“You… you are… Iris…?” I stared, my eyes turned as round as saucers at the half-transparent figure.
-Indeed I am. Can’t you see me?-
Well… I do see you. But your… your appearance is hard to see. Not in the way where I have to squint, but because I have to look away. Feeling embarrassed and shy for knowing she flashed such a beautiful smile at me.
Heck, her charm is undoubtedly beyond women I have met. She’s on a whole different league that even I almost let myself swept by it. Even though she’s me…
Huh? Wait, that’s not it. She’s a fellow Fragment like me… then we are only leftovers of who we were. Since our original self died and had the soul separated into pieces, they became new existences bearing heavy resemblance…
Uh… does that mean… she’s my twin then?
-Before all that, please look out!-
“Huh—uwhoaa…!?” I dove down to escape from the slash aiming for my neck! I recovered and attacked at Vladimir from behind but he vanished again!
“Damn it…! Are you a chameleon or what…!?”
I grounded my teeth as I looked around frantically. Yet, accompanied by mad laughter, Vladimir attacked from unexpected spot and carved slight wounds over and over while I can’t do anything but defending myself!
-Please calm down, Charlotte! Although he's a Demon General, Vladimir himself does not possess much power when using a Vessel!!-
Ve-vessel…? Iris pointed at the man in front of me. I deflected the attack and this time, for some reasons, he stood there like a stone. Of course he still had the same nasty smile and he even licked his lips now. That alone was enough to send cold sweats behind my back.
-He relies on magic fully. He could even be considered as the greatest in terms of magic knowledge and all sorts of things related to it. Despite that, his main body is truly fragile.-
“Huh? Is that true…? But most I’ve met are all tough-skinned bastards…”
-Because they are coated with mana, of course. Although his mana is too malevolent in terms of amount as well as type, causing him to transfer only a little into the Vessel he possessed.-
I raised my brows, confused but knitted them together. So I’m having trouble against a Boss who can’t even exert his true power? This will be a pain for sure...
-Incoming!-
I parried the jade green sword with the katana, twisted the handle a bit to redirect the blow and countered with a slash! Vladimir laughed as his body blurred and I struck at empty air.
"This... damn snake...!!" I cursed as I parried another blow at the blindspot.
Kh...! He's aiming for sure kill and his aura only appear once he swung his sword!!
-Wrong..! He is not a Warrior!! He's a mage stronger than the Court Mage of Serilia!!-
Say what!? That's too overpowered!! How the hell am I supposed to kill him?!!
-Avoid!- Iris warned and I lowered my posture. The sword missed my head only for a few milimeters and I launched an uppercut!
"Ha ha! Where are you looking?" Vladimir insulted with a loud laugh which echoed throughout the area.
He slipped away again!!
-Calm down, Charlotte. Fighting against Mage is different compared to fighting another Warrior!-
But he didn't give me a chance to think clearly—*swish*—"Gah!?" I staggered seeing blood spurted from my left shoulder. D-damn… if this goes on, I will die regardless of any action I take!!
-That is why... do not rely on your aura! Use your magical perception!!-
"Magical what—*SWISH!*—uaah...?!!"
This time, the blade grazed my cheek. A little deeper and my eye would have been gouged out! Damn it!!
I jumped and stood in front of the giant tree, erasing the blindspot behind me using it. At the same time, the bloodlust I felt grew faint and I frowned.
"...Iris... How can I do it? I've been a Warrior for years. I don't think that kind of skill sounding like a Mage's will help me. I haven't improved in magic at all..."
-There's no need for you to train. Just concentrate and let my words guide you.-
Will it be so simple...? I decided to gamble and calm myself down, diving into the the depth of my consciousness while closing my eyes.
-Listen. Each and every person has different kind of mana. It's like aura but to be more exact, it's because it is a pattern unique. That unique wavelength came from our souls.-
Is it a one of a kind thing...? Then... doesn't that mean that you and I...
-Yes, we have the same wavelength in terms of aura and mana. But moving on—dodge to the right!-
I clicked my tongue as I followed her order. I heard a loud sound as if something had smashed at the air beside me.
This... is... I could somehow sense it. The cold blade of the sword. There's a blue ring faintly glowing which showed its outer appearance in the darkness and I could see dreadful dark green light coming from beyond the object...
-Slash him diagonally forward!!-
"Haaa!!" I executed the order and I felt slight resistance.
The lump of raw presence retreated, getting smaller due to the range between us and I heard faintly.
"Hmm...? A lucky hit?" Vladimir muttered then his presence vanished again.
I was left alone again but somehow, I could detect it. A presence lurking in the darkness, going from one place to another place...
