“T-That’s unfair, getting a power up in a middle of the match!”
“After giving yourself a handicap, you dare say that now?”
“Gunununu…”
“It’s time to test it out!”
[Flame Whirl!]
Upon Higan’s action, she opens the umbrella and starts spinning it. Flames spin together with the umbrella until it becomes a wheel. After a few more seconds, the simple rotation of the flames becomes a tornado of flames and Higan sent it to Diyu.
“Even though you got stronger, your movements are still simple.”
“What?”
“I’ll show you our difference.”
Diyu evades the upcoming tornado with gliding around it in a paper thin distance. Diyu charges at Higan in a straight line.
[Earth Shrine]
Higan summons pillars of rock to shield herself from Diyu’s upcoming attack. But before Diyu crashes to the pillars of rock she disappears. In an instant, she appears at the back of Higan performing a leg sweep.
Higan stumbles backward and Diyu held out her hand in a palm strike and struck Higan at her flank. There’s another compressed air in the direction where Diyu tries to land her palm but, contrary to our expectation, a shockwave runs across Higan’s body.
It was a magic attack.
Higan was thrown off and rolls around in pain.
“Master, what was that?”
“Let me answer that for you.”
“Lord Gria?”
“Hm? Force magic. It’s Diyu’s Specialty. To tell you the truth, Diyu’s still taking this easy. “
“What’s Force Magic?”
“It’s a magic that sends a strong shockwave to a body. But to do this the magic has to take shape. Diyu uses a palm attack to send a broad and dull shockwave to Higan’s body.”
“Is that all?”
“No, when Diyu said that not using her cutlass is a big handicap for her, it’s true. The cutlass is made up of pure mithril so it magic flows to it with ease. If Diyu applies it to her cutlass, the force magic will take shape of either, piercing forward and gouging everything it comes across with. If it used to slash, it will generate a large downward or upward sharp slice. With palm directly hitting the fox one, I am sure that the fox one is now suffering a slight pain all over her internal organs and that could be fatal.”
“WHAT?!”
“That’s why Diyu held back. Force magic can also be used to cause cardiac arrest, a concussion, a broken bone and much more. For the fox one’s case, she is lucky it’s Diyu she is facing with.”
“Higan…”
Higan is currently holding her side because of the pain, quivering and trembling. Her breathing is ragged. She is trying to stand up but her knees are shaking too and on top of that, it seems her consciousness is fading.
Diyu approaches her with an arrogant face.
“You see now the difference between us. You think we are on the same level even you got stronger? Jokes on you, I am still holding back. Even now, I am letting you recover yourself lying in this shitty ground.”
“I…I’ll show you!”
“Your magic is strong but too simple that my vitality alone can keep up with all the damages. After you sprouted all of those friendship craps, you can’t even do anything at all against me. Look at me, I am in perfect shape. You? Heh, just sleep there.”
“It’s not crap…”
“Oh?”
“IT’S NOT CRAP!! HOW DARE YOU MOCK IT LIKE THAT?!”
“Ah!?”
Eh?! Another kind of power is oozing from Higan. Hey! Two power-ups at one day!? Before I can even open my mouth, master speaks in great joy.
“Look Gria! That disciple of mine! She can now use that!”
“What “that” Mrothgir?”
“It’s the fox clan’s innate elemental property, holy! Even for the human race, it’s rare to have holy powers! And for a beast kin to have it, only the clan of foxes can have this kind of power! Not to mention, she just acquired a soul weapon!”
“Master…about the soul weapon…”
“Un. I understand your concern Asagao. Soul weapon is only exclusive for humans to have. But, a crossbreed between human and other races, it is possible for other race to have a soul weapon!”
The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
“Then, it’s possible that Higan has a human blood?”
“That’s not for me to answer. But there are a lot of possibilities!”
