*
Sparks intensified with collision after collision, the approach of the tendrils abated as the {Feed} energy stakes flew straight at Vinia. They tear through the air with the terrifying force of a missile, capable of erasing large buildings without contest. Vinia waved her katana, with a few swings the stakes were viciously severed and thrown into the air like trash before exploding. The sky witness new born ephemeral stars before dimming once more. It was no later than 1am.
What is this sense of futility? It felt far different than when I faced Ledaine. Ledaine was drawing his power from his real self from outside this universe, there would be a limit that he'd reach after some time whether it'd be his actual limit or the limit that this world could reasonably accommodate. Oh, right. It's so obvious, no need to think about it, rather it became obvious when I felt it with my skin.
Vinia isn't intimidating because she's heavenly king. I've pretty much fought 3 of them. She's intimidating because... She's like me. She's not drawing her power from somewhere else. She's genuinely gaining strength and undergoing growth. She evolved before making her presence known, but unlike Ledaine she could still keep growing. I've pretty much run my own growth dry, like a faded out miracle, a wilting flower after blooming. Conversely, she's budding. Yet she already has this much strength.
Sariel took the others to move far enough, the massive formation consumed a large portion of their magic. This battle was beyond A grades anyway. The current Vinia could match the Ledaine outside of this world, a genuine S grade in all sense of the classification. A threat that could erase continents and perhaps destroy the world with a lot of effort.
"Can you afford to cool down? Regardless, you're going to die to me or die trying. " (Aster Keliuvinia)
Her suit was more modern looking than magical girl aesthetics, with a white button shirt folded into a high skirt with a massive waist belt. Her legs peak out like snow caps, striding in stylish glossy black high boots. A loose cardigan is draped over her back and forearms, exposing her shoulder and clavicle with no sleeves and high unfolded collars.
She walks forward with a confident stride, her gaze never faltered, not with an advantage. Yggdrasil took a step back for the first time, sweat dripping down her temple. Her centre of gravity was lower to facilitate faster movements by using her legs as a spring, though in this instant it felt like her back was heavy. How much time did she have to cool down? Her body was pushed past its limits, and temporarily she can keep it from self destructing, like a computer overheating. However, if it went on for too long, she'll die as Vinia said.
Is this it? An opponent that could grow in accordance, an opponent who studied her after multiple conflicts. There's nothing she could leverage here. If she were to add in Lastia's experiences, Vinia was always the one that forced her past her limits. A Trace that evolved from the low ranking D grade ogre into a heavenly king. If she was going to die anyway, would it matter if she kept Arin's body alive?
Sorry Sariel. If I die here, I'm leaving the future of humanity in your hands. You were always the most reliable, even a couple grades lower than the enemy, you never faltered. What you invoke is beyond the confines of grades or battle, it's a confidence that seemed to soar further than what could be realised in word. In that case, let's adjust the winning condition here. Getting out alive? Who cares about that, as long as I kill Vinia. She's the last threat.
I feel my sight sharpen as my focus intensified. Training my perspective onto the enemy, my body seemed to underwent some profound adjustments. It also understood my thoughts, body and mind as one was optimising for its hardest battle.
Lastia's body vanished as she made a move. Moving at imperceptible speeds, she reaches near Vinia and prepares a devastating kick. Her body tears through air and magic before sound could reach. A swift tear and the katana around Vinia's side, thrusting straight into a fierce clash. A fireball erupts from the point of impact, swiftly growing to encapsulate the surrounding residential zones.
"...!? Still this much...? " (Vinia)
"Tch! I'm slow." (Yggdrasil)
Without pause, she used the foot pressing against the katana as leverage to lift her body and slammed down her other heel like a spear. Momentum carried her body was both legs assaulted the sword, Vinia promptly stopped resisting and twisted her blade, deflecting the attack by allowing it to slide into the side. She swung her blade at that new position, but Yggdrasil vanished, ready for another assault.
Vinia twisted her body around, and slashed upwards, carving into Yggdrasil's foot before it could connect a kick. The ground and the clouds split behind her figure as blood gushed out like rain from her enormous laceration. She pulled her leg in and swung her great sword in the same motion, materialising it the moment her wrists exerted power. The weight bears down on the katana, but the power is lacking and would wane soon. Yggdrasil stepped back and reposition her great sword, slipping it back and twisting it above her body into an overhead swing.
Vinia twisted her blade into a diagonal facing down, deflecting the great sword with a lopsided clash. With the same fist holding the katana's handle, she punched the flat of the great sword and rushed forward instantly. Yggdrasil resisted the force and swung down, splitting Vinia's body in two as a katana slid firmly into her neck.
Vinia's legs were now disconnected, losing her sense of balance. Yggdrasil might have taken vital damage, but she didn't lose her legs. Like a hammer, she smashed into her bisected opponent's torso, sending her flying. The impact caused the air to roar like an artillery cannon,
"KGH! PHTOO!" (Yggdrasil)
Spitting out the blood that gathered in her throat, she turned towards Vinia to observe how far she landed. Sure enough, a mere kick wouldn't even leave a mark on Vinia's fair skin. Vinia had an asiatic look to her features, an ancient racial group from the origin era. Her sharp eyes seem fierce, but she wasn't particularly squinting them. She stood standing, as if she stepped there of her own accord. Her legs had already grown back with her combat dress. Unsettling.
The opponent stood so still, completely unperturbed like a certain someone. The enemy's composure was unsettling. As if everything was still under her control.