I'd joined a Rating Game, and my 1v1 request had been accepted.
The person standing across from me was Latia Astaroth.
We were in a nebulous dimension.
This girl was strong—High-Ultimate class, stronger than me.
The only reason I accepted fighting her was simple: if I beat her, no woman or clan would bother me so easily anymore.
"So, Latia, can I ask why you're doing this? I mean, you don't really gain or lose anything by marrying me."
Latia took her stance: "My family wanted it. I still don't understand what they see in you. At least you're handsome."
I flicked a finger toward her: "Try to survive."
SLASH!
She leaned back, but a few strands of her hair floated into the air.
She backflipped and threw me a lightning bolt.
I tilted my head slightly to the right.
The bolt passed right by.
But she'd used it as a distraction.
She dropped from above with a kick.
I blocked with both arms.
The ground itself shook.
She immediately pulled back.
Blood was dripping from the leg she'd touched me with.
My arms were broken, but thanks to the undead body and regeneration from the 4th Tepes King, as long as I had magical power left, I was no different from a Phenex.
Latia narrowed her eyes: "Spatial, invisible attacks. If I had to guess, long-range spatial slashes aren't that strong—or they scale with how much power you put in. When I touched you, wounds appeared the moment your finger grazed my leg. It must adjust based on my body's defense."
"…"
This girl was reading my moves before I even made them.
She could see ten steps ahead.
This time, she raised her hand, and a barrage of energy attacks rained down.
I just dodged them casually.
When I looked up, a massive fireball was coming straight at me.
I swung my hand horizontally.
The magic split in two.
But from the corner of my eye, I saw Latia already preparing a punch from the side.
I smiled.
She didn't get it at first.
Then a magic circle exploded right where she was standing.
BOOOOOOOOM
The blast sent both of us flying.
Latia's body was covered in cuts, her clothes torn apart.
Her skirt was still on, but her entire chest was exposed.
She didn't even seem embarrassed.
Burn marks here and there, too.
Both of us were scorched.
My clothes were ripped as well, but visible regeneration was kicking in.
"Beating you like this isn't impossible, but I'd lose all my limbs… But you already figured out what I was going to do, didn't you?" She was smiling—actually enjoying herself.
I tore off the remains of my suit jacket and tossed the fabric aside, leaving just my undershirt. "You kept raining magic on me, knowing it was pointless. It was obvious from the start you were using it as a distraction."
"And you did the most unpredictable thing—blew both of us up and attacked me mid-air with that weird slash before I could react."
I grinned: "The only person who can beat a truly intelligent one is a madman."
"Because madmen are unpredictable…" Latia said, pulling out a vial and drinking it.
She looked completely healed.
Personally, she had a great body, but right now, my thoughts on marriage were extremely limited.
This time, Latia closed the distance, her physical strength clearly boosted.
Did she modify her own genetics or something?
She flew at me with a kick. I dodged to the side.
I was about to flick my finger when she swept low with a leg sweep.
I backflipped, but she followed up with a punch straight to my gut.
Blood came out of my mouth.
Latia was laughing, but I grabbed her arm.
Cleave.
SLASH.
Her whole body was drenched in blood again.
This time, the wounds were way worse.
My chest caved in, organs shifted.
But I poured the last of my magical power into regeneration.
A tingling sensation hit, and I healed instantly.
Latia dropped to her knees.
A light enveloped her: "Well played."
We were back in the arena.
"CASSIEN! CASSIEN!" The crowd's cheers actually felt good.
I'd already made money from this Rating Game.
If they lost, they had to pay me for wasting my time.
Valerie came running over and draped my blue coat over my shoulders: "You looked so cool…"
"Thanks, Valerie. I need to rest." I teleported us home right then.