Despite the intense tension ravaging in that field, Izuna reverted into her child-like personality. It felt annoying and inevitable—due to the penalty of the magic she used forcibly, earlier.

Izuna immediately loosens her stoic stature and broadened shoulders. She lifts her sleeves to her elbow and slowly unwrapped the white bandages around her arm.

The moment Princess Marielle saw a glance of Izuna’s tattoo, “You… Impossible…” she commented. Izuna possessed something that one of the Four Great Heroes only knows.

“No pain negation, boosts, spells, and sidearms... Right?” Izuna questioned as she covered half of her face with her palm. As she hovered the tattooed arm, various horrible and despicable energies engulfed and slowly materialized her original crafted triple barrel and chamber revolving flintlock pistol.

“Magic weapon… Not that different from mine,” Princess Marielle nodded as she felt her golden cuirass with her finger and slowly slide down through her chest. She instantly removed her magic armor and it dissolves into small golden sparks. Using that same hand, she hovered it into her right ear, and her armor became an earring.

“What? Isn’t this the famous moon prism power wake-up!?... Where time literally stops and we can talk and transform all we want while the camera spins around for no reason!?” Izuna casually mentioned it as if she’s inside a show.

As soon as the earring materialized, Princess Marielle slashed her other arm downwards and revealed her Original Crafted Side-hilted Evanslenian Saber. “I aim for a fair fight. Give me your all, Izuna!”

“Alright! It’s the first fight of a hero candidate. However, the hero faces a huge stepping stone. Please, animator-sans please make me badass and look really cool, and don’t put all your effort just because Princess Marielle looks too op,” Again, Izuna casually fourth wall-break.

Belmare comes in and stayed at the sidelines at the center between Princess Marielle and Izuna. He then acts as the umpire. Before he started the fight, he waited for both competitors to ready themselves.

This time it’s real. A duel that will leave you half-dead.

“Fight!” Belmare shouted.

Izuna took a deep breath and removed all of her unnecessary thoughts as she focuses only on Princess Marielle. She then pulled the trigger.

Princess Marielle looked where Izuna pointed her hand and assumed where the trajectory is. She ducked quickly before she dashed forward.

After she blinked, she didn’t realize Izuna fired twice. She only dodged the first bullet.

“Kuhu…” she smirked as she changed standard grip into icepick grip. With a loud clang, Princess Marielle deflected the bullet with her saber. The rivers rippled.

Izuna followed up her shots by running as fast as she could. She feinted to dash near to the left wall.

Princess Marielle looked behind and scanned her openings. It’s as if Izuna completely vanished.

Completely defying gravity, Izuna bolted upwards to the arch of the walls. She leaped gallantly while searching for the point to receive her aim.

Dark and horrible energies exploded from the gun. The bullet is filled with swirling biological matter of unknown origin.

Izuna fired one after another. The first bullet shattered Princess Marielle’s mana barrier into fragments.

Princess Marielle swung her sword too late. The second one was a direct hit and pushed her back.

Realizing this is faster and stronger than earlier, Princess Marielle stepped sideways.

The third bullet completely pulverized the whole stone-bricked floor and turn it into a fine powder.

The immense power from that bullet produced tremendous shockwaves. Due to the force, the violent gusts of winds were delayed and only happened after a few more seconds.

It ravaged the rivers and splashed as high as the mountains, and draining the riverbed. The overall structure of the bridge rumbled as it sunk slowly.

Belmare didn’t realize that it’s about the rain. “They’re on a completely different level than I expected… They’re too fast for my eyes to see!”

As the clouds loom over the battlefield, the night starts to ascend.

“You were strong after all…” Princess Marielle said as she stood up. “Sorry. I underestimate you. Time to go all out, Izuna!”

The fight is far from over yet. Izuna gritted her teeth as Princess Marielle taking her bullets as if it was nothing. Princess Marielle’s evasive footwork is almost the same level as hers but the Princess’s complete mastery over her sword is even more formidable. No wonder she’s the Impenetrable Fortress Knight.

Izuna’s last chance is to stay closer and figure where she can strike effectively.

Both of them dashed and engaged in close-quarters as it rained. The impact of their blows vaporizes the water around it.

Their movements were subtle yet explosive. Surprisingly, Izuna can guard herself well using her gun as melee.

Izuna let out a loud, “tch!” as she barely counter-attacks herself from the assault coming in all directions. Her clothing were ripped in the process.

Princess Marielle evaded and swept her leg.

Izuna hopped and shot Princess Marielle’s knee.

Princess Marielle ricocheted the bullet with her saber and aimed at Izuna’s head.

