The sounds of footsteps filled the Forest of Remnants' castle as Svenja, Nana, Draley, and Trixie walked forward, looking around with cautious eyes.
“Alrighty,” Svenja began, taking a deep breath. “Lemme use Scout to find her aura…”
Svenja closed her eyes and used Increase before spreading her aura to envelope most of the castle, then using Barrier, creating a large sphere. Feeling everything in her surroundings, her eyes shot up as she saw Sylvie sitting above them on a chair of stone.
Sylvie smirked at the startled Svenja and flew down, her wings a cross between a fairy's and a demon's.
“Hoho~! Look who's back for another ass whooping? And you even brought some friends along to suffer with you this time! The Masochist Alliance truly has no bounds!”
Svenja grimaced and stepped forward, staring up at Sylvie with fury. “That's the Fairylyl Alliance, thank ya very much! It's not gonna go the same way as last time. This chiseler right ‘ere’s an exorcist, so ye're fucked!” she replied, putting a hand on Nana's shoulder.
Sylvie giggled and leaned forward, staring down at Svenja and Nana. “Ha! I'm not even a full-blooded demon, so good luck with your silly plan!”
“Don't forget I'm here as well, Sylvie!” Draley called out, summoning her staff and turning to Svenja. “Svenja, I'm detecting a hostile aura coming from the upper floor. You and Trixie should investigate while we handle this.”
“Feck off! This bastard made a mockery of me earlier! She's gonna get hers now!”
“Well, use that frustration to take down the threat above us! It could be the woman I told you about before who accompanied Sylvie. Let's take down two birds with one stone!”
Svenja sighed and shook her head. “Very well. But you…” she continued, pointing at Sylvie. “...You'll get a piece ‘a me later.”
Svenja flew off, with Trixie giving Draley a nod before flying off with her.
Draley narrowed her eyes and held Nana's arm. “Nana, please cast the spell.”
Without a moment's hesitation, Nana outstretched her arm with a talisman in hand, and a magic circle appeared under Sylvie. She became immobile and encased in a tense aura. After the aura dispersed, Sylvie shook her head, regaining her balance.
Shit…I feel weaker now, Sylvie thought with a growl.
“The spell was more effective than I thought it would be… Impressive. This should help me out a lot.”
“Oh, be quiet, mortal! I could still easily wipe you out in a flash!”
“Maybe…but not the both of us,” called out a voice from behind Draley and Nana. Fritz stepped up and stopped beside them, his deep gray eyes narrowed with malice as he fixed his all-black suit.
“Ha, look who else decided to come back just to get embarrassed again!”
“Shut it, you just got lucky the last time.” he dismissed, cracking his knuckles.
“Bah! Enough talk, I'll stomp you pests flat!”
Sylvie grinned to herself, still putting on a dominant facade despite her weakened state. She stares down at the Alliance members, her eyes narrowing as she realizes the fight will be more challenging than she expected.
Fritz's face is still filled with fury from their previous confrontation, but Nana has her eyes closed as she concentrates on the spell. Fritz glowered at Sylvie from behind the Alliance members, maintaining a sturdy composure despite the threat in front of him.
“This demon appear-ers to be much more-er power-rerful than usual…! I must fully concentr-re-rate on keeping this spell going, so I can't fight with you!”
“Understood, Nana.”
Draley placed a translucent magic sphere around Nana, protecting her as she kept up the spell.
I must keep some aura in my reserves to heal Svenja and Trix just in case they get hurt badly… Draley thought. She then turned her attention back to Sylvie.
“Prepare to meet your end…”
Standing tall and firm, Draley made the first move and shot a blast of aura at Sylvie.
Sylvie's speed allowed her to evade the attack, but her movement was sluggish, the blast scraping her arm.
Oh fuck, Sylvie thought with a scowl. I'm way slower than I usually am!
She held her arm and shot a beam of aura. Draley summoned a magic circle and deflected it.
