For a moment, I falter, the rather casual banter- considering the situation- replaced by a flash of genuine anger. "You really are a foul mouthed woman, aren't you…? We might be enemies that are about to kill each other, but that was a low blow even considering everything. Now I want to see your neck severed by my blade more than ever."
"If you beat me I will apologize for my extremely rude comment until my dying breath, this I swear to you, Iris."
"... Tell me your name, ill-mannered one." I ask, wanting to know who I am having this amazing duel to the death with.
"You may call me as Blade- I hope you will understand that I can't exactly divulge my real identity to a loyal subject of the king while we are in the midst of robbing his most precious outpost." Discover worlds on m _v _lempy _r.
Loyal subject, huh? It has a vile ring to it. I despise it, though it is true through and through. Now that I think about it, I've been a good little soldier girl for twenty years, and the only thanks I received for my tremendous efforts is a dishonorable exile and the treatment of a criminal.
Sure, I may have gone overboard and against army policies or whatnot but at the end of the day I was the victim… Who happened to turn the tables.
Anyways, there's no need to debate about the past any longer. A worthy opponent is standing in front of me, one I want to beat with all my being, so let's enjoy the moment, shall we?
I've already allowed my class to cause internal bleeding to strengthen myself, so now I have to go for another debuff or I will just bleed out if I use the same debilitation on myself again… How about losing sight in one eye temporarily? Eh, in such a fast paced combat having an area of blindsight would be extremely disadvantageous.
This swift little cunt would notice my disabled vision immediately and keep attacking me from that direction.
Instead, I instruct my system to inject a strong dose of poison into my veins, feeling the familiar sting as it courses through me. I've built up significant natural resistance to poison so I must use extremely deadly venoms or I won't feel anything- and if I'm not suffering from my self-inflicted pain then I also don't gain any benefits, after all, my class isn't named Child of Agony for nothing.
[System Notification: Critical Status Alert]
[Host has been exposed to a foreign substance. Status Effect: Poison Detected. Analyzing substance...]
[Analysis complete. Poison identified as Giant Slayer Venom, a highly toxic agent extracted from the glands of the Venomfang Basilisk. This substance is known for inducing rapid cellular degeneration, nerve damage, and severe internal hemorrhaging. Severity level: Extreme.]
[Immediate effects: Vitality +5, Agility + 9, Strength +7. Warning: Continued exposure to this venom will result in catastrophic organ failure. Host is advised to disengage from combat and seek an antidote immediately to prevent permanent damage or death.]
And just like that, I've gained more than 3 level's worth of stats in a moment's worth of time, levels that normally should've taken months if not years to get. Such power, however, isn't without its severe drawbacks. Rather, arguably my class has the biggest of downsides out of all of them.
As soon as the poison enters my bloodstream, a searing heat floods my veins, like molten lava coursing through my body. My muscles twitch uncontrollably, the raw power from the Monster Slayer Venom tearing at my fibers, trying to break me down from the inside out. Every heartbeat feels like a hammer striking an anvil, pounding my organs with brutal force.
My vision blurs, dark spots dancing at the edges as my body rebels against the foreign toxin.
But then things change. The searing pain begins to dull, the edges of my suffering softening as my body starts to adapt. The venom is still there, still burning me from the inside, but the raw intensity begins to fade.
In real time, my stabilization process happens in the span of a single second. My body is long since used to overcoming any sort of agony.
By the time this so-called Blade manages to capitalize on my weakened state as she springs toward me with murderous intent, I'm more than ready to receive her. I raise my blade in time to meet her attack head on.
My new buff makes me even stronger, faster and sturdier- as long as I can bear with the pain. I slash at her with all my might and instead of dodging, she is forced to block my strike with her own sword thanks to my speed, which in turn causes us to engage in a power struggle. Unlike how she managed to hold me back when I was about to behead her little boyfriend, she no longer stands a chance. 𝐑â𝐍òβĘS̈
In the next moment my opponent loses the struggle as I send her flying into the barracks' wall.
The wall then collapses under the strain and Blade is thrown to the outside.
"Urgh!" I gurgle suddenly as I spit out a black gooey substance- a repulsive mixture of my blood and the venom.
Blade lies flat on the ground only for a split momment, as in a moment's time she is straining to stand back up with shaky legs. Then, between pained gasps, she says, "I've always wanted to fight someone with your strange class… I must say… What a… Pleasure." There's obvious sarcasm laced in her tone.
Yeah, I admit that my class is pretty absurd, but it has horrendous unlock requirements and is of the Epic rarity. This is why I've not changed it to something less harmful for my own body.
It's simply too strong.
Furthermore, I no longer detest pain like I used to. It makes me feel alive.
"I'm glad you're having fun. Any last words, shortie?"
"... You really think I'm already done?" She replies with disbelief.
"Hehehe. Well, then, let's end this. I still have to catch someone's boyfriend, after all."
With trembling limbs she painfully straightens herself up and states with fierce determination: "over my dead body."
"But of course. I wouldn't have it any other way." I say with a smile.