“Reina?”

Christi who was beside Reina was surprised to see her looking so aggressive all of a sudden.

“Reina, what are you going to do?”

He asked.

“Her face pisses me off.”

Reina smacked her fist in her palm.

“So I’m going to smash it in.”

“?!”

A chill ran down Christi’s eyes when he saw the savage look in her eyes. They looked even redder than usually, and had a draconic look to them.

He looked towards Amelia and saw something similar.

Amelia looked extremely aggressive all of a sudden. Her blue eyes looked like that of a feline, but was sharp and wild at the same time like a tiger.

Just looking at the two together, one would think that they were wild beasts that were facing each other for territory.

‘What is this? I suddenly feel so irritated when I look at her.’

Amelia thought.

‘I suddenly feel the overwhelming urge to tear her apart…..Okay, it’s decided.’

She nodded and spoke.

“I’m going to tear you apart.”

She said with a natural tone, like it was normal.

“Oh, then try it.”

Reina replied with a savage smile.

“Mother, what’s going on?”

Christi approached his mother and asked.

“You see, Chris. Those two are Lodon and Megal, it’s literally in their genes for them to be enemies.”

Serket explained.

“Megals and Lodons are both apex predators among humans, so when they run into each other they are overwhelmed with the urge to prove who’s the better predator.”

She said.

“Because of that, there’s a saying that a Lodon can never befriend a Megal.”

“However, that isn’t the truth.”

Rory added.

“Megals and Lodons can become friends, it’s just…..”

He looked at the two.

“A pecking order has to be decided first.”

He said.

“You mean that they have to fight?”

Christi asked.

“Not all the time. If one backs down immediately, then there won’t be a need to have a fight.”

Serket said.

“But when they’re both strong-willed and unwilling to back down, that’s when things get intense.”

“…….”

“…….”

Amelia and Reina stared at each other in silence. The tension between them had already reached its peak, and was about to explode at any moment.

“We should get back. Fights between Lodons and Megals are also too intense to stand close to.”

Serket grabbed her son by the collar and drew him back. They all then retreated and left the girls to do their thing.

As if they couldn’t handle the pressure anymore, the two moved at the same time. Amelia quickly drew her dao sword, while Reina drew two daggers from her clothing.

The two quickly entered each other’s range, and moved to attack. Amelia swung her sword with all of her might. Reina ducked under it.

*Swoosh!*

The sound of the wind being cut reached everyone’s ears. A long cut appeared on a tree a few meters away.

“Her sword skills have gone up.”

Rory noted.

Meanwhile, Reina who ducked under the attack, sprung towards Amelia’s neck aiming to slit her throat.

Amelia stepped back and avoided it by the skin of her teeth. She looked and saw that Reina was already attacking her for a second time. This time aiming at blinding her.

*Bam!*

Amelia kicked her in the stomach on reflex and forced her away.

“What a powerful kick!”

Christi exclaimed.

The kick was powerful enough to force Reina several meters in the air. Amelia immediately rushed after her, swinging down her sword.

“……..”

Reina silently watched as the 2 ft sword descended towards her. She quickly crossed her daggers in front of her.

*Clang!*

She stopped Amelia’s attack, and then forced the sword back while separating her daggers. She then locked her eyes on Amelia’s throat and chest, and threw the daggers towards them.

*Clang!*

Amelia easily deflected them with her sword.

*Bam!* *Bam!*

That’s when she heard two gunshots, before she knew what happened her body moved on its own. When she returned to her senses, she saw two bullets holes in the wall behind her.

“She dodged the bullets on reflex?!”

Christi was shocked, and so was Reina who thought her surprise attack would work.

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“In a battle between beasts, their senses are pushed to the limit and they something surpass those limits in order to survive. This is the same for a battle behind a Lodon and megal. They push each other to new heights with every battle.”

Serket explained.

‘Assassinating her will be quite difficult.’

Reina thought to herself.

“Well, normally anyway.”

She pulled out two short swords and lowered her center of gravity. Her eyes were calm, but intense.

“Elia is in trouble.”

Rory suddenly said.

“Looks like she did take my advice.”

He smiled.

Reina suddenly dashed towards Amelia, while maintaining a low posture. Amelia tried following her with her eyes, but Reina was moving too fast. Not only that, she didn’t ran in a straight line, she kept altering her path to keep out of Amelia’s sight.

