Chapter 17

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At home

Esdeath turn her head towards the door when she sense someone entering. She then see a tired looking Yuno who's eyes are in the brink of closing. Shen look at him with a confused expression as she can only sense his presence but not his power as if he doesn't have the power he had yesterday.

"Hmm? Who's strong enough to make you look like that?"

"I'm just tired"

"Oh, alright."

Losing her interest, she then turn her attention back to the television. Yuno just look at her with a blank face.

"Are you not worried?"

"Hmm? Nope"

"Figures"

Yuno then decided to take a bath. After taking a bath he sat down besides Esdeath who look at him with interest.

"What is it rascal?"

"Cook something for me, mongrel"

"Heh, seeing your face, I would like to but I don't know how"

"Here. Order something to fill our stomachs"

Yuno then extend his phone to her. She just shook her head and look straight at him as her face form a disgusted expression.

"No way. I ordered foods earlier and they taste like shit compared to yours"

"And where did you get the money to pay for that?"

"Y....r.... w...l..t"

"Huh?"

"Your wallet" she said with a bashful tone.

"Don't be embarrassed, it doesn't suit your character *chuckles*"

Esdeath then glare at him before sending some ice spikes towards him. Yuno just stood up and started to walk towards the kitchen while the ice spikes just evaporates before it reach him. She just look at him without an expression.

"You look cute when embarrassed though" he added that makes Esdeath to have a slight blush.

After a couple of minutes, Yuno return to where Esdeath is. They ate their food while watching some movies while chatting without a topic.

"You really are strong"

"You bet"

"Heh. Let's spar someday"

"Hmm? We can do it tomorrow morning, I won't attend school. Then let's meet my parents on lunch"

"Haha! Be prepared to get crushed"

"Ho? I'll let you know what pain is then"

Esdeath just smirk as she is getting excited for their fight tomorrow.

"I'll go ahead, I'm tired so don't disturb me"

She just nod in response as Yuno goes to the bed. After almost an hour, she stood up and walk towards his room, peeking on the door, she saw Yuno sleeping with a peaceful face. She can't help but approach him as she still remember that warmth when she hugged him.

She then shamelessly get to the bed and snuggle to him. As soon as she do that, a warmth that she experienced assault her as a small smile form in her lips before closing her eyes as she also fell asleep.

.....

Yuno woke up feeling refreshed. He wants to stretch his hand but he felt a familiar weight on top of him. He look towards Esdeath who is just staring at him.

"How long do you plan to stay there?"

She look at him as his face form a innocent expression while pouting.

"Food"

"You really love my food that you cast aside your pride to do that expression huh"

"Tch it's your fault for feeding me that kind of luxury"

"Alright alright. Get off now"

After they're done eating, Yuno invite her to the terrace.

"Hey do you know any barrier magic?"

"Of course, who do you think I am?"

"Heh. Put some barrier around the room"

"Huh? We don't have much space to fight here."

"Just do what I say"

Esdeath though confused, she put a barrier around the room. She then look towards Yuno who nodded his head as he seems satisfied with the barrier.

"Now, only the strongest can sense our powers outside."

As Yuno gonna chant his spell, he felt a familiar presence inside the room. He sigh as he look towards the couch.

"What are you doing here, Ophis-chan?"

Esdeath was surprised when she heard Yuno and turn her head around and saw a little girl.

'I can't sense anything from her, just like Yuno right now. Is she on par of Yuno or stronger?'

Esdeath put her guard up but Yuno just wave his hand to her to say that there is no need to be tense.

"I'm interested on what you will do"

"What a drag. Wait up"

Yuno run towards the fridge and get some chocolates and candies.

"Here Ophis-chan. Just eat and watch alright? Don't disturb us"

Ophis nod her head as she reach her hands to the foods. Yuno pat her head as she is cute on what she is doing right now, though her power is not cute at all.

"Alright, let's get started."

"Domain Expansion: Ice Age!"

They then found themselves surrounded by nothing but Ice.

"This..."

"Hn. One of my domain. I'll show you my fire domain next time, and I'm still creating the combination of both"

"Haha! This is what power is. Let's fight Yuno!"

"Come!"

Ophis look around for a bit before flying not too far away from them as she is observing their fight.

