“[Barrier!]

I hastily cast my barrier as an incoming attack pounds us. Flow leaps through the sky to avoid being crushed by Hibiscus Spirit Summons attack while I, who is still enduring Flow’s kick earlier, curls up on the ground while I protect myself.

“Oh? It seems you are busy with the silver one. Then I shall partake on that Blondie!”

“Tsk!”

Flow’s hostility is directed to Casablanca because of what happened earlier. That means I am going to be stuck defending myself against Hibiscus attack.

I need to somehow stop Flow and bring Casablanca and Hibiscus sanity.

“UWWOOOO!

CLANG!

As Flow landed from the leap, he immediately dashes to Casablanca with his magical claws drawn. Casablanca defended herself from it using the large crescent blade.

“That thing is annoying!”

“…”

CLANG!

CLANG!

CLANG!

Casablanca breaks their lock and started swinging her weapon violently towards Flow, in return Flow goes in for offensive and defensive battle with her.

Their rally of attacks created sparks all over the place and metallic ear shrilling sound resounded from their clash. Even though Casablanca is overall smaller than Flow, she uses her weapon to fix the problem with the attack range.

Flow on the other hand is agile in defending but cautious in attacking. He hasn’t touched Casablanca once.

I just realized this…

Flow’s power… for it to be activated to someone, he needs to touch them. His injuries are still there so he might not be able to use it to his self or anything that related in his body. Locations and presence are such ones of the exceptions, though.

It’s an unwritten rule that a power like Arcana is oddly strong…but… they have a lot of cons to come with. One of its major flaws is that the user itself is morally or emotionally broken. They cannot make just decisions of someone or their own well-being.

They are those who wield that kind of power because it came from their desire or life’s disposition. It can also be their obsession to a certain thing to that extent.

It is not given to anyone, though. Arcana magic may only be acquired if you have strong magic to start with. Also… the desire… must be truly their lifeline or drive…

Also, one more flaws of Arcana magic is that you needed to do something most of the time for it to be used. Some may not need any.

This is by experience and what Master taught me.

But Nil…

Although I know that he is an Arcana Magician… there is this strong scary feeling that are hard to express. Even among the Order of Arcana or to Priscilla and Susanoo… he is odd even for an Arcana user.

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BAM!

Urk!

My concentration trails off and the barrier that I was holding off was almost taken down. The one who is furiously attacking it is Hibiscus, with her Spirit Summon, a large dark wolf.

Casablanca and Flow continue the exchange. Flow isn’t being pushed back, it was Casablanca. Right from the start, these two elves doesn’t have any real fighting experience judging by insight alone.

They are trained in some magic, yes, but their physical strengths are questionable.  They won’t be that desperate earlier to attack Flow until Astlan’s Ira is activated.

In the end, if they tire themselves from using Astlan’s Ira, it will deactivate by itself. Meaning, both of them would expose to danger because of Flow’s blood thirst that is directed to both of them.

And right now…

Flow’s attacks are blowing Casablanca little by little.

………

As I was focusing too much to the two of them, Hibiscus, who hasn’t used much of her power are still attacking my barrier.

It got me thinking…

What is the use of the cube floating atop of her hand?

Then, my question inside my head was answered.

Damn…

Distancing herself from me, Hibiscus steps atop of her wolf and the cube in her hands dimly lit. She then pushes it inside the Spirit Wolf’s back, swallowing the cube.

After that, the wolf seemingly hair stands and, it started producing electricity around its body.

CRACKLE!

CRACKLE!

Glowing intensely, it opens its mouth and a dangerous amount of power are being compressed there. The electricity’s sparkling from around its body gathers in there too.

Upon closer look, the cube is in the middle of the compressed energy.

I’ll be reduced to ashes with no hope of recovery.

Even if I use Blooming Thorn Barrier Full power, I am not confident that I could block half of its power and when its’ this close to me, at point blank, I will definitely receive its full brunt.

What should I do…?

When I thought of that, it has already finished charging.

Crap…!

“[--- --- --- ------ Astlan’s Ira.]”

FSSHHH!

“[Blooming Thorn – Morning Glory Ninety Nine Petal Layered Barrier!]”

SHATTER!

