B3C8/B4C15B6C15/B7C9 Defeating Cinder

Pyrrha's eyes roved upwards, to the words that hung damningly above her head. "I was born as a Champion. In recorded history, there have only been a dozen or so of those, and never more than one a generation. I believe there is only one other Champion who lives at this time." She smiled. "He's the personal bodyguard to the King of Vale."

My mouth fell open. The bodyguard to the King of Vale? That was far beyond what I could ever hope to aspire to, and likely what any of our Guild could. I'd never even seen the King, what with Ansel being only a small place and the King never leaving the city. That said, I could only assume it meant the other Champion was incredibly strong.

"I was offered that position in Mistral."

–B3C8


When it came to my turn I shook Cinder's hand, but was surprised when she pulled me closer.

"Be careful with that hand trick in future. It's no business of mine but a Knight should not be capable of casting a touch-based fire spell."

My breath caught in my throat.

I barely had the time to panic before she smiled and released me, moving on to shake hands with Pyrrha. "I should thank you," she said. "Were it not for your refusal our situations might be reversed. I only have this position because you turned down the opportunity to be his bodyguard."

–B4C15


Cinder backpedalled, panicked, and summoned her swords once more.

My mind clicked. New information, new strength, rushed into me. When our blades clashed, I was a Swordmaster once again.

And I was strong.

With grace I'd never before possessed, I slid into and around her guard, catching one of her blades on mine and bringing my hilt up, twisting her left arm aside and parrying her right with my cross guard. My left foot slid forward, between hers, and I jabbed the pommel of Crocea Mors into her face, stunning her. Following through, the blade came up and down, down onto her collarbone. Cinder screamed in pain and staggered back, blood pouring from the wound.

[...]

With a heavy sigh, Cinder leapt forward, engaging me once more. I blocked and parried, drawing her back.

[...]

We traded blows at a furious pace. Cinder's blades rarely broke past my defence, but when they did I tanked them without concern, making her pay for each with another wound that bit deeper and deeper each time.

[...]

I grit my teeth and caught her swords against mine, pushing back to lock her hands against her breasts.

[...]

Without thinking, I drove my forehead into hers. Cinder fell back with a grunt, staggering for a single step. My shoulder caught her chest a second later and she fell back, down onto one knee. Her sword came up, re-formed and ready to parry, but I ignored her entirely. I'd already rushed past, eyes set on the real target, the corpulent man who had essentially mind-raped a woman I respected into obedience.

[...]

Still, I couldn't help but think how many people would still be alive if the whole thing had ended in as many days. I took no solace in the way it ended, or the rumours that were being spread that one man – aka, me – had brought it about, slaying Mistral's strongest Hero in one-on-one combat.

–B6C15


I'd proven myself stronger than Cinder, though that was a technical thing more than anything else. In terms of Stats and Levels I'd been weaker, only winning out because my Blacksmith Skills countered hers so thoroughly.

–B7C9