Ani's face turned conflicted.
The Aura oozing out of the white-scaled Monster made it obvious that it wouldn't be a pushover anymore. That it wouldn't act as a punching bag anymore.
But the expression on its face was strange.
A Monster's face rarely expresses emotions. Not only that, but the scope of emotions able to be expressed by that face is narrow.
Boredom? Sorrow? A quiet rage? Frustration?
The Commander couldn't tell.
One thing was clear though.
-Let's get this over with-
That's what the expression on the white-scaled Monster's face said. It reminded her of...
Mark extended his arm to the side.
He moved his shoulder, elbow, and wrist.
Crack- Crack- Crack-
He did the same for his right arm.
Crack- Crack- Crack-
Finally, he tilted his neck until it touched his shoulder.
Crack-
Mark took a deep breath in, lowered his gaze, and stared at his palm for a bit.
Aura.
A thin layer. Very thin.
Different than how it was inside the Dungeon.
A slight smile.
Mark took a step forward.
"Took a while." Ani spat on the ground before lowering her body, ready to launch herself forward at a moment's notice.
"Mm." He nodded.
I want to see them-
I want to understand-
I want to see them-
I want to understand-
I don't want to hurt them-
I don't want to remain ignorant-
I don't want to hurt them-
I want to see them-
I don't want to die-
The palm of his left hand struck the side of his head.
"Sorry that took so long."
Mark took another step forward.
"Round three, okay?"
His eye hadn't healed.
The High Elven Pupil couldn't be seen.
Only a wound stood in its place.
Then why...?
The Dark Elf had said something to that effect.
But it was a bluff.
The familiar and creepy feeling came from the hidden High Elven Pupil that was staring at her below the piece of cloth.
Then why?
[Skill Evolution has been Paused.]
[Your Skill "Wind Burst[C+]" activates to the fullest extent!]
'Why does he remind me of Lin?'
Dazed and disturbed, the Commander was a tiny bit slow to react.
His leg kick moved towards her thigh.
She lowered her hand to grab, but that leg was pulled back.
As it was pulled back, the white-scaled Monster spun around, and a Destructive Tail Flick landed on the Commander's folded arm.
Ani's feet left traces on the ground.
"Aiming for the arm I lost, huh? That's-"
Before she could finish her sentence, the white-scaled Monster stood inches away, with its fist clenched and pulled back.
'Huh? Why...?' A confused Ani was raised into the air by the punch that landed on her stomach. 'Why...?' Her confusion grew as her body moved through the air, as the distance separating her from the white-scaled Monster grew. 'Why am I talking to him?'
Her back was scraped against the ground.
'Why am I talking? Why am I...?' She asked herself as she stared at the sky above, perplexed
"Finally got a good one in."
The Commander's eyes widened.
Ani immediately sat up.
The speed with which she had done so and the look on her face sent a shiver down the white-scaled Monster.
Rage and disgust mixed within the Commander.
'You're not him.'
Ani stood up, and the ground cracked.
An intense exchange ensued.
***
What have I come to do?
Protect and defend my honor.
My honor as an Orcish Fiend.
My honor as a Commander of Sloth.
One of us has died.
A Commander of Sloth.
An Orcish Fiend.
I will defend my honor.
What have I come to do?
Avenge a fellow Commander of Sloth.
Avenge a fellow Orcish Fiend.
What have I come to do?
I don't care for the other Commanders of Sloth. I don't care for the Generals of Sloth. I don't care for the Demon Lord of Sloth.
Avenge a Fellow Orcish Fiend.
What have I come to do?
I don't care for the other Orcish Fiends.
The two of us were Blessed by the Demon Lord of Sloth.
The two of us became stronger than all the others in our Tribe.
What have I come to do?
Avenge Lin.
Lin.
Since when do I care for him?
What have I come to do?
To defend my honor as Commander of Sloth and Orcish Fiend.
Then why didn't I kill him right away?
Why am I talking to him?
Why am I...?
***
His clenched fist connected with her chin, something that Mark hadn't expected.
Ani's vision became blurry.
She fell to one knee, but quickly stood back up.
Mark could tell that she wasn't focused. He could tell that her mind was in shambles.
He could tell, because it was something he had experienced a lot.
The white-scaled Monster let out a sigh.
"Do we really have to-"
A blood exited Mark's mouth as he was launched away by her punch.
"You're not him!" The Commander shouted.
Mark tried to stand back up right away. But the force of the hit that had landed on his stomach obliged him to remain on one knee and throw up heaps of blood.
"He's not Lin..." Ani whispered to herself. He's not... Lin is dead. Dead. Dead. Dead. He's gone. He's dead. You killed him. You killed him. Lin died... Before I could... Before I could..."
The white-scaled Monster stumbled, but managed to stand.
"You killed him... Before I managed to beat him."
The sentence confused Mark.
It made no sense.
Managed to beat him?
It was a tough fight. But Mark, Elisa, and Krista managed to bring the Commander down.
No. They even managed to make the Commander flee.
But against her, they were the ones who fled.
And they only succeeded in doing so thanks to the intrusion of the Calamity known as Tavashed, the Demon Lord of Lust's Pet.
"I couldn't... Beat him... Not even once..." Ani whispered to herself, but Mark managed to overhear.
Playing with others is fun.
Playing with those stronger than yourself is fun.
Playing with those as strong as you are is even more fun.
"Kill you... I'll kill you!" Ani shouted as she clenched her fist.
Her facial expression. Her wrath.
The white-scaled Monster's lips parted.
You've been limiting yourself against him, haven't you-
Mark couldn't bring himself to say those words.
He clenched his fists, as the Commander ran forward.
Her facial expression. Her wrath.
Playing against someone much weaker is no fun.
Her facial expression. Her wrath. Her sorrow, and her grief.
They melted the Monster's heart.
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