“Crap!”

Before Amelia knew it, Reina slipped past her and circled around her back. She immediately started to spin around.

“?!”

A strong chill crept up into Amelia’s heart while she was in the middle of turning around. It felt like what she wasn’t trying to face was a person, but a giant snake that had its mouth widen open, and was about to clamp down on her with its two sharp fangs.

When she finally turned around, Reina’s two short swords were thrusting down towards her shoulders.

‘I mustn’t allow myself to get bitten!’

That’s what rang inside Amelia’s heart.

*Bam!*

A burst of flames erupted from Amelia’s body and blew Reina away. However, she only got a few minor burns.

“What just happened?”

This time everyone except Rory was shocked.

“Reina’s movements up to her attack looked like a snake chasing its prey and circling around it to devour it from its blind spot.”

Serket recounted what she saw.

“Snake’s Hunt. That’s what she just used. It’s one of the ultimate assassination move in the Boomslang style. It’s hard to track or counter. Most die before being able to turn around to see their killer’s face.”

Rory explained.

“It’s one of Rei’s favorite.”

He looked at Amelia who was covered in cold sweat.

“I’m surprised that Elia was able to react in time. Her battle sense sure is top notch.”

He said.

“Tsk!”

Reina looked at Amelia with an irritated look.

“She was still able to escape.”

And looked at her short swords. They became deformed after blocking Amelia’s flames.

“As I heard, she’s great with elements.”

She threw away the swords.

“Looks like assassinating her is out of the question with my skills.”

She took a fighting pose.

“Time to change gears.”

“?!”

Amelia suddenly felt like the atmosphere around Reina had drastically changed.

She then saw a blood colored anima surrounding her and take the shape of a dragon’s head. It was wild and gave off a dangerous vibe.

“What is this?”

Amelia asked herself after seeing Reina’s anima. She gripped her sword tightly.

“What’s wrong?”

Reina suddenly dashed towards Amelia, and jumped into the air for a kick. Amelia swung her sword in the air.

*Bam!*

Reina’s kick clashed with Amelia’s sword.

*Bam!*

“Ugh?!”

However, Reina’s anima suddenly moved on its own and attacked Amelia from the side, throwing her to the side.

Amelia groan out in pain and stabilized her footing.

“Can’t keep up?”

She looked up and saw Reina swinging her fist down at her. She lifted her sword to counter.

*Bam!*

However, Reina’s fist completely destroyed the sword. Reina’s fist then continued towards Amelia’s face. Amelia quickly flew back to avoid being hit.

“Roar!”

Yet, Reina’s anima took the shape of a dragon and chased her.

“Wha?!”

*Bam!*

The dragon slammed into Amelia and forced her into the air. Before she knew it, Amelia was looking directly at the sun, while being forced higher into the air.

That’s when a shadow appeared above her. When she looked up she saw Reina standing on her anima that took the shape of a dragon.

“No way….”

Amelia couldn’t believe it.

The anima dragon returned to Reina and made her fall towards Amelia.

“She’s going to attack!”

Amelia immediately covered her body with Iron Skin to boost her defense.

She saw Reina’s hand turned into an iron claw, and was shocked. Reina swung down her claw on Amelia.

*Bam!*

Amelia felt like she was hit by a truck and was forced out of the air, and crashed into the ground and caused it to crack.

On her chest was a huge claw mark. Reina’s claw ripped through her iron skin and cut her deeply.

“Ahh!”

Amelia release a painful scream as blood started to flow endlessly from her wound.

“!”

She then felt like she was in danger and moved out of the way.

*Bam!*

Shortly after, Reina fell from the sky and stomped the spot where she was and caused the ground to shake.

Amelia quickly got to her feet and held her wound.

“Your reflexes are as annoyingly sharp as always.”

Reina said, before rushing towards her again.

“A frontal battle is suicide.”

Amelia started to retreat.

“Too slow.”

*Bam!*

Reina’s body suddenly accelerated with an explosive step. She quickly caught up to the retreating Amelia.

She threw a punch aiming at Amelia’s wounded chest.

“Not yet!”

Amelia threw a fist in response.

*Bam!*

Amelia’s fist was faster and forced Reina back. However, Reina immediately chased after her again.

