Mystimona’s gaze shifted towards Mari who stood by the doorway. “Mari, did you feel anything... unusual when you held this sword?”

  Mari’s eyes widened with a flicker nition. “Now that you mention it, Mystimona,” she replied. “I did feel a strange energy when I held the sword. It was like... a surge of power that overwhelmed me.”

  Mystimona’s brows furrowed. “It seems like this sword has a deeper e to you than we initially thought. Perhaps it somehoed into a hidden aspect of your being.”

  Mari nodded. Her gaze became fixed on the sword. “It’s possible, but how do I unlock its true power? And what exactly is this power it holds?”

  Mystimona sighed. “I wish I had the answers, Mari, but for now, we should focus on our mission aowards the East. We tio iigate the sword’s mysteries along the way.”

  Mari nodded in agreement. “You’re right, Mystimona,” she replied. “We ’t let this distract us from oal. Let’s get going.”

  Mari and Mystimona find themselves on a beach, the gentle waves pping against the shore. The sand stretches out before them, warm and inviting. The air is filled with the st of salt and the distant cries of seagulls. The sun hangs high in the sky, casting a golden glow over the se.

  The sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm golden glow across the beach. Mari and Mystimona stood side by side with eyes fixed on the vast expanse of sand stretg out before them. The sword that had been passed down through Mari’s family feions was now at Mystimona’s side. Mari was letting Mystimona hold onto it.

  “The Eastern Jancito is just beyond this beach,” Mari said. “We have to make our way through here if we want to reach it.”

  Mari turned her attention to Mystimona, a mischievous smile pying on her lips. “But before we tinue, I think we should have a little fun on the beach. What do you say, Mystimona?”

  Mystimona looked at Mari, perplexed. “Fun on the beach? What do you mean? There are no people to battle here. How is that any fun?”

  Mari’s mouth dropped to the floor. “Mystimona, you don’t know how fun the beach be! It’s not just about fighting. There are so many things to enjoy—games, swimming, and just rexing.”

  Mystimona’s fusion deepened. “Games? Swimming? I never really thought of it that way.”

  Mari’s face lit up with enthusiasm. “Exactly! e o me show you. There’s so much to do, and you’ll see why it’s fun!”

  With that, Mari grabbed Mystimona’s hand and pulled him along the beach. They first stopped at the shoreline where Mari demonstrated how to skip stones. Mystimona watched, initially awkward but soon finding a rhythm as he mao skip a few stones himself.

  , Mari led Mystimona to a spot where she set up a small beach volleyball . She showed him the basics of the game, and soon, they were engaged in a friendly, if somewhat chaotic, match. Mari’s ughter filled the air as Mystimona clumsily tried to hit the ball over the .

  After their game, Mari led Mystimona to a cozy spot where they id out a b and enjoyed a simple piic. By the time they finished, Mystimo a newfound appreciation for the bead its simple pleasures. He looked at Mari with a smile. “You were right, Mari. This was… actually pretty fun.”

  Mari beamed, her eyes sparkling with satisfa. “I’m gd you think so! Sometimes, it’s o take a break and enjoy the moment.”

  Mari looked at Mystimona thoughtfully. “Mystimona, there’s something I’ve been meaning to—”

  Before she could finish, Mystimona cut her off. “Mari, I think I uand where this is going. We should focus on our missioill o head East.”

  Mari’s eyes widened with surprise, but she nodded. Her cheeks flushed slightly. “ht. But you know, I was just enjoying our time together and—”

  Mystimona stood up, brushing sand off his clothes. “We o keep moving. Besides, I heard there’s a tour i Jancito that I want to enter.”

  Mari turned curious. “You’re really going to ehe tour?”

  Mystimona nodded. “Yes. I want to see what it’s like and maybe test my skills. What about you? Are you thinking of entering as well?”

  Mari sighed with a hint of frustration. “I would love to, but I don’t think I stand a ce. I haven’t trained enough, and from what I hear, the petitors there are really strong—some are even stage 3 sword magic users es with extreme magic abilities…. Some even have the Swod form.”

