Chương 89: 86th Adversary: Kirika Dragna
After settling his business with Alec, Miko left the city of Arak and headed back into the golden desert. He past the sea of golden sand and reached a beautiful oasis on the Northern side of the world. When he reached the oasis, he saw a huge river as well as a waterfall. He walked towards the waterfall with carefree steps. When he reached the waterfall, he noticed that someone was sitting under it on a rock, allowing the water to beat their body.
"Wow, how cliché."
Miko said as he walked closer. It was then that he could see Kirika clearly. She was wrapped in a black robe, which stuck to her body and showed her alluring figure, thanks to the water.
It was then that Kirika opened her eyes.
"You're here."
She stood up and caused the water falling on her to splash around. A drop hit Miko's skin.
"Hot!"
He shouted.
"Wait, this isn't water."
He examined the liquid.
"It's hot mercury? But it's transparent. Then it's a special type of liquid?"
Miko was perplexed as he examined the dense liquid.
"You actually allow something so hot and heavy to beat down on your body?"
Kirika nodded.
"As you know, my sword style requires me to be swift as a bird while having overbearing momentum like a dragon. I use this waterfall to beat my body into shape, so I can do just that."
"Oh, that's right. I forgot that you were a maniac when it came to training."
Miko stood up.
"If you want to be the best at something then you need to train like a maniac."
Kirika started walking on the strange liquid surface. Miko watched her approach him, and then-
She vanished. Before Miko could even move his eyes to search for her, he felt something cold resting on his throat. Right before his eyes, Kirika slowly faded in like a mirage. Miko didn't need to look down to know that her sword was at his throat.
"Looks like you haven't been training at all. I could've easily taken your head just now."
Kirika said.
"Really? It doesn't look that way to me."
Miko pointed up. Kirika looked up. Two swords were hovering over her head. They were Regis and Ishma.
"While it's true my body couldn't react to your speed, these two were ready to attack. They stopped the same time you did."
"I know."
Kirika smiled and put away her sword.
"Ow!"
Miko looked up when he heard Regis groan. That's when he noticed a small chip in the blades. The two immediately took their human forms and stood next to Miko. Regis's eyes were watery while Ishma looked pissed off.
"That woman hit us the moment we moved!"
Ishma complained.
"Miko, my hand hurts!"
Regis held her reddened hand and looked like she was on the verge of tears. Miko was lost. His body could react to kirika's speed, so he instinctively made his swords defend him. However, Kirika damaged his swords and still found the time to reach his neck in an instant.
(I expect no less from someone whose swordsman skills are only second to Rouge's in the clan. Truly a genius who can slay even gods if given a single opening.)
In the end, he could only try to console the two. Especially Regis since this was the first time she's felt pain from an enemy attack.
"It's okay. Kirika is just freakish, that's all."
"Who are you calling freakish?"
"These two are high-quality swords, you're the first to stop them. If that's not freakish then what is?"
(Not to mention that even though her strength is restricted, Ishma is a True Demon. Her defenses aren't normal, yet she was still wounded easily by Kirika.)
"Hmph. If I seem freakish from a casual swing then you're worse off than I thought."
Kirika put her blade away.
"Originally I was asked to instruct you on the basics of swordsmanship while Christensen was asked to do the same for all other weapons, however, things have changed."
She pointed at Miko.
"For your own good, I'm retraining you from the basics and turning you into an expert!"
"Ugh…."
"….What's with that reaction?"
"Is this gonna take a long time?"
"What do you mean 'Take a long time'? Of course, it will. No one can become a master in a day. You should know that."
"I know but…You know, I'm kinda busy with the whole creating a country thing."
"Miko."
Kirika's tone became serious.
"Do you realize the situation you're in? There are countless people in this country alone after your life. The number will only grow as you gain more power and influence. While strength isn't everything, being strong yourself would be the best insurance you could ask for."
She lifted a finger.
"As you are now, I only need my finger to pierce your skull and kill you."
