Tony narrowly dodged a punch.
"Wait! Maybe we can talk about this," he said, backing away.
The girl didn't respond. She followed up with a flurry of ferocious attacks. Tony managed to dodge them without striking back.
"Give me the book, and maybe I'll listen," she growled between blows.
He had no desire to fight. But he knew he'd have to disable her if he wanted to get out of this. Gritting his teeth, he feinted to the side and landed a right hook to her chin.
"Finally," she exhaled, catching his hand with unsettling ease. "Whatever's in that book must be really valuable... Makes me want it even more," she added, grinning from ear to ear.
Tony sighed inwardly.
What did I do to deserve running into nothing but lunatics?
Suddenly, the ground beneath their feet darkened, swallowed by swirling black mist.
"You—what are you doing?!" Tony asked, suddenly on guard.
"Nothing… I'm just responding to your acceptance of my invitation," she answered cryptically.
"I didn't accept any damn invitation!"
"Enough talking. Let's play."
A katana appeared in her right hand, a pistol in her left.
Tony stepped back, shocked.
"Is she serious? She's outright breaking the no-affinities rule… Is she suicidal or just insane?"
Seeing nothing but a lunatic in front of him, he grabbed the black sword that materialized beside him. The girl raised her weapon and opened fire.
The bullets were black. A pure, gleaming, almost supernatural black. And the closer they got, the larger and faster they became.
Tony barely dodged them. The bullets hit the wall... but didn't pierce it. They stuck, then exploded—revealing katanas that slammed violently into the wall.
If I had taken that head-on, I'd be dead, Tony thought.
He looked down. The black floor seemed to be following him. He spun around — the girl had vanished.
She emerged from the shadow at his feet, katana raised.
"How are you even doing this?" Tony asked, clashing blades.
"Wouldn't be as fun if I told you, don't you think?" she replied, still smiling.
He shoved her back hard. She fired a bullet at him.
"Seriously?" Tony sighed, easily dodging the shot.
But when he looked up… she was gone.
A voice whispered in his right ear:
"You should always check behind you..."
He turned swiftly, ready to strike. But a gun barrel was already pressed to his forehead.
"Goodbye," she whispered.
She fired.
Tony had just enough time to transform his body into lightning, dissolving into sparks to dodge the bullet.
But she was already reappearing next to him—no, she was emerging from the bullet she had just fired.
With a wicked smile, she raised her sword.
Tony clenched his jaw.
"I think that's enough."
He sheathed the black sword and leapt at her. His arms burst into black flames, burning with threatening intensity.
"You wanted a fight? Then take this."
A massive two-headed dragon materialized behind him—one head made of lightning, the other of black fire.
"I don't want to kill you... but you're going to burn."
He pointed his finger at her.
"Supplication."
The two dragons vanished in a flash.
The girl raised an eyebrow, puzzled… until she screamed.
An unbearable heat surged through her body. Steam rose from her skin. Her clothes melted, burned from the inside out.
She collapsed to the floor.
"What… did you do to me…?"
Tony dragged a chair out from the shadows and sat down, perfectly calm.
"Nothing lethal… Just a reminder I'm not the kind of guy you can walk over."
"You… b-bastard…" she groaned.
She tried to get up, but slipped on the sweat-soaked floor. Crawling toward him, panting, she reached out… and touched a thin line on the ground.
ZAP.
A violent jolt of electricity hit her. She screamed again. Her body trembled, her temperature skyrocketing.
"Aaah! AAAAH! Stop… p-please! I… I don't want the book anymore! I don't care!"
Tony made a gesture, and everything stopped.
"Better. Now, give me your name."
"Dina… My name's Dina…"
"Good, Dina. I'm Tony. Shame we had to meet like this. But hey, you attacked me. Blame yourself, not me."
He stared at her for a moment, thoughtful, then said:
"I guess a crazy girl like you can sneak back into her room unnoticed, right?"
"Yeah… But why do you wanna know?" she asked warily.
"I need you to take me there. I have something to do. And after what just happened, I doubt you'll try to stop me."
"As long as you don't try anything with me," she warned.
"Who'd want to try anything with you? You're completely insane."
"Says the guy who tortured me not even two minutes ago."
"Tch... whatever. Let's go. I was just supposed to be out for a walk—not dealing with a sociopath."
Tony helped her up. She staggered.
"I knew it… You just wanna come to my room to get an eyeful. You know my clothes melted!"
Tony gave her a deadpan look. He took off his shirt and handed it to her.
"You're supposed to be freaked out after what I just did to you. Not provoking me like nothing happened..."