After some time, Svenja's eyes fluttered slowly open, her vision still dazed and disoriented. She blinked a few times, trying to focus her gaze and get her bearings. Her head throbbed dully, and she groaned softly as she tried to push herself up on one arm. Memories of the fight flooded back to her, and she realized with a sinking feeling that she had lost. Badly.

  "Ungh..." she muttered weakly, her voice hoarse and rough. "What...what the damn hell just happened...?”

  "You lost, that's what happened," came a smooth, familiar voice from behind her. Turning her head with a wince, Svenja spotted Sarolta standing a few feet away, watching her with a mix of amusement and condescension on her face.

  Svenja grunted in pain as she tried to sit up, her body protesting every movement. "Yeah, I kinda gathered that, ya damn smug wench..." she muttered through grit teeth, shooting a glare at Sarolta.

  Sarolta chuckled softly, taking a few steps closer to Svenja. "You put up a decent fight, I'll give you that. But in the end, you were no match for me. You're too emotional, too impulsive. You let your anger and emotions get the best of you. That's why you lost.”

  Svenja grunted again, her expression a mixture of pain and irritation. "Yeah, yeah, rub it in, why don't ya..." she grumbled, wincing as she gingerly touched the bruises on her neck. "Shit, my neck's killin' me…”

  Sarolta chuckled again, her eyes glittering with satisfaction. "You're lucky I didn't strangle you to death. I easily could have, you know. I'm stronger than you, faster than you, and more skilled than you. But I decided to let you off easy. Consider this a lesson in humility.”

  Svenja grunted again, her eyes narrowing. "Yeah, yeah, I get it. Thanks for the damn lesson. But ya could've, ya know, not used a cheap-ass trick like chokin' me out the first chance ya damn had.”

  Sarolta waved a hand dismissively. "Oh, please. Don't be such a sore loser. I simply used whatever means necessary to win the fight. That's just how I operate. And besides, I could have done far worse than just choking you out. I could have broken your limbs, shattered your bones, ripped out your spine...the possibilities are endless.”

  Svenja winced, clutching her neck protectively. "Thanks for the damn images, ya damn psychotic woman," she muttered, her tone bitter. "But I get it, okay? You're the damn big shot here, and I'm just a lowly loser.”

  Sarolta chuckled softly, her eyes gleaming with condescension. "Oh, don't be so melodramatic, Svenja. You're not a 'lowly loser'. You're just...inferior to me. In every way that matters. But that doesn't mean you can't learn from this. You can always improve and train harder, and maybe someday you'll be a worthy opponent for me.”

  Svenja grunted again, still clutching her neck. "Yeah, sure, maybe someday. But for now, can ya just...leave me alone to recover or somethin'? I ain't exactly in the mood for a motivational speech from my damn enemy right now.”

  Sarolta chuckled once more, her expression growing smug. "Aw, poor little Svenja. Did I tire you out too much? You need your rest, do you? How adorable.”

  Svenja groaned, her expression a mixture of pain and annoyance. "Yeah, yeah, you got me good. I'm tired, I'm sore, I'm beaten. Is that what ya damn wanted to hear?”

  Sarolta smirked, her eyes glinting with satisfaction. "It is indeed. I wanted to see the mighty leader of the Alliance brought low before me, and that's exactly what I got. It's a sight I think I could grow accustomed to.”

  Svenja gritted her teeth, her expression darkening with anger. "Yeah, yeah, rub it in, why don't ya. But just so ya damn well know, I ain't gonna stay down here forever. I'll train harder, get stronger, and I'll kick yer damn sorry ass next time we meet. Just ya damn watch.”

  …

  Svenja returned to the Alliance HQ, her body bruised up. This caught the attention of Uni, who rushed up to her.

  "Geez, Svenja, what happened to you?”

  Svenja waved off Uni's concern with a dismissive gesture. "Pfft, it's nothin'," she said, trying to play it off lightly. "Just a bit of a scuffle, that's all.”

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

  Uni raised an eyebrow, not entirely convinced by Svenja's nonchalance. "A bit of a scuffle, huh? Looks more like a full-blown battle. You sure you're okay, no broken bones or anything? And what happened to our mission? Weren't we going to confront Sarolta?"

  "That's...what I just got back from doin'. It went...not so swell.”

  Uni's concern deepened, and a hint of worry crossed her face. "Not so swell? What happened? Did you find Trixie?”

  Svenja sighed deeply, a mix of exhaustion and disappointment on her face. "Nah, Sarolta wouldn't let me. I hadta fight 'er…an' got fucked up pretty good.”

  Uni's eyes widened, worry and surprise flashing in her gaze. "You fought Sarolta? Alone?! Are you insane? You know how powerful she is!”

