Reincarnated Into A Dead Woman's Body In Another World-Chapter 238: Arc 4, Act II, - 83: Grudge Match

She twirled out of the way, "I haven’t even used a proper spell. Having a hard time Yu-Yu?"

Daiyu did not scream nor shout, yet she barely blinked. Her gaze was fixated on a blonde, though strands of purple hair had been flung to her front.

Every weak point she scanned, every smirk and laugh she despised. The greatsword lifted into the air once more and with gritted teeth and a gem-like ripple in her irises, she dashed forward.

The greatsword swung forth! Jotou swayed herself right, keeping her focus on her spine—on the tips of her toes like a cat. Which is precisely why she was not prepared for the leg incoming from below.

Her eyes widened to Daiyu’s leg attempting to sweep. ’Take the hit.’ Jotou braced for impact as Daiyu’s boot connected to her left leg. She followed the momentum and took a dive for her right.

Jotou fell, hand by hand and rose back up within a flip sideways. Her sword dropped to the sand however, to preform her acrobatics.

Daiyu landed the end of her blade into the sand, steadying herself back up using the greatsword as a crutch. Jotou lowered her knees and extended her leg to go lower, picking up the hilt of her blade and standing back up in quick succession.

"Took you that long for a hit?" she wiped the sweat off her cheek to unveil her smug smile. ’My leg... My poor, poor leg, ow... Hell that hurts...!’

Daiyu made no reply, the absolute rage painted upon her face had disappeared. Although that rage did not disappear from the grip of her blade nor her actions; she raised a foot stomping down to make the ground shiver.

Like a cat the blonde sprung up, quickly tapping her feet whilst moving to her left, never pausing her steps. ’I figured out her little quake spell. Just have to keep moving in the rhythm; keep up the momentum to remain stable.’

The pillars around were beginning to shift more than usual, the spectators could feel their seats becoming more unstable. Feyan scanned the signs, "Oh no..."

Daiyu did not spare a moment, running forward to launch her sword into several strikes. Her breathing steadied, her upper torso expanded and retracted in a stable rhythm.

"CLANK! BANG! TANG!" Jotou moved each step back, forced to deflect the incoming strikes. Daiyu would follow with a stomp of her foot, creating another quake at point-blank range.

"Huhf," Jotou exhaled and spun leftwards, twisting into Daiyu’s strikes causing the princess to miss her marks. Jotou twirled around—"Shwing!"—cutting the hair tie that held Daiyu’s bun up.

Jotou landed back behind Daiyu, the two standing with their backs to each other. The blonde ran forward and away before she spun back to meet her opponent.

Daiyu turned, the purple mane released from its bind. Her hair fell strand by strand, but she remained with an eye half-closed, still barely blinking.

’Oh shit, she’s actually pissed... Well, I knew where this plan was going.’ "Didn’t you take like a hundred different fighting lessons?" Jotou raised her chin, rotating the hilt of her blade.

Daiyu raised her blade and stomped the ground again, Jotou took the tips of her toes and followed the rhythm, putting on a façade of effortlessness.

"Huh, I must’ve surpassed you after my training in this world; you could always lay a hand on me easily. Either that or your skills must’ve really dwindled~" she mocked.

With a huff and a growl, Daiyu dashed forward again. Each footstep creating a more powerful quake. Jotou smiled. ’Gotcha.’ Within her sights was the charging princess.

’Legs in low position, right arm holding heavy. Strike left side, go upwards... Don’t stop. I can win, might break a bone of mine though...’ Jotou held her sword low, chin down before she rushed forward as well.

She leapt and skipped to counter the shaking ground. Daiyu halted once the two were about to meet and instead lifted her foot high and stomped down.

The earth below Jotou cracked and shifted as a platform began to raise. "Oh hell." ’I can still make it work.’ Jotou was already going up with the sand and earth, but she continued her sprint.

Jotou dropped onto the sand into a roll, holding her sword close. Daiyu grunted and swung forth her blade. Jotou aimed for her left leg and—"Swipe!"

"Ngh!" it caused a little slash across her leg and continued upwards. The greatsword was also incoming towards the blonde’s shoulder. Jotou brought the wide side of the blade up, taking Daiyu by the underside of her left arm.

Jotou’s free hand was awfully close to Daiyu’s arm, allowing her to latch under said arm. And from there Jotou stepped forward, kicking the back of Daiyu’s leg that she had cut.

"My lady you are going to demolish the area!!" Feyan yelled out.

