Overwhelming

The giant oni grins as she looks at Ferra. “Sadie told me you would be out here. I need to see if you’re as good as Kali and Clarissa claim you are.”

Ferra nods. “Of course. With your permission?”

She looks at you, and you nod, dusting yourself off. “Just be careful, please?”

Ferra tilts her head. “I will not hurt her.”

Uzume laughs. “I like you already, little golem girl!”

With that, she lifts her club, dropping into a crouch. Ferra shifts back into her combat form, again with a pair of blades for arms. The pair circles for a moment, before Uzume takes the lead, a wide, sweeping swing with her club. Ferra rolls under the blow, and swings both blades at Uzume’s legs. Deftly, she leaps back out of reach, and brings down a thunderous overhead strike. Ferra crosses her blades to catch the blow, and there’s a resounding clang as the reinforced club meets the golem’s arms. Ferra is driven back several feet, her heels digging into the dirt, but she recovers quickly.

The glowing in Ferra’s eyes seems to intensify, and her movements become a blur as she rushes her much larger opponent. Uzume simply grins, somehow parrying the flurry of strikes, as she also moves faster and faster. Finally, she swats Ferra’s arms aside and launches another swing, catching the golem on the shoulder. Ferra rolls with the blow, although when she comes to her feet, her arm is horrifically dented from the impact. As you watch, her arm quickly reforms as if the damage never happened.

The two pause for a moment, and for once you see sweat on Uzume’s face. Ferra’s eyes are glowing bright, and a slight wisp of smoke rises from her body. You see her tense as she prepares to spring back into the fight, but Uzume lifts a hand. “Enough, I yield. I can’t beat you with this weapon.”

She lifts her club, or what’s left of it. The reinforcement has been hacked away, and the wood beneath is splintered and cracked. She chuckles. “I don’t think you can be hurt without a magic weapon, and even then, you’re too fast and strong for anyone who isn’t me.”

Ferra lets her body return to normal, the glow in her eyes diminishing. She looks to you and gives you a small smile. “I did good?”

You chuckle as you approach. “You’re incredible, Ferra.”

She takes your hand as you come up to her, and Uzume laughs. “Deadly and adorable. If she’s half as good in bed as she is at fighting, you’re going to be a very happy person, Nicholas! I almost hate to see her go.”

Uzume walks over and places a big hand on yours and Ferra’s shoulders. “Good luck. Unlike most of the others, I know a little bit of what you’re headed into. I was a mercenary spirit for a long time. Be careful.”

You nod, and Ferra just stares. Uzume grins.