The impact of the pure energy sent Kyon flying for about a meter as if a heavyweight boxing champion had hit him, not a little snow-white fist. He knew that the element of pure energy could increase the power of the blow, but it was too strong.

{Holy shit…}

Juno noticed his confusion and gave him a predatory smile. She was ready to attack again.

*bang*

She kicked him in the hip. Kyon tilted dangerously to the side and lost his balance. There was going to be a nasty bruise. Her smile turned into a grin: {How do you like it? It’s only the beginning, you miserable wretch!}

Kyon was trying to avoid her blows with the utmost concentration, and yet, she hit once or twice. It began to dawn on him that the appearance was deceiving. He had a bad feeling. It was going the way he had imagined.

*bang*

She punched him in the abs knocking the air out of his lungs. Kyon coughed.

Juno raised an eyebrow in surprise. It felt like she had hit a solid dummy, not a human being. Note to self: the boy had strong abs that would be nice to soften up... She could offer him an expensive massage. The currency would be his health.

Flitz couldn’t take his eyes off the patriarch's beloved granddaughter sparring with the slave. Her movements were incredibly effective, spectacular, smooth. From time to time, her slender body arched and bent, exposing her flexibility and elegance. {Our beautiful girl is growing up. Perhaps, she will surpass Elsa, after all.}

All of a sudden, the sound transmitter rattled in his pocket. He angrily blew out smoke and answered the call:

«Who the hell is this?»

«Mr. Merrymaker, you took your time. It’s been five times fifteen minutes since you went away. Thirty people are waiting for you here. Some have already put up a tent and having a barbecue! Should we treat the elders to our party!? Huh?…» - The caller would gladly spit on Flitz if the sound transmitter allowed physical reproduction.

Flitz frowned. He was having the time of his life when some nobles shamelessly demanded his return to the perishable world.

«Holy Matryoshka! I’m coming!»

Juno froze before delivering a blow under Kyon’s ribs. She turned to Flitz with no fear of possible counterattack:

«Are you leaving so soon?»

Flitz put his hand to his chest and bowed to her:

«Lady Juno, I have to work... The nobles threaten me with the elder, and I don't want any trouble.»

«That’s too bad.»

Flitz nodded to the boy who was short of breath after the rough ride:

«So, how is he?»

Juno shrugged without turning around.

«I'm glad he doesn’t drool.»

«Alright... I have to go. Please, try and treat him... Go easy on him, okay. Don't finish him off as quickly as the others.»

«He is my property, and I will do whatever I want.» - objected Juno and playfully waved her hand: - «Bye, Flitz.»

The old man cast a meaningful look at the unfortunate boy, smiled at Juno and quickly left the training ground.

As soon as the gates shut behind him, Juno slowly turned to the boy. A bloodthirsty smile curved her lips. She looked like a demon from hell, planning to get back to her favourite game.

Kyon's heart skipped a beat. He didn’t like what was going on, not in the least. Someone up above pulled a prank on him, no doubt. He couldn’t leave it this way. He had to get out, try and do something before she had made mincemeat of him!

Kyon didn’t have too many options. He could play with her emotions, offer her something valuable that would make her get nicer, or he could apologize to her.

The first choice was not an option. His attempts to press her buttons could end with his unpleasant and quick death. The nobles didn’t tolerate slaves.

The second option implied he had to offer her something valuable. All that he could offer her, apart from his divine ability to clean the keys, was to teach her new incredible techniques of movements. However, there was a catch... He couldn’t get it straight because she would never believe him. Besides, no noble lady would ever learn anything from a slave, and if she did, he would have to prove himself. Judging by the expression on her face, Juno didn’t see anything exciting about his movements.

The best way out of this situation would be a simple apology for the recent events. He would let her know that he recognised her power. He would figure out what to do later.

Kyon bowed respectfully.

«My lady, your slave apologies for his stupid behaviour.»

His words made Juno stop short. She stood still, raised her graceful eyebrows and said in an icy but still pleasant, melodious voice:

«I don't care about your apology. I order you: now and forever, you will never say a word. Your dirty mouth hurts my ears, you wretched slave.» - The break was over. She ran at him with her fists ready. A malicious smile appeared on her face. When Flitz was there, she restrained herself a little. Now nothing would stand in her way.

Kyon was dumbfounded. He said one sentence of a harmless apology, and she immediately denied him the right to speak! He had his replies ready to her possible words, but she had ruined everything.

When the evil but seemingly sweet creature moved to a non-stop attack with a smirk on her face, Kyon frowned, trying to figure out what the future held for him. He had in his possession only a big mouth and skillful movements. He was denied the first option, and she looked right through the second one.

She missed three times, he blocked her punches twice and...

*bang*

A kick in the guts sent Kyon flying.

Every time she hurt him really bad, Juno was exuberant. This arrogant slave wasn’t much different from the rest. No... He was even more annoying. The others lowered their eyes, bowed to her, begged her for mercy, knew their place, but this one… He was nothing like them. He moved well, he was tough like a wooden dummy, he never screamed in pain. And yet, he signed his own death warrant the day he arrived in the mansion.

Juno continued to attack with a demonic grin on her pretty face, ignoring how pale and exhausted the slave looked.

Her evil smile only grew wider each time she hit him, which led Kyon to the conclusion: Juno was a sadist!