The bullet grazed Izuna’s cheek. She followed up her hop with a sidestep. Izuna striked Princess Marielle’s medulla oblongata.

Princess Marielle switched and rotated her grip and saved her head from Izuna’s kick. She quickly delivers a front kick.

With a loud bang, it was a solid hit to Izuna’s liver and made her spit, “Gah!” It was a surprise attack that she didn’t have any time to fortify the area around it. She was blown away as if she’s light as paper.

Princess Marielle realizes there is no point in defending herself. Izuna would just fire at a distance to wear her and aggressively attack when she’s weakened. She abandons her defend and counter-strategy and paces herself with Izuna. If she opts for this, it would be hard for Izuna to aim. Even if it’s a gamble to receive her shots at point-blank.

“Hmpf!”, Izuna tumbled and as soon as she recovers to a good position, a sword tip is coming in front of her very eyes.

“Haaa!” Izuna shoved the sword away with her gun. She switches her grip and uses her gun as if it’s a tonfa.

Princess Marielle thrusts her saber forward.

Izuna smacks the sword until it touched the floor. Princess Marielle is fazed and it created an opening for Izuna to strike and did a spinning backhand fist.

“Kuhu…” Princess Marielle leaned backward as she let go of her sword. Time sit still as she did a double handstand and spin kicked to disarm Izuna.

Before the gun slips away, Izuna puts all of her strength in her finger and flings it to her other hand.

“Shit!” Izuna yelled as she barely dodged Princess Marielle’s swing. As she was about to lunge herself and aim, Princess Marielle planted her sword in front of her.

Izuna missed her chance to shoot her so she pulled her arm away. Princess Marielle followed up by stepping on Izuna’s foot and trip her.

Princess Marielle further continued her blows. She delivered a quick jab to Izuna’s chest and an elbow strike to her shoulder.

Izuna could barely withstand it. She has no time to fortify the area around it. She had to twist her pivot and heel-kicked princess Marielle’s face.

Princess Marielle’s cheeks were burning as she almost tripped herself. “This is it!” She declared while feeling her face as she casually slashed and deflected the bullet.

Princess Marielle dashed as she thrusts her sword. Izuna is still recovering to a more correct position. Izuna front-flipped and used the saber as leverage but her thigh was grazed in the process.

“What!?” Princess Marielle shouted as Izuna ran through the saber. Due to the momentum, Princess Marielle couldn’t use her other limbs. She let Izuna go behind and leg locked her.

Izuna tapped her gun to vulnerable Princess Marielle’s head. She pulled the trigger.

Unfortunately, Izuna is out of bullets. She quickly thinks and suplex Marielle to the ground.

Princess Marielle bounced as she screams her pain and tumble. If she let go of the pain and recover quickly, it’s a perfect opportunity to strike while Izuna is reloading and coming towards her.

Princess Marielle pretended that it’ll take more time for her to recover. She anticipated the time it’ll take for Izuna to enter within her reach.

Princess Marielle slashed her sword from behind through the barrel of Izuna’s gun—Creating sparks in the process.

But it wasn’t enough. It was blocked by the gun’s top jaw.

Izuna aimed perfectly for Princess Marielle’s head.

It missed the moment Princess Marielle switch into a thrust. Izuna smiled as her throat was almost slit. Afterward, it bleeds a bit.

 

 

“I didn’t think the hero candidate was capable of that. If this was a real fight, the Princess would be dead. That Izuna purposely shot twice to remove the last bullet and caught it with her mouth. And when she threw the Princess she loaded back the bullet and purposely missed because she knew the princess would take this opportunity to strike while she’s pretending to be reloading. Just how strong is she capable of?” Belmare reminisced the fight earlier.

“Fancy slashing… You’re pretty good.” Izuna commented as Princess Marielle pulled away her saber.

“I didn’t think you’re almost equal to me. Perhaps it’s because I don’t know the nature of your magic weapon. So far as I know, the bullets increase in speed and power when fired in succession. The first bullet being the weakest and the third bullet being the strongest.”

Izuna offered her hand. “Tehe~ You got me. Sometimes I hesitate to reload after my 2nd or 3rd shot. A second before I finish reloading, your shield is up already. Your mana barrier recharges too fast... If only I had no reloading times and infinite ammo.”

Princess Marielle accepted it. “It’s the nature of my Original Crafted Saber… That last sentence of yours worries me.” Princess Marielle tapped Izuna’s shoulder, “Still, that was a fair fight that even I wanted for more. This experience proves to me that you are more challenging than spending time in expeditions to unknown areas.”