"..."
Miko silently frowned.
"What? Do you think I'm being harsh?"
"No. What you say is true."
He smirked.
"The infamous Sword Maiden can easily kill a child like me."
"Are you mocking me?"
"I would never. Anyway, Kirika. You called me here because of your desire to make me strong enough to protect myself. For this, I'm grateful and gladly take your offer. However, since I'm busy it can't be every day. I already have Momo teaching me magic, Alec probably plans to teach me about alchemy, and my Grandmother will surely make sure I inherit her assassin skills. There's also the chance of Christensen returning home soon. If I include you, I'm booked to the point that I won't be able to manage my country."
He lifted his finger.
"So how about this? Once every three days, I will come here and learn everything you want to teach me. I will spend 3 hours under your guidance every three days. How does that sound?"
"I refuse."
"Huh?"
"Once every three days isn't enough. Don't underestimate the path of the sword. Every day for three hours."
"Huh?! Didn't you hear me?! I'm busy!"
"Like I care! This is for your own good!"
Miko facepalmed.
"I forgot how stubborn you can be sometimes. That's why you were chosen to supervise Alec in the first place."
He shook his head.
"Fine, fine. But only after I take care of some things that are needed to stabilize Renacido. After that, I'll hand over managing the country to Layla or something and focus on myself."
"I can agree with that."
Miko suddenly smiled.
"Then you'll help me with whatever I want?"
"Sure."
He nodded.
"Then Alec will tell you the details later."
"Wait….I think there's some miscommunication here. What do you mean Alec will tell me the details?"
"You guys working for Renacido of course."
Miko smirked.
"You said you'll help me out, right?"
"..."
Kirika silently drew her sword.
"You got some balls for trying to trick me, I'll give you that."
A dangerous glare appeared in Kirika's eyes.
"Alright, let's have a little spare to see what level you're on."
"Bring it on, brat! I'll make you pay for what you did earlier!"
Ishma stepped forward and shouted. Regis stealthily hid behind Miko and started trembling. Miko looked at the two's contrasting reactions and smiled bitterly.
Ishma transformed her arm into a blade and glared at Kirika, looking eager to fight. Miko could literally feel the bloodlust sparking between the two.
(I really might die today.)
"Let's go!"
Ishma kicked off the ground and shot toward Kirika like a rocket. She didn't even wait for Miko.
"Regis, sword mode."
Miko stretched his hand to the side and grabbed a light that transformed into a sword. With Regis in his hand, he looked ahead at Kirika.
*Bam!*
He heard an explosive sound and looked behind him. There he saw Ishma leaning on a tree with several marks on her body. It was obvious that these were caused by her being struck several times.
"Hmm….Her movements are impressive, but when facing my sword art she becomes sluggish….Could it be that she's weak against quick-draws?"
Kirika stood there with a wooden sword in her hand, tapping her shoulder with it.
"Ahh!"
Ishma sprung to her feet with a shout.
"Goddammit! That hurt!"
She once again transformed her arm into a blade, but this time the blade was twice the size of what it normally was. Ishma charged at her with a speed Miko himself found shocking. Even with her strength sealed she was still Lucifer's daughter.
Kirika's eyes narrowed as she gripped her sword. She moved so fast her figure blurred. Ishma move to the side and swung her sword arm. Miko saw Kirika being cut in two.
"No, it's an afterimage."
He focused his eyes and spotted Kirika circling around Ishma's back. She lowered her center gravity and positioned her sword at her waist like it was sheathed. As she was about to move again, Ishma spun around and swung down her arm at her head. Kirika smiled. She jumped to the side so fast that she left afterimages. Ishma tried to move again, but Kirika didn't let her. She pulled her sword so fast it disappeared from Miko's sight.
*BAM!*
With a thunderclap, Ishma was blown back in his direction. He stretched his free hand out and caught her.
"Keeeehhhhhh!"
She made an incomprehensible sound as her face was dyed with rage. She started squirming while being held by Miko.
