Chapter 75: Iron Skin

Chapter 75: Chapter 75: Iron Skin

The metal weapons floated in the air.

Daggers. Swords. Spikes. Dozens of them. They gleamed in the dim light. They pointed at Fluffy. They waited.

Fluffy looked at them. Then at the elf. Her ears were flat. Her tail was still. But her eyes were sharp.

"Fluffy does not want to fight," she said.

The elf tilted her head. "Then surrender. Come with me. I’ll show you the truth."

Fluffy shook her head. "Fluffy will not leave Master."

The elf sighed. "Then I’ll have to make you."

She flicked her wrist.

The metal weapons shot forward.

Fluffy moved.

She activated Shadow Step. She disappeared. The weapons passed through empty air. They clattered against the ground.

The elf’s eyes widened. "What?"

Fluffy reappeared behind her. Her daggers flashed. The elf spun. She raised her hand. A metal plate formed in front of her. The daggers scraped against it. Sparks flew.

Fluffy jumped back. She disappeared again.

The elf looked around. Her eyes were sharp. Calculating.

"You’re fast," she said. "Faster than I expected."

Fluffy reappeared to the left. She threw a dagger. The elf dodged. The dagger embedded itself in a wall.

Fluffy disappeared. She reappeared to the right. She threw another dagger. The elf dodged again.

"You’re a combat genius," the elf said. "For a rabbit folk."

Fluffy didn’t answer. She kept moving. She kept attacking.

The elf was impressed. She hadn’t expected this. Rabbit folk were supposed to be weak. Timid. Prey.

But this one was different. This one was a predator.

Fluffy disappeared. She reappeared behind the elf. She slashed. The elf blocked. She countered. Fluffy dodged.

They fought.

Fluffy was fast. She was precise. She used her size to her advantage. She was small. Hard to hit. Hard to catch.

The elf was skilled. She controlled metal. She could form weapons. Shields. Armor.

But Fluffy was unpredictable. She moved like a shadow. She struck like a snake. She disappeared before the elf could react.

The elf was getting frustrated. Her attacks were missing. Her defenses were failing.

"You’re good," she admitted. "But you’re still naive."

Fluffy didn’t answer. She kept fighting.

The elf changed her tactics. She stopped attacking. She started talking.

"Why do you trust him?" she asked. "Your master. Why do you trust him?"

Fluffy paused. She was breathing hard. Her daggers were still raised.

"Master is kind," she said.

"Kind?" The elf laughed. "Kindness is a lie. It’s a tool. A weapon. He’s using you."

Fluffy shook her head. "Master is not like that."

"How do you know?" The elf stepped closer. "How do you know he won’t betray you? How do you know he won’t throw you away when he’s done with you?"

Fluffy was silent.

"He will," the elf said. "They always do. Humans are selfish. Greedy. They take what they want and discard the rest."

Fluffy’s ears twitched. Her grip on her daggers tightened.

"Master saved Fluffy," she said. "Master freed Fluffy. Master gave Fluffy meat and head pats."

"Small things," the elf said. "Small gifts to earn your trust. But what happens when he doesn’t need you anymore? What happens when he finds someone stronger? Someone better?"

Fluffy’s eyes narrowed. "Master is not like that."

"You don’t know that."

"Fluffy knows."

The elf sighed. She looked at Fluffy. Her expression shifted. Something softer. Something sadder.

"You remind me of myself," she said. "When I was young. When I was naive. I trusted a human once. I loved him. I gave him everything."

Fluffy listened.

"He was kind," the elf continued. "He was gentle. He gave me gifts. He gave me compliments. He made me feel special."

Her voice hardened.

"And then he took everything. My family’s vault. Our treasures. Our heirlooms. He stole it all. And when I confronted him, he laughed. He said I was gullible. He said I was trash."

Fluffy was silent.

"My family disowned me," the elf said. "They called me a disgrace. They said I brought shame to our name. I had nothing. No one."

She looked at Fluffy. Her eyes were wet.

"So I joined the ones who hate humans. The ones who want to cleanse this world. And I found purpose. I found family."

She held out her hand.

"Join us," she said. "Join us and you won’t be hurt again."

Fluffy looked at her hand. Then at her face. At her wet eyes. At her sad expression.

Then Fluffy shook her head.

"No," she said.

The elf’s hand dropped. Her expression hardened.

"Why?" she demanded. "Why won’t you listen?"

"Because Master is not that human," Fluffy said. "Master is different."

"How do you know?"

"Fluffy knows." Fluffy’s voice was steady. "Master saved Fluffy when Master did not have to. Master freed Fluffy from collar. Master gave Fluffy name. Master gave Fluffy family."

She looked at the elf. Her eyes were bright.

"Master is good. Fluffy knows this. Fluffy feels this. Fluffy will not betray Master."

The elf stared at her. Her face was a mask of emotions. Anger. Sadness. Frustration. Jealousy.

Then she laughed. A cold, bitter laugh.

"You’re a fool," she said. "A naive, gullible fool."

"Maybe," Fluffy said. "But Fluffy is happy fool."

The elf’s expression changed. The sadness was gone. The jealousy was gone. All that was left was cold. Hard. Determined.

"Fine," she said. "Then I’ll show you the truth. I’ll show you what humans really are."

She raised both hands. Metal formed around her. More than before. Daggers. Swords. Spikes. Spears. A small army of weapons.

"I’ll make you see," she said. "I’ll show you that your master is no different from the rest."

Fluffy didn’t move. Her daggers were ready. Her body was tense.

The elf smiled. A cold, cruel smile.

"I’m going to show you," she said, "the power of the elven race."

She focused. Her aura exploded. Metal swirled around her. It surrounded her. It covered her.

And then her skin changed.

It turned gray. Hard. Metallic. Like iron.

Her eyes gleamed. Her hair stood on end. Her body was no longer soft. No longer vulnerable.

It was iron.

"Iron Skin," she said. "The talent of my family. My body becomes as hard as metal. No weapon can cut me. No fist can hurt me."

She stepped forward. The ground cracked beneath her feet.

"Now," she said. "Let’s see if your master can save you from me."

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[Magic castle = 5 bonus Chapter’s]

[space craft = 15 bonus Chapter’s]

[golden gachapon = 20 bonus Chapter’s]