Battle mansion (light my fire)

Everyone knew salamanders
Ferocious variants of their lizardwomen brethren, salamanders are known for thrill-seeking, the urge to find greatest highs of battle. Victory and defeat were all well and good, but with these monsters satisfaction was key.

The common tell of said satisfaction was their tails. It was standard stuff; the greater the flames on the tale the more excited the salamander. If the flames remained at their peak after the fight's conclusion, then the fight could be considered the greatest they've had.

Therefore the more experienced Salamanders became harder to please one didn't just have to be strong, as skill could at times be outdone by raw strength. One could be skilled in a winning move, but then the fight is one-sided and boring. It didn't help that many people thought they could `cheat` a victory with magic or ambushes, even the everyday lizardwoman would be offended by the lack of a fight.

Knowing all this was the reason Larry chose to aim high in terms of fighting a monster, he didn't really want to impress anyone, he just wanted to make a benchmark for himself to improve his skills, so a salamander like Mirri was right up his alley. he had long since gone through most of the human regulars and a few married monsters so his choices were getting pretty thin anyway.

She mainly spent her days as an instructor, teaching younger monsters basic weapon styles for them to build on with spars and experience in the sword schools and dojos. The younger lizardfolk had long since nicked named her "Big sis"

In the arena, few could equal her. Mirri was one of the `champions` of the battle mansion. A salamander that who was best know for her minimal effort in crushing her opponents, and so reserved in comparison to others of her kind that if it wasn't for the small flames on her tail people would think she was a red-scaled lizard woman. There had been talks that she had been an active fighter at tournaments in dragonia and even had duelled with Selene herself at one point in a fight that caused part of the arena to be smashed and her being a friend of the lilim since.

Such an opponent would be great to see how much he could improve along with the novelty of fighting a monster girl built for battle. So he requested to fight her. what he didn't expect was his request to be accepted almost immediately and for the end of the week. So here he was, staring down one of the greatest monsters the arena had seen to date. Even if it was to evaluate himself, he was going to enjoy this battle.

Mirri was the same as he had always seen her, wearing an oversized coat that she could somehow still move fast in and wielding a simple sword, along with the same serene and composed smile. Though Larry could not help but shudder at the imposing feeling he got from her, he guessed having her attention was different from watching her.

The audience was packed with lizardfolk cheering for their big sis, and there were just as many men in the crowd calling for him to do his best, with larry mentally thanking them, thinking he needed it.

Still, he might as well not be rude and greet his opponent. "I'm glad you accepted my request, let's hade a great match." He said as gripped his sword and stood ready.

Mirri did the same, her Serene expression still on her face as she nodded.

The two had fought in the arena so many times that Lily the Referee didn't need to ask and simply backed away as the sign to start. Without warning, human and salamander launched at each other, the loud clang of their swords only beaten by the roar of the crowd as the two began their duel.

They got into a steady back and forth, the attacker keeping up the pressure until a slight overswing or parry reversed the roles. Larry wondered if she was holding back on him as despite all the times she had been put on the defence she remained calm as ever. granted he was trying not to go fully forward himself to not burn out, but he was at a loss as to how to overcome his opponent. He thought to himself that if he could just startle her take her out of her pace,  maybe he would get some were. Gritting his teeth he decided to push further.

He never considered himself one for acting on spur of the moment ideas, but this was no normal opponent that he could take down with the usual tactics. If he wanted to push her back back, he would have to think outside his usual norm.

During the next exchange, Larry decided to launch a kick at her gut, Mirri blocked with her knee and then out her sword up to block the follow-up slice, but he was long prepared for that and didn't put strength into it and got what he wanted, the salamander was so used to the rhythm of the fight that she became unbalanced at the lack of resistance and was open enough for him to slash upwards in a way that she almost didn't defend, but doing so made her stumble back. The two stared each other down but he saw what he wanted.

A single raised eyebrow, along with that serene expression looking a tad flatter. A crack in the wall! It didn't look like much to the outside observer, but to Larry, the slight shit was enough to motivate him onward to go on the offence.

The tone of the duel had shifted, Mirri's strikes and slashes having an air of caution about them as she fought more defensively. Larry decided to go low and aim for her gut, she blocked as expected but he put more strength into his stab. This time the salamander was ready, and held her ground against his push, and moved to parry his blade, which was the opening he was waiting for. Larry twisted the same way is parried blade shifted and swung His leg to a kick that Mirri blocked with er elbow and pushed it back down, only to receive a punch to the face from his fist coming down.

