Fools and spoils of war.

The urban sounds of the city faded into the background. Humid heat mixed with unpleasant smells of the intertwined back alleys enveloped Dionisio's senses

Concrete walls circled him all around, shady and creepy sounds found their way to him, but the only thing he focused on was the heels following him with composed ease. The way she walked, slightly swinging her hip, reminded him of the professional models he saw on the internet. But she did it in a way that didn't seem out of place or exaggerated. From her impeccable posture and way of dressing to the way she walks and behaves, he went on guessing her traits, until he saw an allow without exit. He nodded inwardly then turned around with a calm smile and spoke

"A woman of vanity who gives a lot of thought to face, elegance, and poise, yet, still chooses the way of brute strength. Interesting contrast."

She stopped five meters away from his with crossed arms, her rust-colored hair was tied into a ponytail with a dark ribbon that was the same color as her dress who showed the side of both of her tights, it was the kind of outfit that wouldn't get in the way of moving around.

While she looked around, analyzing the place the man chose to die in, she spoke. "It's nothing like yours, though. Walking around with the manner and politeness of a true gentleman just after gutting out the cheek of a man."

He paid attention to the moving mana inside of her. Since she started following him she compressed a pool of mana below her stomach, from there, a vein-like mana tube formed along her spine, like and arteries, from that thick tube thinner ones stretched to the muscles responsible for impact type attacks.

'An all-out attack style?'

He smiled. "I cannot defeat your body, no matter what. But you'll still lose today."

"You're a completely mortal man. I'm a high tier warrior of common rank. The strongest mortals only match to be a lower tier of common rank, that's two levels above, and your strength is far from the strongest mortal. But don't worry, I'll finish fast."

She took a stance and was ready to charge when Dionisio casually took out his coat, folded and put in the corner of the alley. barechested he opened his arms. "Come, I'll give you the first move."

She frowned, 'is he insane? Well, whatever.'

Wind and dirt flew as she bolted forward carrying her arm folded by her chest accumulating mana.

Thump!

A dull echo resounded, she hit the middle of his chest, feeling his chest bones on her knuckles through the skin. Air flew out of his lungs as she smashed him on the wall.

His eyes went white, she breathed out a sigh and took her hand back, adjusted her dress and started walking out.

"What to do, when your main weapon becomes useless?" The voice stopped her.

She frowned deeply while looking at Dionisio massaging his neck as if he slept in a bad posture.

She threw a wave of mana and searched him, up and down inside and out. But there was nothing, no trick with mana, no artifact, nothing.

then she looked at the wall behind and narrowed her eyes.

Dionisio chuckled. "You think it's the wall? Fine." Unhurried and smiling he walked five steps forward, standing right in front of her and nodded "This is the second time, you won't have the excuse of not being serious anymore, so put a little more gut to it."

She felt rage flooding her insides, but tried hard to not show it on her face, this situation was too weird. She formed a pose gathered triple the amount of mana on her arm and punched out.

Dionisio smiled and sidestepped making his chest parallel to the punch. She widened her eyes as the punch tore a gash across his chest, she for some reason took for granted that he would receive her punch like the first time.

Feeling stupid for being played she was about to take her arm back and bash the man to death, but then a soft clicking sound resounded, She felt it on her chest. A gunshot resounded. As strength left her body, she looked on his hand, right beneath her stretched out arm, holding Frederich's mana enhanced gun, point-blank on her chest.

Her legs gave in. Dionisio looked on as she fell, "When you move the mana to a specific place, you leave others vulnerable, you underestimated your enemy, gravely, not bothering to cover your mana movements. It's also clear you never fought someone of high level. But you obviously sparred and trained a lot, your overall skill is... Passable."

Dionisio still saw the confusion on her eyes as she entered unconsciousness.

He had hidden the gun on his back, disguising it as his skin. A concealment method created by assassins of his world. Even if she knew he had gotten it when she checked on Frederich since she didn't see it with her mana she just assumed it was on the coat he folded and left away.

Feeling an aversion on his body, Dionisio walked to the side and leaned over a rainwater drain, spitting three to four mouthfuls of blood. Her first punch shattered two ribs and shook his innards even thought he fulled prepared to the impact and directed to the wall.

'Oh, I wanted to start training soon, but it'll take a few days to heal.'

That's when she coughed. Dionosio examined and was surprised to see that at the last minute she managed to shield her heart with mana. A few thoughts passed by his mind, and in the end, he put on a smile, tied her up, hands and legs, threw her on his shoulders and send a selfie to Lilac with a peace sign and the caption: "Send a driver of trust, I'm bringing mission spoils"