บท 259: Chapter 259: A Lesson in Discipline
Mordred, after being kicked back, wiped the sweat from her forehead and rubbed her chest, feeling the impact. It was Mordred, after all—anyone else might have been seriously hurt by such a kick from Altria.
"You're pretty good," she admitted, panting as she spoke to Altria.
Altria maintained her stance, holding both swords confidently. "Come on, show me everything you've got. If this is all you can do, then you're not worth standing beside me. You're just a brat who needs a lesson."
"I don't need you to teach me anything!" Mordred shouted back. With a burst of energy, she pushed off the ground and charged at Altria, her sword raised high as she prepared to unleash a light cannon.
Seeing Mordred's move, Altria furrowed her brow, readying herself. But just as the light cannon began to condense at the tip of Mordred's sword, she hesitated and let the energy dissipate.
Altria noticed the change and, seizing the opportunity, swung both swords to meet Mordred's charge. The clash of metal rang out as their blades collided fiercely.
"You had the chance to release your attack just now. Why didn't you?" Altria asked during the exchange.
"Tch, I didn't want to hit any of those weaklings in the stands with my attack," Mordred responded with a dismissive curl of her lips.
Hearing this, Altria couldn't help but laugh softly.
"What's so funny!?" Mordred snapped, her anger flaring like a lion's roar.
"I was just thinking that you're exactly what His Majesty Lott and Morgan described—a tsundere," Altria said with a serious expression.
"I'm not a tsundere! You're the tsundere!!!" Mordred screamed in frustration. Gripping her sword with both hands, she slashed at Altria wildly, her movements fueled by emotion rather than strategy.
Observing Mordred's frantic attacks, Altria thought to herself, Definitely a textbook tsundere.
Despite Mordred's best efforts, Altria easily deflected each strike. She wasn't focused on defeating her opponent quickly; instead, she aimed to teach this unruly child a lesson.
Suppressing Mordred with precise strikes, Altria continued speaking. "I might not fully understand our relationship yet, but since things seem to be as they are, I have a responsibility to you."
"What responsibility?" Mordred demanded, feeling a strange mix of anger and curiosity.
Altria met her gaze steadily. "The responsibility to teach you, of course."
Mordred, baffled, shouted back, "I don't need your responsibility!"
"That's not for you to decide," Altria replied, her tone firm. "Lott said you need proper education. So, I'm going to make sure you get it."
The battle continued, but to the onlookers, it appeared more like a parent disciplining a child than a fierce duel. Despite the intensity of the combat, Altria's strikes seemed oddly gentle, as if she were holding back.
Each time Mordred tried to break through, Altria would skillfully counter, her attacks carrying a sense of patience and restraint.
What's going on? The audience thought. Is Altria toying with her?
Mordred gritted her teeth as another kick from Altria sent her staggering. "If you want to win, just put me down already!" she shouted, frustration evident in her voice.
Altria's expression softened slightly. "Winning the fight is one thing, but teaching you is more important."
"Why do you think you have the right to teach me?" Mordred demanded.
"I know your identity. You're a brat who needs proper guidance," Altria said seriously.
"..." Mordred was left speechless. Despite herself, she felt a strange warmth from Altria's words. In another world, another time, she had never experienced this kind of straightforward care.
"Back then, I killed you. I can do it again in this life," she challenged.
"I don't believe you," Altria replied calmly.
"Why not?"
"Because you wouldn't take my food without reason. And besides," Altria paused, then added, "you can't beat me. These threats are just empty words."
"Who taught you to talk like that!?" Mordred was fuming. The Altria she had known in her previous life was distant and cold, a king who never understood the hearts of people. But this Altria, standing before her now, was vibrant, full of life—a girl rather than a king.
Mordred continued to attack, driven by a mix of rage and confusion.
As they clashed, Altria asked, "By the way, who's your mother?"
"Morgan," Mordred answered offhandedly.
"Wha...!" Altria's hands faltered, and Mordred seized the moment, landing several solid hits on her chest.
Those strikes, though, had Altria more stunned by the revelation than by the physical pain. Morgan? My sister? This is insane!
Altria thought of Lott. I have to end this fight quickly. Determined, she shifted her stance and began to fight back in earnest.
There was a clear difference in their abilities. Altria's counterattacks soon had Mordred on the defensive. Finally, with a decisive strike, Altria knocked Mordred's sword aside and pinned her to the ground.
It was over. Altria had won.
With Mordred subdued, Altria didn't hesitate. She grabbed her by the arm and began to drag her off the arena.
The audience was left in shock. What's happening? Are we about to witness something outrageous? Whispers and gasps spread through the crowd as they watched Altria's actions.
But despite the wild speculations, nothing inappropriate followed. Altria dragged Mordred towards the lounge, out of the audience's view, leaving them bewildered and curious.
Back in the arena, the announcer tried to regain the crowd's attention by introducing the next match, but no one seemed interested.
After all, what could two ordinary fighters offer compared to the unexpected drama they had just witnessed?
สถานะพลังงานรายสัปดาห์
-- การจัดอันดับด้วยพลัง 
-- หินพลัง