Hunter winced as the kick slammed into him. The impact blew him backwards several hundred feet, tossing him through the air like a rag. His instincts took over and he spun in midair, turning to a crouch and absorbing his landing through bent knees, digging the spikes on his gauntlets into the ground in order to slow his skid.
He looked up to see Rwanda approaching slowly, almost casually. Her short, black coat fluttered slightly as she walked.
"Pathetic." Her voice, dead calm, reached across the training ground to him. "What's the matter? Scared of beating a woman?" Her walk turned into a short jog, then a run.
Hunter growled. He sprinted towards the rapidly approaching Rwanda, getting ready to try a low takedown -
Then he was flying through the air again, this time smashing into the side of a small cliff. He clenched his teeth as a moan escaped his lips.
"Fear. You stink of fear." She snarled. She looked at him from where she stood, cocking her head in a condescending manner. "You're afraid to be killed. You're afraid to kill. You're afraid you will fail. You are dominated by your fear." Her fist slammed into her sword hand, an audible crack sounding as her knuckles collided with it. "Fear cripples you. It controls you. It defeats you. To fear is to be wise; to let it have dominion over you, is weakness."
Hunter struggled to his feet, miraculously still clutching his shuriken blade. Rwanda hadn't even resorted to her sword. She held it drawn, the long blade hanging relaxed by her side, but she'd merely beaten him with her bare hand.
"When our emotions are strong enough, others can feel them. Others can see them." She held her sword out to her side, her dark eyes staring at him pitilessly. "Can you feel it? Can you feel my resolve to kill you?"
Hunter stared at her for a second, then his eyes widened. Through the air, he could feel...he could hear...a whine. No, a scream. The high-pitched keening sound resonated throughout the huge training arena. He felt a chill.
Rwanda smiled, her teeth baring menacingly. "This is my resolve. When I protect, no one dies. When I defend, you will not touch me. When I attack, I will kill."
Hunter closed his eyes.
Resolve.
He felt a cold flame flicker, then begin to burn inside of his soul.
When you protect
Let no one die.
When you defend,
Let none touch you.
When you attack,
Kill.
The flame rose.
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