refocusing. Swords and fists parted as both men stepped back.
"Who *are* you?" The swordsman demanded, eyes locked on the Hero Bracelet glinting on his opponent’s wrist. "You’re a Hero—I recognize the bracelet. But I’ve never heard your name. In this world of countless Heroes, news of a new one reaches us all. Yet I don’t know you."
"No need to worry," the fist-fighter replied, gesturing at the ruined streets around them. "You’ll learn soon enough. But can we end this pointless fight? Our battle only brings destruction. We have no real quarrel. Stand down now—you might still save others. And let’s be honest: neither of us can finish this quickly."
The newly appointed Dragon Slayer Hero fell silent. This unknown Hero was baffling. His combat skills were abysmal—barely ten percent of his own—and his Battle Aura felt unrefined. Yet his gear was impeccable, letting him withstand blows that should’ve shattered him. Worse, his skill was *growing* mid-fight. His movements sharpened; his aura stabilized. Continuing meant risking defeat—or worse. *Retreating might be wise...*
"Don’t be naive!" The girl cut in sharply, sensing his hesitation. "If we let a Hero like you roam free—someone even *we* can’t fully defeat—who in this nation could stop you? Better we end you here, together!" *Cruel? Yes. But if he suggests retreat first, it’s over. A Hero embodies the nation’s pride. After this destruction, letting the key suspect escape would cost him his title.*
"Exactly!" The Dragon Slayer Hero straightened, voice hardening. "I can’t accept your terms. How could I face the people who died today if I let you escape? Surrender now!" *She’s right. As this nation’s Hero, I have no choice.*
"Hah!" The fist-fighter threw his head back laughing. "Good. Then let’s see how strong a Hero you truly are. This is my first duel against another Hero since my awakening. Don’t disappoint me."
"Then test it with your body!" The Dragon Slayer Hero roared. "Gale Slash!"
Azure energy swirled around his blade. A miniature tornado ripped toward his opponent.
The fist-fighter barely crossed his arms in time. The vortex swallowed him whole.
*Of course it wouldn’t work,* the swordsman thought grimly, watching Battle Aura flare within the storm. *His gear deflects everything. With equipment like that, even my dragon hunt would’ve been effortless.*
As the winds dissipated, the girl’s voice cut through:
"Ugh! Could you two *please* be careful? I didn’t wear a skirt today to flash you! And if you *must* peek—be gentlemen about it! For the record? Pink."
They glanced. Yep. Pink.
"Perverts," she muttered.
*You told us the color! We just verified!* both men thought in unison.
*Albert, you bastard—* the girl screamed inwardly, *—get back here! I can’t hold them much longer!*