Esdeath rush towards him as she created a sword in her hand and Yuno does the same.

*CLANG* *BOOM*

None of them budge from their place when their sword clash at one another and a big crater form beneath them from the impact of the clash. Though Yuno is holding back his strength, he is still amaze on her physical power. On just that one clash, he knew how much training she goes through to reach her current power.

*CLANG*

The experience in battle is showing as Esdeath can keep up with Yuno's speed.

'Her battle instinct is monstrous'

They then both jump away from each other as Esdeath started casting her spell.

"Ice Cavalry"

An army of ice soldiers emerged from the ground and immediately rushes towards Yuno.

"Heh, not bad"

Yuno lift the sword in his hand as a dozens of portals started to form around him and various of weapons made from ice pops up. He lift down the sword and pointed it to the soldiers as the portals started to launch a huge amount of swords towards the soldiers.

Esdeath just look at the scene with a big smile on her face as she finally found someone who is much stronger than her as she won't get bored on always fighting some lowly and weak sacred gear users.

"Hey hey, you really love fighting huh? Your blood thirst is leaking." he said with an amused tone as he is also starting to enjoy their fight.

"Heh. You're strong, and I knew that you're still holding back a lot." she replied not minding what he just say.

She then vanish from her spot as she appeared next to Yuno as she is trying to pierce his heart. Yuno just step side ways and effortlessly evade his attack as he kick her on the gut that sends her flying a hundred meters away.

The portal continue to rain down weapons to the soldiers as they are not reducing in number. He then look towards where Esdeath crashed and saw that she has a blood on her mouth and weakly trying to get up. He open more portal and put much more mana on the weapons and aims at the blooded Esdeath.

She seems to sense the power he put towards the weapons as she look at him before closing her eyes as she put her hands together in front of her chest. The mark in her chest started to glow as her magic power started gathering towards it.

Yuno launch the weapons towards her but before it can reach her, he heard her say something which also caught the attention of Ophis who is watching all the fight with interest.

"Mahakadoma"

The weapons stop just in front of her. She look towards the weapons as her smile grew larger when she sense how much power it has. The weapons then vanish as she heard Yuno's voice.

"You really manage to stop my treasure, you're strong"

"Heh, says the one who didn't even flinch when I stopped time"

"Hn. But it really is strong but not enough to stop those satans and seraphs."

"But how can you move freely?"

"I can also stop space and time. And much stronger than what you did. Though I still didn't try to use it towards those satans"

The time around them started to go back to normal. Yuno lips curl up as he enjoy their fight.

"Let's continue rascal! We're not done yet." she yell as she started to rush towards him.

"Of course we already are"

Yuno then lift both of his hands to his side as he cast his spell.

"Za Warudo!!"

Ophis then heard a clock sound before everything around them stopped. Esdeath froze in time as her soldiers started to get annihilated. Ophis look around her warily as she is affected by the spell more than she expected. She then sense someone from her back as she turn around and saw Yuno staring at her with a small smile.

"So, even just a bit, you're still affected by it. Not bad, myself."

Yuno patted her head and look towards Esdeath. He open one portals and launch it to her, the spear pierce through her stomach. He then let the time flow again.

*SPLURT*

"*Cough* What... was.. that.." she whisper as she look at her stomach and saw a spear pierce through it.

"Nothing much. I just stopped time"

Yuno appeared infront of her as the spear vanish and she started bleeding. He put his hands on her wound as fire started to cover his arm. Esdeath then felt some warmth on her stomach and felt her wounds closing like nothing happened. She look towards him with a confused expression.

"Don't look at me like that. This is just a spar not a death battle. How can I just kill you?"

"Oh. I forgot about it and just fight with an intent to kill you. I apologize for that"

"It's alright, you've entertain me enough to forgive you"

'I really enjoy fighting you'

Their surroundings suddenly change as they are now back at his room. Yuno look towards Ophis.

"Ophis-chan, we are done now. What do you think?"

"You're strong"

"Hn. So? You still need something?"

"No. I'll take my leave now."

"Alright, take care"

She then vanish as Yuno turn his head to Esdeath who just look at him. Yuno didn't know what she is thinking so he decide to leave her alone.