Every time my heart thumped, some sort of thin wave spread out and traced the form of the objects.
Huh? There's not just one but many things with different colors. They started to shimmer and they formed rough outlines of a scenery... What is this? Sonar?
-Looks like our souls are synchronized just in time. Can you see it yet?-
"This is... what is this?" I asked. Feeling the presence going after me, I who's still closing my eyes deflected the lash of jade green presence with the katana successfully for the second time.
-I was once a mage. Not too strong but I basically can use mana to fight at close-range.-
Fighting at close range with mana...? Isn't that impossible? The flow and fluctuation of mana is different compared to aura which sticks closely to the body.
What's more, it doesn't even have steady rate and it's moving too freely that one must meditate if not staying still if one were to cast intermediate level magic or above.
-Your logic is not wrong. But Charlotte, you must know that mana stems from the soul. And what is it that makes us?-
Soul Essence... ah.
-Yes. I used a portion of my life in order to fight. You could say... life force, perhaps?-
...that's a dangerous sounding name... Isn't it a double-edged sword?
-That may be so although I resonated with your soul so as to snap you back from the mind-controlling spell. Also, we have no time to sit down and think slowly in this matter.-
True enough... But... shaving my already short lifespan for power...
-I understand. Then allow me to merge with you.-
"Merge?!" I reflexively opened my eyes and the blowing wind struck them. "Uuh...!?"
At the next moment, the possessing demon appeared, charging toward me with a lightning speed stab. I leaned and used the katana to parry it but the force was more than I could handle!
I was blown away to the left. My body bounced off the ground for times and while my consciousness dimmed, I noticed the bastard closing in to me.
"Gh...!" Raising the katana up, I tried blocking the blow aimed at my abdomen. Once again, I was sent flying but now I could reposition myself to plant my feet on the ground.
I slid backward as I closed my eyes again to perceive the enemy through the emitted mana. He aimed his sword infused with blue glow to me and I finally parried it successfully again.
Once, twice, thrice. The frequency of his attack grew faster and straining my muscles to the limits. Meanwhile, my heart was throbbing disorderly, my mana flow started to be disturbed and my control waned little by little.
What is this... what are you trying to do, Iris?!
-There's no time to explain! Just continue stalling Vladimir, Charlotte!!-
Kh...! Easy for you to say...!!
*CLANG!!* Blades clashing, I realized that Vladimir stopped moving stealthily with magic. The presence became an apparent to the point of allowing my aura to detect him.
I inadvertently opened my eyes, noticing the smiling wide demon letting his snake tongue out
"Heh... Heh he he...! I see! You used magic perception!!"
He noticed!?
"Foolish girl... of course I noticed when your mana made a ripple like that."
Vladimir slashed widely. Albeit without proper aim or correct posture, the unleashed attack is very powerful it almost tore the air apart.
Against that, I dodged in the nick of time but he followed by a few weak slashes going after my vitals. I swung the katana widely to defend myself but some still grazed me.
"How long do you think you can hold on, eh?!" Vladimir exclaimed arrogantly.
This fucking snake…! I really want to smash his head apart and throw salts on him!! If he so wanted to play around like that, then I’ll destroy him for sure!!
“Don’t blame me if you die a gruesome death!!” I roared, emitting a wave of aura to coat myself and I focused ahead!
At the same time, Vladimir leaped towards me with the jade green sword aiming for my head. Even so, I didn’t stop moving forward. Just when the sword was about to reach me, I raised the katana up and let the blade grind with the green sword!
Sparks scattered like a storm of orange flower petals. My vision blurred and my ears hurt upon hearing the sound produced but I refused to bow down against such trifling matters. I took another step forward, planting a firm foundation and swung the black Japanese sword mightily!
*BANG!* The jade green sword was deflected as if bouncing back to the spot it came from. Along with the entire arm, Vladimir’s body stopped in midair, brought by the force of gravity and knockback.
“I got you!!”
Gripping the hilt of the sword with two hands, I infused a large amount of aura to the katana and slashed at Vladimir—
*CLANG!* But what rang out was not the sound of slashed flesh, but the sound as if metal striking metal.
“What…!?” I gasped as I looked ahead, at the place where the blade struck.
At his left shoulder… Even though the sword clearly cut through the clothes and spaulder… but… there was no blood. No. This feeling…
“Fool… You don’t know when to stop, huh?” Vladimir snickered.
“Tch…!” I jumped back and set up a stance. Then I felt as if centipede crawled on my skin.
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This dread… Could it be…!
“Well then… To know that you are capable of detecting me. Allow me to commend you with a little show.”