Larry went for another strike, but Mirri backed away. She stared at larry, that Serene expression that had cracked before had outright shattered, her eyes wide and her mouth slightly agape, it was like getting hit wasn't a possibility that registered. The audience was dead silent, the lizardfolk shocked that someone was able to land a hit on the seemingly invincible `big sis`, they and Larry together didn't know how she was going to react to it.

They expected many things, her bursting out with laughter was not one of them.  Everyone watched as the Salamander lost herself to some joke that only she knew. If the scene weren't so confusing larry would have attacked her, in fact, he almost did if she didn't begin to talk.

"How long's it been? How many years? How many battles since someone's landed a clean hit on me?" Her laughter fell to a chuckle. "It's been long, too long in fact... and then here you are..." She looked Larry in the eyes, and there was a gleam in hers that sent shivers down his spine.

Larry was about to respond but his heart almost jumped when Mirri slammed the arena floor with her tail.

"It's been too long since I've been this... EXCITED!" Mirri Roared the last word as her tail erupted in flames like someone had dunked it in oil. Larry had to wince at the sudden brightness and almost didn't see her unbuckle her coat and toss it aside along with the sword. but what got him worried was not the ruby red light armour she was apparently wearing under it, but the sword handle coming from her back that was previously hidden.

"You deserve a reward for firing me up, so I'm going to use my personal blade against you!" She said as she pulled what could only be described as an oversised meat cleaver from her back. Its dull end looked like it was growing scales and there was flame pattern engrave along the middle. Larry was trying to stop his sword arm from twitching at the sight of it, the fact that the Salamander swung her sword with ease didn't help matters. "Now then..." Mirri said as she took a much more aggressive stance "Try not to disappoint me!" She shouted as she ran forward at a much higher speed.

It was nothing like before. the calm composted almost saintly `big sis` of the arena had become a wild storm, gleefully exchanging slashes with Larry with all kinds of moves he had never considered her to use; kicks, headbutts, tail-whipping, nothing was below her with her restraints unleashed.

He was surprised he had actually lasted as long as he did against her, to push her to the extent of taking him seriously. Maybe he was stronger then he fought he was? It didn't matter, what did matter was that the fight wasn't over.

The crowd was going wild with every attack as human and monster tore into each other. This was more than just a mere crowd-pleaser, this was a fight that would be talked about for quite some time,  a guiding inspiration of young warriors by two of the best the battle mansion had to offer.

Sadly, no fight lasted forever, and it was made clear that the next clash between the two would be the last. Mirri jumped high in the air and swung her sword down on Larry. He tried to block it, but the raw strength of the salamander's attack broke his sword and Larry felt the demon silver blade go through him, the effects doing their work and sending him to his knees as the salamander's blade lodged itself into the floor.

The audience stood and applauded the fight's conclusion and a chant of "Big sis!" was shouted by the lizardfolk. Mirri seemed to pay them no mind as she stared at her defeated opponent, who was on one knee and trying catch is breath.

Larry grinned as he slowly stood up, It was a shame his sword broke that moment but he wasn't mad. Hell, maybe he could get a custom forge job and rematch Mirri when he got a stronger sword. He was about to thank Mirri for the match when something finally clicked.

Her fire hadn't gone down if anything he was sure it had increased a little. And she was staring at him with a growing blush.

He was her best fight!? that cant be! hadn't she been fighting for years, hadn't she fought Selene? All the questions and more went thought his help before he was snapped out by Mirri kissing him. the shock didn't go away

The cheers in the arena were now for a different reason as the salamander pulled the dumbstruck warrior out of the arena.

~X~ (A month later)

Larry didn't think he'd leave the mansion that day a married man, but he guessed stranger things have happened.

Turns out there were things he didn't know about salamanders. Like how a salamander finding someone worthy meant more than just their best opponent. How fights against other monsters didn't really count, and that Salamanders could be just as passionate in the bedroom as they were about the battlefield. Larry had pride in himself that he managed to claim the heart of someone like Mirri, though it seems he now had his work cut out for him.

Instead of using Mirri as a benchmark for his prowess, people wanted to use him for it, men wanting a go at the man who fought one of the strongest monsters in the area on some form of even ground. The lizardfolk had taken kindly to him quickly as well, the younger ones already nicknaming him `big brother`

Mirri har forgone her coat more often and people commented on how brighter she now acted, she was still the peaceful loveable big sis, but now she had way more enthusiasm for things, being more open about her battle lust and training the younger lizardfolk.

When asked about that last one... She said she was practising for the years to come. Larry knew what she meant but he hoped he could at least prepare himself for when he made the battle mansions `big sis` into a `big mum`.