CHAPTER 26: CH 26: THE BLOND.

She smirked.

"Only if you don’t adapt. So you better adapt."

With that she cracked her knuckles and lifted off the ground—

Lunging for Levi.

He lifted his eyes to the sky, as her figure flew gracefully in the air blocking the fluorescent light, casting a perfect shadow over him.

It’d be beautiful, that’s if she was trying to squash him like a bug.

He mustered all the strength he had to shift his body to the right—

Barely making it out in time before she slammed into the ground.

Billowing dust and stone everywhere.

He instinctively brought his hand to shield his eyes.

The dust finally settled as he watched her bent in the crater— superman style.

His breath hitched.

’She’s actually trying to kill me.’

She dramatically rose back to her two feet.

"Levi, if you don’t show me some improvements then I will without a doubt kill you."

’Oh, you don’t say, I thought you were kidding when you shot me’

He thought sarcasticly.

He finally spoke back to her, "It’s not my fault. I don’t even know what I should be doing."

She sighed.

"Guess you’ll know when it hits you."

She lunged for him again.

Closing the distance between them in a second.

She rammed her gauntlet so hard into his guts he folded in—

Crushing all the air in his lungs and slamming him into the ceiling.

~BAM.~

He hit the ceiling just before gravity and the belt did its work thrusting him back into the ground.

Levi’s body slammed back into the ground with a sickening crunch, the impact sending a ripple throughout the room.

He groaned, coughing violently, the taste of blood flooding his mouth.

Selene stood over him, arms folded but barely as the gauntlets made it impossible.

"You’re still too slow," she said flatly. "And your reaction time is garbage."

’Alright. I think I’m officially sick of her.’

He groaned, dragging himself off the floor.

He licked his teeth, spat blood to the side and took a fighting stance.

Feet spread apart wide enough for him to withstand and circulate the crushing weight on him, trying his best to straighten his spine.

His elbows bent sharply, forearms vertical— hands open. Fingers curled inward, twitching with eerie precision or just muscle spasm.

She laughed— actually laughed.

"Alright Kane, let’s see what you’re made of."

She raised the gauntlets in a boxer’s stance.

He knew that no matter how hard he tried to take it, the pressure was still an immense disadvantage.

So now the plan was simple, let her come to him then defend, counter and survive.

Levi narrowed his eyes, sharpening his gaze.

She moved.

Launching a vicious punch straight for his forehead.

He wasn’t fast enough to dodge—

But he could block.

He lifted his arms in front of his face.

The impact rattled his very bones and shifted him back.

He stepped out, drifting from their straight path— moving to the side.

Throwing a punch at her.

Sloppy yet effective.

She staggered back.

Surprised at first then it turned to joy.

She closed the distance between them.

What followed after that was a retinue of punches and attacks up until Levi passed out.

When he finally came to, his head throbbed, body ached like he’d been run over... Numerous times.

He adjusted himself to sit up.

She stood in the corner, gauntlets on the floor beside her while she rubbed her wrists.

She glanced over at him, saw he was awake now, walked over and threw a towel at him.

"You did good... Tomorrow we go again."

That was it. She exited after that leaving him on his ass to clean himself up.

The training looked like a mess, from the flickering lights courtesy of his back to the numerous craters and cracks on the floor and finally enough blood for a mosquito’s Christmas.

But none of that was Levi’s concern, the only thing that bothered him currently was how he was gonna adapt and what exactly would trigger it.

He remained there for a few minutes after she left, pacing and pondering in a nervous circle before finally calling it a day and leaving for the cafeteria.

He got some food like always, sat in the corner like always and ignored the stares and murmurs as always... Well almost, he could ignore them all except one.

The blond who sat alone and stared at him too, but her state was different from the others.

Whenever she looked at him it was less like she was scared or mad at him and more she was curious and trying to piece something together.

He tried to ignore her... For a minute, but after the day he’d had he just couldn’t.

’There’s always too many unanswered questions in my life to add a mysterious staring girl to the list.’

He marched to her table, each step with built up frustration and a purpose.

Her eyes widened as he got closer, she turned left and right to be certain she was the one he was walking up to.

It was.

He didn’t need an invite to sit down— he slid into the metallic bench opposite her with practical ease.

Tightened his gaze, interlocked his fingers and placed them on the table.

"Alright, why are you staring at me?"

She rolled her eyes at him.

"I have an honest question. Did you really think that walk was intimidating?"

He paused for a second— not knowing how to respond.

She continued, "Well I’m staring at you because I don’t get what everyone else sees or fears. From your fight in the hall with Bryan to your training with Selene...

I honestly don’t get it, you’re not impressive you’re just strong."

His mouth remained agape.

Even that didn’t deter her, "You’re a heavy hitter with a tiny brain. So much so that even I found out about your abilities before you."

That was it, the only thing he cared about in everything she said.

He furiously waved his hands stopping her, ’’You know how my abilities work?"

She sighed.

"It’s kinda obvious."