  Mari turned her gaze to the ground. “I’m just not sure if I catch up in time. I feel like it’s a bit beyond my reach.”

  Mystimona observed Mari with a thoughtful expression. “You know, Mari, from what I see, it seems like you’ve been putting in the effort, but you might be stu a rut. Ten years of training without much progress… that’s tough.”

  Mari looked up, a flicker of hope mingled with skepticism in her eyes. “So you think I need more training? But it’s not just about training; it’s about the type of training I’ve been doing.”

  Mystimona shook his head. “ly. I don’t think you need more sword training per se. Maybe what you need is a fresh perspective. I don’t use a sword myself, but I’ve seen a lot of different bat styles and strategies. I could help you see things from a different angle.”

  Mari’s eyes widened with i. “You’d do that for me?”

  Mystimona nodded firmly. “Absolutely. Sometimes, a neroach make all the difference. I share some insights that could help you refine your teiques and find new ways to use your abilities.”

  A smile began to form on Mari’s lips. “Thank you, Mystimona. I appreciate your offer. I’m willing to give it a try if it means improving my skills.”

  Mystimona and Mari began to walk along the beach for some time. Mystimona soon turo Mari with a serious look. “Alright, Mari, I’ll help you with your training like I said, but there’s one dition—you have to ehe tour. It’s the perfect way to test what you’ve learned and push yourself beyond your limits.”

  Mari’s eyes widened, and a bright, eager smile spread across her face. “Really? I’ll do it! I wao ehe tour and give it my best shot anyways!”

  Mystimona was taken aback by her immediate ahusiastic response. “You’re that eager to enter?”

  Mari’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “Absolutely! I’ve always wao prove myself and learhings. This is a great opportunity for me, and I’m ready to take it!”

  Mystimona chuckled nervously. “Well, I’m gd to hear that. Let’s get started on your training then.”

  He handed Mari her sword. “Here’s your sword back. We’ve got a lot of work to do, but I’m sure we make a difference.”

  Mari took the sword with a fident look. “Thank you, Mystimona. I’m really looking forward to this!”

  Mari and Mystimona found a secluded spot on the beach to begiraining session where waves crashed against a shore. They stood fag each other. Mari gripped her sword tightly with eyes fixed on Mystimona. He stood with his hands at his sides.

  “Alright, Mari,” Mystimona began. “First, we o work on your staand with your feet shoulder-width apart, and keep your knees slightly bent. This will give you a stable base from which to attad defend.”

  Mari adjusted her position, following Mystimona’s instrus. She could feel the sand shiftih her while settling into her stance. She became mrounded and banced.

  “Now, focus on your breathing,” Mystimona tinued. “Inhale deeply through your nose, and exhale slowly through your mouth. This will help you to stay calm aered during the heat of battle.”

  Mari closed her eyes briefly, taking a deep breath in and slowly exhaling. She could feel her heart rate slowing, her mind clearing. She let go of any distras and focused solely oraining.

  “Good,” Mystimona nodded. “Now, let’s start with some basic strikes. Hold your sword with both hands, and swing it in a trolled ar yht side to your left side. Remember to keep your wrists loose and yrip firm.”

  Mari followed Mystimona’s instrus, swinging her sword with precision. The sound of the bde cutting through the air echoed on the beach. Mari repeated the motion again and again, honieique.

  “Excellent,” Mystimona praised. “Now, let’s move on to parrying. I’m going to try to hit you from different angles, and your job is to block my attacks with your sword. Focus on timing and positioning.”

  Mystimona thrusted his fists out at her. He came from various angles. Mari reacted swiftly, defleg each blow with her sword, her movements being more fluid and instinctual with each parry.

  “You’re doing great, Mari. Keep your focus, and remember to anticipate my movements. A successful parry requires not only skill but also the ability to read your oppo.”

  Mari nodded while log eyes on Mystimona. They spent hours on the beach, practig strikes, blocks, and footwork. Mari could feel her muscles ag and her body growing tired, but she pushed through.

