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It was a platinum armor with glittering decorations strewn around everywhere. The armor was crafted so beautifully, it looked more like a finished piece of art than a tool for war.

It covered Tiffany’s body. She was already a pretty girl before, but now she looked even more mystical and noble.

「Fufu…Did you not say you want to see what I’m really made of? There, I’ve shown you.」
「I see! So you are an armor Hyrule Menace!」

The enormous defensive ability the armor provided is exactly why Tiffany’s fighting style was effective. She must be really confident she could leave all the defense to her armor. If you considered it like that, her seemingly foolhardy strategy now sounded very efficient.

Which means she wasn’t serious before, huh, I see.

「Exactly. Now, resign!」

With a triumphant look on her face, Tiffany pursued Inglis. Even with the heavy armor, her speed was quicker than before she changed form. It seemed that the armor raised Tiffany’s base physical capabilities too.

The fist that she sent flying roared as it cut through the air. It hit Inglis’ face squarely, and then…

Stopped there.

「Eh……?!」

Tiffany’s eyes peeled. With the urgency of the situation, she had planned to decide the match then and there. That punch packed her full strength, a blow that was intended to take Inglis’ life.

With the armor on, Tiffany’s fundamental superhuman physical abilities were enhanced further to a higher stage, enabling her to be one of the most powerful personal combatants of all Hyrule Menaces in existence. The difference between her putting on the armor and not was astronomical.

The Inglis that she’d been fighting against was certainly strong, she was an even match to her before she put on the armor. Therefore, there should be no reason for Tiffany not being able to get rid of her in an instant now.

And yet, the situation stands. Even with Tiffany’s heavy blow hitting her in the face, Inglis didn’t show even as much as a twitch. Even worse, in Tiffany’s eyes and senses, Inglis was still the same Inglis from before. She didn’t change her appearance, neither could Tiffany feel some sort of power enveloping her. If anything, her mana felt even weaker than when they were on the Flygear Carrier. She really was Runeless; Tiffany couldn’t feel any sort of power from her.

Nevertheless, against all odds, reality betrayed any and all reasonings. Which means, there is some kind of mysterious force that works in Inglis’ favor that Tiffany has no clue about? That has to be it. She couldn’t think of any explanation other than that. But, what is that power? Tiffany hadn’t the foggiest idea of what it could be…

「Wh-, what in the world, are you?!」
「I am but a Squire student though?」
「Don’t lie to me! A mere student can’t possibly…!」

Tiffany once again delivered a blow with her full might, this time an uppercut to Inglis’ chin. However, it happened again, while it did connect, Inglis didn’t even flinch.

「Forgive me, but I am in a hurry too!」

Inglis dismissed Tiffany’s efforts. The reason why Tiffany’s attacks no longer affected her was because Inglis had activated her Ether Armor, effectively covering her entire body with weaves of ether waves.

She really didn’t want to resort to this, though…

Still, Rafinha was going ahead and headed for the town of Lekrea. The fact that Inglis didn’t see Hallim here meant that Lekrea was not completely empty of guard. Inglis was worried something might happen to Rafinha who went ahead.

If only Rafinha was within Inglis’ sight, she would be free to do anything she wanted, but she couldn’t help herself if Rafinha wasn’t. To be frank, she’d rather have Rafinha to be close to her as she enjoyed her battle, but that wasn’t an option in this situation.

The current Tiffany was so powerful, Inglis had to activate «Ether Armor» or else the fight would inevitably be an uphill one. She expected no less from a Hyrule Menace.
It was no fun to force an opponent like her to yield using an even more overwhelming strength.

There is no doubt that Tiffany is a powerful character Inglis rarely encounters.

Above all else, her fighting style would surely lead to Inglis’ personal growth. For someone who sought power, Inglis had to seek maximum personal growth in every battle she fought.

In Tiffany’s case, Inglis had to challenge her while restraining herself from using «Ether Armor» as much as possible, and through various trial and error amidst the uphill battle, she could expect an improvement in her Close Quarter Combat skills, endurance to take a hit, strategies drawn in the midst of a battle, and various other combat related techniques.

Wasting all the potential from a fight was an outrage. However, they meant nothing compared to Rafinha’s safety. Strong opponents might come her way again without her looking, but there was nothing that could substitute Rafinha.

「My apologies, but I won’t pull any punches! HAAAAAaahhhh!」

Inglis’ fist, wrapped in the gleam of her «Ether Armor», once again hit the surface of the platinum armor.

Crack!

The armor of the Hyrule Menace warped and cracked under her fist.

「Wha……?! KYAAaahhhh?!」

Tiffany, who had nonchalantly brushed off Inglis’ punches before, was now flung far and wide. She bounced over and over on the snow, quickly gaining distance from Inglis. The snow rolled up in a big heap everytime she hit it, raising a number of white pillars in her wake.

「「「LADY TIFFANY?!」」」

The Highlanders under Tiffany shrieked.