Skanderberg mansion. (Hiro's Point of View)
The storehouse is by no means cramped but one could not move freely as there are torturing equipments in many parts of the building. Those items would be obstacles for both fighters who use swords that stretch to about 1 meter in length.
Lyla's ability is 70% of her original ability because I had stolen 30% of it with my translucent dashboard's power. Having said that, Lyla is still unbeatable in melee fights until now.
We have never seen Scarlet fights but Tina warns the princess was a far better fighter than her. Although Tina is not among our best fighters, the female assassin is better than the kunoichi in sheer fighting abilities.
How will Lyla fare against Scarlet? We shall know afterwards.
Due to their sizable swords, both girls usually wait for their opponents to enter into the range of their sword before attacking. As both girls don't jump at each other, they immediately reach a stalemate and it continues like that for several minutes.
Lyla breaks the deadlock by budging her feet without raising her legs.
Scarlet seems startled but she remains stationary. After about 5 meters, Lyla's body enters Scarlet's sword range. Both of their attacking ranges overlap.
Scarlet waits but Lyla has stopped her advance.
Contrary to the serene Lyla, perspiration runs down Scarlet's forehead and armpit. Unlike sleeved Lyla, Scarlet is sleeveless after all.
"Yaaaaa!"
Scarlet swings her blade upward but repelled with the middle part of Lyla's blade. The entire part of their blades are sharp so they can cut their opponents with either side of the blade. Thus, they could swing from either left or right.
Scarlet then makes a 360 degree swing at Lyla's left side.
The momentum of a hefty blade from a long swing would surely overpower a delicate girl like Lyla, thus Lyla lunges herself, lifting her right knee straight forward and extending that leg.
Before the swung blade reaches her neck, Lyla's right foot thrusts at Scarlet's belly.
"Arggg!"
The blade touches her shoulder but the power is lost as Scarlet is kicked away.
Feeling the pain, she still manages to pull her blade to block Lyla's slash at her left side.
Scarlet blocks the attack but Lyla disappears from her sword.
"You feign.."
Scarlet realizes that as she was too focused on blocking her sword, Lyla's body is already at her right side.
Using her fists, Lyla hurls a right jab and a left hook at Scarlet's ribs before pushing a right cross at her chest.
Scarlet pulls her sword and steps back in pain. She swings at Lyla's waist.
Lyla instead launches a side kick at her waist before hurls an uppercut with her right fist.
Again, the blade touches Lyla but the power is lost.
By this moment, it turns out to be a fight between a sword user against a weaponless fighter and the melee fighter being beaten.
Scarlet falls backward without releasing her sword. Lyla then makes a front kick at the chest of the defenceless girl, throwing her away at the pole.
Lyla returns to her sword and picks it up. She walks towards the fallen girl while hauling the sword along the floor.
Scarlet squirms but realizing her foe is coming at her, she struggles to stand up.
"Yaaaaa!"
She launches an even faster attack when Lyla enters into her range. Scarlet attacks and Lyla blocks. After several attacks, Lyla starts to retreat backwards while blocking the fast attacks.
Tina opens her mouth, "I told you before. That princess is insanely good."
Despite being beaten and injured, the princess skillfully raises the speed of her slashes, forcing Lyla into defensive mode.
Everyone else seems worried as the princess is increasingly dominant in the fight.
However, after about five minutes, Scarlet gradually turns desperate as Lyla no longer retreats.
From the onlookers, Lyla's defense seems like an impenetrable fortress.
Scarlet jumps several times backward.
She is breathing hard.
Lyla strides and swings her blade. Scarlet blocks the first and second onslaught.
The third slash doesn't come immediately. Instead, she receives another front kick at her belly. Then, her left leg is hit by a low kick.
As if allowing Scarlet to catch her breath, Lyla only readies her blade for a minute.
"Don't look down on me!" Scarlet yells but Lyla's third slash comes. She blocks it but her sword is released from her hand.
Lyla puts down her sword and makes several jabs at her chest. Scarlet is already on her knees.
Lyla slips to Scarlet's back and kicks her heel.
When her opponent's ass falls on the floor, Lyla's legs are inserted below Scarlet's armpit and strangle her waist.
Lyla's hands strangle her opponent's neck.
Lyla's bottom left hand grabs her right top wrist to strengthen her choke.
Lyla is trying to force Scarlet to submit using a grappling battle.
Scarlet squirms and struggles to no avail.
When Scarlet is finally weakened, Lyla releases her hands.
Scarlet head rests helplessly on Lyla's chest.
"Selene. Heal the princess." I order the elven girl.
***
Scarlet finally regains her consciousness. We surround her. Her two subordinates have been properly covered with clothes and are lying near her.
She rises and looks around helplessly.
I squat in front of the princess.
"Scarlet. You are now my captive. However, Clause and Frey, these two shall be given the most honorable burial. But, they won't be buried in the capital."
Scarlet weakly nods.
