Chapter 117: Brave

Dawn came too fast.

Always did these days.

Grace stepped outside and stretched, expecting the usual symphony of pain from her muscles.

Nothing.

No screaming joints. No protesting tendons. Just… good. She felt good.

[What the heck?]

“Holy shit.”

Grace turned. Seraph stood there with her mouth hanging open like she’d seen a ghost.

“What?”

“Look at you!” Seraph practically ran over and started poking Grace’s arm. Then her other arm. Then her stomach. “You’ve got actual muscles now! Like, real ones!”

Grace looked down at herself.

Huh.

She did.

Now, by no means had she suddenly become Seraph’s identical little sister or anything, but she had muscles. Her arms had definition that definitely wasn’t there a week ago. Actual biceps. Her stomach felt firmer, with the hint of abs showing through. Her legs looked stronger, more toned. And her chest…

[Wait. Hold up. Did my boobs get bigger again?]

Again, they weren’t huge or anything. Not like Mara’s back-breaking, mouth-watering melons. But definitely not the mosquito bites she’d died with. More like…

Almost-medium size?

[Guess between growing my Love attribute, all this working out, and the divine energy I’ve been pretty much farming lately, my body’s really starting to change now. Feels so weird.]

“Great. Growing boobs through horniness. That’s exactly what I needed,” Grace muttered down at herself.

“Hey, there are worse afflictions.”

“Like being headless?”

“Bodyless, maybe. Anyway, ready for your last day?”

Grace rolled her shoulders. Still no pain. Just energy humming under her skin like she’d mainlined coffee.

“Alright… Let’s do this!”

“Woo-hoo!” Seraph clapped. Grace blushed.

—

Valkyrie waited in the arena. Same spot as always. Same expression that said she’d rather be literally anywhere else but had resigned herself to this torture.

“Final test,” she said without any greeting. Because why waste words on things like ’hello’ or ’good morning’? “Beat me and you might survive the Flame. Lose and you definitely won’t.”

“That’s not entirely accurate. I-” Valkyrie scowled. “Alright, whatever.”

Grace summoned her Blade of Eternia.

The rapier had changed too. It went from looking like nothing more than a glorified toothpick to having a more regal appearance. More elegant.

“No more holding back?” Grace asked, getting into stance.

“I never held back.”

“Bullshit.”

Valkyrie’s lips twitched. That was the closest thing to a smile Grace had seen from her.

“Maybe a little.”

They circled each other.

Grace felt different today. Calmer. Centered. Like all those beatings had finally beaten some actual skill into her thick skull.

Valkyrie struck first. Fast as always. The kind of speed that had sent Grace sprawling into the mud countless times.

Grace moved faster than she had before, though.

Her blade met Valkyrie’s with a clash that sent actual sparks flying. The impact should have sent Grace stumbling back like a drunk toddler.

Instead, she held firm.

“Better,” Valkyrie grunted. She actually sounded surprised.

They separated. Clashed again.

What followed was an actual fight instead of a one-sided beating. A dance of steel and light that had the gathering crowd—when had people shown up?—gasping and cheering.

Grace saw the opening.

Tiny. Barely there. The same kind of opening that had gotten her knocked on her ass a dozen times before. The kind Valkyrie usually left as bait.

[Fuck it.]

She took it.

Valkyrie’s eyes went wide as Grace slipped past her guard. Like she couldn’t believe it actually worked. The light blade stopped an inch from her throat.

They both stopped. Their eyes met. Grace’s lips parted open.

“Dead,” Grace said, the word slipping out like she didn’t quite believe it.

Silence.

The entire arena held its breath.

Then Valkyrie laughed.

Actually, genuinely laughed. A rough sound like she’d forgotten how and was remembering mid-laugh.

“About fucking time.”

She stepped back and sheathed her sword. Held out her hand.

Grace shook it, trying not to grin like an idiot as the notification popped up in her vision.

Quest Complete: Prove Your Worth

+10 Bravery

Current Bravery: 61/100

[YEEEEES!]

“You might actually get through that fight with the Flame with your head on its shoulders,” Valkyrie said. Then added, “Maybe.”

“Stop, stop. Your confidence in me is overwhelming.”

“Don’t get cocky. The Flame is nothing like me.” Valkyrie’s scarred face turned serious. “I was trying to teach you. She’ll be trying to turn you into charcoal. But…”

She paused.

“But?”

“You’ve got a chance not to get too hurt, at least.”

