I advanced with quick steps. I was curious what the Black Ghost would do.

She, on the other hand, was relaxed. She waited for me.

Whish, Whoosh!

I quickly moved to her side and swung my sword. The Black Ghost, who had been watching with a smirk, subtly shifted her body.

The sharp blade lightly grazed her skin, opening a red line. But I couldn’t see it further.

Thwack!

"Cough...!"

Before I knew it, a fist flew and struck my jaw. It was a good thing I pulled my chin back the moment I was hit, otherwise, I would have been done for.

I closed the distance again. Every time I launched an attack, the Black Ghost responded with an attack of her own.

’Even if I attack the same way, her attacks are more powerful and painful.’

It was the power of a Runner Late-stage.

Soon, the Black Ghost stretched and then moved rapidly from side to side.

"This is how you attack!"

Whish, Thwack!

I couldn’t see her fists. I could only barely block with my sword, predicting her movements by the sound of the wind cutting and the sensation alone.

Tatata-tang! Chaaeng!

I blocked with my sword held in both hands, but it was overwhelming. I couldn’t see her fists or her feet. The Black Ghost was toying with me as if playing with a child.

"Damn it!"

Guarding alone wasn’t enough. I had the mask, so let’s do this!

Whoosh!

I dodged or parried her punches. I focused my mind even more intensely than a pervert peeking into a women’s bathhouse.

Read the opponent’s pattern. Then analyze it and land a counter!

"Hehe, I’m going all out from the start!"

The Black Ghost laughed, seemingly amused. She then instantly released the ki within her body.

What is that size? That depth?!

[Obsidian Flash]

The Black Ghost disappeared. A black trajectory moved from side to side, and then my vision flashed for a moment.

"Ugh!"

No way, is she moving so fast that I can’t even see her? Even though she’s already hard to perceive?

I gritted my teeth. I blocked a few attacks by instinct, but it wasn’t enough.

Thwack!

"Ugh!"

Too fast. I had managed to parry and dodge thanks to the mask. Is this the true power of a Runner Late-stage?

A giant wall. An opponent I couldn’t possibly defeat. An overwhelming pressure that made me bow my head.

Seeing me collapsed, the Black Ghost burst into laughter.

"Hahaha, human male. Is this all you’ve got? How disappointing, just die already!"

She charged again. Alright, head-on for now.

Thwack!

A hook struck my cheekbone like a hammer. Even so, I didn’t close my eyes.

Next was a high kick from the opposite side! I had to raise my sword to block it.

Thwack!

A straight punch came like an awl and struck my forehead.

I was pushed back. Not by my will, but solely by the Black Ghost’s power.

A chill ran down my spine. I quickly turned around and swung my sword diagonally. The Black Ghost dodged the sword and appeared.

"Not bad, but you’re slow."

A left hook landed at an unbelievable timing. My mind went blank for a moment.

I miraculously bit my lower lip and endured, and then the Black Ghost sent me flying with a roundhouse kick.

Whoosh, Thwack!

I was slammed into the mansion wall. A black trajectory shimmered and approached, then she grabbed me by the hair.

Thwack, Thwack!

She slammed me into the wall twice while holding my hair, then followed up with a knee kick to my abdomen and was about to throw an elbow.

’I can’t lose, never!’

[Vane Severing Sword Style - White Lightning]

White Lightning was activated by surprise. A pure white light flashed between me and the Black Ghost, then disappeared.

The Black Ghost hastily retreated.

But I could see a slight cut between her breasts. Her clothes were torn too.

Her beautifully shaped D-cup breasts jiggled into view.

Even so, she didn’t seem ashamed, even whistling.

"You’re really quite something, aren’t you? No human has ever landed a solid hit on me until now."

What’s the use of that? I’m already a wreck.

I glared at the Black Ghost and readjusted my grip on the sword.

"Alright, I admit it. My name is Lumina. Human, I’ll recognize you as an enemy worth killing in battle!"

Damn it, an enemy worth killing in battle. She can shove that kind of ’worth’ up her ass.

Lumina began to take light steps. A chill instantly ran down my spine.

’The atmosphere has changed. Before, she was just toying with me, but now, it feels like she’s serious about fighting.’

I might die. No, I’ll definitely die. That’s all I could think.

I gripped my sword with both hands, preparing myself. In an instant, Lumina was already at my side.

Lumina twitched her rabbit ears and threw a hook. I had already half-turned my body and launched a front kick at her.

Thwack!

"Oh dear, I’m dizzy! What? That didn’t hurt much."

She was briefly stunned, then quickly regained her senses.

Thump!

Instead, she grabbed my outstretched leg and spun me around. I desperately swung my sword, but she ducked to avoid it and then delivered a high kick.

Thwack!

Thanks to the mask’s effect, I avoided major damage, but I was hit so hard I saw stars.

I staggered and was pushed back.

’Endure, I must endure. It’s not good to bleed in a place like this.’

Especially not if I’m not human, but a beast-kin.

I immediately thrust my sword at Lumina, who appeared in front of me.

[Vane Severing Sword Style - Nameless Pierce]

Lumina vanished, leaving an afterimage. Suddenly, the back of my neck throbbed.

Lumina grabbed me by the scruff of my neck and lifted me straight up.

The ground and sky inverted. The ground rapidly approached, then-

Thwaaack!

"Cough!"

"Hehe, this is fun, so much fun! You’re chasing me by instinct, not by sight, aren’t you?"

I thought my neck might have broken, but thankfully I could still move.

’Endure, please endure!’

Lumina, still holding me by the scruff of my neck, swung me up again. Then she delivered a spinning kick.

"Kuuuhk!"

My breath hitched as if I’d been hit by a sledgehammer, and I was sent flying into the wall again. Lumina rushed at me fiercely, her eyes gleaming.

