Rogue Villain-Chapter 204: Fighting Dala

’Nice. It worked. Somewhat.’

Since Dala had been famous in both the original story and among the fans of the original story back on Earth as someone who wanted to make fights more exciting, Ackster had tried to goad her into betting the trident. It wasn’t a complete success, and he didn’t have anything she could gain, so the most he could get was to try the trident.

Considering the trident was also a family treasure, it made sense she didn’t want to give it out just like that. But as long as he could get his hands on it, Ackster was confident he could find a way to keep it.

Ackster was more than a little worried about getting involved with a member of The Hero’s party. But Dala had yet to even think of joining The Hero, and it would hopefully be a while until The Hero set foot on Matar.

So, Ackster tried to set his worries aside and focus on the fight.

Dala had better reach and piercing power with the trident than he did with his fists, and if he weren’t careful, Ackser would end up skewered meat. She had also been good and strong enough with a spear to help The Hero stop The Calamity.

Ackster raised his guards and circled around the arena as Dala hefted the trident and held it like a lance. Dala had the advantage from the beginning. Because of her weapon and the fact that she was the champion, she only had to wait for Ackster to make the first move.

Ackster was careful, but he wasn’t scared.

He took a quick step forward before stopping, testing Dala’s reaction. He saw her eyes shimmer as she was ready to react instantly. But she didn’t do anything as she waited for Ackster to get close.

Ackster took a deep breath and waited two seconds before charging straight at Dala. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

His greatest hope of getting the upper hand in the fight was to get in close, closer than the range the trident provided Dala. To do that, he first needed to get past the trident.

Ackster lunged forward, drawing Dala’s trident to himself before hastily spinning to the side and swirling past the trident’s prongs. He didn’t let go of the opportunity he got by cutting it so close he scratched his arm on the trident’s tip.

He drew back his fist slightly and held it close to his side as he readied it for a strike.

However, before Ackster could take another step, a foot crashed into his torso and sent him flying backward.

Ackster rolled back as soon as he landed and stood up, immediately charging forward again. He hadn’t expected Dala to react so quickly and be able to kick him from a thrusting position.

Sidestepping the trident wouldn’t work, even if he tried it again. So, he came up with something else. It was time to bring back an old classic.

Ackster got close to Dala again, and right before she thrust out with her trident, he bent his knees slightly as if preparing to jump and take an aerial route to his target. Dala registered his moves. He knew she did. She even changed the grip on her trident so she could catch Ackster like a flying fish.

Once he saw that, Ackster dove forward.

It was the move he had used against the Sharp-Horned Deer what felt like ages ago. He aimed for Dala’s legs. If his plan worked, Dala’s weapon would be up in the air, held up by her arms. And she would be defenseless against Ackster’s full body weight crashing into her lower body.

But his plan didn’t work.

Dala’s arms didn’t point at the sky with the trident poised to intercept and catch a flying Ackster.

One of her hands let go of the trident as she pushed down on Ackster’s head, sending his face into the ground, while the other changed the way she held the trident into a reverse grip.

Ackster didn’t even have time to think about what had just happened before he felt a chill run down his spine, and he rolled to the side on instinct. He barely avoided Dala’s weapon piercing his torso.

’What...?!’

This time, Ackster had a moment to question what was happening. But that was all he had before Dala stomped down with a foot, treating him like a pesky rat. Ackster rolled another half a circle and pushed himself up with his hand, instantly somersaulting backward to put some distance between himself and Dala.

He didn’t put much distance, certainly not enough to stop Dala from chasing after him, and Ackster had to roll backward as soon as he landed to avoid getting pricked by the trident’s tips.

Dala didn’t relent and continued to chase after the frenziedly dodging and rolling Ackster. He did all he could to regain a semblance of control, but Dala dominated the fight’s rhythm.

Ackster could only follow her tune the best he could and narrowly avoid getting his toes stepped on.

Dala pinpointed openings Ackster didn’t even know he had and forced him against the wall by gently prodding and poking at him like a stray sheep. Ackster didn’t even have the leeway to feel confused, frustrated, or humiliated.

The best he could do was avoid serious injuries. But it still felt like he was dancing in the palm of Dala’s hand.

Gradually, Ackster felt like his senses were getting more sensitive. It almost seemed like he could start guessing what Dala’s next move would be. But it was a minimal improvement that seemed nonexistent since Dala only stepped up her own game just enough to keep Ackster desperate.

Ackster ran along the wall, avoiding the trident, leaving trios of holes in it with panic and desperation clouding his judgment.

Ackster knew he wasn’t going to die since the fight wasn’t to the death. But he still felt absolute dread about losing.

Eventually, it seemed like Dala had enough fun.

Ackster was far from exhausted, at least physically, and he could continue fighting. Dala, on the other hand, was slightly winded from the relentless assault.

However, one quick sweep with her trident was all it took to knock Ackster off his feet. With the wall on the other side, he was trapped. He tried to get up and continue running. But the trident’s sharp tips resting against the back of his neck told him not to.