The Smiling Death-Chapter 326: Training With Her

Heavy explosions echoed deep inside the dark forest

BOOM!

BOOM!

BOOM!

From one place to another, trees shattered and the ground split apart. The reason was two beings. Well... actually only one of them was causing most of this destruction, while the other was trying his best to survive.

Something spun through the air, a dark line forming in the direction of the red-haired figure.

Scarlett’s amethyst eyes glinted as she ducked down and avoided the incoming hatchet.

Instantly, she kicked off the ground, dashing toward the black-haired young man.

He held his sword horizontally, the blade blazing with dark, shadowy energy.

He slashed.

[Umbral Veil Sword Art: Second Form – Shadow Fang]

Multiple slashes shot toward her like shadow fangs.

But only a few of them were real.

Scarlett dodged each of them effortlessly. Then she punched the two that were real.

BOOM!

BOOM! 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

"Dammit! How can she guess it?!" Amon growled.

Today, Scarlett wore a loose blue-grey tunic made of soft fabric. It had a modest V-shaped neckline and long sleeves that were slightly gathered at the wrists with drawstrings.

The tunic fell to mid-thigh and had a small slit in the front for easier movement. Around her waist, she wore a brown leather belt that cinched the tunic, giving it shape and structure. Beneath, she was wearing tight black trousers.

’She looks beautiful in anything... and those thighs are damn thick!’

He immediately pushed those dirty thoughts aside. It had been a whole week since he sparred against her in the morning. Today’s fight was still ongoing.

He immediately commanded the shadow over the hatchet that had flown past her to return.

The hatchet spun violently in the air, wrapped in black mist, curving back toward Scarlett’s back like a hunting hawk.

Without even turning around, she tilted her body slightly. The hatchet sliced past her cheek, missing by a hair.

Before it could fly away again, Amon clenched his fist. The shadow beneath Scarlett’s feet rose like tar.

Dark tendrils shot upward, trying to bind her ankles.

Scarlett clicked her tongue and leaped upward just as the ground beneath her exploded in black spikes.

She twisted midair. The spinning hatchet came at her again from the side.

This time she caught it. Her hand grabbed the handle firmly.

Amon’s eyes widened.

"What?!"

She smirked and threw it back. It was not a normal smile.

She hurled it like a cannon. The air tore apart.

Amon barely managed to summon a thick wall of shadow in front of him.

BOOOOM!

The impact shattered the shadow wall and sent him skidding backward across the dirt.

He dug his sword into the ground to stop himself. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.

"She’s insane..."

Scarlett blurred again. Amon reacted instantly.

The surrounding forest darkened unnaturally. Darkness rose out of thin air.

Shadows stretched unnaturally long. The area within twenty meters dimmed as if evening had fallen early.

Within this place, he could have more help.

The branches and leaves already made it hard for light to touch the ground. By using his ability, Amon created darkness around the branches, making the place look even darker.

This small move gave him access to more darkness. Using darkness to get more darkness.

It dashed toward Amon, wrapping around his body. It was some kind of augmentation. Not as strong as when used during night time, but it was good enough as a power-up. The shadow beneath him wrapped around his legs as well. He circulated mana, using it to form darkness over his blade.

Dark smoky trails left his body.

Scarlett watched him with amused eyes.

"Nice move," she commented casually. "You really have a useful ability."

Amon didn’t respond. His focus was on Scarlett. His breathing was heavy.

’Let’s try this again today,’ he thought. He vanished forward.

CLANG!

His sword clashed against her bare fist.

The impact sent a violent shockwave through the darkened forest. Leaves were torn from branches. The ground beneath their feet cracked.

Amon pushed harder, while she remained still in her place.

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

Steel met flesh. But her fist was harder than iron. The exchanges became rapid. Each strike sent shockwaves through his body.

He slashed horizontally. She tilted her head. He thrust forward. She deflected it with her palm.

He spun low, aiming at her legs. She leaped and came down with a heel strike. Her movements were smooth, precise, and perfect.

BOOM!

The earth shattered beneath them.

’This won’t be enough. I need to use more.’

The hatchet returned. It flew from behind and dropped perfectly into Amon’s left hand.

He grasped it tightly.

With a battle roar, Amon attacked with both weapons.

His sword carved wide arcs while the hatchet struck from unpredictable angles.

Multiple dark trajectories formed with each strike, curving, overlapping, twisting in chaotic patterns.

The air seemed to split with every swing. Scarlett’s lips curved into a small smile. Her amethyst eyes glowed red for a few seconds. She moved with frightening precision.

She parried the sword with her forearm. Deflected the hatchet with the back of her wrist.

Stepped inside his range. Dodged the attack backward.

Her movements were clean. They were minimal. No unnecessary movements.

Amon increased his speed.

’Faster!’ His eyes narrowed dangerously.

He pushed more mana all over his body, strengthening it further, which was already reinforced by his Death’s Darkness ability.

The shadows thickened. His strikes grew heavier.

He started to fight on instinct.

CLANG! BOOM! CRACK!

Shockwaves rippled outward again and again. Several minutes passed slowly.

Amon’s breathing became heavier. His vision began to blur at the edges. A sharp pain throbbed inside his head.

Using the abilities of darkness and shadow simultaneously was taking a heavy toll on him. It strained his mental strength.

His temple pulsed painfully. ’Not yet...’

He forced more mana out. The darkness clinging to his body began trembling. Its surface flickered. It was now rippling over his body as if breaking from him at any moment.

Scarlett noticed instantly.

"You’re reaching your limit," she said calmly.

Amon roared and lunged again. He swung both weapons downward. She stepped aside.

His blades struck the ground, carving a deep trench. Before he could recover, she appeared in front of him.

Her fist shot forward.

BOOM!

It struck his chest covered with darkness. The darkness cracked violently.

"Gahhhh!" Amon groaned in pain.

Amon staggered back but tried to retaliate with the hatchet. She grabbed his wrist mid-swing.

CRACK.

The shadow coating on his arm shattered. She twisted and drove her elbow into his ribs. The darkness that covered him like armor splintered apart.

Amon coughed blood. The shadows around his legs dissolved. The darkness covering the branches above flickered weakly.

"Still standing?" she asked almost approvingly.

Amon tried to lift his sword again. His head throbbed violently. The armor around his body trembled once more, then it shattered completely.

At that same moment, the darkness blanketing the branches above dispersed. The grey light of the cloudy sky poured down through the trees.

The forest returned to its natural dimness. Without his augmentation, Amon’s movements slowed drastically.

Scarlett stepped forward. One punch to his stomach.

"Ahhh!"

Another to his shoulder. A final strike to his chest.

BOOM!

He was sent flying backward, crashing through a tree before collapsing onto the forest floor.

Dust slowly settled. The smoky remnants of darkness faded around him.

Scarlett stood a few meters away, completely steady.

Amon tried to push himself up. His arms trembled. They gave out completely.

He fell back flat on the ground, staring at the pale grey sky above. The battle was over.

And once again, he had been defeated miserably.

"Hah.. hah.. hah..." Amon gazed up at the tree branches, the grey sky peeking through them.

His breathing was ragged, tired, and heavy.

Scarlett walked toward him and then knelt beside him.

"You are improving. At a good speed," she complimented him.

Amon closed his eyes and smiled lightly.

"Yeah... I am."

Then he gazed at her beautiful face, which was still clean after this battle.

"You can drink my blood if you want," Amon said casually, as if offering his blood had become something completely normal.

"Not right now... Rest for a while. After lunch... I’ll drink it," Scarlett replied, refusing for the moment. She would do it later.

Amon just gave her a small nod. He smiled, satisfied.