“I see…”
“Hahaha! Gria! It seems I got myself a really talented pupil! Hahaha! She has both soul weapons and elemental magics including holy! It’s like she is a hero in the making!”
A girl who can use elemental magic with holy and top of that can use a soul weapon…Compared to me… just a petty barrier… just a petty heal and cure that can be substituted by medicines and such…
Of course, I already know who is that one who will be showered with praises…
It has been quite a while now since I felt many emotions…
I don’t know how to deal with it or how to face it…
I remembered Nil saying that back when we were one, he would always emerge in my consciousness to fix it for me… I didn’t know…that it’s so hard…
What am I? The mascot of the group? A decoration? Or just another side character…
I don’t know…
Can I blame someone? Can I take it out on someone? Why am I stuck in this body?
No…how dare I think something like this after taking advantage of everyone’s kindness with this appearance…
BOOM!
In the middle of my self-loathing, a tremor occurs and an exploding sound enters my ears.
In the field, golden flames are spreading here and there.
Higan is standing in the middle of the golden flames while holding the open umbrella that’s resting on her shoulder.
On the other side, Diyu is breathing heavily. Her left arm is missing and it’s bleeding. There’s anguish all over her face.
“What a monster you have become…”
“I am not done yet!”
[Purifying Flames of the God!]
Higan closes the umbrella, and from its tip, a sphere of golden flame gathers. Now that I look closely, there’s also tangible water that Higan uses to massage the part where the force magic hits her.
The sphere of golden flame shoots out like how Balrog used his Heat-Rays.
Did she just copy Balrog’s attack?!
Even though the rays are thinner compared to Balrog, it still landed on Diyu’s flank.
“GUH!”
“A return favor from earlier.”
“You…”
In just a moment, the table has turned in favor of Higan.
“Master…”
“Yes. It seems Higan can compound every element with holy. She cannot compound another element unless the partner property is holy.”
“So that flame is a combination of holy and fire?”
“Yes. To be able to learn it in just short time, this is also on a level of a genius!”
“I see…”
After Higan damages Diyu in the flank, Diyu in retaliation rushes at Higan for another close quarter combat since she doesn’t have her cutlass to attack from afar.
“I am going to take you down now for real!”
“Let’s see you try!”
“Damn fox!”
“Bloodsucking bitch!”
“WHAT?!”
Diyu’s attacks are intense. Even though she is missing one arm, each of her attacks sends a shockwave in which Higan’s block with the umbrella.
Kick, punch, kick and kick and another punch. Every single attack is pack with a strength that some of the kick that was evaded made a large crater in the ground. Higan is dodging calmly and trying to counterattack with magic in which she can’t since she can’t chant in that rushes of strong punch and kick.
I have to say…that umbrella is sturdy.
Higan uses it by shielding herself and as a catalyst for casting. It seems her magic efficiency and power increases dramatically with it. She also uses it now to attack by piercing and hitting.
After a while, the exchange of blows drags on and Higan is visibly getting tired while Diyu is still keeping up.
“What’s wrong? Need a breather? Hahaha! Not a chance!”
“Guh…”
“You’ve put up quite a fight but, this is it!”
Another force magic using her palm is about to come. Higan’s stomach is open for an attack because her hand slips on the last attack using the umbrella.
[Force Magic: Palm Strike!]
“Heh, Baited.”
“What?”
[Binding Light]
An immense light covers Diyu and Higan. A huge spell sigil appears below them.
After the light resides…
Diyu is still in her palm strike position but her whole body is now covered with white chains.
“What is this?!”
“Hehe. Can’t move?”
Since Diyu can’t move, Higan points the tip of her umbrella on Diyu’s stomach.
“Say it.”
“…”
“Come on.”
“…I…I give up… It’s my loss…”
“The winner of the second match is Miss Higanbana.”
After Lirin announces the winner, Balrog rushes to Higan holding a vial of blood.
“That was careless of you Diyu. You played around too much that you lost.”