"Huh?" Daiyu turned for a split second. The greatsword was already in its arc and so was the Thundering Blade pushing forward, putting her whole weight into the shove.

"Ngf!" Daiyu was taken off her feet, causing her to reflexively try and move the great sword. By doing so, she threw it off course, trying to land it beside her.

However, the weight only aided in Jotou’s attempt. Everyone from the side got up from their seats, leaning closer...

Jotou rolled forward, pulling Daiyu along with her. Daiyu raised her legs in the same direction and threw her sword aside, hoping to catch herself.

"TFF!" Daiyu placed a hand to the ground, but was unable to bend the other arm Jotou held onto. The blonde’s head met the sand, but still went forward in a roll with both hands—one holding a hilt and the other grabbing Daiyu firmly.

Daiyu would have just fallen on her back, but no. The blonde kept going... Daiyu’s attempt at recovery only worked against her as it made it easier for Jotou to completely flip her...

"PUFF!!!" The sand dusted up. Within that one moment, Jotou took Daiyu to the ground and caused her face to fall into the sand. The blonde kept rolling, but could not maintain it, falling face first in the sand as well...

Both their bodies lied in the sand, behinds up in the air. The spectators went silent and then muttered in confusion. "YAY!!!! Wait, who wins?" Asobi searched around her.

"I think it’s a draw," Hotaru’s ears fell.

Niah rolled her eyes, "I concur."

"PEH!"

"Schuh!"

Daiyu and Jotou lifted their heads, sand all over their faces, hair and down their clothes. Jotou felt the blood going down her cheek from the sand... "Ow!"

Daiyu spat out sand, her lips dripping sanguine fluid, scuffs across her cheeks and forehead. "Guhhhhh..." she whined to get the taste out.

Jotou got herself up, Daiyu doing the same. Fumeko blinked in between them, the rest rushing forward except Niah. "Princess, please, stand still," shadows appeared in Feyan’s hands.

"That goes the same for you," Hotaru shook her head and took Jotou by the chin.

"Are you two okay?" Asobi queried.

"I’ve had worse-"

"My lady, please do not speak!" Feyan was in the process of healing her lips, causing little cuts to appear on his palm.

Hotaru healed the wincing Jotou before she peered over, "Feyan, if you want me to-"

"It is fine Ms Hotaru, I shall be fine."

"A draw?" Jotou chuckled, "That’s a first~" she cooed to Daiyu.

"Yeah, I would’ve beaten your ass like usual if someone didn’t decide to yell at me in the middle of me swinging!!!" Feyan just sighed and healed along the skin.

"Oh please. You would’ve gotten an extra hit in, that’s it. You weren’t gonna win," Jotou’s eyes glazed over.

"This can’t be a draw! Jotou clearly won!" Fumeko opposed. "She had Daiyu on the ropes the entire time!"

"Yup and he still fell at the end didn’t he?" Daiyu retorted.

"She didn’t use any other spell other than spark! Even then she didn’t actually use it! You on the other hand," Fumeko crossed her arms. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

How could that even lead to a draw? Jotou did not even use an ounce of her magic! Daiyu glared, "I, I demand a rematch!" she threw a pointed finger.

"Nah, I agree. I think I won if we’re counting the overall fight," Jotou smiled. ’My leg hurts, so, so very much...’

"You can’t just claim that!"

"Hey psychopath, I could’ve shattered your bones into puzzle pieces with one strike."

"Not if I defended!"

"If you want a rematch, up the bet for my side; make it fair."

"Done!" Daiyu turned, her face completely healed. "Instead of saying, it’ll be an actual thing being done, how’s that?" she leered.

The corner of her lip rose, "Now that sounds like a deal~"

"I’m sorry, what’s this about a bet?" Hotaru’s ears twitched left and right.

"Don’t worry about it." Both Jotou and Daiyu synced, staring each other down...

"When will this rematch be taking place? We only have so much time before the last stand..." Feyan reminded.

"The day after tomorrow. Afternoon. Bring all the Royal Guard. All the soldiers who haven’t left for the last stand location yet. This is about to be one spectacular show, might even boost morale," Daiyu arranged.

Asobi’s eyes glittered "Yeah! Then everyone’ll have a fighting spirit! But... if one of you beats the other, won’t people believe in you less?"

Arabella shook her head and signalled. "Both of them would show their power to inspire others of what we’re capable of, not one being more powerful than the other—even if that’s the point of the match..." Feyan translated.

"No reason we can’t do both. I’ve got some magic to play with and it’ll be good training," Jotou cocked her head.

Daiyu grinned back, "Gloves off then Joey Toes."