The thing about fighting a bow user was that they were usually weak in close combat.
That was something I had learned from the memories forced into my mind.
Now I would see if it was true.
Getting close to her—and making sure she couldn't attack me—had to be my top priority.
But part of me wanted something else.
I wanted to satisfy the anger burning inside me, rising slowly as I looked at her face. It was so… so beautiful, like a doll carefully crafted with love and care.
I wanted to crush that pretty green-haired girl into the dirt. To shatter that face so completely that no one would ever recognize it again.
I hated how beautiful she looked.
Her face—so perfectly formed, so innocent and pure. I wanted to be her, even for a moment. But I couldn't. I hated the way her eyes burned with determination, the way her body moved with grace, the way she dared to stand against me.
The kind of person Hiro could like—and not me.
The thought of that perfect face hitting the ground… I could almost imagine it.
But I had to live in reality to make it true.
So I moved.
She released arrows in rapid succession.
I dashed sideways. They embedded themselves where I had just been standing.
Then I surged forward.
Her bow lifted in one smooth motion.
Fsssh.
This time, three arrows came at once.
I stepped forward instead of back.
The first skimmed past my shoulder. The second I knocked aside with the flat of my blade. The third—
I caught it.
My fingers closed around the shaft inches from my face.
Her eyes widened.
But she didn't stop.
Fsssh. Fsssh. Fsssh.
Three more arrows.
The first grazed my shoulder. The second I deflected with a sharp twist of my wrist. The third cut across my thigh—but the wound sealed almost instantly, flesh knitting together as if nothing had happened.
Her eyes widened further.
I rushed forward.
The distance between us vanished in a heartbeat.
She leapt backward, fluid and trained, releasing another arrow midair.
I tilted my head.
It missed by a hair's breadth.
Too slow.
I stepped inside her range.
Her bow became useless the moment I crossed that invisible line. She tried to draw again, but I was already there.
"Element of wind, is that right?" I said, my knife slashing toward her throat. I wanted it over quickly—a clean kill before I could even touch her face.
But it wasn't that simple.
She twisted her body, barely avoiding the blade. The edge sliced through a lock of her green hair instead of her throat.
She abandoned the bow entirely, letting it fall, and reached for the short blade strapped to her thigh.
So she wasn't helpless up close.
"You're right… what act did you use?" she asked, landing gracefully on her feet, her blade closer to my face than I expected.
I tilted my head, smirking. "Guess."
Then we dashed at each other.
Clang!
Steel met steel as our short blades collided. I quickly broke the small engagement, letting my blade slide downward in a sharp arc, aiming for her thigh.
She blocked the strike.
For someone who relied on distance, her stance was solid.
But I was faster.
I pivoted and swept low. She jumped back—but not far enough. My blade sliced across her sleeve, drawing a thin line of red along her arm.
She hissed in pain but didn't falter.
Her counter came immediately—a sharp kick toward my ribs. I caught her ankle mid-motion and used the force to twist her body, sending her spinning through the air.
Before I could channel my element—
She flipped midair with controlled movement, landing in a roll and sliding across the blood-soaked stone.
"tell me who are you working for" she shouted, lunging at me again, determination burning in her green eyes.
I chose to ignore her words.
After all, words were nothing but distractions.
With a calm motion, I looked at her, silently daring her to come at me with everything she had. After all, she was one of the more challenging opponents I'd faced since leaving the lab. And if my guess was right, she hadn't even used her full elemental power yet.
She seemed to understand something from my gesture. Her expression tightened as she brought her short blade closer to her body, settling into a defensive position.
Then—
Blam!
The green-haired girl suddenly extended her arm forward. Green mana swirled violently around her hand before bursting outward.
"Wind Blade!" she shouted.
A crescent-shaped arc of pale white energy shot toward me at high speed.
I bent my upper body backward just in time. The blade passed over me by mere inches, slicing through the air where my head had been.
I quickly steadied myself—
Thud.
"Ah—!"
Pain exploded through my ribs as something hard slammed into my side. The impact sent me sliding across the stone, my boots scraping against the blood-slick ground.
Before I could react, she was gone.
I scanned the area for any sign of the green-haired girl. Had she run away? Maybe. After all, she must fear me… I thought, continuing to search. But there was no sign of her.
Then I heard it—a faint whisper of movement behind me.
I twisted to face it—but it was too late. A slash tore through my back, leaving a deep cut.
I lunged at her, but she had vanished again, leaving nothing but a fleeting glimpse before disappearing into thin air.
Oh… she was playing.
Hide and seek with me.
Fine. Alright. We could both play that game.
I was the seeker, and she was the hider.
Haha.