III.IV Remainder

"It'll be my pleasure to grind you into the ground, Dirt Eater."

I weaved to the right as tin can immediately went for the offensive.

*CRASH!*

His halberd's blade crashed on my left side as I immediately capitalized on his weapon's apparent weakness.

*CLANG! CLANG!*

I slashed at his left leg, his armor pinging at my attacks.

"Tch."

I clicked my tongue as I glanced at the spot of my attacks. Not even a scratch.

Not enough power?

"Nice try, Dirt Eater."

"WHOOSH!"

Tin can swung his halberd sideways towards me. I was on his side, so I used his slow maneuverability against him by circling towards his back.

*CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!*

Damn. Still no damage. What is this thing made of?

"Don't even try, Dirt Eater." The man taunted as he moved back about a meter away from me, his halberd not even pointed at me in a show of confidence. "This is an Imperial-standard suit of armor."

"So?" It's gotta have some sort of weakness.

"It means it's impervious to paltry attacks from non-combatants such as yourself," He stated in a haughty tone. "Such an armor is given the proper Runes that makes it impervious to your feeble attempts at combat, Dirt Eater."

I silently thanked this idiot for giving me a clue as to how the damn thing is so indestructible. My mind immediately drew up all the runes that I knew were capable of granting such properties.

I just hope I knew the runes in the first place.

"So? Do you accept your place, Dirt Eater?"

"Calm down, tin can. I'm thinking here."

That gives reinfo- no, too energy-intensive... Armament? Couldn't see the telltale blackening on any part of the metal... Perhaps a-

"Big sis!"

Shit!

*CRASH!*

My eyes almost bulged out of their sockets as I stood a mere centimeters away from the halberd that almost chopped me in half. Had Olivia not shouted at me, I would've been a goner.

I immediately established more distance away from the knight, all while still intensely staring at his suit of armor for any possible chink that I can use. The runes should've been visible when I struck the damn thing. But its simply shrugged my blade off, not emitting the blue glow that any reinforced piece of metal should give off when struck with a force capable of scratching it.

How the fuck does it work?!

*WHOOSH! CRASH!*

I dodged another volley of attacks as I took advantage of his unwieldly strength; kiting his swings while maintaining a respectable distance between my hair and the sharp end of his weapon.

"Flummoxed, are you not?" He taunted as he continued to swing his oversized clothing rod. "Submit to your betters, Dirt Eater."

*SHIIIIINGG!*

Sparks flew as I gritted my teeth, my dagger raised to redirect his overhead swing.

*CRASH!*

The business end of his halberd landed on my right side as my arms burned harder than ever before; the force of his attack more powerful than any strike that I experienced in the forge.

*WHOOOSH! WHOOOSH!*

I can't keep dodging like this. Sooner or later, I'll run out of steam and drop dead on the ground. Whether I'll do it figuratively or literally would be the only question that I'd have to worry about by the time that happens.

I wracked my brain for ideas on how to crack this puzzle. This wasn't a fight, it's more of a 'how do I inflict damage on this guy?' kind of battle. Humans are fragile creatures; one injury taken to the extreme and the human body will falter like a house of cards.

I only need one debilitating opening to press the advantage.

*CLANG! WHOOSH!*

I rolled on the ground after barely dodging that last volley through the skin of my teeth. My eyes landed on a particular spot on the tin can's armor and it all clicked in my head.

The joints.

God, I'm an idiot. Basic anatomy, Crimson. You went to college for this.

I immediately stood back up, my body almost hugging the ground as I gripped the handle of my dagger even harder. I just needed to close the distance.

"Given up?"

"Hardly."

I sprang into action.

The minute details of the floor zoomed past me as I rushed the tin can dagger forward.

*WHOOSH! WHOOSH!*

I deftly ducked under his swipes as I approached his effective range, swiftly making my way towards his right leg.

*SLASH!*

"ARGH!"

A fountain of blood rewarded my efforts as my blade slashed through the assuredly softer metal of the joints. A smile adorned my face as I immediately capitalized on my advantage, leaving the right knee in favor of the other.

*SLASH! SLASH!*

Another fountain of blood erupted as I slashed on the left knee-joint. The armored man immediately fell on his face as his legs gave out on him, his halberd no longer on his grasp as he clutched his knees in pain.

"AAARGHH!"

*CLANG! CLATTER CLATter clatter...*

Success.

*Clap Clap Clap*

"Good show, cutie~" I turned towards the sidelines, spotting my 'patron' alongside a shaken Olivia. "I knew you could do it~"

I scoffed as I flicked my dagger, shaking off whatever blood might've decided to stick around on it.

"Fuck you."

"Oh~ I'd be honored~"

What the fuck?

"Do call me Arya, however. It wouldn't count if you screamed someone else's name in bed~"

Oookkay? Oddly flattering, but coming from someone that I hated with every fiber of my being.

My- No! Bad thoughts!

The woman chuckled as she made her way towards me. Her waist-length hair fluttered with a grace I felt disgustingly envious of as she stopped merely a few inches away from my face.

"Of course, that can wait~ Congratulations, partner- or should I say, partners~"

I ignored the outstretched hand in front of me in favor of checking up on Olivia.

"Are you okay?"

"I-I'm fine, sis."

I winced as she recoiled at my touch. She avoided looking at me in the eye as she returned to her usual place beside me. In all honesty, it hurt to see her react like that to me.

Was there something on my face?

"Ehem~"

Oh.. right...

With a certain level of disgust that I found hard to swallow, I reluctantly shook my supposed partner's hand as she smiled like there's no tomorrow.

"Joy!~" My 'partner' exclaimed to high heavens as she beamed like a love-struck schoolgirl. "It counts!~ It counts!~"

I quickly retracted my hand the moment she let go of it. What counts?

"Oh~ And of course, little cutie as well~"

I simply watched as the blue-haired Num eagerly shook hands with my apprentice, with said apprentice also sporting a face filled with confusion.

"Okay~ Now that everything's in order, let's get outta here, partners~"

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