“It didn’t slow her down in the least?”

Amelia was surprised.

“Since that’s the case!”

Her body started shining with a rainbow glow.

“Hm?”

Rory noticed the glow and his eyes sparkled with excitement.

“Here it comes.”

Amelia continued to keep her distance from Reina while the glow around her intensified. She soon looked like a rainbow star.

“Animus:….!”

She flew back as far as she could.

“Elemental Queen- First Edition!”

*Bam!*

Her anima suddenly had an explosive increase as it turned into rainbow ripples around her. The image of a crown appeared in her palms, which shone a golden light.

“So this is Amelia’s animus?”

Serket said. This was also her first time seeing it.

“Her animus?”

Reina stopped pursuing Amelia, who was now floating in the air.

“This could get troublesome.”

She said.

“……..”

Amelia pointed her palm at Reina.

*Bam!*

“Ugh?!”

Before Reina could react she was blown away with her body being burnt and shocked at the same time.

“Lightning and fire? And the fire can move as fast as lightning?”

She quickly thought and moved her body to land safely.

“What’s wrong?”

She suddenly heard a voice and looked up. She saw Amelia floating in front of her, and looking down on her as she knelt on the ground.

“Are you done?”

Amelia said.

*Bam!*

Reina suddenly felt her body being crushed from top and bottom. The ground she stood on rose up in the air, while being suppressed by powerful winds from above, trying to stop its climb.

Reina who was in the middle of the clash between the two forces, felt like her body was being destroyed.

Amelia lifted her hand in front of her, and a orb made of fire, lightning, water, wind, and earth formed in her palm.

“Take this!”

She threw the orb at the suppressed Reina, who couldn’t move a muscle.

“Shit!”

*BOOM!*

The orb hit the elevating earth, and erupted causing a massive explosion of elements. Everyone saw a ball of elements tearing everything apart in the air.

“Reina?!”

Christi screamed out in horror when he saw how much power Amelia’s attack had.

When the attack faded, Reina was seen falling to the ground with her body heavily damaged. Seeing that, Amelia moved to attack her again.

“?!”

However, her body froze when she felt a terrifying gaze locked on to her body. When she looked around to see who it was, she saw a pair of bloodshot eyes staring directly at her.

The eyes belonged to Christi.

Amelia’s instincts immediately screamed that she should run. She felt that the third prince was going to tear her limb from limb if she didn’t escape.

“Calm down.”

At that moment, Rory put his hand on Christi’s shoulders. The moment he did cold sweat covered Christi’s body, because he felt like it was the grip of the reaper.

“Reina is down yet.”

“Huh?”

Christi was shocked to hear what he said. He looked towards where Reina dropped and saw her surprisingly struggling to her feet.

This time even Amelia was shocked, because she thought that Reina was done for.

“Cough! Cough!”

She started coughing.

“Y-Your animus allows you to control more than one element at a time with the same precisely control you would have when controlling one. You can also meld them together so that the elements can share their characteristics with each other.”

She said.

“It’s like a queen perfectly ruling and commanding her subjects, while bringing out the best in them.”

“?!”

When Amelia saw Reina look up, she actually felt fear after seeing her expression.

“Smiling…? She’s smiling….after that?”

She was both confused and frightened by Reina’s smile.

“I can still keep going. How about you?”

Reina asked.

She was serious. Despite being obviously badly injured and barely able to stand, Reina wanted to continue their battle.

Even for someone as reckless as Amelia, that was insane.

The truth is, if the situation was reversed Amelia would’ve done the same thing as Reina. She’s used to being the insane one, but when faced with someone similar to her she didn’t know how to respond. She was even frightened.

She was starting to feel what her opponents felt when facing her.

She didn’t know if Reina had anything left in her to fight, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that if the fight continues, she might not end up the winner.

‘Should I continue?’

She asked herself.

“Ok, that’s enough.”

Rory stepped between the two and said.

“If this continues, the chance of one of you dying is high, and I prefer to avoid that.”

He smiled and said.

“If you two continue to fight, I’ll break all your limbs as punishment.”

The two didn’t say anything, especially seeing how brightly he smiled. Seeing them remaining silent, Rory-

“Good. It might not be the result either of you want, but let’s call this a draw.”

He said.

“Let’s do this again, when you’re stronger.”