Chapter 269: Sparring in the night.

Zyra didn’t send them home, like Hunter expected. When he opened his eyes, he realized that they were not at Beast Valley but in Rose Water.

"We need to make a quick stop before going home." She said softly. Then, she bought building materials from Beauty and left them in a cave and some houses that were still standing.

Hunter sighed, rubbing his forehead. "There’s just so much going on right now."

Zyra nodded, her eyes sharp. "That’s why we have to delegate the work to finish it faster." At least, she wanted to rush before the plague became a major issue and every city was forced into a month-long lockdown. This had happened in her last life. The Beast Valley would also go into lockdown during that time. No random visitors in and out.

Hunter looked at her with a worried look in his eyes. He hesitated, his voice dropping an octave. "Can I really not talk you out of going to Moon Fall on your own?"

Zyra smiled softly. "My fighting skills have improved so much, Hunter. Plus, I have Elfy, soul maidens and Beauty with me."

She tilted her head, watching his reaction closely. "Are you really just worried about me going to Moon Fall_ or are you actually scared of going to the Ghost Mines by yourself?"

Hunter’s face twisted as if she had just insulted him and his entire lineage of future generations. "Scared?! Me?" He beat his chest hard. "I am scared of nothing! Especially not now that we have all this fancy new tech from Beauty."

"Is that so?" Zyra raised an eyebrow.

"If you want me to be confident about you running off on your own," Hunter said, stepping closer to her, "you need to beat me first. And I don’t care if you use your little fancy cheats. As long as I win, we go together."

Zyra nodded, a playfulness creeping into her eyes. "Where do you want to fight?"

Hunter stretched his hands out wide, popping his knuckles with a loud crack. "Right here. Right now."

Zyra looked around the quiet, deserted, muddy clearing. "Here?" Was it safe?

Before Hunter could answer, a metallic, cute voice chimed in from the air loud enough for both of them to hear. [Area scan complete! The place is one hundred percent beast-free.]

"Are you scared?" Hunter asked, smirking. "A training ground doesn’t need to be safe. In fact, if we are attacked while we spar, it is even better because you must multi-task. I will ask for the last time, are you scared? If you are, then no Moon fall solo trip."

Zyra sneered at the man who looked a little too confident. "Scared? Me! Challenge accepted."

"Don’t cry later," Hunter warned, a cocky grin spreading across his face. "I am not going to have mercy on you just because you’re a beautiful girl."

"Good," Zyra retorted, taking a low combat stance. "Because I’m not taking it easy on you either just because you have a nice butt."

In her mind, Zyra quickly called out to the system. Beauty! Increase speed and strength times 10! And don’t be loud about it.

[Yes host. Ding! 10x Speed, 10x Strength applied.]

Hunter roared and lunched. The air exploded between them. In less than a blink, fists were exchanging at a terrifying rate. Their knuckles collided like heavy hammer strikes against iron, sending small shockwaves into the dirt beneath their boots.

They stepped away from each for a moment, each assessing the strength and speed of the other. Their eyes locked, not with suspicion or hatred, but with a dangerous intimacy that made the air tremble

"Ha-ha-ha!" Hunter screamed excitedly. "You are almost as strong as me, wife. But tonight, I will break you...and you will like me more when I am done."

She smirked, her lips curling with defiance. "Break me? You dream."

Zyra lunged quickly, activating her floating steps to maximize the speed advantage. Her kick sliced the air, grazing his jaw. He staggered, then laughed--a laugh that was pain, half admiration. He countered with a brutal punch to her ribs, the sound echoing like a drumbeat. She winced, but her eyes gleamed, daring him to hit harder.

They attacked each other again and again, their bodies colliding with violence.

He pinned her down, in the mud, breath ragged. "You fight as if you hate me, wife." His forehead pressed against hers, sweat mingling.

Zyra’s fist slammed into his chest with maximum strength, sending him flying away. But he managed to activate his boots and hover in the air for a moment before landing smoothly.

Hunter laughed softly, calculating the strength of her punch. She really didn’t go soft on him, but never in his entire life had he been turned on by a fight before. Watching Zyra move with such wild, fierce grace was awakening all kinds of strange, heat-filled senses inside his body. His heart was pounding like a war drum_ and it definitely wasn’t just from the physical effort. She was just super sexy!

[Go, Hunter Magnus! Hit her with the heavy left!] Beauty suddenly cheered in her mind.

Whose side are you on? Zyra asked quietly as she swept Hunter’s legs, sending him to the ground.

[The side of the winner obviously. Host, your form is sloppy! Put some muscle into it! Use that training instead of cheating your way to the top.]

"Traitor!" Zyra yelled out loud without breaking her gaze from Hunter.

"Traitor? Beauty must be on my side then." Hunter said as he prepared to move again.

He launched a wide, powerful slap aimed at Zyra’s shoulder to pin her down, but Zyra’s body bent backward like a supple willow branch in the wind. His hand caught only empty air.

Beauty! Zyra commanded silently while mid-dodge. Activate Assimilation protocol! Copy his rhythm!

[Ding! Scanning target ’Hunter’_ Analyzing palm techniques_ Assimilating!]

Zyra spun around on her heel and slid forward, moving from left to right like an insect on steroids. She mimicked Hunter’s exact martial footwork, stepping into his blind spot.

"What the_ " Hunter’s eyes widened. That was his grandfather’s zig-zag step!

Zyra didn’t give him time to think. She glided right into his personal space and leaned up close to his neck. As she leaned in, her sweet scent filled his nose, and she whispered softly right into his ear, "Looking for me?"

Hunter’s breath hitched. His entire body went stiff for a microsecond. His face flushed bright red. "W-what are you doing?!"

Zyra giggled, using that exact second of distraction. "Seduction tactic! Bianca taught me!"

"Hey! That’s completely unfair!" Hunter yelled, his mind spinning as he tried to back away from her teasing smile. "You can’t use your face as a weapon!"

"Everything is a weapon in a real fight; you taught me that!" Zyra laughed.

[Hunter, don’t fall for the honey trap!] Beauty rooted loudly in Zyra’s mind, waving two tiny hard-light pom-poms. [Protect your virtue and strike!]