The smoke on the screen that's covering the Holy Knight's cleared, revealing a shocking sight. The two Holy Knights on standby had vanished, only to reappear trapped at the bottom of a massive, impossibly deep chasm. My stomach clenched as I watched their helplessness.
"If I am unable to prevent just one of you, I'll have to capture both of your teammates and find a way to eliminate you all—one at a time."
"It's an unforeseen plan... I liked it. You changed my impression, so I suppose that makes you a worthy opponent," he grinned, a plume of smoke arcing toward the Black Queen like an arrow.
"GIVE ME YOUR BEST SHOT!" Elios bellowed, a massive, portal-like halo of blinding light flaring to life behind him.
On the opposite side of the battlefield, the black team's knight and three pawns marched toward the enemy's base, their advance halted by a sudden, jarring ground tremor.
"What was that?" Evan, a Black Pawn, asked, his voice laced with worry.
"It doesn't matter! Let's keep going so we don't waste Elios's plan!" Elip said, though his dismissive tone barely masked his own concern. He knew the immense risk Elios was taking by facing three Holy Knights alone. Still, his faith in his teammate was absolute. "He is not the type to give up easily, and never forget that only death can stop us."
Michael, the White Queen, observed them from just outside the base. "That was fast," he muttered, eagerly awaiting a fight. To his surprise, only two pawns and a knight had arrived; the final pawn was a ghost, hidden somewhere in the shadows.
"That's thanks to our Queen's doing," Elip replied, a smirk playing on his lips.
With a chant, Evan unleashed his power: "Beast Transformation: Human to Nero!" In a flash of light, he morphed into a towering seven-foot Siberian tiger. Three tails lashed behind him, his head was distinctly cat-like, and a pair of long, razor-sharp fangs jutted from his maw. This beast, Nero, could vanish into thin air, put foes to sleep with its roar, and heal with a flick of its tail.
Elip, touching Evan, chanted, "Mimic Magic: Human to Nero!" and instantly became an identical beast.
The two Neros and their teammate surrounded the White Queen, launching a synchronized assault. Nathan was the first to strike with a powerful punch after chanting, "Boar Spirit: Fist of the Wild Boar!" The combined attacks shook the very earth, leaving deep cracks in the base's foundation.
Their blows shattered parts of the Holy Knights' armor, but the Queen remained standing.
"Was that it?" the White Queen laughed, a small scratch from Nathan's punch. "Let me show you what a Holy Knight is..."
"Next phase, Evan!" Elip commanded, and Evan nodded.
"Beast Transformation: Nero to Entigor!" he roared, transforming once more. He became a ten-foot horned rabbit with the muscular torso of a man, the powerful legs of an eagle, sharp teeth and nails, and pale fur. A creature of immense strength and combat skill, known for its intelligence and its ability to teleport over vast distances.
"Palm Magic: Massive Wind Force!" the White Queen shouted, unleashing a gale of wind.
"Now!" Elip yelled.
Evan grabbed his two teammates and, in a flash, they teleported behind their opponent, executing their counter-queen strategy.
"You should've just teleported inside the base, idiots!" Michael chastised, spinning around.
"We'll start with you," Elip replied.
"And how are you going to do that?" Michael asked, his smirk returning.
"Just wait for it..."
"Boar Spirit: Punch of a Thousand Roars!" Nathan chanted, throwing a punch that tore through the air.
Michael scoffed. "You still haven't learned from your mistake."
Elip just chuckled. "You're the idiot here."
"Palm Magic: Thousand Tiger Palms!" Michael chanted.
"Mimic Magic: Thousand Tiger Palms!" Elip chanted back, perfectly mirroring the attack.
"WHAT?! HOW— YOU DID NOT TOUCH ME!" he exclaimed, his shock evident.
"I thought all Holy Knights had a great reaction speed, but... Nah, I guess that proves otherwise."
"I already told you, Michael, never underestimate the Valkyries." A new voice chimed in. A man emerged from the side of the base, carrying the limp body of the other Valkyrie pawn, the scout.
"Ares!" they all exclaimed, recognizing their unconscious teammate as he began to fade, destined for the safe zone.
"I should never have let my guard down," Michael smirked, cracking his neck. "But don't worry... I'll take this seriously now."
"Ate Clydelle, I'm already hungry," I grumbled.
"Deal with it," she hushed. "Let's just eat after this; the game is getting more exciting."
"Hmph," I grumbled, my gaze locked on the fight.
[Ares from Team Odin's Valkyries have been brought to the safe zone!]
The game continued to escalate, with both Elios and Arthur now the central focus on the floating screen. They were both skilled fighters, but their duel was cut short when the two previously trapped Holy Knights discovered an escape and attacked Elios.
"It took you a while, Mister," Athena said, leaning against the base's entrance.
"I had a great time with your comrade; you must be proud to have such an incredible man on your team," Arthur said, wiping blood from his brow.
"Hmm... Yeah," she nodded, a proud chuckle escaping her lips. "He's a troublesome genius, isn't he?"
"I did underestimate him early on, but he proved me otherwise," he grinned.
"Enough with the chit-chat, would ya'? I'm itching to steal the crown so the game can end quickly," Ryuujin yawned, clearly bored.
"Please forgive him for his immoral behavior; he's the type of person who rushes everything," Arthur apologized, bowing his head.
"Brother, why are you apologizing?!" Ryuujin was taken aback, pulling him up. "We are the Holy Knights, and supposedly the Zeraschian must be the one who bows to us!"
"I'm sorry for his foolishness, he isn't aware of who you are," he apologized again, giving a quick bow.
"What the heck? Another monarch's nonsense— that's what I hate about this world, the royal families are hailed while the true deities are ignored," Ryuujin grumbled, flying toward Athena to end the fight.