Vladimir lowered his sword with a hand, and raised the other up to the sky. His palm opened and I could sense the mana surrounding him rippling when I closed my eyes. What is he doing? What is he trying to do!?
A flash of light suddenly burst out from his palm. Like a firework launched to the sky, it traced a path with dark green glow and the moment it reached a certain altitude—the orb exploded. Becoming a colossal magic circle with geometric patterns I’ve never seen before.
No. I don’t know how to say it, but… This magic circle… It’s…! It’s dangerous!! Even more so knowing that he didn’t even chant for a spell or form the magic circle manually!!
“Heh he he…! Now, become scattering petals for my Master, Fragment…!!”
What came next—along with a veil of light blinding the world—was a rain of green meteors. Destroying everything, turning the land upside down. In front of it, I—
-Charlotte!!-
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The palace was no longer what it looked like. Most of the exterior turned into rubble while the interior could no longer be seen. A crater replaced the lush garden where a grave once resided in and one man stood in silence at the center of the crater.
“Hmm…? That’s odd… I thought I had her.” He tilted his head, wondering with a confused face. “Well, fine. I should just have the rest find her. She should be dying—“
”Who’s dying, you asshole…?!”
I Emerged from the rubble by cutting them into small pieces. Dust made my handle over the katana harder than usual but I can still move! I can still fight!!
“Hm…!?” Vladimir exasperated seeing me dashing towards him.
But I feel light. I feel as light as feather. It feels as if I can do anything, including killing this bastard who desecrated Iris’ grave!!
“Haaaaaaaaaa!!”
—Second Step: Rapid Fang!!
With a familiar stance, I launched a flurry of stabs at Vladimir! Unlike before, the attack threw him off balance and I rotated in midair and—
First Step: Tail Smash!!
“Guooooh…!!?” The demon howled in pain, his body flung like a ragdoll and I landed only to set another stance!
With a glare different than before, I steadied myself. The katana raised to point at Vladimir's neck and I chanted.
"Reinforce!"
With one command and my body was clad in warm golden layer of light. A hybrid spell which combined mana and aura... and I have used it for the third time.
I could hear my muscles screaming. Every single cell of my body dreaded the load pressuring them but I urged myself to move. With sheer willpower, that is.
"I won't... die. I won't fall in this place..." I muttered audibly. “I will win! And I will return to His Side!!”
Kicking off the ground, I flew and closed the distance between me and my enemy in a moment! The demon glared at me, his serpentine eyes seemed to glow but I couldn’t care less!!
—Fourth Step: Swaying Claws!!
I slid to the left and slashed at Vladimir’s side. He reacted by swinging down his sword at me but I slid to the right and slashed his body again!! The demon staggered and I moved again, repeating the same action while shattering his focus on me with my speed and attack!!
“You…! Damnable pest…!!” He cursed as his hand glowed like before.
-Now, Charlotte!!-
Abiding the faint voice, my grips over the black katana tightened and I roared. At the same time, a pale blue light burst from my body and mixed with the golden light.
I struck Vladimir’s glowing arm! As if the impossible suddenly became possible, I sliced it off! Causing the glow to stop, resulting in the cut off arm to spray blood around.
“Gaaaah…!?” Vladimir once again howled. His eyes turned bloodshot but there was no fear inside of me. Nothing could stop me from defeating him!!
The demon launched a storm of attacks. Without aim. Without precision. He simply lashed out as if rampaging using his sword and his bladed tail.
From the left. From above. Below me aiming for my leg. A sweeping slash. A flurry of stabs. An uppercut followed by diagonal slashes from two directions.
I can see it. I can see his movements if it's only this much. But...
*crack* The katana revealed damages and chipped parts. I frowned but Vladimir took the chance for granted.
He slashed downward widely at me. I raised the katana and parried it to let the blade smashed down the ground and I launched a counter with a half circular slash!
“Ghk…?!” Vladimir grit his teeth, blood leaking from his mouth as the wound carved on his chest spurted crimson red liquid. He retreated by a dozen steps and I chased after him.
The swords continued to clash. Over time, I gradually delivered harder blows on my enemy yet… He suddenly became calmer.
“I see… Soul Enchantment… Using your Soul Essence to boost your physical strength… but not only that. To infuse the essence in your spell as well as your aura… So you survived from my spell through the use of that suicidal skill……”
…he knew. Damn. Just how knowledgeable could this guy be? I could feel the warm supporting me behind my back waning but I can’t be distracted.
-I’m sorry. Charlotte… this is the only way.-
“No… I know that there could never be something like no risk against this kind of opponent.”
I muttered quietly. But I couldn’t stop anger and hatred flaring inside of me.
