Glitched Goddess: My Skills are maxed out

The hallway was quiet when Kana stepped out of her room, the faint sound of her slippers brushing against the floor filling the silence.

She stretched her arms a little, still sluggish from the morning, and sighed as she walked down the corridor, hoping a little fresh air would help her wake up.

Unbeknownst to her, hidden in the shadow of the stairwell, Dorian crouched low, his sharp eyes trained on her every movement.

He tapped a small crystal embedded in his ear and whispered softly,

[Lady Seraphine, she's out. Do you want me to take her now?]

A pause followed before Seraphine's cool voice slipped into his ear.

[No… not yet. Be cautious, Dorian. Something about that girl unsettles me. Don't underestimate her.]

Dorian frowned, glancing toward Kana's figure. She didn't look dangerous in the slightest — just a petite, slightly tired girl with soft features and slow steps.

"My lady, except for her charm, she seems ordinary. I'll have her subdued before she even realizes what's happening."

He replied quietly.

Seraphine exhaled softly but didn't argue further.

"Fine… but don't make me regret trusting your judgment."

Dorian's lips curved into a confident smirk.

"You won't."

He waited, trailing Kana at a distance, observing her subtle tension. She seemed distracted — her gaze wandered aimlessly, and every so often, her hand brushed against her chest as if lost in thought.

When she took a wrong turn and walked into a quieter part of the street, Dorian decided it was time.

'Perfect,' he thought, silently unsheathing the small blade strapped to his thigh.

He moved like a shadow, his steps noiseless, every muscle honed for the strike. Just as he lunged forward, Kana's shoulders stiffened.

She spun on instinct, eyes locking onto his form.

Dorian cursed under his breath. So much for the element of surprise.

No longer bothering to hide his presence, he dashed straight at her, his speed blurring his figure.

"I'll make this quick. Come with me quietly, girl. You can't run from the auction forever."

He said, his voice low and sharp.

Kana froze for a moment, her breath hitching.

"A-Auction…?"

Her pulse quickened, panic flashing in her wide eyes. She stumbled backward until her back brushed the cold wall behind her.

Dorian didn't hesitate. He lunged forward, blade aimed at her shoulder — not fatal, but enough to disable her.

But just as the blade was about to graze her, something inside Kana surged.

Her vision blurred, and before she fully understood what she was doing, her hand shot up — and a beam of light erupted from her palm.

The explosion cracked through the air like thunder.

Dorian was thrown back several meters, his body hitting the cobblestone ground hard enough to rattle his bones. Dust rose from the force, shrouding the street in a light haze.

"…What the—"

He muttered, groaning as he clutched his stomach where the blast had struck. He dragged himself halfway upright, dazed but conscious, his mind racing.

"No one told me she could do that."

Kana, meanwhile, stared at her trembling hands in disbelief. Her chest rose and fell rapidly, her breathing ragged, as if her body wasn't prepared for whatever just happened.

But there was no time to think.

Dorian roared and dashed toward her again, his movements sharper this time, every trace of arrogance gone.

Kana flinched, her back still pressed to the wall, but she pushed herself forward, desperately trying to put distance between them.

He swung his blade, but Kana ducked instinctively, the edge slicing a few strands of her hair as it passed.

She stumbled, her steps clumsy compared to his refined movements. Dorian clicked his tongue in annoyance — she was quick, but her stance screamed inexperience.

Still, he hesitated for a split second, remembering Seraphine's warning.

That hesitation cost him.

Kana grabbed the nearest object she could find — a wooden chair leaning against the wall outside a small café.

She didn't think.

With a sharp inhale, she hoisted it up, holding it awkwardly above her head.

Dorian blinked.

"…A chair?"

Kana's lips pressed into a shaky line, and she muttered.

"Stay away from me…!"

Before swinging it down with all her strength.

He dove sideways at the last second, barely avoiding the strike. The chair slammed into the ground where his head had been, splintering slightly under the force.

Dorian's eyes widened.

"Are you kidding me…? That would've killed me!"

Kana, panting hard, tightened her grip on the chair.

"M-Maybe next time you won't attack someone out of nowhere!"

"This isn't fair! No one said anything about you being this strong!"

He barked, his voice rough as he wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth.

"Maybe you shouldn't underestimate people."

Kana shot back breathlessly.

Dorian growled, his knuckles whitening around his weapon. His irritation was boiling over, his strikes becoming reckless as he lunged forward again.

Kana swung the chair wildly in response, each movement shaky but filled with desperation.

The wooden frame cracked against Dorian's blade, deflecting his strike, but the recoil nearly knocked Kana off balance.

She stumbled, her legs wobbling from the impact, but somehow held her ground.

He lunged again — closer this time — and Kana raised the chair high, ready to swing it down on him with everything she had left.

Dorian's eyes widened, bracing himself—

But Kana's foot slipped.

Her balance faltered, and the chair crashed down uselessly, missing Dorian's head by inches.

The sound echoed sharply through the alley.

Dorian froze, watching Kana stumble, the chair slipping from her grasp and crashing to the ground.

For a moment, confusion clouded his thoughts — how had this timid girl managed to push him back earlier?

Before he could dwell on it, Lady Seraphine's sharp voice echoed through the crystal in his ear.

"Dorian. I gave you an opportunity — take it."

Her tone was cold, leaving no room for hesitation.

He clenched his jaw, gripping his blade tighter.

"Understood, my lady."

With a swift inhale, Dorian surged forward, ready to knock Kana out before she recovered.