Helu approached at once and swung his fist mercilessly at my face.


    The speed is still remarkable.


    I''m sure you''ll be able to find out more about this.


    But I duck with ease.


    No matter how fast they are, it''s easy to avoid them if you know where they''re going to hit you.


    As soon as I crouched and ducked, I released a kick to scoop up Helu''s leg.


    It hits well, but the response is light.


    Then Helu, with the momentum from my kick, spins her body around once.


    And the leg I was supposed to have kicked was swung down towards my brain.


    ''''Whoa........!


    Haha!


    I take it with my right arm and flush it out.


    As expected from a woman''s kick, it''s not enough to catch the full weight and momentum of the rotation.


    It was just barely enough to catch it, and Helu landed on the ground.


    Helu, who was in an unreasonable position, moves away from it once.


    ''Wow, you were able to catch that one.


    ''You did a great job of taking advantage of my kicks, too, for a spin.


    Hey, surprise yourself.


    You didn''t mean to surprise yourself, did you?


    How much physical ability and fighting talent do you need to be able to reflexively do that now?


    ''''I''m still going!


    With that, Helu approaches again and attacks.


    The main thing is a quick attack, and without any feints, they are all coming to hit you for real.


    It''s easy to handle a normal opponent, but Helu''s attacks are fast and he has a lot of hands.


    As soon as he deflects a fist strike to the stomach, a kick flies to the face.


    It''s a good idea to be able to use the same kind of equipment for the same purpose.


    That''s why I carefully deal with the attacks.


    And when I have a momentary opening, I try to attack, but....


    Because she is a woman, I attacked her throat instead of her face, but Helu avoided it by bending over backwards.


    I was about to launch a follow-up attack because my stance was compromised by being on my back, but Helu kept on doing a backwards somersault while kicking me in the chin.


    I sensed it just in time and avoided it, but he threw another scary blow.


    ''Haha, this is fun!　You''d be surprised how much my body moves on its own!


    There are times when I can use my previous experience to make a reflexive attack or evasion that surprises me.


    But that''s really only sometimes, and it doesn''t happen that often.


    But Helu comes at it many times during this short battle.


    I can anticipate their movements and avoid or set up attacks, but there''s no way to predict an attack that they don''t intend to make.


    What a difficult opponent...but that''s the word for a head-to-head fight.


    It''s time for my fight to begin, so let''s get it over with.


    I deal with Helu''s attack and set it up while backing away.


    I call out lightly to Helu, who is following me straight away.


    ''Watch your head,''


    ''What?　What did you say...?


    A rock fell on Helu''s head as she tried to hear my words back.


    ''''I got it........!


    Helu squatted down, holding his head down and moaning in pain.


    The magically created rock wasn''t that big, only slightly larger than a person''s head.


    And since he didn''t drop it from high, it would probably only cause a tumbling on his head.


    But it''s a surprise attack, and it would be very painful and should make you lightly dizzy.


    It''s a good idea to be able to avoid normal attacks with crazy reflexes and counterattack, but there''s no way to reflex the invisible attacks, such as a surprise attack.


    That''s what I was allowed to exploit this time.


    ''''There''s a match.''''


    Ugh that''s not fair, that''s not fair...


    ''I said I wouldn''t use a sword, but I don''t remember saying I wouldn''t use magic.


    Well, I''ll admit it''s cowardly, but that''s part of the game.


    Besides, I''m afraid I''m going to get serious if I''m fighting any more.


    It''s just as well to stop in moderation.


    Hye-ryu holds his head down and crouches down, staring up at me with tears in his eyes.


    ''I guess I win,''


    Mmm, something doesn''t make sense...


    There aren''t many games in this world where the loser is more likely to win.


    I''ve had my share of run-ins with the law in my past life.


    The most recent one was my battle with Lieutenant Commander Liberto, which I fought before I was assigned to this secret mission.


    ...but I didn''t lose that fight. We didn''t win it.


    In the end, it was a draw, but I didn''t like the way it turned out.


    Besides.........it was a battle with Elena-san.


    "...Eric-kun, what''s going on?　What are you thinking about?


    Hmm?　Oh, no ... nothing.


    Yeah?　I was surprised when the atmosphere suddenly turned scary.


    I guess he sensed my mood, Helu said, rubbing his head.


    I really only thought about it a little bit, but do these sentient beings notice me?


    Just as I was about to make some excuse, I heard the voice of an attendant calling me into the waiting room.


    It''s my match, it seems.


    ''Let''s fight again when it''s over. This time I''ll keep my eye on the top.


    Then they''ll just attack us from below.


    Then I''ll be careful downstairs.


    I don''t think I can say anything.


    After this party extravaganza was over, I needed to get away without Helu finding me.


    After a quick prep workout, I headed to the venue for the game.