D.E.M.O.N.S: Getting Summoned Weekly isn't so Bad Chapter 2185 Ending the Fight

Kat ---

Then, nothing more occurred. Or, to be more precise, no further combat transpired. Kat and Lily continued their aerial circling, while Greaves busied herself with her own mysterious activities. For a solid twenty minutes, neither side initiated any interaction. Following this extended lull, a colossal sign emblazoned with the word "DRAW" descended into the arena, accompanied by a booming voice echoing the same declaration. The sign appeared to be constructed from stone. Kat realized the fact that she could perceive it meant someone had commissioned a massive stone sign for this very purpose. It almost entirely obscured the arena's full 100-meter diameter.

Once the announcement concluded, Kat found herself instantaneously back in the kitchen. The knife she had been wielding at the moment of her abrupt teleportation tumbled towards the floor. Kat supposed everything was alright. She casually juggled the falling knife, attempting to catch it without accelerating her perception of time. It repeatedly bounced off her hand until she finally secured a firm grip on the handle. Meanwhile, Lily had also returned to her previous location, nestled within that small alcove near the core. Kat hadn't been entirely certain where Lily would reappear.

Kat directed a mental glare towards Lily. *

While Kat harbored doubts about Lily's claim to contact her even during sleep, she had to place her hope in the present moment, trusting that everything would be well. Releasing a lengthy sigh, Kat prepared to commence the preparation of a meal. However, she discovered her motivation had waned considerably. Still, Kat administered a few slaps to her own face and resolutely got to work. Lacking her usual drive, the meal was nothing particularly elaborate – simply some meat pies. The pastry shells were already prepared, negating that task, and the minced meat was effortless to manage with her superhuman strength.

Naturally, as she was processing the mince... Kat suddenly realized she was preparing food for elves. *

Kat's plans underwent a subtle alteration. She was now crafting both mince pies and apple pies, all rendered in miniature. This was due to her inability to locate a large pie tin, but conversely, she had found a multitude of small ones. Kat pondered the peculiarity of this situation. Regardless, she proceeded with the cooking. Once everything was nestled within the oven's warmth, Kat simply ... sat, waiting. She allowed herself to exist in the present, deliberately suppressing any anxieties about Lily.

When the meal reached its readiness, Kat summoned everyone over. Hedera appeared to sense that something was amiss. "Are you alright, Kat? Not that... well, not that there's anything wrong with you. That is to say. Um, what I meant was that you seem like you might have... er..."

"It's fine," Kat declared, dismissing Hedera's concern with a wave of her hand. "I was planning on telling you anyway. I ended up in the arena just before, and we had to fight Greaves. She employed some... unpleasant tactics."

"Did... did you win?" Hedera inquired tentatively.

"No, it was a draw," Kat stated matter-of-factly.

Hedera's eyes widened in disbelief. "What? A draw... I mean... how could she possibly manage that? How did the two of you achieve that? I mean... I can't imagine her agreeing to cease fighting, considering her nature... but, I mean..."

"She utilized an interesting... possibly venomous substance?" Kat mused, allowing her own uncertainty to surface as she turned to Appoline. "I intend to ask you about it shortly, Appoline." Appoline offered a nod and continued savoring her meat pie. "Furthermore, she possessed a launcher capable of firing tracking arrows, and some form of teleportation. I managed to evade her and address the toxin on her blade...

"But after that, Lily and I simply sort of maneuvered through the air, awaiting her reappearance, but she never did. Following the poisoning incident, I was hesitant to engage her on her terms, fearing she might have laid numerous traps, which is how she gained the advantage over us initially...

"In any case, we retreated because the absence of any sound from her was quite unnerving, considering how acute Lily's and my own hearing is. After a period, however... the wound began to burn intensely. Not that it was still present; I had fully recuperated... or so I believed at the time. Then, the burning sensation progressively spread. Ultimately, I had to excise the affected skin and muscle that was burning to alleviate the sensation. Do you have any insight into what kind of poison could induce such an effect?" Kat inquired.

"A few possibilities," Appoline responded without hesitation. "They are collectively referred to as 'Troll's Bane' or 'Regenerator's Bane,' and they are, for the most part, specifically targeted at individuals or entities possessing regenerative capabilities. The precise mechanisms vary. Some simply consume flesh at a rate so rapid that regeneration cannot possibly keep pace, but would typically dissipate on someone lacking regenerative abilities."