Grace nodded. The lightness of victory faded as reality crashed back. Tonight, she’d face a primordial being made of rage and fire. And her only plan was to let it beat the shit out of her until it felt better.

[What could possibly go wrong? Besides everything. Everything could go wrong.]

“We should get you ready,” Alia announced.

“Yeah.”

—

They’d gathered in Grace’s room, crowding that small space.

New armor sat on the bed—courtesy of the town blacksmith who’d worked through the night. Though, while it looked great, Grace wasn’t going to trade heavenly armor for that.

“Good luck kisses,” Alia declared. “Mandatory. Non-negotiable.”

She grabbed Grace’s face and planted one right on her lips. Tongue and everything.

“For luck,” she said when she pulled back, leaving Grace dazed.

Zephyr took her turn next. Slower, deeper. The kind of kiss that made Grace’s toes curl.

“Also for luck.”

Even Valkyrie stepped forward. She didn’t kiss Grace, thank god. Just clasped her shoulder.

“Don’t die, rookie.”

“I’ll try.”

“The Flame won’t care if you’re tired,” Seraph said, ever practical. “But fresh is better than exhausted.”

“Rest today,” Zephyr added. “Save your strength.”

Grace wanted to argue. Wanted to train more. Practice. Do literally anything other than sit around waiting to get her ass kicked by an angry fire god.

Then the screaming started.

“DEMONS! DEMONS ARE ATTACKING!”

Everyone rushed outside.

The sky had turned red. Not pretty sunset red. Not even ominous storm red.

Blood red.

The kind of red that screamed ’you’re about to have a bad time.’

Shapes poured down the mountain. Dozens of them. Fire demons with glowing eyes and too many teeth. More than any previous attack.

“Shit,” Seraph cursed. “She’s not waiting, is she?”

“Defensive positions!” Valkyrie barked.

But Grace was already moving.

Her blade materialized without conscious thought. Her body flowed into combat like water. Like it had been waiting for this.

The first demon reached her. Level 45 according to her system. Grace ducked her head and lunged forward, her rapier piercing its chest.

It died before it could even scream. As did the next one.

By the fifth demon, Grace had found her rhythm. Duck. Strike. Pivot. Kill. Like a very violent dance routine.

[This is different.]

She wasn’t struggling. Wasn’t barely surviving by the skin of her teeth.

She was winning.

Easily.

[Yes!] Grace smirked. [Come at me!]

A Level 50 demon charged. The kind that would have made her shit herself a week ago. Grace sidestepped its attack like it was moving in slow motion. Her blade found its heart before it could recover.

“Grace!” Alia’s voice cut through the chaos. “Behind you!”

Grace spun. Three demons closing in.

She moved without thinking.

Her blade carved through the first demon’s neck. Her foot caught the second in the chest, sending it flying into a wall. The third died before its tiny demon brain could process what happened.

More came.

Grace met them all.

She lost count after a while. Lost track of anything but the dance of combat. Her body moved on pure instinct, every lesson Valkyrie had beaten into her flowing together.

When the last demon fell, she stood in a circle of dissolving corpses. Breathing hard but not exhausted. Not even close.

“Well,” Seraph said into the sudden silence. “That was something.”

Grace looked at her sword. Still glowing strong, not even flickering. Then at the mountain where smoke and fire danced against the blood-red sky.

“She’s done waiting,” Grace said.

“Obviously.” Seraph studied the carnage. “This was a message. Come now or she starts burning everything. The whole town. Maybe more.”

“Then I go now.”

“Grace—”

“No more delays.” Grace squared her shoulders, feeling more courageous than… well, ever before, really. “I’m as ready as I’ll ever be.”

Seraph looked like she wanted to argue. Her mouth opened and closed a few times. Then she nodded.

“Fine. But we’re all coming this time.”

“Seraph—”

“Non-negotiable.” Her commander voice. The one that didn’t take any shit. “We’ll stay back unless things go completely sideways. But you’re not facing this alone.”

Grace looked at her friends. All nodding. All ready to follow her into literal hell.

Alia and Zephyr, who had no business being anywhere near a fight like this. Valkyrie, who’d spent a week beating lessons into her. Seraph, who’d already lost her head once.

“Okay,” Grace said. Her voice came out steadier than she felt. “Let’s go get our asses kicked by a god.”

Time to see if a week of torture had been enough.

Time to find out if she could take a beating from rage incarnate and live to tell about it.

[Probably not. But hey, at least my headless body will have better boobs.]

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