No one's POV

After delivering the food for Najasho and Green, Ryu and Cornelia went back to the inn leaving Gai back on the mountain. The moment they got back to the inn, a loud yawn left Ryu's lips making Cornelia laughed a little. Of course he'd be tired when he barely gives himself enough time to actually sleep.

Ryu: Well, we're here Cornelia.

Cornelia: Yep. Thanks for coming with me.

Ryu: I'm gonna go get some shut eye for awhile. Since we have to act like normal kids anyway. This is a good chance.

Cornelia: Alright. I can take care of things here.

Ryu: I'm counting on you. Don't do anything rash on your on. If you want to go somewhere, take Akame or Poney with you.

Cornelia: You worried too much. I'll be fine.

Ryu: Just a warning. Talk to you later.

Cornelia: U-Um... Ryu.

Ryu: Hm...?

Ryu looked back at Cornelia and saw that she was blushing and fidgeting her hands together. She seemed to struggling to get the words out of her throat. But after seeing her reaction. Ryu caught on right away and sigh.

Ryu: Sure... We can go out.

Cornelia looked at him surprised and started smiling happily.

Cornelia: Y-You really will...?

Ryu: If you are okay with someone like me?

Cornelia: I think every girl would rather be with you rather anyone else.

Ryu: Thanks for the compliment. We can hang out after I took some naps.

Cornelia: S-Sure! See you later!

Ryu went to his room and took a small nap. The moment he left, Cornelia started squealing and jumping around. Ryu isn't as dense as she thought he is. She was looking forward to it after this is all over. She was so excited that she didn't even realized someone called out to her.

Taeko: Cornelia.

Cornelia was surprised at hearing Taeko's voice come out of nowhere but saw her nearby with a more serious expression than when Cornelia saw her earlier today.

Cornelia: Taeko. What is it?

Taeko: I want to ask you about that man who came by earlier, will you come with me? We won't go far.

Cornelia: Huh?

Cornelia(mind): Was she talking about Gai? Or Ryu...?

Cornelia couldn't assume anything but she agreed with Taeko. They walked towards some nearby ruins. The area was already secluded with Cornelia and Taeko being the only two there. Cornelia was already getting a bad vibe once she saw Taeko holding a katana so she strengthen her guard. Ryu had warned her to bring either him or Akame or Poney, but sadly she got her hopes up with Taeko thinking that she was her friend.

Cornelia: Um, Taeko... You didn't mean Gai, did you? He may seem manly, but he's so over-the-top that it turns him into a monster. As for Ryu, he is a very sweet and reliable person once you get to know him.

Taeko:...

Taeko didn't say anything as she did a swift strike at Cornelia. But Cornelia was already on her guard, so she managed but nearly dodge the attack on time. With a small cut on Cornelia's cheeks.

Taeko: You dodged it... and I was hoping to make this painless...

Taeko looked at Cornelia with a tiny bit of surprised, before turning her serious face on.

Cornelia: Taeko, are you-

Taeko: I am an assassin hired by the Revolutionary Army... I thought we could be friends but it looks like this is the way things must be between us, Cornelia.

Hearing this made Cornelia hardened her killing intent. She equipped her Shingu the Crush King. The gauntlet type Shingu that granted the user super human strength, but the drawback was it could harm the user if used improperly.

Cornelia: If you come at me as an enemy, I will dispose of you!

Taeko: I am the breath of the reaper of Oarburgh, the vanishing wind that will guide you to hell.

Time stood still for a moment as Cornelia reeled her arm back before Taeko suddenly appeared in front of her while she was barely able to dodge an attack from her and block another one.

Taeko: Mountain Gale!

Cornelia(mind): She's fast!

Taeko didn't gave her time to rest as she did another horizontal strike. But Cornelia managed to blocked the attack on time with her Crush King. The speed Taeko did was on par with Ryu and Najasho. Even them would have a hard time fighting against Taeko one on one.

Cornelia(mind): She's strong... My kill rank is no 4, and yet... I can't even get close to her.

Taeko tried to use her speed advantage to won over Cornelia. But the blonde hair girl was prepared for that. She smashed the ground beneath her, creating a small crater making dust rise in the air in order for Cornelia to mask her presence.

Taeko(mind):  Scattering breeze. I will cut down those who come near.

With the smoke screen on, Cornelia has gain the advantage. But she already knew that brute strength alone wasn't going to get her so far on these battle, she need some sort of advantage. Taeko stops for a moment with a smokescreen appearing around her, but Cornelia was almost certain that it'd be dangerous if she just approached her right now. So if that's the case...

Cornelia: Take this!

Taeko: What...?!

Cornelia picked up a pillar from behind and threw it at Taeko, making her eyes widened in shock. Seeing the huge boulder above her, Taeko took stance. Taeko: Summit Gust!

With one big slash. Taeko managed to cut the pillar in half. This was one of the technique that she learned from Barbara the Ourgburgh. Taeko slashed the air bifurcate anything from a distance. But because she was distracted by the pillar, Cornelia too this chance to close in on her.

Cornelia: Crushing King!

Cornelia slammed her Crush King towards Taeko's right shoulder and she was slammed into the wall but got back up and seemingly could keep fighting, surprising Cornelia.

Cornelia(mind): I can't believe she took a direct hit from Crush King and can still keep fighting.

Even though Taeko survive, her right shoulder was trembling. It was obvious. She strengthen her muscle to the limit so she could survive the impact. But now her right arm is numb. If she was hit by another attack of that scale one more time, Taeko would die.

Taeko(mind): I can't let her get in range for any more direct attack.

