The Second Round
The night air above the Crimson Demon Village trembled with pressure. Sylvia's massive serpentine tail coiled across the broken ground outside the ruined storehouse. Pieces of stone and wood still burned from the explosion that had blasted the vault open moments ago. The glow of scattered fires painted the battlefield in flickering orange light. And in the center of it—Ruko stood again. Blood stained the corner of his mouth. His breathing was uneven, ribs screaming in pain from the last hit. When Sylvia's tail had smashed into him earlier, the crack of bone had echoed like something straight out of a brutal fighting game. But he was still standing. Across from him, Sylvia smiled wider. "Oh good," she said, her voice dripping with amusement. "You didn't break as easily as I thought."
Her enormous tail lifted slowly, scales grinding against stone as it rose into the air like a living pillar. "Let's continue," she purred. Ruko rolled his neck slightly. "I guess it's time to hunt this horn freak." Pain shot through his chest again. He ignored it. Behind him, further down the street, Kazuma had pulled the others back behind a row of damaged buildings. Megumin gripped her staff tightly while Yunyun stood beside her, both watching the fight with tense expressions. Kazuma peeked around the corner. "…Yeah that's bad," he muttered. Darkness clenched her fist. "We should assist him." Kazuma shook his head immediately. "No. If we rush in we'll just get flattened. Ruko told us to prepare the big attack." Megumin's red eyes remained locked on the battlefield.
"…Three minutes, that he said earlier." she whispered. Kazuma blinked. "What?" Megumin didn't answer.
She was already gathering mana. Back on the battlefield—Sylvia moved first. Her giant tail slammed forward with terrifying speed. BOOM. The ground exploded where Ruko had been standing. But he was already gone. A flash of metal cut through the smoke. CLANG. Ruko's sword struck her scales again. Sparks scattered across the night. Still no damage. Sylvia laughed. "You're quick," she admitted. "But that weapon of yours won't break the Mage Killer." Her tail whipped sideways. Ruko jumped back just in time as the strike carved a trench through the dirt where he'd been standing. The anti-magic field surrounding her pulsed again, distorting the air. Ruko slid back across the ground and steadied himself. His eyes sharpened. "Ok I'm in a tight spot. Speed won't work. Strength won't work. Fine!"
He shifted his stance he pull his hair back with one hand. Sylvia watched with interest. "Oh?" she said softly. "You're still thinking of a strategy?" Ruko raised his sword again. "Always." He rushed forward again. This time his movements were different. Sharper. More precise. His blade flashed through the air in a rapid sequence of strikes. SLASH. CLANG. SLASH. CLANG. Each hit sparked violently against Sylvia's scales. Still no damage. But something else was happening. Her tail slowed. Just slightly. She tilted her head. "Trying to distract me?" she asked. Ruko smirked faintly. "Maybe... if your just a slow bitch." Sylvia suddenly lunged. Her upper body shot forward while her massive tail swept behind him. Ruko spun—Too late. WHAM. The tail struck him square in the side. The impact blasted him across the street.
He crashed through a wooden stall, splintering it apart before rolling across the dirt.
Kazuma flinched behind the building. "…Oof." Ruko coughed hard as he forced himself onto one knee. Blood hit the ground beneath him. His ribs screamed louder now. Sylvia slithered closer again, towering over him with a delighted smile. "You're quite stubborn," she said. "But I like that about you." Her tail lifted again. "Maybe I should break a few more bones." The giant tail slammed down. BOOM. Ruko rolled aside at the last possible moment. The ground cracked open where the strike landed. He pushed himself upright again. Sylvia blinked slowly. "You're still standing?" Ruko wiped the blood from his chin again. "Yeah so what? I don't want to lose to a bitch!" He raised his sword. His stance steadied. Behind him, Kazuma whispered urgently. "…Megumin, how much longer?" Megumin's staff glowed brighter. "Almost." Yunyun stood beside her, gathering magic as well.
Back in the battlefield, Sylvia tilted her head again, studying Ruko with growing curiosity. "You know," she said thoughtfully, "most humans would already be dead." Her smile widened slightly. "But you're different." Her eyes gleamed. "Maybe I'll keep you alive a little longer." Ruko exhaled slowly. Then he grinned. "Sorry." He tightened his grip on the sword. "I'm not planning to die tonight or being rape of losing my asshole virginity to you." Sylvia laughed loudly. "Oh?" Her tail rose again, higher this time. "Let's test that." The enormous tail came crashing down toward him. And Ruko stepped forward to meet it. The third round had start off.