The Xerosi woman's eyes widened slightly at the sight of Courtney, clearly caught off-guard to see her here.
But she recovered quickly enough; head tilting slightly as she studied the blonde woman for moment before responding coolly:
"...Ah, I was wondering when you would show up."
Courtney didn't respond to that; just stared back with cold, calculating eyes.
"...You're not what I was expecting," the Xerosi assassin remarked quietly after a moment. "I had heard you were the greatest threat to the Empire…but you're just some woman."
"I'm not just 'some woman'. I'm a merc who's likely completed more missions than you ever have in your lifetime. And yes, I'm that confident.”
The Xerosi assassin chuckled at that; her mask hiding any expression, but her tone was laced with subtle mockery too:
"You indeed sound confident...but are you good enough to back it up?"
Courtney's eyes flared gold at that; the aura around her growing more intense as she stared back just as coolly.
"...You know what they say. Fuck around and find out."
The Xerosi assassin chuckled lowly again at that; head tilting slightly as something like amusement flashed across her eyes this time too.
"...I like your attitude," she admitted. "Most people would tremble in fear."
But Courtney didn't take bait, the air around her practically crackling with intensity as she responded coolly:
"...I’m not 'most people'. I don't fear your Clan, and apparently not Yuki and Kaori."
The Xerosi assassin's brow raised at those names, smirking behind her hand. "Ah, bringing my daughters into this now, are we? The failures? They have been thoroughly disowned by us for failing their mission over something as silly as being interested in their victim's Void Magic abilities. But I'm not my daughters, and you will deeply regret engaging me in combat when I'm through with you~”
“Tch. Sure I will.”
Then, before the assassin could react? A sudden burst of aura erupted around Courtney like a supernova, sending shockwaves ripping through the entire hallway. The force was strong enough to make Trixie and Dodeka both stagger backward from where they stood.
The Xerosi assassin scrambled backward, the force of the attack nearly blowing her off feet entirely.
She landed in a crouching position, chest heaving slightly as if the wind had been knocked out of her.
But her voice was cool as ever when she spoke again:
"...Impressive. You're stronger than your reputation would suggest. But not strong enough."
The assassin dashed forward at a speed too quick for the mercenary's eyes to catch up with, a slash aimed at Courtney's chest landing true.
Courtney hissed through her teeth as the blade bit into her chest, blood blooming across her shirt in a dark crimson stain.
But she didn’t stagger back this time.
Instead? Her hand shot up and grabbed the assassin's wrist mid-swing, stopping it dead before twisting hard enough to make bone creak under pressure too.
"Too slow." Courtney's voice was low and dangerous now, crimson eyes burning like wildfire while aura flared violently around them both again too.
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
The Xerosi woman snarled at that though; yanking against grip futilely before suddenly driving knee up toward mercenary’s ribs instead!
CRACK!
A sickening sound echoed from where the impact landed…but Courtney barely even flinched at the pain.
She just tightened her hold further until her joints began protesting…and then?
SNAP.
Bone broke cleanly under force used here, forcing the assassin to drop her weapon with a pained gasp escaping her lips.
The Xerosi woman growled in pain, yanking free as the bones broken in her wrist screamed at her to stop.
Her head snapped up, gaze locking onto Courtney again, the cool, mocking demeanor gone in favor of pure anger as she snapped her wrist back in place. It was like it never got broken.
Then, she took a step forward, her foot stomping hard against the floor while snarling:
"You'll pay for that."
Courtney merely rolled the tension out from shoulders as she watched the assassin stalk forward now, the sound of her footsteps echoing throughout the hallway like drum beats.
"Big talk for someone who nearly got their ass handed to them only moments earlier." The mercenary said coolly. "Try not to get put down so fast this time around.”
The Xerosi assassin's eyes flared, golden and molten with fury now as she took another step forward.
"You insolent little—" Her voice cracked like a whip, her hand twitching toward the dagger still embedded in Courtney’s chest. "I should carve that smug look off your face."
Courtney flicked blood off her chin dismissively: "...Do it then." She challenged flatly, crimson gaze unwavering even as her wound throbbed painfully.
A beat passed where neither moved, the tension between them thick enough to choke on.
The assassin suddenly lunged again.
This time though? It wasn't a blade coming at the mercenary, but a fist aimed straight for her jaw instead!
CRACK!
Bone connected to bone hard enough to send Courtney stumbling back while her head snapped from the force.
But when dust settled, she was already grinning despite her split lip.
"That all you got?"
The assassin snarled at the taunt, her eyes burning with pure, unfiltered rage now.
"You—!"
Then she moved again; faster than before…
CRACK!
Another sickening sound echoed through the hallway as the assassin's foot connected with Courtney's jaw hard enough to send her flying.
Courtney spat out a mouthful of blood, her teeth scattering across the marble floor with wet, metallic clinks.
But she didn’t go down.
Instead? She wiped her split lip roughly on her sleeve before glaring up at the assassin again, crimson eyes still burning even brighter as her aura flared violently around them:
"...Heh."
The Xerosi woman froze for a moment upon hearing that laugh though; expression twisting into something between confusion and fury while watching Courtney slowly rise back onto her feet despite missing several teeth now also…
Then? Her own lips curled into a snarling grin right back:
"Pathetic."
The assassin howled before she lunged forward again, this time aiming a kick straight toward her stomach instead.
CRUNCH!
Yet another sickening crack echoed through hallways as the impact landed true. And Courtney? She folded like paper beneath the force used, collapsing onto her knees while gasping painfully.
Blood dripped freely from her chin now…but when her head lifted slightly after a few seconds passed?
Her grin was gone.
Now?
There was only cold, murderous intent staring back at the attacker instead.
The Xerosi assassin snickered at the sight of Courtney crumpled on the floor now, eyes gleaming with twisted satisfaction while approaching slowly.
"Aww, look at you now...not feeling so confident anymore, are you?"
Silence. Courtney said nothing, just glared up at the other woman in pure, unbridled rage.
The assassin chuckled again at that, the sound cold and mocking this time too as she circled the collapsed mercenary slowly.
"Silence suits you," she remarked coolly. "Now you can't make any bold comments about how you're going to beat me again.”
Courtney growled, hands balling into fists where they were braced against the floor.
"Shut. Up."
The assassin only grinned wider though; coming to a stop a few feet away now.
"Or what?" she challenged mockingly. "You going to do something about it?"
Courtney said nothing to that; just pushed herself up onto her hands and knees, muscles tense with obvious effort as she slowly got back onto her feet again too.
The assassin just watched, her head tilting slightly as if amused by display.
"You can hardly even stand properly." She commented dryly. "You really think you can fight me like this?"
Courtney let out a strained breath, chest heaving with effort.
But even though she wobbled slightly on her feet, her stance was defiant.
"Watch me," she managed through gritted teeth; lips twisted into a bloody sneer. "I'm not done yet."
