KonoImpact!!!! God Blessings On This Mess Up World.

Twilight Of Devotion: Life Is Fun

[This is just an intermission or Rest chapter~ The real sheet begin next chap.]

The sound of Fu Hua's fists cutting through the air echoed in the training ground as we circled each other, the intensity between us rising with each strike. Despite being a Herrscher, I was holding back, keeping my normal state intact. 

I wasn't here to win—just to learn. A week had passed since the wars ended, and peace had settled between Schicksal and Anti-Entropy, at least for now. Everyone was shifting into new roles and responsibilities, but before heading to the lab to discuss the Imaginary realm, I figured a spar with Fu Hua couldn't hurt.

I was quickly reminded that this woman wasn't just a fighter—she was a master. Her Chinese martial arts style flowed seamlessly, and every strike felt calculated, with perfect balance between offense and defense. I dodged her punches and kicks as best I could, my instincts sharp, but there was no denying that she was leagues above me in raw skill.

She complimented me mid-battle, her voice calm, "Your reflexes have improved, Kazuma. You've become much quicker since we first met."

Her words made me grin. She had no idea how much of a challenge this was for me, keeping myself from slipping into Herrscher form. If I did, I could probably overwhelm her in sheer power, but that wasn't the point. I wasn't looking for an easy win—I was looking to learn, to hone my own skills against someone with her level of expertise. Besides, it felt good to hear her acknowledge my growth, especially after all the chaos we'd been through.

Her movements were precise, but my quick thinking and adaptability were enough to keep me from getting completely overwhelmed. I parried a sharp kick aimed at my midsection, barely dodging the follow-up punch that grazed my cheek.

"Different from the first time, huh?" I chuckled, feeling the heat rise in my muscles. "Guess I'm not the same guy you first met."

Fu Hua's lips curved into a small smile as we continued our sparring, her tone light but with a teasing edge. "You've definitely changed. Back then, you used to rely on dirty tricks... or worse, your other tactics to try and win."

I felt my face heat up instantly. Yeah, I might've tried a few questionable moves in the past. She wasn't wrong—there were moments I'd do just about anything to get the upper hand. Not exactly my proudest moments, but... well, they worked back then. This time, though, I was focused on the fight itself, trying to actually keep up with her skill, not my usual tricks.

I glanced away for a second, too embarrassed to hold her gaze. That was my mistake.

"Don't look away," Fu Hua chided, almost amused, as she lunged at me with a swift strike aimed at my head.

Instinct kicked in, and I dodged at the last second, the air whooshing past my face as her fist just barely missed. I parried another move and countered by grabbing her arm, but she anticipated it, twisting out of my grasp as we both pushed away from each other. We paused for a moment, catching our breath, neither of us willing to admit how much effort we were putting into this.

Fu Hua's expression softened as she spoke. "It's good to have you back at St. Freya. I missed having a sparring partner who keeps me on my toes."

Hearing that made my heart skip a beat. I hadn't expected her to say something like that. She was always so calm and focused, but there was something sincere in her words. I felt my face flush a bit as I looked at her—Fu Hua was both pretty and... well, kind of handsome too, in a weird way. Her strength and grace combined with her cool demeanor made her someone I couldn't help but admire.

I rubbed the back of my neck, trying to play it off. "Yeah, well, it's good to be back too. I guess I've... grown a little since then."

Even as I said it, I could feel the blush creeping up. Damn it. This was supposed to be a sparring session, not a moment where I end up getting flustered over how cool she is.