"Is that so…?"

    I couldn''t tell that she was here because I don''t have Presence Sensing. Even if I had, as long as she erases her presence without attacking, I won''t be able to tell that she''s here.

    That said, Kuroyuki tied her hair in a ponytail. She changed her clothes to grey long-sleeved sportswear and her upper bodyline well hidden by a black sportswear jacket.

    "…As I thought, you couldn''t tell my presence— even if you could see my attacks coming," Kuroyuki said to me.

    "Because Nightwalker had ''Presence Sensing'' instead of me." I replied.

    "…No wonder both of you could sense my attacks."

    I can''t seem to continue this conversation. It''s going nowhere.

    "So? What brings you here?" I asked. "Are you perhaps worried of me~?"

    "… It''s hard not to." She heaved a cold sigh.

    I thought Kuroyuki was going to unleash her devil''s grip. I don''t know why, but she looks like a parent watching a kid throwing a tantrum.

    "Thanks, Kuroyuki."

    Nevertheless, I was really thankful for her kindness.

    "...Enough of that." She uttered while flicking her hair as if it was the most natural thing to do.

    She then took a quick glance at my sweaty body.

    "…Now show me what you could do."

    She excitedly taunted me with her finger.

    "…Huh?"

    Facing that, I could only look at her with a dumbfounded look— which Kuroyuki tilts her head in return.

    "…That was just a warmup, isn''t it?" Kuroyuki asked.

    "No? That was training?"

    "………………"

    Her head seems to have popped a vein.

    "H-Hey…!?"

    With her ice spear suddenly appearing on her right hand, she threw it while aiming at my head.

    It was so fast that I could b?r?ly evade it.

    Whenever Kuroyuki throws her spear with her arm instead, the power is at least five times more potent than those she controls with her Ice Elemental power.

    "…!"

    That spear was just a distraction…!

    She''s close!

    That was the footwork she used on Nightwalker''s duel— it''s either that she''s really that fast, or she delayed her presence to confuse me.

    She''s aiming for a grapple…?

    It''s probably impossible to escape from the sides either because of her footwork, allowing her to change direction without losing its speed.

    If I grab her hand or knock it away, she''s able to follow up with her left hand.

    Worst case, succeed in a takedown if I back off or move forward.

    There are no openings…!?

    In that case…!

    "Hah!"

    I charged forward while lowering my head, attempting a takedown by grabbing her slender waist.

    But Kuroyuki did not budge at all, despite the fact that I''m pushing her with my all.

    She''s tough…! This is— Hard Defensive Cladding…!?

    She wore her armour of hard ice while stacked with the ''Defensive Cladding''. No wonder even Nightwalker would take a hard time to break her ice.

    Which then, she grabs my belt with both of her hands and lifted me with my head facing down—

    A piledriver!?

    BAM!!!

    Before the slam, I absorbed most of the impact with my arms.

    Even if I sustained some damage on the back of my neck— it would heal in just a few seconds because of my ''Rejuvenation Cladding''.

    "!"

    BAM!!!

    By the moment I stood up— Kuroyuki succeeded in a takedown, mounting on top of me.

    However, she didn''t follow up with any strikes.

    Maybe it''s because she knew once she did— I could slip out at any moment.

    The moment I tried to push her away, she grabs both of my wrists, bending them inwards with her grip strength.

    "Arghh…!?"

    It''s just a matter of time before she breaks them— it was then, Kuroyuki releases her hands from me.

    "…Piercing, striking and even shooting almost couldn''t work on you— as expected, you are completely hopeless in holds and throws." She said to me.

    This girl… she knew my weakness, just like that— with just our exchange on last night and this morning.

    "…And your point?" I asked.

    Seeming how calm I was regarding that, Kuroyuki raised her left brow, seeming doubtful.

    "…I don''t recommend doing so, even if your other half could counter against this."

    Kuroyuki''s not the type to bring up pointless topics.

    …I see now.

    She wants me to prepare myself for the Knights Tournament.

    "…I thought you aren''t the type to aim for first place," I told her. "Unless there''s something you want at first place— something that you can''t obtain."

    "…I need your help, Lucifer," Kuroyuki told me while taking my hands. "…I can''t do this alone."

    Even though she b?r?ly had an expression, but I could tell that she was feeling sentimental.

    Because her hands are trembling.

    What on earth is the prize for first place that she wants that much…?

    I want to help her to achieve that, but I can''t.

    I don''t make promises that I couldn''t achieve.

    "I''m sorry, Kuroyuki," I told her, while flicking my hands away from hers.

    "…!"

    Kuroyuki was visibly surprised, yet— it felt like she''s surprised by something else instead.

    "I''m sure you already knew— my punches, kicks, and swings are all amateurish."

    Nevertheless, I continued.

    While listening to my remark, Kuroyuki nods her head.

    "…Just like any beginner." She said.

    "Indeed. Can you imagine that I tried to learn just a simple veteran slash for eight years?"

    "…Even talentless people would''ve— are you implying that you were unable to learn it…?"

    "As long as the ''Twenty Seal'' is on me."

    "………………"

    With her brows slightly furrowed, Kuroyuki raised her arm.

    A punch…!? Is she going to test me again…!?

    With her h?ps lifted from my abdomen, I slipped out from her mounting by pushing my body with my hands.

    BAM!!!

    Her punch dented a hole on the floor.

    As soon as I got back on my feet, I dodged Kuroyuki''s spear thrust by stepping to my right.

    "!"

    Then, an image of her spear cutting across my neck from the right pops in my head.

    I immediately reacted by leaning my body backwards— avoiding the presence-erased ice spear that she threw earlier.

    Kuroyuki then threw away the spear in her hand, aiming for a takedown.

    "I thought I told you— I''M NOT FALLING FOR THE SAME TRICK TWICE."

    I tried to change her trajectory by pushing her away with my right hand.

    But, she caught my hand with her left hand instead.

    "…So do I."

    Telling me that, she throws a sharp low kick.

    CLANK!

    Erasing my presence, I jumped upwards— dodging her kick that sliced the floor.

    Kuroyuki immediately leaned her body backwards while pulling my arm.

    Just like what I wanted.

    "Silent kick."

    I thought that my flying kick would land on her.

    But she immediately used the centrifugal force to spin herself and dodged my kick while releasing my hand— extending her right palm.

    PAK!

    It caught my face.

    "…I give up," I told her— with my body dangling on mid-air. "Please don''t squeeze my face…"

    THUD.

    Which then, Kuroyuki released me while I fell to the floor.

    "…Even if you are amateurish, you could adapt to others techniques, just like me," Kuroyuki told me as she sat on my opposite.. "…But… we need more than that to win."