D.E.M.O.N.S: Getting Summoned Weekly isn't so Bad

— Kat —

Kat let her mind wander as she contemplated her next move. She considered every angle she could in the short time Eleanora was given her. Clearly the other girl was in no rush to finish the battle, and allowing Kat to initiate was just being polite… but it also answered Kat’s question of what to do next. Even making her feel a touch bad. “I see… in that case I forfeit,” stated Kat.

“Wait what? You can’t just forfeit!” insisted Eleanora. “That’s not how this works at all! Why would you do that?”

Notably, Eleanora was not charging back into the fight. She was clearly upset, but it was more in the way a small child would be upset when you told them they couldn’t eat ice cream before dinner. They understood, intellectually, that what you were saying was reasonable but definitely weren’t happy to hear it. “Well… there’s just no reason for me to do so. Now that a bit of adrenaline ahs worn off I realised that the best move for me is to forfeit and then either let you lock me up, or run away,”

“But why!” repeated Eleanora.

Kat debated if she should explain… but the pout the other girl was doing was a bit too effective. Despite how tall she was, and her exceptionally warlike attitude at the moment she really did feel like a little kid and Kat had always had a soft spot for kids. “Because once you told me you were related to Marigold it all clicked. Instead of pain you’re in this for the battle but I’m not, not really. I’m here to keep my friends safe and fighting you doesn’t really do that,”

“But I’m super strong!” whined Eleanora. “If you beat me up won’t people be too scared to mess with you?”

“Only if their fear outweighs their idiocy. Plus, you’re actually the nicest of the three I’ve met,” said Kat with a shrug.

“Huh? ME the nicest?” asked Eleanora confused.

“Yup,” confirmed Kat. “Strooth tried to murder me, Malve saved his life and kept trying to deescalate a situation that was already just about beyond saving and didn’t have the guts to really pick a side. That sort of wishy washy attitude isn’t something I’m fond of… but you’ve barely hidden your motives and are doing this not to hurt me but because you enjoy it. You haven’t even seriously attempted to kill me despite the fact this is a serious all out fight. Thus, you are nice,”

“Huh… weird. Strooth certainly didn’t consider me nice when I froze his legs solid and threatened to shatter them…” mumbled Eleanora as she processed the idea that she was meant to be the nice one.

Hearing that though… Kat couldn’t help but perk up a bit. *That… she was telling the truth about that? I think? Hmm… in that case I guess I’ll make her an offer.* “If you offer me something I’ll keep fighting you. I don’t mind if it’s a wager, or just the price of admission,”

Eleanora perked up massively, her ears even did an adorable bounce as they moved up and down alongside her smile. “Oooh! If I lose I will ensure that nobody else bothers you when in the city! And… even if you lose I’ll still tell people not to bother you, I just won’t fight to ensure it!”

“I’m happy to accept that deal… do you want anything from me?” asked Kat not entirely feeling ok with just taking advantage of the woman. If Kat had a good read on her personality she’d stick her neck pretty far out if necessary and Kat felt that deserved some repayment. Plus, Lily was asleep and wouldn’t be worrying about the fight anymore.

Eleanora frowned at the question. “Hmm… I mean… if you lose then I don’t really know? Like if you lost then there’s no reason to fight you again without at least a bit of training and if you win then I don’t really deserve to ask anything right?”

Kat felt like she should have one of those anime sweat drops on the side of her face. *What a straightforward person. She didn’t even consider asking for anything that wasn’t a fight. I mean… I do have to give her a bit of credit for realising that I might be a good fight after some additional training whereas a lot of other muscle heads couldn’t comprehend that much… but no ‘If you lose you go to jail’ or even just ‘apologise for the damage’? Actually wait…

She caused most of the damage herself! She’s probably trying not to think about that part at all! Still… do I just let things stay so one sided? I mean… I feel like there’s no way for her to win but that’s a bit arrogant of me. She’s an excellent combatant… but she also doesn’t CARE about winning. Maybe it’s different if she’s fighting against monsters or criminals but her real goal is just to have a good fight, and probably a longer one so she’s not going to end things if she doesn’t have to. Though with my durability she can get more ‘lethal’ without actually worrying.

Though… hmm… is that why she seems so excited? She thinks she can go all out without risking my death? Certainly could be… what about promising her another fight once the tournament is over win or lose? She’d probably love that as a prize and it gives us both some time to practice. Yes. I think I like that.*

“How about win or lose I offer you a second fight after the tournament is over?” offered Kat.

“Really!” cheered Elenaora who was suddenly right next to her with shining eyes. Literally so. They were glowing deep silver in a star-shaped pattern and it was really weird to see in real life as she grasped Kat’s hand and shook it vigorously up and down as if that would seal the deal.

“Yes…” agreed Kat as she just let her arm go along with Eleanora. “…wait how did you move so quickly?”

“Hmm?” Eleanora tilted her head. “Teleportation artifact? Why?”

Kat opened her mouth and then closed it to look Eleanora over. *Did… did she just use a teleportation device? Did she waste something valuable? Or was she just not worrying about it before?* “Alright then… I guess I’m ready when you are?”

That was apparently the wrong thing to say because Eleanora went straight for the headbutt… but Kat could regenerate and had pointy horns on top of her head. Eleanora’s taller frame was not going to help her hear and now that Kat knew she ALSO had regeneration… well she wasn’t worried about taking out an eye. Kat bent a little and slammed her head forward as well.

A large crack ran out as they both collided. Kat was a bit dazed, and perhaps Eleanora was as well but she’d trained for this a lot more. Instead of recovering Eleanora lashed out with several punches all over Kat’s body. Each was fairly light but it tilted Kat’s body just enough to line up a slightly better strike. Just as Eleanora was angling for a devastating uppercut Kat’s tail sliced forward and stabbed into the neck area just above where Eleanora’s armour ended.

Eleanora pushed Kat away and took only a slight cut across her throat for her troubles. She continued to back up by performing a cartwheel backwards a few times to take distance. Kat tried to follow up but a glow from Eleanora’s boots summoned a set of hands on the ground that Kat had to leap away from.

Kat once again prayed for a range option as she slammed a hand into the ground and started to throw compressed chunks of rock at Eleanora. The wrong move because two giant boots made of ice were summoned in between them and the dirt simply broke against the ice, not even chipping it before Eleanora started to dance forward, giant sized versions following her lead.

The feet where shuffling around in an odd pattern that made it very hard for Kat to track. Kat considered jumping over them for a few moments as they approached and decided it was the best course of action. Kat was wrong. Or at least, she went about it the wrong way. Kat’s plan was to leap over the legs while they were blocking Eleanora’s view and come down on the elf but as soon as Kat jumped Eleanora bounced back onto her hands and mule kicked the air… which sent two giant feet of ice and metal slamming into Kat at high speed and launching her off into the distance.

“Woops,” muttered Eleanora as she watched Kat get launched off into the distance. “I guess when you can fly… getting sent far away is much less of a concern for you. I’m gonna have to chase her aren’t I?” Eleanora checked her teleportation amulet hidden under her armour and found it wasn’t anywhere close to recharged. “Nuts,” Dismissing the feet Eleanora started to run after Kat. She’d catch the demon… eventually.