Chapter 54 - Battle of Wits or Fists? (1/2)

Javier's eyes narrowed. It usually wasn't his style to initiate the battle, but ianca had seemed promising. If he could beat her and prove that commoners weren't useless trash, especially himself, then he would be highly regarded in the academy.

Javier took a sharp breath before sprinting at Bianca. She was prepared and composed this time, there wouldn't be much to distract her from fully and utterly destroying the bug before her.

Bianca met Javier's fists with her palms, parrying and diverting their trajectory. After a few more blows traded Javier shifted his feet to a wide stance, both feet firmly planted on the ground. With a sudden swing of his arm Bianca ducked but at the same time Javier managed to slip one leg around hers. Curling it he pulled the back of Bianca's legs and threw another punch to her face, leaving her no time to think. Bianca sacrificed her left arm to block the blow and as she fell she grabbed the collar of Javier's shirt, pulling him down with her.

Both of them fell to the floor but Bianca was faster at getting up. Not wasting a second she went in with a heavy kick with her heel but Javier rolled away. As he rolled, Javier used one arm to push himself off the ground, righting himself.

”Looks like you're not all talk.”

Bianca scoffed at him and resumed her stance. Her annoyed voice replied to him.

”And you, might I add, aren't even qualified to say that yet.”

Javier shrugged playfully.

”It takes one to know one.”

In the next moment Bianca dashed towards Javier, fists extended. At the last second he twisted his upper body to avoid her blow and aimed his left fist into Bianca's gut. Hidden behind her Bianca already had her other palm readied to catch Javier's fist. His fist hit her palm and she gripped it tightly. Swinging back her momentum, Bianca brought her extended arm back while bending it so that her elbow would hit the back of Javier's head.

Javier flicked his head to the side to avoid the blow. Right after, Bianca had used her other fist to uppercut him. Her arms flexing muscles made through intense training. Her fist landed on Javier squarely and sent him back a few steps.

Although he stumbled for a few seconds Javier noticed Bianca's high kick to his head and narrowly dodged it. Bianca clicked her tongue but continued her barrage. Javier parried them smoothly but was forced onto the defensive.

Sucking in a sharp breath, Bianca's speed exploded. Although it seemed like it wouldn't last long, the speed and weight of her punches increased exponentially. Sensing the difference Javier quickly made some distance between them but Bianca stayed right behind him. She threw a hard right fist at his back.

Javier weaved his body to the left and twisted himself onto her back. Grabbing a handful of her hair, Javier pulled violently, jerking Bianca's head back quickly. Bianca bit the inside of her mouth to stop her surprise.

”Bastard…” Growling, Bianca tried to face Javier but he pulled her hair in the opposite direction.

Javier laughed wildly.

”Well, how's that? Can't really do much now can you?”

Pulling her backwards, Javier quickly switched his other hand into a fist and landed a blow on Bianca's face. Bianca tried to block but Javier's random pulling and low kicks made it hard to maintain balance. After a few more blows Bianca saw a chance and rammed into Javier, knocking him over. With his grip loosened Bianca ripped her hair free from his hand.

She tried to flip her hair out of her face but by then Javier already disappeared.

”Too slow.”

A hard kick hit the back of Bianca's head decided the victor. Dazed for a second, everything went black, next thing Bianca saw was Javier's gleeful face. Sprawled face first onto the floor, Bianca felt someone's foot press against her pack.

”Uh oh! What do we have here? I guess a Baron's daughter isn't cut out for being a soldier.” Javier grabbed another handful of Bianca's hair and pulled her head upwards.

Grunting, Bianca only had hate in her eyes. She spat spiteful words at Javier.

”Scum will always be scum. In my eyes you will never be a soldier.”

Maybe it was something she said or a late trigger but after her words something in Javier snapped. His domineering and wild tone disappeared. His smile no longer mocking.

”In… your… eyes…? Your, eyes… Eyes…”

Bianca felt something evil across her skin. The hair on her body rising. The pressure from Javier's foot increased to the point that she felt like he would break her ribs. Straining her body, Bianca flipped her face to the left to look at Javier's face.