I swung my sword to keep her at bay. Lumina dodged it and then threw a hand heart from the side.

Suddenly, my legs lost strength, and my gaze plummeted downwards.

Damn it, did she trip me?

I decided to activate the effect of my Lyburn Coat to float into the air.

Thump!

But my ankle was immediately grabbed, and I was slammed into the ground.

Damn it, I’ll have to seal off flying.

Thwack!

A soccer kick followed as if on cue. As I floated in the air, Lumina cheered.

"Here we go again, spinning kick!"

I was slammed into the mansion wall and slid down. The back of my head felt hot, and my whole body screamed in pain.

’I feel like I’m going to die, but I have to endure, I have to! If I endure, it’ll appear soon. Endure even for a single moment!’

I almost collapsed but barely held on. I forced strength into my trembling legs and stood up straight.

Lumina rushed forward and leaped into the air. She threw a straight punch.

I didn’t dodge. I stared at her fist.

I had to see the moment her fist made contact and transferred energy. Otherwise, I’d keep getting dragged around!

[Vane Severing Sword Style - Counter Flow]

Taanng!

The distinctive sound of a successful parry. I put all my strength into both arms.

[Vane Severing Sword Style - Branch Cutting]

I swung my sword like a madman, as if to kill Lumina. Lumina, however, laughed belligerently and shouted.

"Rain of Punches!"

Lumina nullified all my attacks.

’This woman is a monster. But if her fast movement is all she has, I can definitely create an opening.’

I stepped aside. Lumina placed a hand on her hip and snapped her fingers.

"You’re really interesting. You’re so beautiful like a woman, but you fight well?"

"They say beauty can be deception."

"Then is that part beauty? Is it hot? But what’s the use? You’ll die before you can use it!"

"I already took a number! Hey, friends!"

They came. As I waved my hand and shouted, Lumina twitched her ears.

"You came alone, didn’t you? Did I hit your head too hard?"

I pointed behind her.

"There’s a female of another race, just as you’ve always wanted! They say beast-kin blood has a strong scent, right? Now’s your chance to pounce!"

A horde of goblins appeared behind her. Thanks to my title, they tilted their heads at me, then nodded.

"Hehehe, a beast-kin! A female beast-kin!"

"Her rabbit ears are cute! I wanna rub my dick on them!"

"Uh, is the Chief... talking? Then let’s screw her!"

Dozens of goblins simultaneously swarmed Lumina. She clicked her tongue.

"Tch, what is it? More goblins. How annoying!"

She displayed incredible speed and began to slaughter the goblins.

I actually knew.

Even if there were hundreds of goblins, they couldn’t stop Lumina.

But what if Lumina’s attention was completely focused on the goblins?

The corners of my mouth turned up.

’They’re charging well, thinking I’m their chief. Die, all of you.’

A black storm raged before my eyes. Every time it touched the storm, the goblins’ limbs were torn, their heads exploded, and their remains splattered everywhere.

’Brutal, truly wild skill. I admit it. I can’t win alone. But this isn’t a competition, so why should I fight one-on-one?’

I readjusted my grip on the sword. My arms trembled.

As if I would drop the sword at any moment.

My head hurt so much that blood kept flowing from the torn skin.

When I put pressure on my nose, a gush of nosebleed came out. My regeneration couldn’t keep up; I was a complete mess.

’I have one more chance to swing my sword. After this, I might die. But let’s do it. I have to screw all the big sis-mamas in the world before I die, right?’

Let’s turn this chance into a miracle.

I slowly approached.

As the goblins were all dying off, Lumina complained.

"Ugh, this is boring. So boring! That’s why goblins are worthless creatures!"

I attacked Lumina from behind. Just as I was about to raise my sword-

"Heh, I knew you’d come from behind. Human, I’ve seen through your pattern!"

Lumina turned around and attempted a backspin blow. But I also knew.

That you would see through something like that.

I squeezed out my last bit of strength and moved to her side. I immediately threw a front kick. Lumina froze for a moment, her face surprised.

"Ugh, you still have this much strength...?"

"Haaaaiya."

I brought down the sword I was holding with all my might. Unlike usual, I used the flat of the blade, not the edge.

[Vane Severing Sword Style - Divine Strike]

The Divine Strike directly hit Lumina’s head, who couldn’t move due to being stunned. No matter how strong she was, she was still a living being.

"Ugh."

Lumina collapsed. Just as I was also about to slowly fall-

Lumina casually stood up.

"Ugh, that hurt quite a bit. But I won’t lose... Huh?"

Lumina tried to stand up but collapsed. She tried to get up again but couldn’t.

I sat down and looked at Lumina.

"It’ll be hard for you to move for a while. It’s a technique that uses the sword like a blunt weapon."

"Uh, huh...? Why can’t my body... huh? I lost? To a human?"

I stood up on my trembling legs and looked down at Lumina.

I commanded the few remaining goblins.

"Friends, you guys get out of here now. Don’t ever come back."

"Ah, female, slurp.. Yes, Chief!"

The goblins obediently disappeared. I sighed and knelt down.

I could feel my body slowly regenerating. And....

[Title ’Spirit of the Warrior Race’ activated!]

[All Stats increased by 5!]

My entire body, which had been on the verge of death, was recovering through regeneration, and vitality was returning.

Kyaa, all stats +5, sweet!

Lumina gnashed her teeth and shouted.

"Damn it, human! What are you going to do with me? Are you going to kill me?"

"I won’t kill you. Your skill and looks are too precious to waste."

"What...?"

Without knowing what I was about to do, Lumina’s eyes widened.

They were truly the eyes of a startled rabbit. And her ears were twitching too.

I grinned at her.