“Alright~! It’s time for my after-fight sequence. Cue the music!.. Spin the camera around me dramatically!.. Add my experience and rewards overlay on the screen!.. Alright~! Zuna, zuna, daishouri!” Izuna casually breaks the fourth wall.

“That was reckless of you, Princess!” Belmare voiced his concern as he approached Princess Marielle.

“I survived numerous times half-dead. Well, even if this is a duel for fun I won’t sully my title. Jokes aside, I trust you to bring me to our hospital safely. But that event never happened because I trusted the hero candidate to know their limits as well” Princess Marielle replied.

“You never pulled your punches. I thought you’re going to kill me.” Izuna commented. “My arm and belly still feels sore.”

“Same as you. You were smiling the whole fight and you have no hints of doubt nor retreating.” Princess Marielle offered a handshake. “It won’t take a while to recover.”

Izuna took it as she chuckles. Afterward, Princess Marielle caught it and chuckled as well.

“I’m satisfied for today.” Princess Marielle tapped Izuna’s shoulder before she went to her horse. “I heed all of you to have a nice day. May the spirit of Evanslei guide you.” She plucked her earring and her magic armor appeared before leaving the place.

“Wait. Since when did we get this large audience?” Izuna asked as she looked around.

Countless armed dwarves were guarding the other side of the bridge where Belmare’s production sites are located. They have a small stature and their height only reaches Izuna’s navel. Their thick and well defined body were covered mostly by their Dark-Greenish hair. Most of them were wielding Hammers and using large Nails as swords. The biggest one among them uses Anvil as their main weapon. The Dwarf beside him  keeps on making noise using his Vice.

“Ever since that gunshot, they thought there’s a rogue demon nearby,” Belmare explained.

Izuna hopped happily towards Gevanni. “Why are you not commenting Gevanni?... You should be stopping me from saying these things. I suddenly have the beep sound! *Censored*... *Censored*... *Censored*... Maybe you’ll say something along the lines of... You’re a walking copyright infringement!... Yes, yes whatever…”

There is something out of place. The fact that Gevanni is not reacting to the obnoxious side of Izuna tells that he’s either tired of it or something else.

“Are you okay? You’ve gone quiet for a long time. This creeps me out. Maybe you’re still brooding with your arms crossed as you lean your back to look cool!? Or maybe the author forgot you were there!?” Again, Izuna broke the fourth wall but this time with concern for Gevanni.

Izuna looked closely and checked if Gevanni’s sleeping with eyes open again. Before she could blow and see if he’s truly sleeping, Gevanni’s eyes squinted.

“Perhaps, you’re really really really amazed that you have a super cool partner?” Izuna teasingly said.

“Sorry. I wasn’t watching. There’s a lot going on in my mind,” Gevanni replied.

“What a party pooper.” Izuna pouted.

Gevanni looked around and it was quite a big change. There are various chunks of stones stuck at the bridge, the stone-bricked floor turned into beach-like sand, and the rivers are still boiling. 

“Based on the tremors and your bruises from that duel with both of your Original Crafted Weapons competing for one another, I suppose the power gap between individuals that serve the royal army differs from one another. Additionally, the designated role of each Great Heroes is not biased—Relying on the theory that you lived for a long time and accumulated experiences from endless fights—You managed to fight head-on the famed Impenetrable Fortress Knight at your weakest... If the Princess is the 2nd in line to the throne, that means the 1st—The famed living legend and the strongest berserker on history—Prince Arkzell must be exceedingly overpowered—One that surpasses the title of Great Hero... If the rumors were true from retired Tears of God’s plate mercenaries.”

“How did you come to that conclusion?” Izuna asked in a serious manner. She’s using her deep voice this time.

Gevanni wanted to evade that question while thinking of an answer that supports his conclusions earlier while giving Izuna the half-truth. He doesn’t want Izuna to learn that he had been draining the monthly allowance he gets from the royals to buy information from the underground skilled brokers. If Izuna learns this, there’s a chance she’ll casually say it and risk Gevanni from potential attacks.

“For someone who riskily transferred most of their abilities, I’m sure you must have a backup. But that backup is not accessible as of now because it has been dormant inside you for a long time. Maybe eating sweets helps you wake it up faster...” Gevanni tried to lighten up the mood a bit.

“Eh!? Since when did you become a mind reader or something? That creeps me out. All that sneaking sweets would be leaked!”

“That’s what worries you a lot. It seems Izuna-like.” Gevanni tried to smile but to Izuna it looked like a smirk.

“Why do you make it sound like my name is an insult!?”

“Yes, yes. Whatever.”