"I see. I get it now. You're able to follow my moves but your body can't keep up. If you were at full strength, I would need to give it my all to fight you."
Kirika praised.
"If I was at my full strength I would've killed a brat like you with a single look!"
Ishma roared back.
"Yes, Yes. Turn into a sword already. I'm the one she's supposed to fight you know."
Miko forcibly turned Ishma into her sword form and grasped it.
"Now then, Miko. Were you able to follow my movements?"
Kirika rested her wooden sword on her shoulder and asked.
"Just barely, but I don't think I can react as well as Ishma."
"I like your honesty."
Kirika brought the sword to her waist.
"My sword art mainly focuses on speed and momentum, but I won't use it for now. In the meantime, I'll just use basic movements like I used against your sword just now."
"You call leave afterimages after you move "basic movements"? Your title Sword Maiden isn't for show huh? Whether it's you or Alec, you siblings are monsters."
"Did you forget about our little brother?"
"Ren is different. He was made into a monster, you two were born that way."
Miko clinched his swords and took a fighting stance with one sword beside his head and the other by his waist.
"Oh? That stance isn't bad for defense and attack. Did you inherit it from Darius?"
Miko shook his head.
"I just played a lot of games!"
He kicked off the ground and charged toward Kirika. He swung Ishma at her legs and Regis at her upper body. Kirika simply moved back to avoid them, but that simple movement was done so fast that it looked like she teleported. She moved forward just as fast and thrust her wooden sword at Miko's chest.
From outside it looked like a simple thrust, but to Miko, it felt like his heart was gone from his chest before the sword even reached him.
"!"
He put as much power as he could in his legs and leaped back almost 100m. While he was in the air he had his eyes on Kirika.
"Your reflexes aren't bad. Did you perhaps sense the danger of that thrust or did your survival instincts take over?"
She looked at Miko, whose feet had yet to touch the ground. She blurred and appeared right in front of him.
"But jumping in the air creates too many openings for you."
She swung her sword to the side but hit the air. She looked up and saw Miko shooting upwards using his dragon wings.
"Ah, I forgot that you can do that."
She thrust her sword upwards.
*Bam!*
"Guh??"
Miko felt a strike in his stomach. The strike almost caused him to vomit. He looked down and saw a bruise in the center of his abs.
"I have lots of long-range attacks too you know."
Kirika looked up and said.
"You call that a basic movement?!"
"Of course. I only thrust my sword into the air after all."
Kirika said with a giggle.
"Now then, I heard that you have a powerful skill centered around your swords. Use it."
Miko gritted his teeth and clenched his swords and started pouring power into them. They started to give off a green and azure glow. Miko's eyes turned demonic and his body gave off a crimson glow. The image of a crow and dragon entangling around a crimson demon appeared behind him for all to see. The images behind him turned into green, crimson, and azure flames. The flames wrapped around Miko and his swords.
"Mad Beasts of Avicii!"
Miko swung his swords down. Three different colored flames flew down in the shape of a dragon, a crow, and a demon.
"Oh? Now that's pretty."
Kirika watched as the three mad beasts charged down toward her and smiled. The surrounding area started heating up, but Kirika didn't seem to mind it. She positioned her wooden sword at her waist and lowered her center of gravity. That's when her hand and sword blurred. In an instant, her arm and sword were already pointing toward the sky.
As for the mad beasts, they all froze as if time had stopped.
*BAM!*
They burst into pieces with an explosive sound.
"Guh?!"
Miko who was still in the air was hit by an invisible force. He felt as if he was being cut into two. A long bruise appeared across his torso and he almost fell from the sky. The beasts disappeared leaving him holding his chest and gasping for air.
"Not bad for an original. I give it a passing grade."
Kirika walked up to him.
"The test is over. You pass. I'm sure we'll have lots of fun training together like the old days."
"…..I think some of my repressed memories from my day's training with this woman are coming back...I might really die this time."
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