Everything was still, everywhere was silent. Only Roxanne’s breath was audible, and even then, it was shrill, as though nonexistent.
Standing in the midst of the frozen figures, Roxanne’s eyes lit in resolve as she cloaked herself in her primal regalia.
Moving toward Rita, she used her claws to dig deep into her friend’s wound and extracted the bullets within her body. Using the effect of her negation of boundaries, Roxanne also canceled out the effect of wolfsbane on her friend.
The poison had also stopped working on Roxanne for some reason, making her wounds heal rapidly, nearing completion. She looked at the remaining enemies and let out a bloodthirsty grin.
In an instant, Roxanne killed off the Hunters around her, leaving only Donald alive. Even the blood she shed floated in the air, and the head was suspended where it flew.
Moving closer to Donald, she took a deep breath. Taking away everything he armed himself with, including the hidden weapons locked in his pockets, Roxanne stripped him of everything.
Finally, she closed her eyes, undoing the effect of her ‘wish’. In a flash, the course of time resumed, and every action she performed thus far made simultaneous effects.
Suddenly, blood burst out and heads were sent flying, sending the entire room into chaos. Roxanne stood directly in front of Donald, who was shocked by how everything happened. His gun was no longer with him, and there he was, with nothing to arm himself with.
“What just happened? H-how did she? When… what did she do?!” He asked himself in a panic.
Roxanne gave him a devilish smile, making shivers run down his spine.
“It’s over, ‘coach’, you’ve lost!” Roxanne said in a calm manner.
Her eyes were devoid of the hate and betrayal she had displayed earlier. Roxanne was different now, deep within the glowing blue hue, was a vast expanse that never ended. Donald couldn’t explain it ;75 he felt like he could be swallowed whole by the depths within her eyes.
“Y-You bitch! What did you do?!” Donald barked in fear and anger mixed with each other.
Roxanne ignored his words and moved closer, taking a fighting stance.
“Get in position. Right here and now… Let’s have our final round” She muttered.
Donald couldn’t believe the nonsense she was spouting. Now, of all moments, she wanted to have a match with him?
“How dare you mock me!” He spat, launching a powerful blow at her.
Shaking her head, she easily dodged his attack, stepping aside.
“Tch, you little!” Donald muttered, twisting his body as he launched his second fist.
Also evading his strike, Donald flailed and gave a reverse hit. Instantly blocking his move, Roxanne pushed his arms, causing him to stagger backward in recoil.
“Abominable beast! Of course it wouldn’t be a fair fight!” Donald grunted in frustration.
“It appears you think I’m using my werewolf abilities to gain a higher advantage, but you’re wrong. Currently, I am only using my base strength!” Roxanne said, interrupting Donald’s thought.
“N-no way!” Donald protested.
There was no way she would fight him using her base strength and he would be struggling this much against her. She was too fast, and it seemed she read his every move.
“The answer is simple… I have transcended my past self. The current ‘me’ is much more skilled than the ‘Roxanne’ you fought in the past!” Roxanne said.
Donald’s eyes widened. That meant… At the moment, the one before him was no longer the beast he hated, but his pupil whom he taught the art of fighting.
A mixed surge of emotions swirled within Donald. Before finding out about Roxanne’s identity, he had always imagined the day when she would surpass him in every way.
“In contrast to my growth, coach… It seems you have dulled it!” Roxanne added.
He felt a pang within him, but she was right. His hate and strong resentment toward her kind made him act rash, and her current actions made him flustered. He wasn’t himself.
“Huuu…” Donald gave a heavy breath as he stared at Roxanne.
Deciding to let go of his hate and disgust, he let go of any recognition of Roxanne as a savage beast. Currently, he was in a match with a foe within the ring.
Clenching his fist and tightening his jaw, he dedicated full concentration to Roxanne, a fellow opponent in battle. This might very well be his last match. As a fighter, he was going to give his all.
And so he launched himself toward Roxanne.
A small smile formed on her face, showing relief alongside sadness. But, above all… There was eagerness within. She also anticipated the fight and rushed toward him.
The final fight between master and pupil, father and daughter, Hunter and Werewolf.
“Rahhhhh!!!” Donald yelled.
“Haaaa!!!” Roxanne answered.
Both launching their fists, throwing jabs, using evasive maneuvers and giving hooks, they proceeded with their match.
Rita silently watched the display, seeing as the two dealt with one another. The fighters, who were too engrossed in the match, failed to see what Rita saw as a third party.
“They’re… smiling…?” She mumbled.
Both Roxanne and Donald smiled in satisfaction and bliss as they crossed fists. However, just as Roxanne had said… she was superior.
>POW!<
A devastating hit landed on Donald's face as he was sent crashing to the ground. It was a knockout… Roxanne's victory.
As Donald lay on the floor, with Roxanne approaching him, he couldn't deny his defeat. He felt it as they crossed fists, she had truly grown. He didn't know why he felt happy and sad at the same time. Feelings of guilt washed through him, but his anger and hate for the werewolves didn't vanish. As this inner turmoil continued, Roxanne stood above him.
"This is the end… coach" She muttered, gazing down at him with a cold stare.
He returned her icy look with his hateful stare.
Since the match had been concluded, they were back where they started, sworn foes going back centuries and millennia.
"You damned… Beast…"