“Hmph. It’s not like I am going to get serious against a brat.”
Diyu drinks the blood. After a while, her missing left arm regenerates and most of her wounds heal. She then approaches Higan.
“Foxy.”
“Hm?”
“You may have gotten lucky this time, but I am going to get serious about you the next time we fight.”
“I am looking forward to that day.”
“Also, I am wondering, amidst the whole battle, even though it was intense, you were trying to avoid hitting me in the face. Are you afraid that you would kill me? Don’t be so cocky.”
“Hm? No. It’s so pretty that I don’t want to ruin it. If you can tone down that haughty attitude of yours… I think I might like you as a friend.”
“Eh? Ah? You!? You’re the haughty one here! Hmph!”
Higan is being a good sport.
They all come back to us. Master stands up in applaud.
“That was amazing my disciple! I knew you had these hidden talents.”
“?”
“Hahaha! I am proud to have you as my last disciple!”
......
I should be happy for Higan…
Alstroe stands up and approaches Higan…no…she is approaching master… and then…
BAM!
EH?
A slap that you’d think it’s a hit from a large hammer! Alstroe’s slaps send master flying a meter away.
“Miss Alstroe?! Why?!”
“Murot… could you keep it down…”
“Eh? Why?”
“How far do you want to crush Asagao?”
“Ah…”
“She’s been wearing this bitter expression the whole time while you run your mouth.”
“That’s…”
“Alstroe…it’s fine…”
I interject… I am quite happy that Alstroe is trying to stand up for me but…
“Master did nothing wrong. I have to admit it too, Higan is amazing. Compared to me, I think she is worthy of such praises and attention.”
“Asagao…”
“Asagao…”
“I have a lot to learn too! So please, don’t worry about me.”
“If that’s what you want…”
.
.
.
Higan sits on my left side and Diyu on my right side. Master is standing behind us together with Balrog. We are about to watch the last match.
“Lord Mrothgir, what are the treasures that you will give father? Is there any hero class cutlass’s in there?”
“Oh, are you already assuming that your father will win.”
“Even though I hate him, yes.”
“Oh?”
“As a disciple of yours, how strong is that Alstroe?”
“She is no disciple of mine.”
“Eh?”
It seems Diyu together with Balrog is confident that this is Gria’s win. I know Alstroe is strong but we don’t know much about Gria too.
“Miss Alstroe…”
”EH?!!”
“That’s what I call her out of respect.”
“For Lord Mrothgir to address such lass…”
“I know how strong Gria is. To be honest, I am using Gria to gauge Miss Alstroe's strength and how far can it go. Base on this, I may gain some clue on how to defeat her or how to get an advantage against her.”
“…”
“Don’t get me wrong. I know Gria is immortal. My guess is that he can withstand Miss Alstroe’s attacks.”
So master still has the drive to defeat Alstroe and using this as an opportunity to observe her power. But how immortal Gria is?
Lirin confirms that the two of them are ready. Both of them nodded.
“Well then, Lord Gria versus Miss Alstroemeria, begin.”
No one moves yet. Gria speaks.
“Lass, I can give you the first strike.”
“Really?”
“Yeah! I somehow have an idea on how strong you are so it’s fine.”
“Ok.”
BOOM
BAM
BOOM
WAM
WHOOSH
BAM
Alstroe moves swiftly delivering consecutive punches to Gria downward. The punches created strong gust and larger craters in the field. Gria was being juggled in the air while being repeatedly slammed into the ground.
Her attacks are so fast that it creates blurs in the air.
Diyu and Balrog eyes are large as an owl. They are trying to follow Alstroe’s movements which I gave up right from the start of the match.
There’s one thing weird though…
“Hehehe! You’re tough!"
“I am immortal after all! My regeneration is instantaneous. I can keep up with your beatings as long as you want!”
“OOH! But it would be better if you can fight back too!”
“Then I shall!”
The real battle starts now.