"How... how did you manage that?"
Quetzalcoatl stared at Roy, who stood unharmed on the city walls, waving at her. Her mind raced with questions.
This intriguing kid had taken a direct hit from her and yet stood there unscathed. How?
She knew she hadn't held back. Even the other two goddesses of the Three Goddess Alliance couldn't have withstood that strike without injury. She had felt the blade cut through flesh, the sensation unmistakable. Yet here he was, alive and well.
The sight of Roy, still full of energy, left her both astonished and deeply puzzled. Her curiosity about his secrets grew even stronger.
"How fascinating, how fascinating! You're like a gift box full of surprises. What else do you have in store for me, Kid?"
Quetzalcoatl was exhilarated. An opponent like this was rare, and she was determined to savor every moment.
What she didn't know was that Roy hadn't emerged unscathed. He had taken the full brunt of her attack, then used the Third Magic to reconstruct his body and soul, healing himself instantly. Using the momentum from the blow and the brief moment of her distraction, he had activated the Count of Monte Cristo's Noble Phantasm to teleport to the city walls, shifting the battlefield.
It was a risky plan, but it had worked. Quetzalcoatl, true to her benevolent nature, hadn't pursued him immediately. Her kindness had been his opportunity.
"I'm sorry, Feathered Serpent Goddess. I took advantage of your kindness," Roy said, standing on the walls, his voice tinged with regret.
The Sun Temple had turned Ur into her divine domain, granting her immense power within its bounds. His attacks had been ineffective, while every strike from her felt like being hit by a speeding train. To stand a chance, he had to lure her out of the city. Even with the Count's speed, escaping her divine territory was nearly impossible. This deception had been his only way out.
Now, he stood at the edge of her domain.
The sunlight filtered through the jungle outside Ur, casting dappled shadows on the lush grass. A gentle breeze stirred his hair as Roy raised his hands, assuming a combat stance. Mana surged around him, signaling his readiness to fight seriously.
Having used trickery once, he wouldn't do so again. It would be disrespectful to an opponent like her. From here on, he would meet her expectations head-on, giving his all, regardless of the outcome.
"Hahahahaha!!! How amusing, how utterly amusing, Kid!"
Seeing Roy's serious expression, Quetzalcoatl burst into laughter. "I was the one who cheated first, yet here you are, apologizing so earnestly. I'm growing fonder of your earnestness by the minute."
"Very well, if you wish to leave the city, I'll come out and fight you. But..."
She stepped out of Ur and into the jungle. "This jungle is also under the influence of the Sun Temple. It's still my territory, though the boost isn't as strong as in the city. Even here, the fight won't be entirely fair for you~"
She explained this openly, her tone almost playful. As the supreme deity of South America, her divine territory was vast. The jungle, like Ur, was part of her domain, which was how she had known of Enkidu's arrival and Roy's earlier movements.
"Thank you for your honesty, Feathered Serpent Goddess. I'm aware, and I have a plan."
Roy smiled, appreciating her candor. Then, he turned toward the jungle and called out, "Taiga, it's your turn!"
"Got it! The mysterious jungle maiden, the night singer, the mightiest jungle goddess, is here!!"
From the bushes, Jaguar Man emerged, her yellow fur glinting in the sunlight. The enigmatic jungle heroine, absent for an entire chapter, had finally returned!
When she had sensed Quetzalcoatl's return, she had wanted to rush to Roy's aid. But he had used a Command Seal to instruct her to wait in the jungle. Though confused and worried, she had trusted him. After all, he had never led her astray before. If he said to wait, there had to be a reason.
"Ahaha, the Sun Temple, huh? But Quetzalcoatl, don't forget... I'm the goddess of the jungle! So..."
"Jungle, heed my call! Block out the sun's light, sever the connection to the Sun Temple!!"
With a howl, the jungle stirred. The trees swayed, their shadows expanding to blot out the sunlight. A cool breeze swept through, and the sun's rays could no longer penetrate the canopy.
"So that's your plan. Using the jungle's authority to temporarily block the sun's influence? Kid, I must say, I'm impressed you managed to win over this unruly kitten."
