Chapter 4: The First Defeat of Elizabeth

【Eksu PoV】

Elizabeth and I stood face to face.

We were in a forest near my house—a barren woodland where twisted, sun‑scorched trees reached toward the sky.

She glared at me as if poised to strike at any moment.

“Don’t you dare hold back.”

Her feet shifted, and in an instant, she lunged forward.

The surrounding forest seemed to hold its breath in that moment—branches rustling in a hushed rhythm, as if they sensed the impending impact. Her stance conveyed both raw power and unwavering determination, her entire body coiled like a spring.

Her punch shot toward my chest, swift and unhesitating.

I activated my 【Absolute Defense】.

There was a brief flicker of energy, a pulse in the air that made the hairs on my arms stand on end, as though reality itself quivered under the sudden surge of mana.

A translucent barrier flickered around me, catching her fist mid‑air.

“What the—”

Elizabeth’s eyes flashed with disbelief.

She pulled back, not giving me a second to breathe.

Then she threw a sweeping kick aimed at my ribs.

My barrier shimmered again.

A faint ripple spread across its surface as it neatly deflected her strike.

She gritted her teeth, frustration plain on her face.

“Why won’t you fight back!”

I said nothing.

I simply braced myself as she unleashed another flurry of attacks.

Jabs. Hooks. A spinning kick.

She was relentless, each blow fiercer than the last.

My 【Absolute Defense】 sprang up each time—a protective sheen that nullified every strike.

“Damn you!”

Elizabeth’s face reddened with anger.

She dug her feet into the ground and pushed off for a final, desperate punch.

Her fist slammed against my barrier with a resounding impact.

For a moment, sparks danced across my shield.

I stood untouched.

Elizabeth paused, panting for breath.

She glared at me, her eyes brimming with disbelief and raw fury.

“Impossible…”

I lowered my head.

“I told you. I don’t really fight.”

Her fists shook, clenched tighter than before.

“You’ll have to fight, Eksu…”

She tried again, dashing toward me in a furious rush of blows and kicks, each colliding with my shimmering barrier.

Her strikes came fast—a blur of arms and legs.

My defense held firm, each impact lighting up the translucent shield.

Elizabeth began to show signs of fatigue.

“Oof! Oof! Why don’t you fight back?”

“I’ve told you so many times, I don’t want to fight. Damn, you’re so stubborn, my God—give up…”

“I’m not going to give up… no way…”

What a stubborn girl…

We’ve been at it for at least an hour, and she refuses to stop.

She doesn’t show any signs of quitting.

“So… I give…”

“Don’t you dare say it… don’t you dare say you give up… don’t you dare spit on my pride…”

This girl makes a big deal out of the smallest things…

It’s like every minor inconvenience is a grand offense to her pride, and she refuses to let any slight go unanswered.

Damn…

I want to give up so badly.

My body feels heavy, and my mind is frayed from dealing with her endless provocations. Every instinct tells me to walk away and find some peace.

I want to go back to my normal life, but she won’t stop, no matter what I do.

No matter how many times I turn away or try to reason with her, she just keeps pressing forward, undeterred by fatigue or common sense.

No matter how tired she gets, she just keeps going.

It’s almost admirable, in a twisted way, to see someone push themselves this hard—except I’m the one trapped in her unyielding persistence.

She’s so stubborn…

“So… Elizabeth… you have to give up…”

I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of our endless clash in every fiber of my being.

“You think you can force me to quit? I’ll never give up!”
Her voice cracked with anger, each word laced with defiance.

“I’m not done yet! I still have plenty of fight left in me!”
She screamed, her frustration echoing in the clearing as she flung her arms in wild exaggeration.

Her tantrum grew louder, a cacophony of shouts and rapid breathing that made the forest seem to pulse with her raw emotion.

If she won’t let me give up on this fight, then I have to make her give up.

It’s the only way to end this.

“No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No!”

She started throwing a tantrum again, her voice rising into a frantic, desperate chorus as frustration boiled over.

Without a word, she summoned a sudden surge of mana, as if drawing on some hidden reserve deep within her being, and the air around us pulsed with raw energy.

Her eyes narrowed, and she attacked in a wild flurry—kicks and punches fueled by raw frustration and a fierce determination to prove herself.

Each blow ignites ripples across its surface like a violent lightning storm erupting slowly.

Despite her renewed efforts, I remained unharmed, watching her growing desperation.

“Elizabeth… give up…”

“NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!”

She pushed on, draining her mana reserves.

Her forehead beaded with sweat, and her once‑sharp movements began to falter.

Her breathing grew ragged, and her posture became shaky.

At this rate, she’d pass out if she pushed herself any harder.

Damn…

…

..

Think, Eksu. Think…

My mind raced, adrenaline surging through my veins. It felt like my senses were on high alert—every rustle of branches, every labored breath. I realized how dire this situation had become; if I didn’t act soon, we’d both be pushed past our limits.

What can I do?

She refuses to yield, and she won’t let me quit either.

Her stubborn determination was frightening—an unyielding spirit that refused to falter, even when her body clearly cried out for rest. My heart pounded against my ribcage, torn between worry for her well-being and the need to end this battle before something worse happened.

I stepped forward, looking for an opening.

She was clearly exhausted, her guard slipping.

And yet, despite her fatigue, her eyes still held that fierce spark, daring me to make a move. My own resolve hardened; I had to end this quickly, for both our sakes.

I struck, landing a lucky blow just as she overextended.

She toppled, her eyes rolling back.

I’m unsure if it was my hit’s force or simply her exhaustion, but she passed out before draining her mana completely.

“Eksu!”

Before I could check on her, my mother arrived, scooping Elizabeth up with surprising gentleness and carrying her inside.