Chapter 92: Holiday Special 2022 Part 2

Lilith stood impassively in front of Tess, her very presence striking fear into the center of Tess’s heart. Tess was…no longer quite so sure that this duel had been a good idea. No lasting harm was going to come her way, yes, but she was going to make a fool of herself, she could feel it.

But…she was here, so there was nothing to do but make the best of it. She unsheathed her claws, her formal party suit melting away into the familiar sensation of her armor. Lilith’s partywear likewise faded, resolving into a simple shirt and shorts, a pair of pistols materializing on her waist.

“Um…begin?” Lia ventured, voice crackling to life over the speakers. “They can hear me, right?”

“We can hear you, Lia.” Lilith said calmly, making no move to draw her pistols. “Tess, would you rather I made the first move, or you? I’m fine with either.”

Tess grit her teeth. Lilith was definitely looking down on her, but that would only make Tess’s job a bit easier. She began stacking all of her Skills onto her claws, then rushed for Lilith. As she ran, she let loose Command of the Emperor, and watched in gratification Lilith flinched, and then…did nothing. Far from turning to run like Ilmir had, Lilith’s expression hardly even changed.

Tess used Flashstep to blink right in front of Lilith, claw mere inches from Lilith’s heart –

She stopped. Not because she wanted to, but because she was being held in place by some sort of tentacle that had grown out of Lilith’s stomach. “Not bad.” Lilith said. “You’re a lot faster than I had thought you were going to be. I suppose that just goes to show the difference in our worlds’ strengths.”

Tess Flashstepped out of the tentacle, only to be caught again the instant she rematerialized.

“FYI, I can sense where you’re going to appear.” Lilith said casually. “I –”

She was cut off as Tess slashed down into the tentacle that was holding her. They waited for a second before You Are Already Dead kicked in, and the hit properly registered, neatly severing the tentacle.

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