But the pain would last for a while, that was the chance Cornelia would took. Taeko once again rushed towards Cornelia, but she was surprised when she saw Cornelia dislocating a leg joint to dodge the attack.

Cornelia: This technique was handed down from my papa! Only I can pull it off! You got too caught up in my fist!

Taeko(mind): In that case, I'll also release my limit.

Taeko: Twister!

It was when Taeko vanished from Cornelia's sight. Taeko has removed her limiter. The blonde hair looked around trying to find Taeko's presence. Croming from the side, Cornelia raised her Crush King to block Taeko's attack, follow up with another. Slaps, kicks, punches, clashes, Cornelia met all attacks with her Crush King.

It was at that moment Cornelia finally noticed that Taeko has gotten even faster, even stronger than she was just earlier. How in the world did she manage to pull that off? Cornelai couldn't find out. All she could do was parry the attack. As the two of them fought around the abandon building with nothing but flashes could be seen.

Cornelia(mind): She's even parrying all of my attacks now, but I know I can overcome this. There's no way I'm going to lose in a physical match!

She didn't want to lose. No. She couldn't lose. The boy whom she has feelings for has finally accepted her. And they made a promise to each other that they would go out this afternoon. Taking this emotions into play, Cornelia continue to fight. She went for another attack but felt her strength left her and the taste of blood filled her mouth. Seeing her chance, Taeko did akick sending Cornelia back.

Cornelia: Th-this is...

Taeko: She who delivers the first blow has the advantage.

Cornelia(mind): Poison... so she was able to nick me at the beginning of this fight.

Cornelia looked back at the scratch cheeks as she thought about Taeko's first surprise attack

Taeko: It seems you have a resistance to it, but after all that jumping around it's finally affected you. It's a powerful concoction made by the Oarburghs. There's no antidote. You can't be saved, Cornelia.

Cornelia got back up with a smile, not willing to show any weakness here with so many others waiting for me.

Cornelia: Is that really so? I grew up in the wild, so I'm confident in my grit. I'm going to defeat you, Taeko, and then I'll take a nice, long rest.

This was round two of their fight. With Taeko's limiter having worn off, and her only advantage was her weapons. With Cornelia who was concerned about Taeko's skill as a swordswoman and the way she could manipulate her body and equipped with poison needle.

Cornelia(mind): There's no telling what she'll come at me next.

Still she need to win this fight before the poison runs its full course over Cornelia's full body. Taeko rush forward and thrust her sword forwards, Cornelia raised her gauntlet up to block it. It was then a small crack appeared on Cornelia's Crush King.

Cornelia then lunged her foot upwards, striking Taeko in the face making her skidding back. Cornelia run towards her, hoping to reel her fist into Taeko's gut. But Taeko use her skill Zephyr, sheathing her sword before unleashing with a swift strike movement with a speed that could only be seen as a blur. But it was blocked once again by Cornelia's Crush King. The blonde hair girl then jumped into the air, bring a kick down Taeko's stomach.

Taeko (mind): Kuh...! Even my slashing attacks that prioritize speed can't get her... Am I getting rusty.

Cornelia: You seem to be having a hard time now too, Crushing King has damaged your internal organs.

Taeko(mind): Dammit...! Cornelia has poison coursing through her veins, and yet... she was moving like the poison haven't even affected her. What to do...? I can't use the Twister consecutively.

Cornelia(mind): Being able to get those hits were worth it, I've got a shot now.

Cornelia started to feel confident about her victory. Running at Taeko as Cornelia let out a barrage of attacks. She was able to land a kick at Taeko's left stomach making her cry in pain as she jumps back to gain some distance.

Taeko(mind): She left me no choice.

Seeing that she need to win this match in one hit, Taeko too stance. It was her technique Scattering Breeze. Cornelia took noticed that it was the same stance Taeko use to cut down that pillar.

Cornelia(mind): Not that move again...

Taeko(mind): The move I used to break through once won't work twice.

Cornelia(mind): Even if I hurl something at her, she'll probably handle it without problem... In that case...

Cornelia stretch her right arm and her gauntlet preparing for an attack.

Cornelia: Taeko, let's settle this.

Taeko:...Good idea, Cornelia.

Cornelia: HAAAAA!

Cornelia used Crushing King to create enough force from wind pressure to push Taeko all the way back into the wall. With the wind pressure so big, Taeko's body practically become an arrow as she flew at the speed of sound.

Taeko: Guh...!

Cornelua ran up stretching her arm backwards before doing a punch with the strongest attack she could muster to deal the finishing blow.

Cornelia: Crushing King!

Taeko: Zephyr!

Cornelia(mind): It's no use now, Crushing King will only repel the slashing attack.

Or that's what she thought before she felt the pain from her entire forearm being removed. The small crack Taeko made earlier had created a weak point. Using her Zephyr, Taeko swiftly slashes her sword to where the crack was, demolishing Cornelia's Crush King along with her forearm.

Cornelia: Wha-

Taeko: You blocked too many of my attacks with your weapon.

Cornelia(mind): She was able to shatter Crushing King by repeatedly attack the same spot?

With no way for Cornelia to retaliate, Taeko landed another slash across Cornelia's chest. Everything felt like it was burning now, no this...

Cornelia: So hot... it hurts! It hurts, papa! Ryu, it hurts!

Taeko:...I'm sorry... I'll put you out of your misery now...

Cornelia: No! Don't, please!

The pain came to an apex as she felt a blade in her throat as Cornelia could only think of what Ryu said earlier...

Ryu: Don't do anything rash on your own...

Cornelia(mind): Ryu... I'm sorry I didn't listen...

That was the last thing before her consciousness slowly fades away from her completely.

Taeko: Next time we meet, I hope we're on the same team...