[The Poison Valley grew quiet.]
[Even the wind seemed unwilling to interrupt.]
[Naja stood atop the ruined pillar.]
[Below her, monster corpses littered the valley floor.]
[Across from her stood the silver-haired woman.]
[Smiling.]
[Amused.]
[Dangerous.]
Feria— "You're prettier than the reports said."
[Naja sighed.]
Naja— "You followers of the Demon Lord always talk too much."
Feria— "And you hunters always look so serious."
[Feria stepped forward.]
[The ground beneath her feet cracked.]
[Dark energy leaked from her body.]
Naja— "...Named servant."
[That wasn't good.]
[Ordinary cultists couldn't survive in the Poison Valley.]
[Named servants could.]
[Very few existed.]
[Each one commanded enough power to destroy small kingdoms.]
[Feria smiled wider.]
Feria— "You know who I am."
Naja— "I know enough."
Feria— "Then you know running is the smart option."
[Naja disappeared.]
[Feria's smile widened.]
BOOM.
[A blade struck where Feria's neck should have been.]
[Instead—]
[Metal collided with metal.]
CLANG.
[Feria blocked with a crimson claw.]
Feria— "Fast."
[Naja appeared behind her.]
[Three blades.]
[Three strikes.]
SHINK.
SHINK.
SHINK.
[Feria's shoulder split open.]
[Blood sprayed.]
Feria— "...Oh."
[She stared at the wound.]
[Then laughed.]
Feria— "You actually cut me."
[The wound regenerated instantly.]
[Naja clicked her tongue.]
"Regeneration."
[Of course.]
[Feria moved.]
[The world exploded.]
[One moment she stood still.]
[The next she appeared directly before Naja.]
CRASH.
[Naja crossed her blades.]
[The impact launched her through three ruined pillars.]
[Stone exploded.]
[She landed on her feet.]
[Sliding backward.]
[Blood dripped from the corner of her mouth.]
Naja— "...Strong."
Feria— "Thank you."
[Feria curtsied.]
Feria— "I've worked very hard."
[Naja hated people like this.]
[Monsters who acted human.]
[The worst kind.]
[Feria tilted her head.]
Feria— "Tell me."
Feria— "Have you found him yet?"
[Naja's expression didn't change.]
[But Feria noticed.]
[Immediately.]
Feria— "Ah."
Feria— "So you have."
[The atmosphere changed.]
[Feria's smile vanished.]
Feria— "Where is the Eleventh?"
[Silence.]
[Naja drew another blade.]
Naja— "Not interested."
Feria— "Wrong answer."
[Dark red energy erupted from Feria.]
[The valley trembled.]
[The nearby monster corpses began moving.]
[Naja's eyes narrowed.]
"Necromancy."
[Twenty dead monsters stood again.]
[Twisted.]
[Mutated.]
Feria— "Let's make this more fun."
[The horde charged.]
[Naja vanished.]
[Speed.]
[Pure speed.]
[The world blurred.]
[One monster fell.]
[Then five.]
[Then ten.]
[Every strike precise.]
[Every movement perfect.]
[Feria watched.]
[Interested.]
Feria— "You really are like a star."
[She stepped forward.]
Feria— "Always shining."
[A crimson spear formed in her hand.]
Feria— "Always above everyone else."
[The spear launched.]
[Naja barely dodged.]
BOOM.
[A mountain wall exploded.]
[The shockwave shook the valley.]
[Feria laughed.]
Feria— "You like staying on top."
[Another spear formed.]
Feria— "You like being admired."
[Another.]
Feria— "You like being untouchable."
[Naja appeared behind her.]
SHINK.
[A blade cut across Feria's cheek.]
[Blood fell.]
[Feria froze.]
[Slowly touching the wound.]
Feria— "...You did it again."
[The regeneration activated.]
[The cut vanished.]
[But her smile didn't return.]
[Something colder appeared.]
Feria— "Now I'm annoyed."
[Naja immediately jumped backward.]
[Instinct.]
[Good instinct.]
[The place where she had stood exploded.]
[Crimson spikes erupted from the ground.]
[Hundreds.]
[Feria's eyes glowed red.]
Feria— "Let's stop playing."
[The valley darkened.]
[Power rolled from her body.]
[Enough power to flatten cities.]
[Naja's grip tightened.]
[This wasn't a fight she could win.]
[Not alone.]
[Feria smiled once more.]
[This time there was no humor left.]
Feria— "Tell me where the Eleventh is."
Feria— "And I'll only remove one arm."
[Silence.]
[Naja raised her blades.]
Naja— "Come try."
[For the first time—]
[Feria genuinely laughed.]
[And the second round began.]