The sound of steel on steel rang through the air as Kiara and Mumei's blades clashed together.
"Damn it!" Kiara snarled under her breath, struggling to keep pace with Mumei's relentless assault.
"Getting tired?" Mumei taunted, her smirk clear in her voice.
"Shut up!" Kiara yelled, swinging her sword once more at Mumei's head, who parried the blow neatly.
"This is getting boring." Mumei commented as she stepped back, easily dodging another attack from the Phoenix.
"Is that really all you got?" she asked, seemingly surprised.
"Just shut up." Kiara panted.
Mumei laughed scornfully.
"Not even going to make a comeback?" she mocked.
"Why don't you come over here and make me!" Kiara growled, flames suddenly bursting out of her sword.
A look of excitement crossed Mumei's face "Now we're talking!"
She rushed forward at an inhuman speed, attempting to strike Kiara, sparks flying as her dagger collided with Kiara's now flaming blade.
Kronii watched from a nearby rooftop, observing the fight intently.
It was obvious that Kiara wasn't holding back anymore, judging by the sparks flying everywhere and the scorch marks beginning to scar the street they were fighting on.
But Kronii was reluctant to interfere, not wanting to spoil Mumei's fun.
The fight continued, Mumei smiling proudly and Kiara glaring at her opponent.
Eventually Mumei managed to land a hit on Kiara, knocking her back a few steps.
But Kiara ignored the pain, refusing to show weakness.
Instead, she charged at Mumei, her amethyst eyes glowing brightly with determination.
Kiara lunged forward, her sword slicing through the air between them, heading straight for Mumei's stomach.
But Mumei merely sidestepped it, moving past the blade and slamming Kiara hard against the ground, disarming her, and pinning her down by pressing the tip of her own blade against the Phoenix's throat.
Seeing the battle as won, Kronii raced off along the rooftops again, deciding to check up on Sana.
"I think you lost." Mumei said with an oddly satisfied expression.
Kiara struggled underneath Mumei's body, trying desperately to free herself from the other girl's grip, but immediately froze as she felt the tip of Mumei's dagger slowly tracing a line down her neck.
Kiara stared wide eyed at Mumei, unable to form any proper words as Mumei stared back, still smiling.
"Now, shall I let you live, or should I kill you?" She asked, seemingly to herself.
The tip of Mumei's dagger pressed lightly against Kiara's skin, causing the latter to flinch as a bead of sweat trickled down her temple and her eyes widened further.
"Or perhaps..." Mumei trailed off thoughtfully, "Hmm... I guess it would be better to send a message, right?"
Kiara whimpered.
"And I guess you are a phoenix, aren't you?" Mumei continued.
"H-how do you kno—" Kiara choked, her words caught in her throat as Mumei pressed her blade a bit harder against Kiara's neck.
Kiara winced in pain as the point dug into her skin.
Mumei smirked in satisfaction.
"Oh it was easy, no other species can use bright orange flames like that, pretty cool, really."
Kiara stared at her, still unable to get any words out of her mouth.
"I suppose your friends won't mind if you die, will they?"
Mumei wondered aloud, "After all, you'll just be revived."
"B-but that doesn't mean it won't hurt..." Kiara said, tears pricking her eyes.
"It won't hurt for long." Mumei assured, though her tone did nothing to ease Kiara's fears.
Kiara closed her eyes tightly, trying not to cry as she braced herself for the feeling of Mumei pushing the blade deeper into her neck, but she never felt it.
She opened her eyes slowly, Mumei was still staring down at her with a disturbing smile.
The Guardian of Civilization tilted her head slightly and started giggling, "You're really scared, huh?"
Kiara stared at Mumei, her heartbeat thumping in her ears.
"Don't worry..." Mumei whispered, before slowly lifting the dagger away from Kiara's throat, the blade shining menacingly as it caught the sunlight, "I didn't sharpen my dagger today."
With one swift motion, Mumei leapt off Kiara and made a wide diagonal slash across her abdomen.
The Phoenix gasped, but found that no blood flowed from the wound; the blade had cut only cloth.
"See?" Mumei said, with one last smile, before turning so Kiara could see only her profile.
"Next time..." The Guardian of Civilization began, "You'll bleed."
Without another word, Mumei leapt onto a nearby rooftop and disappeared over the edge.
Kiara stared after her, her body shaking slightly as she attempted to compose herself.
"P-psychopath..." She managed to get out.