"Begin!"
With the sound of the referee signaling the start of the match, Isabella moved.
Thump, thump...
She began to take strange steps, bouncing lightly on the balls of her feet. 'Hmm... what is this?' Japtrick was on his guard.
The Isabella before him was moving in a way that was completely different from what he knew. Her steps were light and airy. At a glance, it was as cheerful as if she were dancing a waltz, yet there was also an emptiness to it, like watching a ghost.
She was clearly within sight, yet she felt both far away and close. Isabella continued her strange steps, beginning to circle around her opponent. 'This is annoying.
What is this?' He couldn't get a grasp on her movements, and it was difficult to aim his spear. 'First, I'll just probe...
Hmm?'
For a moment, Isabella seemed to blur in Japtrick's vision, and then she vanished. He wasn't sure what others would say if they heard him, but that was what he had felt. And the moment he felt something chilling fly in from his left, he hurriedly raised his spear shaft to prepare.
Kaaang!
"Huk!?"
Japtrick was astonished.
When? No, how?
How had she gotten next to him and attacked? He hadn't grasped her movement at all. Blocking the attack was just the result of his body reacting instinctively.