  Suddenly, amidst the sound of crashing waves and the cries of seagulls, Mari heard someone eg in her mind. It was her sword, calling out to her with an unyielding anger.

  “Mari,” the sword whispered seductively, “he has put his hands on us, treated us as if we were lovers. Only you make that fantasy e true.”

  Mari shook her head. “No,” she muttered, speaking aloud to the empty beach. “It’s not like that. This is training. Mystimona is just helping me improve.”

  The swrew more insistent, ing arouhoughts like a dark fog. “But think about it, Mari. He’s shown i in you. Why not take this ce to explore those feelings? You ’t deny the e you feel.”

  Mari’s eyes widened in shock at the dark thoughts invading her mind. The seductive nature of her own desires began to seep into her movements.

  When she swung her sword, her strikes became imbued with a seductive energy, catg Mystimona off-guard. Her movements were both alluring and dangerous, a deadly bination that left him momentarily stunned.

  Mystimona began to notice a peculiar ge in her movements. Her strikes were now infused with an alluring grace. Each swing of her sword was apanied by an almost hypnotic twirl. Her evasions and pounces had taken on a seductive quality, making it difficult for Mystimona to predict her move. Before he could react, one of her strikes caught him off-guard, slig across his arm.

  Mystimona grimaced. The pain was sharp, but what startled him more was the strange energy he felt emanating from the cut.

  He looked at Mari, who was now standing with a sultry look.

  “Mari?” Mystimona looked at her with . “That was… impressive, but you’re not ag like yourself anymore, are you... Just who are you now?”

  Mari’s eyes twinkled mischievously. She tio move with grad allure. “Oh, Mystimona, don’t ynize me? I am not just Mari anymore. I am Zataris, a Succubus, and I am here to make you submit to me.”

  Mystimona’s fusion deepened, his brows furrowing in sternation. “A Succubus? What is a Succubus?”

  Zataris ughed softly. “Oh, my dear Mystimona, a Succubus is a seductive creature who feeds off the life ford desires of others. We possess an irresistible allure, capable of captivating evero-willed individuals.”

  Mystimona’s face hardened. “What do you want from me, Zataris?”

  Zataris’s eyes glinted with a seductive gleam. “Isn’t it obvious, Mystimona? Both Mari and I have the same desire. We want you. I am here to make you submit to my will. I will stop at nothing to have you.”

  Mystimona’s took a defeance while narrowing his eyes. “I see. So, you’ve got a orack mind. Well, I won’t make it easy for you.”

  Zataris lunged with a swift and graceful attack. Mystimona observed her movements, feeling a anger building within himself. “This thing is possessing Mari,” he thought to himself, “and Mari is somewhat aware of it. But...”

  Drawing on his resolve, Mystimona’s defensive skills sharpened. He dodged and parried with newfound precision.

  Zataris’s frustration grew by the minute. “Why won’t my love reach you?” she purred with irritation. “Why resist me so much?”

  Mystimona seemed imposing while he looked down at her. “Did you think I was only talking about training Mari earlier? Clearly, she isn’t the only one who needs it. You, Zataris, need discipline.”

  The mention of discipliruck a nerve. Zataris’s eyes fred with anger. “Discipline? How dare you! I am a force of nature, bound by none!”

  Despite her anger, Mystimona remained focused. “That’s exactly why you . Your seductive games and maniputions aren’t going to win this fight. You’ve got power, but without synization with your wielder, it’s meaningless.”

  With a sudden burst of speed, Mystimona unched a swift and powerful strike towards Zataris. Uo defend herself in time, Zataris was caught off guard. She was sent flying across the sandy beach.

  Zataris crashed onto the sand with a thud, her body skidding along the surface before ing to a stop. She struggled tain her posure.

  Slowly, Zataris rose to her feet. “You truly are strong, honey... I… uimated you, my love!”

  Zataris prepared to unother attack when she suddenly felt a strange sensation ripple through her body. fusion clouded her mind.

  “No, no! I was just about to try something new!” Zataris pined, but before she could react, a pierg scream escaped her lips, eg across the beach. The scream caught Mystimona off guard.