Marvel: Multiversal Chat Group Admin

Knox lunged, blade flashing.

But this time, I moved first.

I twisted to the side, barely dodging the strike, my body reacting faster than my brain could process. My muscles felt lighter, sharper—like I had just unlocked something buried deep inside me.

Knox noticed the change immediately.

Her grin widened. "Oh? You're finally warming up."

She wasn't surprised.

She was excited.

I exhaled sharply, my heart pounding. The emergency sync had kicked in, and for the first time since this fight started, I didn't feel helpless.

I could actually see her movements before she fully committed to them.

She lunged again, knife aimed at my ribs—

I blocked, twisting her wrist at just the right angle to redirect the attack.

Knox pivoted, adjusting instantly, but I was already moving, throwing a quick kick at her midsection.

She dodged, barely.

Her expression flickered with the faintest hint of surprise.

I grinned.

"Not so disappointing now, am I?"

Knox's eyes gleamed. "Good. I was worried this was going to be too easy."

Then she attacked again—faster than before.

📩 [System Alert – Combat Reflexes Enhanced]

📩 [New Tactical Data Available – Processing Opponent Movements]

👾 Administrator (Me): Okay, NOW I can actually fight.

💀 I'm Not a Bad Slime: Finally. Took you long enough.

🕷️ Peter Parker: Don't get cocky! She's still leagues ahead of you.

⚔️ The Lone Wolf: Your improved reflexes won't matter if she still outskills you. Stay focused.

📩 [Warning – Opponent Adjusting Tactics]

Knox's movements were different now.

Sharper. Less playful.

I had forced her to take me seriously.

Which was both a victory and a terrifying realization.

She closed the distance instantly, throwing rapid knife strikes in a seamless, flowing pattern.

I dodged the first two, barely deflected the third, but the fourth—

SLASH.

Pain flared across my left shoulder.

Shit—

I stumbled back, hand instinctively pressing against the wound. It wasn't deep, but it was enough to shake me.

Knox tilted her head. "Your reaction time is better, but you're still predictable."

I grit my teeth.

She wasn't wrong.

Even with Dante's sync boost, I was just barely keeping up.

📩 [System Alert – Administrator Injured]

👾 Administrator (Me): I thought I was supposed to be FASTER now!

💀 I'm Not a Bad Slime: You are. But she's BETTER.

⚔️ The Lone Wolf: Syncing doesn't magically make you a pro. It gives you tools—you still have to learn how to use them.

🕷️ Peter Parker: Translation: You still suck.

👾 Administrator (Me): Fantastic. Love that for me.

Knox smirked. "Let's see what else you've got."

She lunged again—

I reacted instinctively this time, twisting my body in a way that felt unnaturally smooth.

My foot slid back perfectly, shifting my weight into a counter stance I didn't fully recognize.

Knox's blade came within inches of my neck—

Then I moved in a blur, twisting around her strike and slamming my elbow into her ribs.

The impact made her stagger slightly.

It wasn't much—

But it was the first real hit I had landed on her.

She exhaled sharply, rolling her shoulders. "Huh. That was new."

So it wasn't just reaction time I had gained.

I was moving like Dante now.

Even if I didn't fully understand how.

My fingers twitched. The urge to reach for Rebellion was creeping in.

For the first time, I felt like I could actually wield it properly.

I exhaled, shaking out my arms.

Knox adjusted her grip on the knife, watching me. "You're hesitating."

I frowned. "Excuse me?"

She smirked. "You're still holding back. I can see it in your stance."

I stayed silent.

She was testing me.

📩 [System Alert – Opponent Probing for Weakness]

👾 Administrator (Me): She's messing with me, isn't she?

⚔️ The Lone Wolf: She's trying to break your confidence. Don't let her.

💀 I'm Not a Bad Slime: She fights with pressure. She wants you on the defensive so you make mistakes.

Knox tilted her head slightly. "Go on. Show me what you're really capable of."

I swallowed hard, keeping my stance tight.

"You're still gonna kill me, though, right?" I muttered.

Knox grinned. "Obviously."

Then she charged again.

📩 [System Alert – New Skill Activation]

📩 [Unlocked: Devil's Reflex – Accelerated Evasion]

👾 Administrator (Me): I JUST UNLOCKED SOMETHING—WHAT IS IT?!

💀 I'm Not a Bad Slime: No clue! Use it and find out!

🕷️ Peter Parker: What kind of system DOESN'T give a tutorial?!

⚔️ The Lone Wolf: Adapt or die.

Knox struck with even more speed, pushing forward aggressively.

But this time—

I saw it.

I knew where she was going before she even moved.

My body reacted without thinking.

I sidestepped her blade, twisting into a counter—

Then I vanished.

For half a second, I was just gone.

I didn't teleport—

I just moved so fast that even I didn't register it.

I reappeared at Knox's side, my leg already mid-kick.

She barely had time to react—

The impact sent her sliding backward, smashing into a metal workbench.

Claire gasped. "What the hell was that?!"

Reed's eyes narrowed. He had noticed it too.

Knox pushed herself up, coughing once.

Then she wiped the blood from her lip and laughed.

"…Now this," she said, eyes gleaming. "This is fun."

My hands shook slightly.

Whatever I just did…

It had nearly drained me completely.

I didn't get another chance like that.

I needed to end this.

Now.