I can't even utilize my aura as effectively as before… Sylvie thought.
Sylvie growled and teleported behind Draley, kicking her in the back. Draley did a flip to recover, and while she was focused on Draley, Fritz teleported behind her and punched her in the back, pushing her back several feet.
“Pfft, what a copycat!” Sylvie taunted, turning around to face Fritz with a wide grin. “Just for that…” Sylvie trailed off before launching a kick, the heel of her boot piercing his chest as he flew back like a ragdoll.
With a sudden burst of magic, Sylvie surrounded herself in a thick mist, which obscured her visibility to the Alliance. It's a chance for her to regroup and plan her next move.
The Alliance were unable to see what she's doing inside the thick mist. But even though they can't see Sylvie or pinpoint her exact location, they can still sense her powerful presence, and that's enough to make them feel uneasy.
Meanwhile, inside the thick mist, Sylvie used her remaining aura to heal her wounds and regain her strength. She knows that she has to act fast and take advantage of the situation, but she also knows that she can't stay in the thick mist forever. She crept around in the mist until she was right behind Draley, staring her down. She raised her leg up high, preparing to bring it down like an axe.
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And then, it happened. Sylvie's foot flew down like an anvil from hell, aiming at Draley's head. By the time Draley turned around, she was too late to move out of the way, so she used Fortify on her forearm and raised it above her head. It did little to protect her from the damage, launching her back several meters.
Draley's arm was now covered in a deep bruise, letting out a deep groan.
Nnngh… N-no, I must save my healing abilities for Svenja and Trix in case they need it, Draley thought.
Fritz huffed at the sight of the weakened Draley and looked back to Sylvie, who was now more smug than ever after her successful attack.
“I'll handle this,’’ he said as he teleported behind Sylvie for another attack.
Sylvie teleported behind him in return and performed a spin kick on his lower back, his body crashing into the floor and leaving a crater. Sylvie then fired a beam of aura into the crater, the dust settling to reveal Fritz motionless and trembling, his pained expression sending a thrill down Sylvie's spine.
“Ha~! Still didn't learn from the last battle?” she taunted.
Sylvie's eyes are now focused on Nana. The Alliance member is focused on maintaining the spell that is keeping her weakened. She's the key to the Alliance's plan, but she's also vulnerable while performing the spell.
Sylvie sees this as an opportunity to take out a key member of the Alliance. Without warning or hesitation, she fires a beam of concentrated aura towards Nana, aimed at her head.
Nana gasped and her eyes widened as the beam approached her, closing her eyes before it pierced the shield protecting her and made contact with her forehead. The air around Nana changed in a flash, and the aura beam from Sylvie didn't leave a scratch on her. She then became surrounded with a dense, fierce aura that made Sylvie's hairs stand. It was like Nana became a different person as she stood up and opened her eyes, which were now a powerful amethyst glow. With a blank expression, she reached out an arm at Sylvie, and became bound in place by several talismans placed all over her body.
Draley watched, her mouth agape at Nana's transformation. She did it… I suppose it was only a matter of time, she thought.
“What?!” Sylvie shouted, straining as she attempted to move, but failed.
In a last ditch attempt, Sylvie tried to use Increase, her aura flaring up around her. But she realized at that moment that her energy was draining. “My aura… It's not working!” she panicked, her face flushing as she kept up her efforts to escape her confines to no avail.
Nana stepped up to Sylvie, her fists balled and her head low. When she stood before the demon, she looked up at her with those same emotionless eyes.
Sylvie stared down at Nana, keeping up her arrogant gaze to hide her feelings of bewilderment. Before Sylvie knew it, a fist slammed into her ribcage and broke several bones like twigs, hurling up blood.
Sylvie's eyes widen as she stares at Nana with a combination of fear and amazement. She couldn't stomach the fact that the once docile, meek-looking Nana is now capable of laying such a massive beatdown on her.
