Since Mudrock had already spoken, the two women had no reason to refuse. Watching Mudrock walk out first, Jeanne and Talulah exchanged a quick glance. Jeanne simply shrugged and followed her out of the tent, looking for a clear, open space to test her skills against the armored mercenary.
Jeanne recalled that Mudrock mastered a form of ancient incantation passed down through the Sarkaz. Ever since her strange, vivid dreams, she had become deeply interested in such archaic things.
"Be careful! We're here to cooperate, so try to restrain your strength!"
Talulah truly didn't feel at ease. The main issue was that Jeanne possessed the terrifying strength to kill a bear with a single punch; very few people could guess that those slender limbs harbored such immense power. Since the other party was a mercenary, unpredictable situations were likely to arise in a fight. Talulah didn't want them to end up as enemies before they even became friends.
Before long, every member of the Sarkaz squad had gathered on a patch of open ground. They looked at Jeanne, who appeared incredibly slight and thin to them, and whispered among themselves.
"I reckon she might last two rounds? She's a specialist sent by the other side, after all. But does she really have the strength to swing a weapon with those thin arms?"
Everyone watched Jeanne, clearly skeptical of her combat prowess. However, they kept their more mocking comments to themselves; for all they knew, she was one of those "ordinary-looking" people with unimaginable power. Their caution stemmed from Jeanne's eyes—there wasn't a trace of panic in them. In fact, she looked as though the victory was already in her hands. As mercenaries, they knew that while appearance told a story, it could also be a deadly deception.
"Alright. Do you need to prepare anything? Seeing as you're empty-handed, we can look around and see if we have anything suitable. Though, finding something of the same quality as this hammer will be difficult," Mudrock said, looking at the unarmed Jeanne. She didn't want to defeat an opponent who was fighting bare-handed; even if she won, it wouldn't be a victory worth boasting about.
"That won't be necessary. I am prepared."
As she spoke, Jeanne held her hand out in front of her chest. Pinpoints of light began to converge, eventually solidifying into a banner. However, the tip of the flagpole was crowned with a sharp, cold-gleaming spike.
Mudrock realized immediately: this was less of a flag and more of a lance disguised as a banner. But how had it appeared? The process had been so instantaneous that Mudrock froze for a second. She had only seen a flash of light before the hybrid weapon was suddenly in the other woman's grasp.
"My weapon is here. Let us begin."
With those words, Jeanne's gaze sharpened. Her pale gold eyes locked onto her opponent; in that moment, it felt as though a terrifying, colossal beast had awakened. A nameless pressure descended upon Mudrock. Any thoughts she had of "holding back" were wiped clean the instant that aura hit her. She realized she had to take this seriously—this person was a formidable enemy. If she wasn't careful, there was a high probability she'd be the one ended up on the ground.
"Then let's go!"
A faint, black film suddenly appeared around Mudrock's body, resembling a large bubble encasing her massive frame. Mudrock specialized in Originium Arts related to earth and stone—as did her lineage, whom other Sarkaz referred to as the "Children of Earth and Stone."
This film was a defensive barrier condensed from the power of the soil, ensuring that regardless of where an attack came from, she could block it. One shouldn't be fooled by its soap-bubble appearance; breaking this protective shroud required significant effort. Once the shield was set, Mudrock watched Jeanne, waiting for the first strike.
Knowing her speed was her weakness—especially in such heavy armor—Mudrock knew she couldn't compete with the agile-looking Jeanne in a footrace. She chose to wait. Once the enemy drew close, her counterattack would begin. Simultaneously, black currents of magical energy coiled around her war hammer, waiting for the moment of impact.
"Did you see what just happened? Why did that huge thing suddenly appear in her hand? Where was she hiding it?"
The spectating Sarkaz broke into a flurry of discussion. Having survived countless battles, they considered themselves well-traveled and knowledgeable, yet they couldn't fathom the principle behind Jeanne's "magic trick." Their previous doubts about her strength vanished; anyone who could pull off a stunt like that was clearly no simple character.
"It looks like movement isn't very convenient for you! In that case, I'll come to you!"
Jeanne flourished her banner, the fabric snapping in the wind before she settled it behind her. Then, like a bolt of black lightning, she lunged toward the distant Mudrock.
Mudrock saw a dark blur strike her shield. To her horror, the barrier was shattered instantly and cleanly. It was the butt of Jeanne's flagpole—Jeanne's immense physical strength had swung the pole with such force that it obliterated a shield her own men would have struggled to break.
Just how much strength does she have?
Mudrock reacted instantly. Her great hammer, wreathed in black currents, swung to meet the flagpole. The resulting recoil left Mudrock's arms feeling numb and tingling.
Is this truly a human? Or a monster wearing a human shape?
She didn't know that this wasn't even Jeanne's full strength. Jeanne, worried she might hurt Mudrock if she went all out, was only using a fraction of her power. Even so, Mudrock was one of the few people Jeanne had encountered in years who could take her physical strikes head-on. The last person to do so was Patriot, who occasionally sparred with her to help train his Shieldguards. Because someone with Jeanne's level of strength was so rare, Patriot used her attacks to teach his men how to withstand overwhelming force.
Suddenly, Jeanne felt her body grow sluggish for a split second, as if her weight had increased, though the sensation passed quickly. She noticed Mudrock was continuously drawing power from the earth. The ground around them had been exposed by Mudrock's Arts, now entwined with black, magical substances.
It seemed this unknown black matter was intended to slow her down, forcing her into a close-quarters brawl. Since Mudrock wasn't fast, forcing her enemy to slow down and trade blows was a wise tactical move.
"O Earth, heed my plea!"
Black and white currents of air began to swirl around Mudrock. Originium power pulsed around her, as if gathering energy within the "black domain" she had created on the ground.
Seeing this, Jeanne immediately tried to leap away from the affected area. An instant later, the energy stored in the earth erupted, the resulting shockwave tossing Jeanne's hair. Even though Jeanne wouldn't have been injured standing there, no one sane waits around for an explosion when they see it coming.
However, Mudrock used the opening of the blast to go on the offensive. Raising her hammer high, she swung it directly at Jeanne. A black protective shield reappeared on Mudrock's body; even knowing Jeanne's strength made the shield almost moot, it offered a fleeting moment of protection.
The hammer strike—one powerful enough to shatter mountain rock—slammed into Jeanne's raised flagpole. The collision produced a deafening metallic clang and a secondary violent explosion of force.
The spectating Sarkaz fell silent. It was blindingly obvious: their leader was being pushed back. The tide of the battle had turned, and Mudrock was showing signs of faltering. They stood there in stunned silence, witnessing the impossible.