Soul Enchantment. Just like Vladimir said, it’s an enchantment method like Reinforce. But unlike the one where only mana and aura be consumed. Soul Enchantment required a portion of a soul to be utilized as a mean to fight. It could be used to replace the cost of a spell, enhancing equipment’s overall quality and other things in exchange of one thing.
Lifespan. Yes. Soul Enchantment requires lifespan just like a Devil’s Contract. Power in exchange of life regardless of the intention put in it.
But for me… for the current me. It’s not like I used my own Soul Essence. I could feel Her presence fading away in an alarming pace. She’s going to vanish soon…
Iris’ disappearance is within a matter of time. Because our souls are actually pieces of our original existence, the moment she synchronized her soul with mine caused me to be capable of drawing out Soul Enchantment’s effect to the fullest with the expense of her soul.
I don’t like it. I can’t save her… I can’t save myself. Although our memories and life differed, this meant I’m killing one of my other selves. One who’s supposed to be me…
-Don’t look back. This had been my fate from the beginning. But, if I can even protect my people for one last time… If I can save my family and beloved ones… I’m fine with this outcome.-
…..That’s… hearing those words, I felt my heart aching. This pain transmitted through our links… Sorrow and resignation…
She’s the same as me.
“…I understand.” Renewing my resolve, I focused ahead.
Vladimir landed and began attacking me with a barrage of slashes and stabs. Using the Fourth Step to avoid them, I began dealing additional damages by increasing the speed of my swings. I can’t help but admit how weak I am in terms of strength, but…!
“Haaaaaaaaaa!!”
I won’t lose! I won’t lose!! This time for sure…!! I avoided and countered Vladimir’s every movement. Ignoring the wounds carved on me, I didn’t hesitate to step forward and corner Vladimir.
“En…ough!! Enough!!” The demon suddenly roared.
Mana burst out from his body to the point of it being able to be seen by naked eyes. The oppressive feeling and dread finally struck me, causing me to flinch.
-Not good! He plans to detonate his Vessel by exerting mana beyond it could handle!!
Vladimir readied his sword again. With the blade aligned at his eye level, his posture lowered down. A thrust... he's aiming for a one-hit-sure-kill.
"Your death... it will be ascertained now!!"
Looks like he wants to end this with lightning speed before taking me along. How hasty. Women don't like men who rush on things, you know?
"...ah. Did I just think of some sort of girly thought?'" I tilted my head. "Oh well. Just let's get this over with."
I took a deep breath and exhaled. Restoring my breathing interval and adrenaline to a stable level, I began to concentrate by closing my eyes.
I know that it's useless to rely on vision. In front of lightning, one does not rely in restricted sensor such as eyesight. Even more so when the opponent is a shapeshifting necrophilia.
What I must do... is to sense it through a different mean. That's right... the only way to win is...
"Die!!" Vladimir roared. He stomped the ground, then vanished into thin air.
His figure loomed toward me. It was to the point of barely visible even though I’m using Magic Perception. Although I can't see him... I know the urge he has. Therefore!!
*BANG!!* The katana parried the lightning speed attack and it caused tremendous amount of wind to explode! The air rippled, violent gale cut my cheek while I reopened my eyes and caught the astonished figure of my enemy!
"Your bloodlust... is showing too much, fool!!" I exclaimed then I roared.
Blade Arts – Phantom Strike!!
The katana glowed in bright golden light and flashed as if slaying the darkness. It tore apart Vladimir's defense from low angle - and then it shot up abruptly!
The blade flashed vertically, striking the throat of the Demon clad in human form. I could sense the resistance and I know how tough this guy is with his tough scales.
Even so...! I won't lose!! Pouring all of my mana and aura into the katana, infusing all of the borrowed Soul Essence into the blade, the katana shone as pure as white light!
"Seventh Step - Flight of White Dragon!!"
I pulled my arm - then I slashed the demonic serpent!!
*BOOM!!* The world turned pure white. Followed by the sound of explosion which devoured everything.
I could feel my body racking in pain, crimson dyed my vision before all was painted white. Taking the brunt of Seventh Step... I guess that's too much to ask for...
Amidst the destruction executed at zero distance, I heard a laughter. That mad laughter...
"Heh... hi ha ha ha! Aha ha ha ha haaaaa! To think that I failed…! This I failed…!! Very well then! I shall remember this defeat... and I will steal your soul for sure the next time we meet, Charlotte Augmund!! Aha ha ha haaaaaaa...!!!"
Then. It vanished. Along with the sound and white scenery... my conscious faded away in a moment's notice and I felt my heavy body dragging me down to earth.
But it was strange. I don't know why... but. For some reasons... it feels warm.
"You did well. Thank you... Thank you for protecting my people. Thank you..."