  "I know, I know," Svenja grumbled, massaging her sore shoulder. "But I didn't have a choice. She was determined to keep Trixie under her thumb, an' she wasn't gonna let me or anyone else intervene.”

  Uni's expression hardened, her frustration evident. "Damn it, Svenja. You should've waited for us. You can't just go barging in there alone, especially against someone as unhinged as Sarolta.”

  Svenja sighed heavily, her irritation growing slightly. "Aye, I know, I know. But I couldn't risk lettin' Trixie stay there any longer. I had to try an' get through to her before it was too late.”

  "But look at you!" Uni exclaimed, gesturing to Svenja's bruised and battered appearance. "You're all messed up! What if something worse had happened? We can't afford to lose you, too!”

  Svenja's expression softened for a moment, her irritation giving way to a hint of vulnerability. "I appreciate yer concern, lass. But I hadta try somethin', even if it meant getting myself into a bit o' a scuffle. I couldn't just sit back an' do nothing, knowin' what Trixie's goin' through.”

  Uni's frustration subsided slightly, replaced by a mixture of understanding and worry. "I get it, I really do. But you could've at least told us what you were planning. We could've helped you, or at least had your back. You can't just go into something like that alone.”

  Svenja's expression hardened once more, her stubborn pride overriding her vulnerability. "Aye, maybe I should've told ya, but I didn't want to risk puttin' any o' ye in danger. I can handle myself in a scrap, an' I didn't want anyone gettin' hurt tryin' to back me up.”

  Uni sighed in frustration, her concern for Svenja's well-being still evident. "It's not just about you, though. We're a team. We're supposed to look out for each other. You can't just go solo on something like this and expect us to stay out of it.”

  Svenja's irritation flared up again, her stubbornness refusing to back down. "Look. Even if ya joined me, she still woulda destroyed us. She's far beyond any of us, so even if I took y'all, we still woulda lost miserably.”

  Uni gritted her teeth, her frustration growing. "You don't know that for sure! You can't just make decisions like that without consulting us first. We may have lost, but at least we wouldn't have been completely unprepared.”

  Svenja's frustration matched Uni's, her voice growing sharper. "Well, I was the one out there facing her, so I think I know better than any of ya what we was facin'. I made the decision. End o' story! Now, I needa rest up, I'm sore as all hell. Tell Mable I already went to Meteor Corp an' all that, I'll be restin' in my room if ya need me.”

  Uni let out an exasperated sigh, her concern for Svenja mixing with anger. "Ugh, you're impossible sometimes, you know that? But fine, go rest if you need to. Just don't go doing something stupid like that again, alright?”

  Svenja huffed, her irritation starting to fade as exhaustion took over. "Aye, yeah, I promise. I'll stay out o' trouble for now. Needa rest up first. Now, if ye'll excuse me, I needa go faceplant onto my bed.”

  Uni rolled her eyes, her frustration mixing with a hint of affection. "You're such a stubborn ass sometimes, you know that? But I'm glad you're okay, just...don't scare us like that again.”

  Svenja managed a weary smile, her stubbornness giving way to a moment of vulnerability. "I'll try me best ta avoid scarin’ ya. An’ if it helps, I'm pretty sure I got some decent hits in on Sarolta.”

  Uni couldn't help but crack a small smile at that. "Well, at least you gave her a run for her money, I guess. Still, you might wanna ice up those bruises before you go to sleep. Looks like it hurts like hell.”

  Svenja grumbled, still stubborn but acknowledging the pain. "Aye, I suppose a bit o' ice wouldn't hurt. Jus’ gotta drag me sorry arse to the med room, ugh.”

  Uni nodded, a hint of concern still in her voice. "Yeah, you go do that. And try to take it easy, alright? No more playing the lone wolf. Teamwork, remember?”

  Svenja grunted, her stubbornness mixing with a hint of acknowledgement. "Yeah, yeah, I hear ya. No more solo missions. Teamwork from now on. Happy now?”

  Uni rolled her eyes, her frustration giving way to mild amusement. "I suppose that'll have to do for now. But seriously, don't make a habit out of scaring the crap out of us like that. Now, let's get you patched up.”

  Svenja winced as she gingerly touched her bruises, the pain finally catching up with her. "Aye, lead the way. I could use a bit o' help with these damn aches.”

  Uni chuckled softly, her concern for Svenja still present but mixed with a touch of light-heartedness. "Alright, let's get you looking less like a punching bag and more like the badass leader we all know.”

  Svenja huffed but couldn't hide a slight smirk. "Ha! Aye, as if these damn bruises gonna slow me down. I'll be back to kickin' ass in no time.”

  Uni rolled her eyes but smiled nonetheless. "Of course you will, tough girl. But let's focus on patching you up first. Then you can go back to being a stubborn badass.”