Chapter 21: Two moves versus one move

Neither Hazel nor Helda knew that the Alpha was already close by, watching them face each other in a fighting stance.

Hazel straightened her shoulders, her gaze fixated on Helda.

That morning, for some reason, Matilda had not given her a wolfsbane pill as usual. Hazel did not know if it was intentional or not, but it happened just at the right time.

Helda laughed, a sound that was both sharp and mocking, “This will be fun.”

Hazel watched her calmly, like she was looking at a clown. If she had been weak, then would she have led the frontlines to defend against Damien’s troops when he attacked them?

If not because of the wolfsbane she has been fed these days, when was it the turn of someone like Helda to call her weak?

However, today, Hazel wanted to prove something to them. She wanted them to know that she might be a slave now, but it would not be forever.

Moreover, since she could not defeat Damien just yet, she would take down his people one by one to tell him that he had not succeeded in breaking her wings, he only fueled her rage even more.

Hazel felt the familiar blood boiling sensation, one she would always get whenever she faces an opponent. It’s been a while and the sensation made her nostalgic.

Damien had wanted to take this from here.

Hazel stared at Helda with eyes so calm like that of an ancient well with no ripples whatsoever as though she wasn’t facing a warrior that was just praised for being strong.

“Are you fighting or not? I will give you two moves, if you are unable to defeat me in two moves, then, it will be clear that you are not worth that much.” Hazel said, the corner of her lips uplifting to form a cold smirk.

Helda’s face turned cold, “Being with the Alpha has given you quite a lot of guts, but you think I care about your two moves? A move is enough to send you flying.”

At that moment, the referee raised his hand, signaling the beginning of the fight.

“Fight!” His cold voice echoed in the training grounds and the crowd erupted in deafening cheers.

“Take her down, Helda!”

“Destroy that pretty face!”

“That weakling dares to challenge you!”

“Make her understand what a warrior means.”

“Helda! Helda! Helda! Helda!”

The people chanted her name loudly, fueling Helda’s ego. Without wasting any time, she charged at Hazel like a stormy gale, her momentum strong enough to incite fear even without her making a move just yet.

She aimed a kick at Hazel's lower body, intent on sweeping her off her balance. Her kick was not low, making it difficult for Hazel to jump or even duck.

From the audience’s view, it was as though a towering figure was charging at a minuscule being, making them snicker and laugh.

This was the person who claimed Helda was weak, she was as tiny as an ant.

Hazel remained unmoving, making Helda sneer. She felt that Hazel must have been shocked witless with her attack, unable to defend or run.

“This is what you get for pushing past your limits!” She said, her attack finally reaching Hazel.

But instead of the results she and the crowd were expecting, Hazel did not dodge, and just as the kick was a few inches from her body, she sidestepped in a speed that left most people speechless.

Helda’s kick met nothing but air and though she was surprised, she still had some experience and quickly gathered herself, spinning around with another kick, followed by a punch that aimed at Hazel’s face.

Since she could not make her fall, she would exert her plan of ruining her face earlier than she initially wanted to.

Her fist cut through the air - fast, sharp and ruthless. She was not holding back in the slightest.

Matilda became worried, she prepared to step in any moment from then.

Hazel tilted her head as the punch reached her, Helda’s fist grazing past her cheek by just an inch. The speed was even more pronounced at that moment.

Hazel was fast, incredibly so. Her body was nimble, making Helda’s stormy attacks hit nothing. Just whenever Helda felt that her attack had succeeded, it would be met with nothing.

“What??”

“How could she be so fast?”

“I almost didn’t know when she moved.”

“Wasn’t she supposed to be weak?”

“Helda was supposed to defeat her in the first move, but that is the second one and she still dodged?”

Helda was not deaf, she quickly heard what the people were saying and her eyes widened with fury.

She had proposed one move and yet, she could not bring Hazel down, humiliation made her cheeks pale with anger.

“Stop dodging if you are so confident in yourself. I admit your dodging skills are something, but you can’t even face off with me. What does that even make you?” Helda said, sneering in rage.

“Two moves are over. Now it is my turn.” Hazel said casually as though what Helda just said had nothing to do with her and then she finally moved.

Having been dismissed more than once, Helda was almost blinded with fury.

When has she ever been humiliated in this manner before?

But when she saw Hazel's move, her pupils shrank.

Hazel slipped her foot back slightly, her body bending in an impossible arc as her palm shot forward.

Helda’s eyes twitched and she quickly ducked, but never saw the second palm strike following quickly after, the strike landing squarely on her chest.

The sound was dull, but heavy.

Helda staggered backward, her feet only screeching to a halt a few steps away from Hazel.

“Too fast.” She murmured, her eyes so wide that they seemed like saucer balls.

She never thought Hazel could use such strength. She was almost thrown off her feet and it would have happened if her lower body had not been strong.

“Is that all you’ve got?” Hazel, who was just getting started, asked with a mocking grin that stung Helda.