Defend Without Magic

Tabitha was keeping her voice from echoing throughout the place.

“You’re right. We could just grab her mana orb and run for it,” uttered the gangster. The sight of his spiky, slate-colored hair completely spoiled my day. He just lightly brushed Tabitha's cheeks before pivoting to give us a sneering glance.

“Stop!” Dion was about to charge in. But before he could sidestep my block, I swiftly kicked him. “What the hell!” He was so done with me.

“Dion, I’m fine!” Tabitha shouted at her attempt to calm Dion down.

I maintained an unfazed façade but deep inside, I was already panicking.

“So? What is it that you want?” I posed the same question to him that he had skillfully dodged earlier.

“I heard your conversation earlier. You, you’re a human noble, right?” He had a look of absolute disgust before bursting into laughter. He’s a psycho!

“And?” I asked again. There’s no hiding my identity. When Master brought me here, it was already obvious that I’m a human.

“I always wanted to get back at one. I consider myself fortunate to have finally found an opportunity." He seemed to be thoroughly enjoying himself.

He revoked the fiery spell that had bound Tabitha’s neck, and his allies released her from her restraints. She crumpled to the earth in a state of utter distress.

"Tabitha!" Dion's hands eagerly reached out for hers, and she hurried over to our side without hesitation.

“Human, come here!” The slate-colored haired man insisted. Dion and Tabitha looked in my direction as he urged me to take Tabitha's place.

I approached them cautiously, hoping to keep my teammates out of harm's way. If our team's situation was truly a result of my actions, then the blame rested solely on me.

“I will be fine so go on and wait for me at the boundary of the forest.” I murmured softly, offering a smile before joining the other’s side.

As the sound of their footsteps approached the boundary of the forest, a wave of relief washed over me. I couldn't help but smile and peacefully shut my eyes.

“Letting your members go will not secure your place to the selection. All of you have to cross the boundary.” He said with a chuckle while casting a condescending glance at me.

“You, how many mana orbs did you rob?” When I reached their side, I looked at him with contempt.

“Does that even matter? Well, you should worry about yours?” He attempted to divert the conversation.

“Your teammates are not thinking the same though.” I noticed that they’re not using their magic; they’re just following his orders. After looking at the two young men behind his back, they looked at each other, probably thinking I was right. “It appears you have used two mana orbs already, and you’re using the third one. You have robbed two mana orbs, haven’t you?” I provoked him on purpose.

“Why do you keep talking! You annoy me!” He delivered a slap but it failed to bring me down.

After the slap, I reached out for my swollen cheek and turned to confront him once more. I intended to let him use his mana orb again but provoking him by words seemed futile.

“You’re hitting girls now? What a hobby.” I grinned while touching my throbbing cheek. After that, I delivered such a forceful stomp to his feet that it caused him to immediately drop to his knees.

Seeing him drop to his knees, I immediately ran to put distance between us. I knew he would use his magic on me and he didn’t disappoint.

“Φλέγειν αὐτήν!” A circle of fire tried to envelope my whole body, inching closer and closer, as if it was trying to eat my life away but it stopped midway.

Although I had put a space between us, it wasn't a great distance. He extended his right hand and forcefully tugged on my brown, curly hair.

"Who do you think you are, a mix blood, to compel me to use my magic? Do you have a death wish!" He was boiling with rage. He was wielding fire on his left hand. Threatening to burn my face. “Do you wish to hurt your beautiful face?” At least he thought I was beautiful.

“Arg!” I struggled the pain as silent as possible.

His teammates seemed to understand the situation. “Hey, Amon. You’re going too far.” One of them tried to calm him down by reaching his hand to the another hand clutching my hair.

“You said you will lead us to pass the first phase of the selection, but if you kill her, we might get disqualified.” He explained. “He’s right! Just get her mana orb and let’s get out of here!” The other one suggested.

Finally, the one called Amon released his grip of my hair and tried to grab their robes instead. There appeared to be a debate simmering within their group at the moment.

Out of nowhere, Dion and Tabitha came back in a rush, gasping for breath. I was startled to see both of them return, even the three men debating in front of me.

“Why did you return!” I yelled at them.

“Ah… Valkyrie… we…” Tabitha was on verge of tears.

“Even if you’re a human, we’re a team. Of course, we will not leave you behind. And stop yelling at Tabitha!” Dion declared, unnecessary as the last part was. These two lovebirds were really getting on my nerves, well, I was single when I died as Klea so I was a bit bitter.

Each of them had tree branches in their hands. Was that supposed to be for self-defense? It brought a smile to my face.

“There’s no need for that though.” I looked at the ground and stood up from where I fell. There, I clenched my fists. “You run out of ammo just now, right?” I smirked at those three men.

They probably didn’t know but I was never in danger, they were. Back when I was known as Klea, I held a black belt in judo and worked as a sports teacher.

“What on earth are you blabbering about—!” The one called Amon grabbed my robe while his teammates were struggling to stop him. I broke Amon’s balance by pulling him directly forward. With my right arm wedged under his armpit, I pivoted on my right foot with my back turned to him. Then, I tilted my right shoulder and executed a circular motion to cast him over my shoulder using a one-armed shoulder throw.

Everyone who witnessed that scene stunned as if it’s the first someone has done that. Of course, it's a self-defense evident from where I came from. It was a sight to behold.

Amon fell on his back horribly. He tried to stand up and retaliate. He used up the third mana orb in that last fire magic he performed.

“How dare a mix blood—!” He bickered. Now that the mana orb was gone, he will use his magic to its maximum level. “Burn! Ἐπιτάσσω τῷ πυρὶ πᾶντας αὐτοὺς κατακα—!” But I struck him before he could complete his incantation.

I pushed him back, then I used my right leg to sweep Amon’s weight-bearing right leg from the floor in a diagonal motion from behind. After that, I performed a cross lock on him, strangling his neck. It’s a judo grappling technique where the arm is pulled to hyperextend the elbow or the shoulder.

“There are more ways on defending yourself without using any magic.” I remarked as I held him down.

"Stop! Stop—!" Following that, he lost consciousness. What a weak opponent.

When I stood up, everyone seemed so scared of me. Amon's companions bolted with him on their shoulders, leaving Dion and Tabitha stunned with their mouths open.

“I said I’ll catch up to both of you.” I said while brushing off the dirt on my long black robe, because of laying on the ground for quite a time. "Did I scare you?" Then I looked at them and gently put a smile on my face.