Sacrifice: Time of Mine

"I know why, Teller."

Marin creepily smiled that Avion didn't feel comfortable about.

'There's something off about her.' he thought.

"Everything fits perfectly. Even though we just met, how can I be so submissive to you? Now, I understand." Marin talked to herself.

"I don't understand what you're saying..."

Marin seemed like she wanted to play a bit, "Te-... Avion, have you ever thought why you became so irritated earlier?"

The scene where he had to cut his arm to get off Long Hair's grasp came back to his head and Avion nodded, "It's because I had to got throu-"

"It's because you don't like losing." Marin interrupted.

As if it struck a chord within Avion, he frowned.

"What do you know about me? Who are you really?"

"But that's what confuses me, did you lose your memory or something?" Marin ignored Avion's question.

"Ho-how did you know?" Avion lost his defensive stature.

"Really, I'm correct?!" Marin then loudly laughed.

Long Hair could only raise an eyebrow while Jemer and Raff were both confused at what the two were talking about.

'Who's this girl?' Avion found it confusing, 'Have I met her before I lost my memory? After all, my father could've brought me to this time and met her in that period.'

"Avion, think about it, I know you're not stupid. However, why did you easily say what's your power is when it is better if you hide it. I just asked what your element is. You could've just answered that you don't have any and left me in the dark, but no, you continued and mentioned your control of time."

"..."

"If you don't know, then I'll tell you." Marin smirked, "I know it, were the same. No, you're more than I am... You're more arrogant. You think you can do anything. You think that you're the best. You think that even if everyone knows your weakness, you would still win in the end."

Avion gulped and was unable to say anything in reply.

"I can't believe I just met you here..." Marin then tried to calm herself before continuing, "But I'll not get in the way. I don't want to become your enemy, after all."

Although what she said seemed normal, Long Hair was internally shocked.

'This arrogant woman is lowering herself!?'

Marin's pride is just on another level. Long Hair knew it too well as it is the reason why he would go so far as to act as if he's someone stronger than what he really can do.

"Marin..." Avion felt like this woman knows about him, "Can you tell me more?"

"But being humble at the same time, brilliant." Marin clapped, not with sarcasm.

"Of course, I will tell you more. However, this is not the time for that. I request a fight first. I am willing to continue this talk after I destroy and kill everyone in the Dark-Bladed Shadows for daring to trick me."

Long Hair's face twitched.

'This is the king of arrogance and audacity she has. To speak it to one of the said organizations' cadre, she really has a thick skin and high chin.'

Avion thought for a while before nodding, "Okay, but I will come with you. I still don't trust you."

Marin bit her lips for a moment before agreeing, "I'm fine with it, but you can only watch while I torture an old man, who calls himself a master while giving orders, after I killed and destroy their useless organization, okay?"

Nerves popped out of Long Hair's forehead.

'Oh, what if we try and correct this young lady's behavior once I brought her back? She's overstepping the lines.'

Avion unhesitatingly nodded again before taking a combat stance. It was as if he didn't hear Marin's plan to commit genocide.

"So then, you still have a request unfulfilled."

Marin breathed deeply, trying to calm her excitement.

Before anything signals the fight, it had begun.

Without using any of his time abilities, Avion was on the losing side.

'If I haven't gotten used of the old man's techniques, this would've been very hard.'

Marin didn't hold back. All of her attacks were deadly and fatal even though it wasn't a deathmatch.

Watching the 'spar', Long Hair's breathing trembled, 'Did she just improve by watching us fight..?'

Marin is more nimble than the old man. Although her techniques weren't on par with Long Hair, over time, it was getting polished.

Furthermore, Long Hair could be said to be a pinnacle mortal martial artist. Being able to be compared to someone like him, Marin was already more than an expert.

And now, she's getting further than that.

Meanwhile, Avion had been successfully evading all fatal attacks that he didn't see the use of Revert!

As the fight continues, Long Hair's breathing became ragged, 'Avion finally got better than her!'

But as time passes, the old man's common sense that he built on his long life was beginning to twist and crumble.

'Marin's getting better now! But Avion would get use and would tilt the table. But once Avion got better, it's Marine turn to tilt the table by adapting and learning. The cycle doesn't stop!'

They tilt the table so much that they are basically playing table tennis, metaphorically, and without the rackets nor the ping pong ball.

As a pinnacle martial artist, Long Hair was bound back the reality of how he is still a mortal who had to work hard to improve.

"At this rate, Marin would actually get to the point where she will be able to execute her plan!" Long Hair gulped but he couldn't do anything. 

He could only get help with the other members to contain Marin.

The 'fight' only ended when Marin finally lost the energy to fight.

"Hmph, I'm sure you're just using your... huff... time abilities to gain infinite energy, therefore, I will admit victory since you cheated." Marin looked haggard as she barely kept her composure.

Hearing this did Jemer and Raff woke up from their disbelief.

"I've heard of admitting defeat but I've never heard of someone admitting victory." 

Avion who had the same state as Marin wiped his sweat and rebuked, "I didn't use it even once. But sure, you win."

Instead of being fine with it, Marin shook her head, "No, you don't think that at all. If you do, you should've been frustrated or something!" she stamped her foot as she said so.

"What are you saying, I'm already giving you the fight, right?" Avion calmly replied.

"Yeah, on the surface, but you deeply know that you're actually winning and that I only stopped because I'm about to lose! This is unfair!"