Ah…

I knew it…

It’s hopeless…

Getting killed by those who I saved… how pathetic… and on top of that, they are my sisters. It sounds like a sibling’s fight that turned really big and they we started a death match by ourselves.

“Oh no, you don’t!~”

“[Revisioned - Morning Glory Ninety Nine Thousand Nine Hundred Ninety Nine Layered Barrier!]”

BAM!

Eh?!

Who…?!

Ack…!

It’s too bright but I know someone also used a barrier in front of me. The blinding light keeps my eyes close.

But what I saw… the barrier…is also shaped like mine but instead of translucent blue… it’s purple.

Guh…!

.

.

.

As the blinding light subsides, the attack was already over and Hibiscus is lying down on the spot, unconscious and breathing peacefully.

I was saved…by who…?!

“Gaaah! Bad! Really bad! It seems that I need to finish up too!”

“Flow…?!”

“White missy… I really don’t have any intention of killing you at all, you see.”

“What did you…say?!”

“But… those two elven brats will pay dearly to me!”

“Wh-!”

That’s right!

Where’s Casablanca?!

I frantically look around and found her floating in the air, shakily floating towards Hibiscus.

As she found herself towards Hibiscus, she lost her strength and her weapon disappears too.

She falls down towards Hibiscus…

At this rate!

“UOOOOOOOHHHHHH!”

I quickly run towards her landing point and catch her!

BLAM!

Because I don’t have much strength, all I could is to soften her landing so I also stumble but I was able to safely catch her into my arms before she fell through it and lands beside Hibiscus.

“Oh? That’s already convenient! They are both together now! They will die together too!”

“Flow!”

I get into his way and shield the unconscious twins with my body. Flow scratches the back of his head and made a troubled face.

“You know what white missy, our most strict order is not to kill you. It was Lord Nil’s order served with the scariest threat. But he didn’t forbid us to half-kill you. So, if you get out of the way now, I can still spare you from a torturous pain.”

“I have already felt all the pain this small body can take! Be it a blunt strike of a stab in the chest, I will endure it and prevail! I won’t let you touch these two further!”

“Bad…really bad answer white missy. What are they to you anyway?!”

“They are…my precious little sisters!!”

“…”

“I’ll say it once more. THEY ARE MY PRECIOUS LITTLE SISTERS! DID YOU GET IT THROUGH YOUR HAIRY HEAD?!”

“But…you’re smaller than them…”

“You’re making an issue out of that?”

“Anyway, you won’t stop me! So if you think you can take a one or two stabbing, then fine!”

Flow brandishes his claw at me without any magical power on it. Instead, he plans to stab me with his raw claws.

I want to put up a barrier now but I know that it is useless against him. And I want to take this attack by myself, to prove to him that I am not budging from this place.

But…

As expected…

I am still scared… I am still scared of pain…

………

As Flow raises his hand, he then proceeds to pierce me with it, to penetrate my torso…

I can only close my eyes and brace myself for the pain that to come.

………

“For my Lady, I shall strike down everything!”

“Ack!”

!!?

Eh?!

A voice of someone enters my ears.

I open my eyes and saw a spear with snake motif making its way from Flow’s chest to the side of my head, almost hitting me. But I know that it purposely missed me.

“What…the…?!”

Behind Flow, a figure of a maid with light brown hair and gentle eyes appears, stabbing the wolfman in front of me from the back.

Tears form from my eyes as I saw the lively figure of that maid.

“Milin!”

“For you, My lady, and for the sake of those you want to protect, I, Milin, will stake her life!”

Flow shakily turns his head towards Milin as if he couldn’t believe that he was stabbed.

As he saw her figure, Flow started cursing.

“DAMN YOU! YOU’VE GOT BE F*CKING KIDDING ME?! WHO THE HELL ARE YOU?!”

“You, filthy uncouth! You shall never lay your hands to Princess Asagao ever again! I shall protect those girls with all my might!”

“Attacking from behind…! You…!”

“I have no honor to speak of or even pride. I need to simply strike down any threat to My lady.”

As Milin said that, she draws out her second soul weapon, a sword.

She swings down the weapon towards Flow’s left arm, completely cutting it off!

“ARRRGGHHH!”

“Fufufu! One more hand and you can never ever lay your hands on anyone!”