Please Kill Me - Chapter 38
She aimed for Leonid’s heart with an expressionless face, as if performing a task that was due. Not the shoulder or torso but directly at the heart.
Leonid chuckled softly.
‘It seems the teachings of an assassin aren’t easily forgotten.’
In that moment, as both daggers aimed straight for the heart followed the same trajectory, one suddenly changed direction and aimed for Leonid’s side.
Leonid’s reaction time was notably impressive.
Not missing that brief moment, he pushed Yekaterina’s arm away with his right elbow, using the recoil to tilt his longsword and block the remaining dagger aimed at his heart.
The sound of metal clashing was loud.
“….!”
Yekaterina’s eyes widened slightly. The mid-air change of trajectory, a trick she prided herself on, was blocked so effortlessly, something she hadn’t anticipated.
Leonid didn’t miss her momentary hesitation. The longsword that was previously used defensively, shifted trajectory to strike at Yekaterina.
Clang!
Yekaterina, who had been aggressively advancing as if to slice Leonid then and there, suddenly retreated with a push from the ground.
It must have been less than a second. The surprise of having her signature move effortlessly blocked by Leonid, who was using only one hand, was indeed brief.
Merely a moment. Yet, that moment’s hesitation had significant repercussions.
‘Oh no.’
While a dagger’s swing is certainly useful in close combat, it’s not as effective against the sheer force of a longsword pushing forward.
The relentless longsword changed its trajectory constantly and aimed stabs all around her.
Clang. Once again, the longsword, changing its course, collided squarely with the dagger.
‘Is he really using his left hand?’
Why is his strength so overwhelming? Yekaterina frowned while catching her breath hastily.
Leonid was clearly not using his right hand. Doubting for a moment if he had switched hands without her noticing, she checked again. But he was indeed wielding the sword only with his left hand. It was hard to believe he could freely control that heavy sword with just one hand.
‘I made the right choice coming here.’
A pleasant chill ran down her spine.
When had she last faced such a formidable opponent? When had she last exerted her full strength like this?
Yekaterina’s face gradually mirrored Leonid’s. A mix of tension and surging intent to kill, a hint of exhilaration lay beneath the indifferent expression.
Sweat had gathered in the hand holding the dagger.
‘Could Leonid kill me now if he wanted?’
It’s not about granting a request; he could just kill her right now.
‘Let’s push forward naturally.’
Yekaterina lunged forward after having momentarily retreated.
Has there ever been another battle that was such a close call? Hard to say. At least, as far as she could remember, there wasn’t.
Maybe during her training days. But even then, Yekaterina had always been a top student, never finding herself outmatched.
Sergei had tasked her with assassin missions or had her slaughter in the monster fighting pits once she had gained some skill.
However, those challenges never really pushed her. Yekaterina’s skills were exceptional, and even second grade monsters thrown at her in the fighting pits were merely playthings for her amusement.
But now, Yekaterina was risking her life.
With a longsword, the wielder inevitably keeps some distance from their opponent in a close battle. Yekaterina didn’t miss the gap and swung her dagger. A strike too close to dodge brushed past Leonid,
Whirl.
One of the daggers in Yekaterina’s hand spun around. What brushed past Leonid wasn’t the blade, but the back of the knife. Just one.
“Ugh!”
Leonid slightly grimaced. A long sword wound was drawn across his right shoulder. It was the limitation of the longsword. He almost received a similar wound on his left shoulder, but since he needed to swing his sword, he gave himself some leniency.
Yekaterina straightened the dagger to its proper position.
Her strengths were the ability to wield daggers as if they were extensions of her own body and to unleash an incomparable flurry of rapid attacks using her flexible physique.
Clang! Clash!
The sword, now faster than before, changed its trajectory several times in midair. However, since causing the sword wound on Leonid’s right shoulder, he had not shown even a sliver of vulnerability. His sword seemed to preemptively block the paths of Yekaterina’s plunging daggers as if he knew in advance.
Leonard’s face was beginning to look like Yekaterina, though neither of them noticed this similarity.
A duel filled with murderous intent towards each other, where the thrill from the tension numbed their fingertips. Bloodshed was the only missing element.
‘Is it flamboyant, or is it chaotic?’
Leonid slightly furrowed his brows.
Yekaterina, as if only satisfied by killing Leonid on the spot, wielded her arms in different arcs with fervor, presenting a sight of elegance in itself.
It’s ironic that a face filled with killing intent could appear so exquisite. The curves created as Yekaterina twisted her body to swing her daggers, or used a blocked dagger as a pivot for her other arm, were delicate and fluid.
The swordsmanship was chaotic if deemed so, yet flamboyant if considered, with its beauty making one think of a grim reaper amidst the elegance.
‘I actually want to spar with real longswords later.’