Fuck… I've never been on the offensive before, let alone getting destroyed like this… This is too much to handle, she thought as she tried to stand up. Her body doesn't cooperate, though, as she collapses back down and coughed up more blood.
Nana stared at Sylvie without speaking, showing no sign of stopping. The powerful aura coming from Nana and the fierce glow in her eyes made Sylvie tremble as she felt her heart pounding in her chest and her breath coming shallow.
I can't let this stupid kid beat me! What should I do…? What COULD I do?! Sylvie thought.
…
Reaching the source of the aura that Draley mentioned, Svenja looked ahead and saw a scantily-clad young woman who had long black hair with multicolored streaks.
“Huh, is that it, Svenja? She looks a bit…off from Draley’s description…” Trixie said.
“She sure does,’’ Piper added. “We may be looking for someone else.”
Hmm… Svenja thought. Draley told me it was a woman with black hair. But this one's looks…colorful. She isn't short either, she's of average height. Perhaps I've got the wrong one… Fuck it!
Svenja used Increase and honed in on the young woman, who noticed her and turned around.
“Svenja, wait–!” Trixie called out.
Before Svenja could land her surprise attack, she got cut off by a swift kick to her face in midair, sending her crashing down to the floor.
“Hehe, slow down, surface dweller~” Cassie said, smirking down at the stunned Svenja. “You could seriously injure someone when moving at such high speeds!”
Svenja rubbed the imprint of Cassie's boot on her cheek and groaned, rolling her eyes. “I don't need your lecture, young lass. My fellas are already handlin’ your demon friend, an’ you're next!”
“Yeah, yeah~! Anyways, what are you even doing here?”
“Long story. But it involves whoever your boss is, and ye jus’ happen to be in our way!”
Trixie caught up and stood beside Svenja. “Geez, this one sure looks… Extravagant.”
“Ya don't say, Trix.”
Cassie assessed the two's auras and her eyes sparkled. “Ooh~! Such powerful, delicious souls! Both of you are mine, and that's the end of it!”
She conjured her chains and swung them, staring at the other two with predatory eyes. “Your souls shall become my meals, hahaha!” she said before launching her chains at Svenja.
Svenja avoided the chains in the nick of time, summoning her blade and dashing in for several swings, each of which were dodged.
“As you can see, Trixie, she's nothing to take lightly,’’ Piper warned. “My readings tell me that she is extremely powerful and far beyond our own capabilities.”
“Darn,” Trixie panicked. “So should I ask Svenja to retreat and do the same?”
“No, the girl you're fighting won't back down, she likely won't let that happen. But a good hit from your Frigid Cannon should be enough to cause significant damage and possibly save both of your lives.”
“Hmm… Gotta give it a try.”
Trixie stood still and took aim at Cassie, using Pinpoint to focus all of her aura into her finger and chilling her aura to subzero temperatures. When Cassie became still, she fired her shot. A sliver of frozen aura launched at Cassie at high velocity. Seeing the attack at the corner of her eyes, Cassie ducked. The icy beam pierced her shoulder, making her shout and held her shoulder.
Got her, Trixie thought with an accomplished smirk.
“Nice shot!” Piper cheered.
“Oi, good one, Trix! Ye saved my arse there!” Svenja praised, giving her friend a thumbs-up.
Cassie narrowed her eyes at the two women, and her left eye turned blue. A healing aura then surrounded her shoulder and the affected area turned back to normal.
Svenja and Trixie gasped at the sight, their eyes wide. Svenja then began to stagger, her eyelids drooping as her breathing became labored.
“...That bitch,” Svenja said under her breath. “I-I think she drained our aura, Trix…!”
“That's not good at all,” Piper said in a quiet, strained voice.
“Well, you two had your fun, but it's time for me to finish you off now!” Cassie said before both of her eyes turned red. The two women then found themselves immobile.
