Let's Train Heroine

The empty space felt vast and silent as Maris and Reshmi faced each other. Both women stood ready, their eyes locked in a quiet understanding of what was to come. Maris clenched her fists, feeling the adrenaline course through her veins, while Reshmi smirked, clearly enjoying the thrill of the upcoming fight.

Without warning, Reshmi lunged forward with a speed that left Maris barely enough time to react. The first punch came hard and fast, aimed directly at Maris's stomach. Maris blocked, but the impact still sent a shockwave of pain through her body. Reshmi's strength was undeniable, and her precision was sharp.

"Too slow!" Reshmi taunted, her eyes gleaming with confidence as she spun into a roundhouse kick aimed at Maris's side.

Maris dodged, but Reshmi anticipated the movement and immediately followed up with an elbow strike aimed at Maris's chest. The blow connected, forcing the air from Maris's lungs and causing her to stumble back.

Gritting her teeth, Maris stepped forward and threw a punch toward Reshmi's face, but Reshmi ducked effortlessly, sweeping Maris's legs from beneath her in one swift motion. Maris hit the ground hard, but quickly rolled to her feet, her chest heaving as she tried to keep up with Reshmi's relentless pace.

Reshmi didn't let up. She closed the distance again, this time sending a barrage of punches toward Maris's chest and neck. Each hit was precise, aimed at weakening her. Maris blocked what she could, but several strikes found their mark, leaving her gasping for breath.

"You're too weak," Reshmi said coldly, throwing another powerful punch to Maris's stomach. Maris doubled over, clutching her midsection as she felt the force of the blow radiate through her.

The fight wasn't going in Maris's favor. Her physical strength alone wasn't enough to compete with Reshmi's combat experience. She had taken too many hits, and her body was beginning to feel the strain. Yet, despite the pain, Maris forced herself to stand straight and face Reshmi once more.

"I... am weak," Maris admitted, her voice low but steady. "But that's only because I'm not using my real strength."

Reshmi paused, narrowing her eyes as she wiped a bead of sweat from her brow. "Your real strength? You mean magic?"

Maris nodded. "Physical strength isn't my specialty. Magic is."

A flicker of understanding passed through Reshmi's eyes. "Ah, so that's it. I heard about the 78th Saint—how physically powerful she was. I thought all saints were like that. But I see now that you're different."

Reshmi crossed her arms, her posture relaxed but still radiating a sense of readiness. "Fine. Use your magic. Show me what you're really made of."

Maris didn't hesitate. She focused inward, tapping into the vast reservoir of magical power within her. In an instant, her entire body began to glow with a faint, shimmering light as she activated her magical enhancements. Her muscles grew stronger, her reaction time sharper, her defenses tougher. Even passive healing magic began working through her body, knitting her bruises and easing her pain.

This time, she could match Reshmi's strength.

Reshmi's smirk widened. "Now this is going to be interesting."

The two women charged at each other once again, their fists colliding with enough force to send shockwaves through the air. This time, Maris held her ground. She could feel her enhanced strength giving her the edge. Each punch she threw had more power behind it, and each kick landed with more precision. Reshmi, however, wasn't easy to overpower.

Despite Maris's newfound strength, Reshmi's combat skills were unmatched. She moved with the fluidity of a seasoned fighter, her strikes expertly timed to exploit any opening Maris left.

Maris threw a powerful punch aimed at Reshmi's ribs, but Reshmi deflected it with her forearm, spinning into a low kick that caught Maris off guard. Maris staggered back, barely managing to stay on her feet.

"You've got power now," Reshmi said, breathing heavily. "But you still lack technique."

Maris frowned, her mind racing. It was true—Reshmi was far more skilled in hand-to-hand combat. She had years of experience, and it showed in every move she made. Maris, on the other hand, relied more on her magic than physical prowess. But as she continued to fight, something clicked in her mind.

She began to observe Reshmi's movements more closely—the way she shifted her weight, the timing of her strikes, the subtle cues in her body language before each attack. Maris realized that Reshmi's skill could be learned, even mimicked.

As the fight progressed, Maris began to adjust. She copied Reshmi's moves, using her enhanced speed and strength to mimic the older fighter's techniques. At first, her attempts were clumsy, and Reshmi easily countered. But as time passed, Maris's understanding deepened. She started to block more effectively, to dodge with greater precision, and to strike with improved timing.

Reshmi's eyes gleamed with excitement. "You're learning fast. I didn't expect that."

The fight became a blur of motion. The two women moved in perfect harmony, their punches and kicks coming faster and more powerful with each passing second. Maris's movements, once hesitant, grew more fluid. She blocked Reshmi's strikes with ease, countering with her own powerful blows. And though Reshmi still had the upper hand in technique, Maris's learning curve was steep.

"Not bad, Saint," Reshmi said, wiping sweat from her forehead, her breathing heavy but her expression thrilled. "You're stronger than I thought."

"You too," Maris replied, her own breath coming in sharp bursts. "You're even better than I imagined."

The fight dragged on for what seemed like hours, neither woman willing to give an inch. Their power and skill grew as the battle continued.

In the end, after an hour of intense combat, there was still no clear winner. Both women were exhausted, but neither had been able to gain a decisive advantage.

"Enough," Reshmi finally said, stepping back and raising a hand. "I think we're evenly matched for now."

Maris nodded, her chest heaving as she caught her breath. "Agreed."

Both women smiled, Maris never used any of her magic skill, which were far more powerful than anything, capable of destroying kingdom and empire, and Reshmi didn't use any of her tribals technique, which is also capable of destroying empire and kingdoms.