Quetzalcoatl felt her connection to the jungle weaken. It wasn't completely severed, but the barrier was enough to level the playing field. She could easily break through it if she wished, but she chose not to. This was just getting interesting, and she wouldn't spoil the fun.
"So... Kid, you're teaming up with this useless kitten to take me on?"
Her gaze shifted from Jaguar Man back to Roy.
"Of course! Meow~ I'm Master's Servant, so I'll fight by his side! Prepare yourself, Quetzalcoatl!"
"So, you've finally found a Master, you foolish cat."
Quetzalcoatl nodded, understanding why Jaguar Man had allowed Roy into Ur and why she now stood against her.
But none of that mattered.
She smiled at them. "If you're Master and Servant, then it's only fair. Even if you team up, I'll accept the challenge. Ready for the next round? Overtime~"
"Ahaha, you said it, Quetzalcoatl! Don't blame me if I go all out, meow~!!"
Jaguar Man, emboldened, raised her strange claw-like weapon, ready to charge. But before she could, Roy grabbed her tail and pulled her back.
"Ow! Not the tail again! Master, I told you not to grab my tail!"
"Sorry, sorry. It won't happen again."
Roy apologized, then turned to Quetzalcoatl. "We won't be teaming up."
"This is our fight. Let's keep it between us, like true wrestlers. One-on-one, as we agreed. What do you say?"
"You mean to fight like wrestlers?"
Her eyes sparkled with excitement.
"Exactly."
Roy nodded.
"Is that so? That's an offer I can't refuse!!"
With a grin, Quetzalcoatl discarded her shield and jagged sword. She wouldn't rely on her divine weapons. Instead, she would fight as a true wrestler, using only her physical abilities.
No sun's blessing, no divine artifacts, just pure, unadulterated strength.
This was the fair and honorable combat she craved.
"Quetzalcoatl...?"
Seeing Quetzalcoatl's serious expression, Jaguar Man's earlier bravado faded. The goddess's smile was reserved for Roy, for this intriguing kid, for a true warrior. If Jaguar Man interfered now, she would regret it... deeply.
She glanced at Roy, who was also smiling, his expression focused and determined.
He removed his tattered coat, tied the sleeves around his waist, and began to stretch. This time, he wouldn't rely on his familiar black flames. Instead, he channeled his mana into his fists, assuming a combat stance. He would meet her head-on, with nothing but his own strength.
The two exchanged a glance, no words needed. No referee, no bell... just the clash of fists.
Whoosh!!!
In the blink of an eye, they moved.
Their figures closed the distance, colliding in a flurry of punches.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The sound of fists meeting echoed through the jungle. Trees were uprooted, their trunks splintering under the force of their blows. Dust and debris filled the air as the entire jungle seemed to tremble.
Through their fists, their emotions and intentions were conveyed. In this primal clash, two vastly different beings found a connection.
This was wrestling.
***
Hi guys! Elena here, hope you're all in good health.
We wanted to let you know that we are currently working on a great new project, if you are interested in checking it out feel free to visit.
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[Bleach: Love and Bonds Make Me Stronger!]
Synopsis:
Falling into a rabbit hole called the Soul Society is bad enough.
But do you know what's even worse than that?
Landing in a Soul Society where the very concept of the Gotei 13 doesn't even exist yet!
Armed with shattered fragments of meta-knowledge, Makoto struggles to survive in the Rukongai amidst human-shaped monsters.
But even after throwing everything he's got into the fight, staying alive in a world where the Soul Society's Most Diabolical Criminal still roams free is nothing short of impossible.
Fortunately, it seems the gods might have heard his suffering, on the brink of death, his cheat finally awakens!
[Love and Bonds System!]
As long as he builds relationships be it romance or friendship with every character around him, his strength will grow.
Simple, right?
But…
[Unohana-mama, can you give me some of your milk?]
[Bald old man, you're lucky to face just 1% of my power, otherwise, you'd be split in half and dead!]
[Saito-chan, could you sit on my face? Please!]
[Aizen-kun, you might be good at manipulation, but that brain of yours is still only 3% of mine!]
[Yhwach, if you can see every possible future, can you see one where you become a Magical Girl?]
Why the fuck this system have a foul mouth that only drags him toward death instead of fostering love and bonds?