Cassie smirked as her hand became enveloped in a dense crimson aura. She then launched it at the others, their bodies becoming frozen in time. During this moment of weakness, Cassie dashed in for her next attack. The two found themselves being hit by a flurry of physical blows that were too fast for either of them to track with their eyes. Cassie then backed off and launched a volley of concentrated aura blasts at them, leaving a large hole in the floor underneath them.
“And now…the finale!” Cassie said as she threw her chains at the two, wrapping around their bodies. She infused the chains with red electricity, frying them as their bodies were smashed against each other.
Cassie's eyes then turned to normal, and the two were freed from the curse. Both of their souls shattered, sending light blue transparent shards flying from within them in all directions. Their bodies hit the ground, not budging an inch as they laid flat on their backs.
“Goddamn,” Svenja groaned.
“What the hell was that power...?!”
Transparent purple shards flew out from within Cassie as her soul shattered, her stance beginning to falter. Her chains disappeared and she fell down to her knee, taking heavy breaths. “Kyaaa…! I-I went overboard…! C-can't go on…!”
A bright light emanated from Svenja and Trixie's souls, enveloping their bodies and reversing all the damage that was done to them.
Draley had our backs… Svenja thought.
The two then stood up, staring at the exhausted Cassie.
“Damn, what happened to her?” Svenja asked.
“Guess she bit off more than she can chew,’’ Trixie replied.
“Eh, let's just finish the job!”
“I don't think that would be a good idea,” Piper chimed. “She's still far beyond your or Svenja's capabilities. You both should flee while she is weak.”
“Um, Svenja… I think we should run while we have the chance.”
Svenja scowled. “I don't think ye're the full shilling. We should fuck her shit up while she's knackered!”
“No,” Trixie protested, “We’re not ready for her yet. Let's go!”
Trixie used Increase and grabbed Svenja, ditching the scene.
…
Ah, they have received the last of my aura… Draley thought.
She kept watching on as Nana kept landing blow after blow on Sylvie, who was now bloodied up. Nana kept on punching anyway with the same unnerving expression, the demon's blood streaming down her pale arm.
"I shall pur-rurge you..." she whispered.
Nana raised her fist for a finisher, but the screeches of Trixie's incoming aura stopped her, dropping Sylvie's body on the floor and looking up to see Trixie holding Svenja in her arms.
Trixie landed in front of Nana and the other two Alliance members, outstretching her arms towards them and encasing them in her aura.
“Everyone! We must go! Now!” Trixie announced, the aura growing brighter.
“Damn,” Draley huffed, looking over to the beat-up Sylvie. “We'll finish this another time…”
Trixie's aura flared up and the Alliance disappeared, leaving Sylvie wallowing in her pain.
Cassie came along, flying across the castle with Increase before stopping as she saw Sylvie, turning around and floating down to her trembling body. “Sheesh, the hell happened to you, Syl?!”
“I-I,” Sylvie said before coughing up some more blood. “They… Got me good. An exorcist gave me a rough beating.”
“An exorcist, eh?! I thought you were stronger than that, hehe!” Cassie sneered as she crossed her arms.
“No, she's not normal. She was something else entirely.”
“Sure she wasn't! Anyways, where are they? I could try my hand at them!”
“I dunno… They just disappeared from me.”
“Pfft, really? And you just let them?”
“No, I-I was bound by the exorcist's spell, I couldn't move an inch.”
Cassie chortled. “Now that's just shameful! Maybe our leader should reconsider your position in this group! Clearly if a random little exorcist is enough to bring you down to this state, you're nothing against the best of what the forces of Light have against us!”
Sylvie glared at her, baring her sharp teeth as painful tremors crashed through her. “How dare…! This was just a situation of being in the wrong place at the wrong time, I'm more than suitable for my position!”
“Well, didn't you hear her when she said “there's always someone stronger”? You should remember that more! Anyways, you need to be healed up, like, right now. You're so lucky we have someone here who can do the job.”
…I'll get that bastard back, Sylvie thought. …All of them!