Chapter 167: Not defeated
The wind swept past them, kicking up dust as the two figures stood facing each other, gasping and bleeding.
Both were covered in cuts and bruises, their glowing bows still in hand.
Gerald grinned. "You’ve gotten stronger." He had thought training in the wild would give him an easy win.
But he was completely wrong.
Peri stayed silent. In truth, without her recent training—and the power she gained from her Blood Bond with Hades—she wouldn’t have lasted this long.
Her mother had trained her senses, but Peri had always feared getting hurt.
That fear was gone. Avalin had beaten it out of her. In the past few days, Avalin had hurt her so many times that Peri had grown used to the pain. Now, she didn’t hesitate to take damage if it meant striking back harder.
Suddenly, the golden bow vanished from Gerald’s hands. He spoke with a calm smile. "You’ve always been the better archer, maybe because of the Queen’s blood in your veins."
He reached for his belt, pulling out a pair of daggers. "So now, I’ll fight with my real strength."
Peri narrowed her eyes and let her bow fade.
From her knuckles, a pair of claws slid out, gleaming faintly as she lowered into a fighting stance.
Gerald growled, "Don’t be foolish enough to think you can beat me in close combat."
Peri chuckled, her gaze cutting into him. "This isn’t pride, you idiot. I just want to humiliate you. To show you how pathetically weak you are—so weak that all you can do is skulk around and spy. If you had any guts, you wouldn’t have run away that day."
Gerald’s eyes went cold. His grip on the daggers tightened as he said flatly, "That man has poisoned you."
He shifted into his stance, voice firm. "But don’t worry. Once I put you down, I’ll make you see what’s truly best for you."
Gerald struck first. His daggers gleamed in the light as he lunged, cutting through the air with a flurry of fast slashes.
Peri crossed her claws, blocking the first few strikes, but Gerald twisted his wrists, slipping one dagger under her guard. A shallow cut opened across her ribs.
Peri hissed but didn’t back away. Instead, she ducked low and slashed upward. Gerald jerked his head back, her claws grazing his chin. He countered with a kick to her stomach that pushed her back a step.
"Still reckless," he taunted, spinning his daggers in hand.
Peri wiped the blood from her lips, smirking. "And you’re still a coward hiding behind tricks."
Gerald’s eyes narrowed. He rushed in again, his daggers moving like twin fangs. He didn’t just swing—he feinted, drew her guard one way, then cut from another.
Peri caught one blade, but the second sliced across her shoulder.
She winced, the sting sharp, but her counter came swift. Her claws raked across his forearm, leaving three burning lines.
Gerald cursed and pulled back, but Peri chased him, her attacks now fast and wild, forcing him to defend.
Gerald gritted his teeth. He bent low, rolling across the dust, and came up behind her.
His dagger struck toward her spine, but Peri twisted, catching the blade between her claws with a loud clang! Sparks burst, and she shoved him off with raw strength.
For a moment, they circled each other, both bleeding, both panting. The dust around them swirled from their footwork, each step digging lines into the ground.
Gerald went in again, daggers spinning as he slashed in an X-pattern, his strikes faster than before.
Peri blocked high, then ducked low, but his speed won out—another cut opened across her thigh. She staggered for half a second. Gerald grinned, pressing harder, stabbing and slicing without pause.
Peri’s arms blurred, claws meeting steel over and over, each strike loud and sharp. She let him push, let the daggers scrape her skin, and then—she shifted.
Instead of blocking, she stepped inside his range. His dagger nicked her side, but her claws slashed across his chest in return. Blood sprayed as Gerald stumbled back, clutching his wound.
"Damn you..." he growled, eyes blazing. He charged again, trying to overpower her with raw speed, blades cutting in arcs meant to overwhelm.
But Peri no longer backed down. Her strikes grew steadier, heavier. Every time his daggers clashed with her claws, his arms shook. Every step he took forward, she forced him two steps back.
Her cuts found his arm, his cheek, his leg. One after another, small but building. Gerald’s smirk was gone, replaced by strain.
Finally, both roared and lunged. Gerald swung both daggers with everything he had; Peri slashed with all her strength.
CRASH!
The clash shook the air. Steel screamed against claw—then shattered. Gerald’s daggers broke into pieces, fragments flying through the dust.
Gerald stumbled back, staring at the useless hilts in his hands, disbelief filling his eyes.
Peri stood in front of him, bloodied but unbowed, her claws dripping red, her gaze burning like fire.
Gerald couldn’t believe it...the same girl who was raised in a sheltered atmosphere defeated him?!
And in combat no less?!
"T-This is impossible!" He cried, the dagger handles falling from his hands.
*Crunch*
Hearing the crunch of dust, he twisted on his heel and saw Peri moving toward him.
"I am not dying here!" Even though wounded, the man began to paddle back and soon, he started to run—desperate to move away.
He wished to bring Peri back but this was not his Peri. She was no longer that sweet girl he was searching for.
She has become a witch now!
He turned and started to run away.
He needed to go back and heal.
He can’t die here!
*SQUELCH*
His steps staggered as he felt something burning through his chest.
He looked down and found it was an arrow which expanded inside his chest, its thorns spreading like wild fire.
*Spurt*
Blood spurted from his nose and eyes as he fell to the ground, life fading from his eyes.
Peri heaved a sigh, as she lowered her arms and knelt on the ground.
She has used all her energy during the combat and now can barely stand.
"Damn you!" But there was one more left.
The guy with Gerald who has been standing aside until now charged forward.
However, before Peri could react someone darted toward the man and kicked him in the chest.
*DOOOOM*
Air was knocked out as the man’s back bent, his eyes turning white.
Just one strike was enough to cease his life
Peri looked at the familiar pink head girl as she said, "Good work, Ava."
Ava grinned at those words but that smile faltered as Peri suddenly fell to the ground.
Unconscious but alive.
°°°°°°°
A/N:- Thanks for reading.