While Yasu and Kiyoshi were busy defeating the Shades almost with ease, Hera was holding off her assailant. She wasn't having the same luck that her allies were though.
Shade Prince: So boring, my master spoke so highly of you and yet this is the pitiful display of combat that I get from you. What a pity.
Hera: Can't you just shut your mouth for two seconds please, you're so damned annoy- Tch
Hera narrowly dodges a slash from the Shades Gladius.
Hera to herself: Damn that was close. I can't take another one of those gashes or I'm done.
Shade Prince: I'm impressed you dodged that, you have potential as a swordswoman as well as a powerful Witch. Too bad you won't get to reach such heights.
Hera: Not that I like it coming from you but thanks. Not sure about that last part though, by the end of this you'll be begging me for mercy.
Shade Prince: Oh is that so? Then why don't you prove it! HAAA!
The Shade Prince Unleashes a flurry of stabs and slashes to which Hera can hardly dodge nor counter. Barely being able to see her opponents attacks she is grazed and cut by many of these violent attacks. Unable to counter with her shortsword, Hera drops to the ground and slides under her assailant into a somersault and then into a backflip to gain distance. Now bleeding from a lot of areas she knows she needs to act fast or she'll lose consciousness before she can even deal any damage.
Hera to herself: What now! I've got no strength left and I'm in a worse spot than before. What the-?
Hera notices Emma still watching the battle from behind her dark green mana barrier.
Hera: I hope she can finish this.
Emma seemingly realizing that her friend was in severe danger begins trying to come up with a plan. As she looks around desperately trying to find something to use as a distraction. Finding nothing she begins to panic and thoughts of her best friend dying begin to flow into her mind causing her to panic more and more. This feeling of helplessness and fear begins building inside her more and more as she watches the Shade Prince slowly approach Hera. Just as she thinks it's over Hera does something strange. She sets her sword down behind her.
Hera to herself: I'd say that this fight is evidence enough that I'm just not ready to fight on your level yet Yasu. That doesn't matter anyway, I didn't come here to use a sword or be a knight. I came here to become a Priest and nothing else. I don't need to be the strongest swordswoman, Yurie can do that, I'll be the greatest Witch in the world and no one, not a single person in this disgusting world is gonna stop me.
Hera: Why do you look so cocky huh? This fight ain't over yet and it won't be till you're on your knees praying to your fake god for mercy.
Shade Prince: Woah ho ho there, where did this fiery pride come from all of the sudden eh? You seem rather confident that you can still defeat me.
Hera: Damn right I will, you Shades are nothing but a group of psychotic religion freaks. You insist that you are the definition of Virtue, then continue to commit your deadly sin over and over. I'm gonna show you just how pathetic you Gorgons really are.
Hera's proclamation hits the walls around them like a train as the temperature drops sharply and a piercing wind chill rushes over the two warriors. Hera's eyes shown a slight glimmer of light, like a cat peering at you from the darkness as her hair and uniform began blowing with the wind but the freezing air seemed to have no effect on her at all.
Shade Prince to himself: She's powering up again? Wait what! Her power is climbing higher than it was before. Truly magnificent, Master wasn't exaggerating at all, she really is incredible.
Hera: I'll crush you and then I'll go all the way up the list until I beat that filthy Leviathan, he'll pay for all of the people he's killed today, starting with YOU!!
Shooting her arms out towards the Prince she releases dozens of ice shards at blistering speed.
Shade Prince: You thought I didn't see this coming, stupid kid. I'll admit you're an amazing mage but you're just a naive teen at heart.
Taunting Hera as he jumps around the Hall dodging and blocking the crystals, the prince continues on about Hera's naivety and after every comment Hera would boost her mana's density.
Shade Prince: I see you powering up quite a bit but you have yet to increase your actual power Miss Hera.
Hera: Feel free to keep talking my ears off, you might actually do something to me with that.
Shade Prince: All though you are quite naive, you are quite talented and have impressed me quite a bit Ice Witch. I understand now why Sir Estrea sent his strongest warrior to deal with you, you were a larger threat than we could have anticipated and I will deal with you as I have been ordered!
The Prince lands on one of the walls and vanishes instantly only to reappear behind Hera and bring his sword down on her from above.
Emma: NO!
The sound of tearing flesh and blood spatter echo through the halls now covered in crimson stains.
Hera: I-won.
Hera had left an ice crystal behind her on the floor waiting for the Prince to try this very trick. Every time she boosted her mana she was pumping mana into the crystal behind her sharpening and growing it to a deadly magnitude.
Shade Prince: No...way. How could I lose? .
Hera and the Prince collapse, one dead and another not far behind
Moments after the fight's conclusion, soaking wet footsteps come storming down the hall shouting in a desperate voice.
Yasu: Hera! Emma! Where are you!
Emma: Over here!
Yasu: What happened to her? Where's she bleeding from!?
Emma: Everywhere. I don't know how to stop it, there's too many wounds for me to stop it.
Slamming the ground in frustration Yasu curses himself for not learning healing magic while Kiyoshi and Emma search for the deeper wounds.
Yasu: We still have to try. I can't heal much at all but we have to try.
Kiyoshi: I'm in the same boat but I'll do what I can.
Emma: Right, we can't let her die here.
The three of them desperately try to heal Hera as she loses blood quickly from her multitude of cuts and gashes, while Ryker and Yurie are engaging in the fight of their lives.