"I've got you now!!"

The man was no longer in front of her, but at her side. It was a move Koai hadn't anticipated. And the man was already swinging his weapon.

While focusing her attention forward with a barrage of accelerating strikes, he had leaped into her blind spot with sufficient speed for a single blow. A brilliant application of magic and axemanship.

Koai reflexively raised one hand, conjuring a repulsive force in her palm.

This might not be enough to block it. And if she couldn't? Even if she avoided a direct hit to the head, her palm... her arm would likely be sliced open.
She felt her face contort. Why?

Why was it? Her body tried to defend against the enemy's slash, yet she found herself imagining taking the hit. And for some reason, that thought was... enjoyable, pleasant────

The man, as if certain of his victory, added the rotation of his body and swung the axe down with all his might!

"Such a light impact, it felt like a practice swing! This must be what they call a perfect strike!"
The man, still looking down, shouted in triumph.

But Koai had seen it clearly. The green dust that had shattered into tiny pieces, repelled by her palm.

"That felt good... hmm?"
The man, a moment later, seemed to sense something was wrong and looked down at his hands... to find he was only holding the handle of what used to be his axe.