Flitz must have known everything... That's why he looked away. That's why his reaction was so intense when Kyon asked questions about her... Everything was clear now. The old asshole had sold him to the little demoness to slaughter. His first impression wouldn’t have changed anything. He was just a punchbag for the ruthless, sadistic bitch.

* bam * * bang * * bam *

Another series of swift and graceful punches made him moan in pain.

Kyon couldn’t keep up with her movements even if he went over them in his head again and again. A trickle of blood ran down his chin: her fist had badly smashed his lip.

He would be half dead if Synergy hadn’t upgraded his nervous system. The signal transmission to his muscles was much faster now.

Juno stopped short as if putting a toy aside. She took out a white handkerchief and wiped the blood off her fist, her nose wrinkled in disgust. {I don't want to get soiled with the secretions of this scum... I will need a thorough wash later.} There was no trace of pity or sympathy on her face... She was cool as a cucumber. She was frighteningly calm and totally indifferent to the battered boy.

Kyon got goosebumps just looking at her. All her natural charm took in his mind the farthest seat possible. {She doesn’t take me for a human being… This girl is a maniac. She will kill me and won’t bat an eye! I have to come up with something, now!}

His mind was running a total blank. He had no bright idea. To escape? To scream? To make her see that he was a valuable asset? Nothing would work out. He was trapped in the cage with a beast! His ability to resist the formation would most likely destroy him. He could see through this sadist. Her credo was the ends justify the means. He needed something really big to get out of this catastrophic situation. He would gladly change his position to any with a bit more chance.

All he could think of was using his leverage: offer her the key cleaning. However, it wasn’t a good idea to be a cash cow for life. And even if he told her, against her order, about his unique talent it wouldn't work. Would anyone believe a stinking drunk hobo mumbling in his sleep he was a god? In his situation, Juno’s reaction would be just the same. Besides, no noble lady would ever let a slave touch her. And Synergy wouldn't enter her body without physical contact.

When he saw the evil grin on her mean face, his desire to use any leverage vanished into thin air.

Juno threw away the soiled handkerchief, frowning in disgust, and attacked again. Tiny beads of sweat dappled her smooth ivory forehead, while Kyon was drenched in sweat mixed with blood. What a disgusting dork. And a tough one as well. He was still holding on, still on his feet, and even strong enough to block almost all of the blows.

The last thing Kyon wanted to do was to lose his balance. It was getting harder to resist with each next second. His body was sore all over. Some nimbs were numb and out of control. He knew too well that the soulless creature would kick him to death if he fell. He could see his imminent doom was in her blows, her smile, her eyes.

{Where the hell did you come from, bitch? Why did I get this lady? Did I have a fucking choice?}

* bam *

Juno kicked him in the hip and nodded to her own thoughts: {Indeed, it’s a pleasure to beat up this scum, unlike the dummies. He is dodging and softer to the touch but, above all, I love the expression on his dirty face! It makes me beat him again and again. I will never stop. I want him and his kind to cry for mercy... to beg me! But... Why doesn’t he raise his eyes. I want to see his despair! Where are his tears, pleas for mercy? Why doesn’t he scream in pain? Why is he just groaning from time to time? This slave is getting more and more annoying.}

During another series of her elegant attacks, Juno found a soft spot in the slave’s body. With a joyful glee, she punched him right there.

Kyon’s ribs crackled painfully, but he got a chance to grab her by the hand and... Nothing happened. An invisible barrier was protecting her skin, slippery and smooth like ice crust. Another moment and her hand slipped from his grasp.

{Fuck! The ether barrier!} - Kyon did not despair, anyway. His primary task was to show off his skills, which was impossible to do without attacking her.

For some reason, his experience from the previous life didn’t suggest any worthwhile idea. He had never been in this kind of trouble before. His manipulation skills were useless here. All he could do was try and show off his incredible movements.

Juno frowned and carefully examined her hand for dirt. He did not touch her. She gave the slave a disgusted frown. No slave had ever dared to resist her. This one was stubborn, impudent, arrogant... Of course, she didn’t say a word on his account. She was too arrogant to condescend to a chat with a living dummy. However, her rage had increased tenfold. She could feel it burning inside. She wasn’t going to let him off easy.

The battle continued. Kyon tried to counterattack Juno many times. He did his best to find out her weak spots, trying to convince her he could fight better than any master. Alas, she did not seem to notice anything. All he could do was to make her leave the mode of non-stop attack and concentrate on her defense, which, judging by her long face, she did not like at all.

She was heaving and puffing from the effort. Beads of sweat glistened on her forehead. As for Kyon, he was about to collapse from exhaustion. He couldn’t stand it anymore. It was a mystery how he was holding on.

Kyon was at the limit of his strength. All he wanted to do was to lie down and have some rest.

Suddenly, Juno held out her hand:

«I order you not to move.»

Kyon’s heart skipped a beat. He thought she would keep battering him until she broke his nose and turned his face into mincemeat... But she just turned around and left.

Even the monsters have physiological needs. She needed to use the bathroom.

Kyon breathed a sigh of relief and collapsed to the floor. He could always explain that he had failed to resist her greatness and excellence. Or he couldn’t. He was forbidden to disclose his ability to disobey orders. His heart was about to jump out of his chest. He was sweating all over his body. He scanned himself with Synergy and came to a disappointing conclusion: a couple more minutes of battle, and he would blackout, giving Juno carte blanche to finish off his unconscious carcass.

And then he had a great idea: the healing ointment!