"I admire your devotion and faith in the gods, but you're too slow," Athena commented, appearing behind Ryuujin in a flash, surprising him.
"You are remarkably fast for a Zeraschian," Ryuujin exclaimed, swinging his blade at Athena, who effortlessly avoided it.
"I've heard that a lot, mister," she laughed, delivering a combo punch. Ryuujin evaded most of her attacks, but a few landed, and he noticed something. I'm not just fighting a princess; I'm fighting a beast, he thought to himself.
This was my first time seeing Athena fight. She could cut her opponent with her bare fists. Their fight intensified as Arthur joined in while Akihiro, the other holy knight, surveyed his surroundings, contemplating a move on the enemy's crown.
Athena grabbed Ryuujin's arm, twisting it behind his back, and drew him close. "If you were a Viking, I might have picked you as my groom," she stated, making his face turn beet red.
"Woah, that was smooth," I said, shaking my head. I couldn't believe it; when she said that, I couldn't help but ship them.
"That Holy Knight is a lucky guy."
"If I were in his place, I'm sure I'll faint." The guys in front of me commented.
"Looks like I'm losing my bet," I said, smacking my forehead with my hand.
"Get ready to think of a plan," ate Clydelle laughed.
"Hmph!"
"Light Magic: Multi Light Slash!" Arthur slashed his sword, but Athena easily negated his magic.
"Wait— what happened?!" Ryuujin questioned, surprised.
"Take a guess," Athena chuckled, attacking both of the Holy Knights, causing bruises and blood to ooze.
"Light Magic: Horizon Speed!" Arthur chanted, but again, Athena easily negated it with her bare hands.
"Stop doing that, Arthur! I think she's absorbing your magic!" Ryuujin warned his brother.
"I don't think so," he said, dodging her attack and jumping back.
"Light Magic: Bright Star Ignition!" A huge ball of light formed over Arthur, growing bigger and bigger until he threw it at her.
Athena dodged it, just as he had predicted.
"She's nullifying magic! And I believe she has her limit of dissolving massive attacks!" Arthur informed his brother.
"Then keep on attacking her with your magic!" Ryuujin yelled back, dodging Athena's punch.
Arthur sighed. "I'm losing chakra."
"You what?!"
"I've used up a lot of my chakra earlier!"
"Uggh!" Ryuujin sighed in disbelief. He couldn't believe they were being defeated by a Zeraschian.
Akihiro, the White Knight, also began to attack Athena, but he suddenly stopped and began acting like a puppet. He then turned and charged his own teammates.
"Hey! Be careful!" Ryuujin was startled when his teammate nearly cut him.
"He's being manipulated— Ryuujin! Take care of Athena, I'll go steal the crown," Arthur said, quickly approaching the black Queen but was thrown against a wall by Athena's swift action.
"That girl's much stronger than a beast, seriously? What is she?" Ryuujin exclaimed as he saw the wall where Arthur was thrown crumble.
"She's a goddess who has tamed the celestial spirit— Estienne! She's the reincarnation of Freya!" Arthur yelled, groaning in pain as he pushed the building debris off his legs. He stood up and attacked again, but Athena was becoming stronger with each passing minute.
"A— A what?! she— what!?" he sputtered, frantically blocking Akihiro's blows. He looked at Arthur as if his head had just turned into a turnip.
"I mean— the goddess of Love is inhabiting that body!" Arthur shouted, ducking as a stray magical blast whizzed past his ear.
Ryuujin's eyes widened. "Why did you not warn me sooner?! I could've given my proper respects before all this!?"
"I literally told you!"
"Yeah?? With just bowing your head?!" Ryuujin shot back sarcastically, narrowly dodging a strike.
"You should've sensed a divine being from the start!"
"Ugh, fine. This is a perfect time to test out—" Ryuujin was cut off by his brother's panicked yell.
"NO!"
"Why not?"
"We're in a tournament! That's forbidden magic!"
"Pfft! Rules are for people who aren't currently fighting a deity." He rolled his eyes, leaping backward to create some space. "If regular magic can't touch her, I have no choice but to bring out the big guns."
"RYUUJIN! NO!" Arthur exclaimed.
"Laplace Art: Puppet Playroom!"
[Laplace Art is a type of magic that predicts the future and allows someone to follow your desire regardless of whether the person chooses a winning option of their choice.]
"Laplace is something that has to do with math, right?" I asked ate Clydelle.
"No, that magic is too powerful. It's not just a mathematical theory, but something related to time or basically, to fate," she explained. I noticed her eyes were glowing, a sign she was using her ability to identify the Holy Knights' powers.
"Huh— aaah— EH?! That's awesome!"
Right after Ryuujin cast his spell, a red barrier slowly formed and covered the entire base.
"What's this?" Athena inquired, looking through the base's window.
Ryuujin quickly jumped toward Athena and Arthur and landed gently. "A barrier built to trap everything and control the situation that results from my choices," he chuckled.
"And do you think I would let you control me?" Athena smirked.
"Let's find out."
"Alright," she quickly appeared behind Ryuujin and threw a massive punch that flung him away, causing his body to land on a wall, destroying it.
"HA—HA—HAHAHA! Is that all you've got?" Ryuujin mocked her, now standing beside Arthur.
Athena looked in the direction he had been thrown, but to her surprise, the wall was perfectly intact.
"W-what was that?" Athena asked, her brow furrowed in rage. "Don't play mind games with me," she roared, instantly attacking Ryuujin again.
Everyone watched as she seemed to bury the man with her punch, but shockingly, he was not there. Instead, the Holy Knight vanished from her grasp.