Chapter 223 223: The 9th Wave V

Air was displaced as they both rushed at each other, *clang!* *Screech!* The sounds of their blades impacting each other and then screeching out in protest as sparks flew from where both blades made a connection. They moved back then engaged again, Cole delivering a flurry of sweeping strikes that he was hoping to use to catch her off guard as he had the longer reach than her. But she kept up a tight defense, and because Cole was making his attacks so wide, he packed dearly in it for precision.

So it was time to switch tactics. Cole moved closer, she saw and opening and took it as her blade flashed across his throat, he leaned back just enough that the cut was not as damaging as it would have been, then Cole thrust a negative energy clad Black Malakai into one of her glowing red eyes, and even though she tried to move away from the attack, she had already over committed to the her earlier attack, thinking it was a chance to land a decisive Killing blow on Cole. They both jumped back away from each other, her right eye definitely missing from the shadow of her hood as only one red orb stared back at Cole.

Cole hissed softly at the intense burn he was feeling from his neck, it was an infection threatening to spread as it attacked his body's defenses and evolved and adapted each time to become stronger and stronger. He shuddered, that poison blade of her's was dangerous, far too dangerous. It was as if the poison had a mind of it's own, and ultimately Cole had to admit that when it came to effects, her's was a lot more powerful than his. Black Malakai still requires three cuts for it's [Rot] curse to activate.

But regardless of how powerful her poison was, Cole's own body seemed to have a mind of it's own. For every iteration of the poison as it evolved and caused damage, his body adapted to it and created defenses against, forcing the poison to start all over again. At the rate it was going, the poison was already turning into quite the fearsome existence, but just as his body was pushing the poison to heights it has never reached before, it too was also pushing Cole's body to a whole other level of resilience.

This was a type that was not reliant on toughness or durability, but on the body's actual defense against the things that can truly do it harm. Both Cole and Delarosa were standing still, but their battles had taken on a completely different battlefield. Cole had no idea what his negative energy was doing inside of her body, but Cole could see that as the seconds passed, she was beginning to look more and more corporeal, the wispy half vapor like state that she was in, seemed to be solidifying around the edges.

Cole doubted there was any human disease known to man that can bring him down now, his body was being forged by the second, into what many medical practitioner would kill to have a chance at studying. Cole's body had far surpassed the peak of humanity and he was close arriving at what you would consider the peak of the supernatural, and after that….it would be the divine.

There was a saying; 'Iron Sharpens Iron'. If there ever was a word that could properly describe their situation this was it, and it was in that Moment without a doubt, Cole knew he wanted to save her. She was good, hell she was better than him. With all of his training, his sword skills were greatly augmented by [Black Malakai's] [Wrath Drive] and [Black Demon Swordsmanship] skills. He did not know if she too was augmented by her own demonic sword, but a power like this by his side, serving him….. it would make Cole even more dangerous than he already is, especially if she can teach her own brand of Swordsmanship to his forces in the future….. they would be night unstoppable. And that's when it also hit him.

Every wave that they have fought so far had been arranged and directed at the behest of the bosses. Cole had noticed this earlier on, the bosses were very much Generals of their own armies, and if the wave she led was this dangerous, Cole could not help but imagine, what an army of thousands of aspirants and denizens personally trained by her, under his own banner would be like, he raised his head up with more force of will than he ever had and said to her.

"Submit! Submit to me!" he wasn't sure but he could have sworn he saw her single remaining eye narrow.

"So that you can kill me easily, just because I told you the fight would probably not end the way we both envisioned it, doesn't mean that I would bend over and let you walk allover my honor as a warrior by giving up. If you can kill me, then do me the courtesy of giving me a warrior's death. After all these years, I at least deserve that." Cole chuckled, this one was strong willed and steadfast in her conviction, no matter how he saw it, this one would be a good asset to have.

"I said you should submit to me! Not surrender!" Cole said as he took a step forwards, the battle raging in his body still ongoing.

"What's the difference?" she spat back at him with gritted teeth, also taking a step forward.

"You get to live, and not just this twisted existence that you have right now Delarosa, you will live and thrive. But you will serve, you will be my blade in darkness and my shield in the light, you will train my armies and I will vanquish your worries. You will serve me for an eternity and in return you will live through it all. You will love, laugh, hate, and battle to your hearts content…. You will live." Cole could see it from her single eye, she had taken the bait even though she was being careful it was a trap, but there was desperation there that Cole had only ever seen in one place before…. His face; staring right back at him in a mirror.

There was also a saying; 'the best way to defeat your enemies is to make them your friends' as far as Cole is concerned that's bullshit. But perhaps in this scenario it works quite well in his behalf. She looked at him and asked once again.

"What do I have to do?" and Cole Responded.

"Submit!"

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