Audrey went towards Serkyrio's office to ask him about the duel control room. She was slightly hesitant as she knew that the Emperor doesn't normally take requests from those that aren't direct members of the original Preeliance. There was a chance that she would be ignored outright if she wasn't careful with her words. "Come in." When she heard those words, she entered with a firm feeling of belief.
"You're... [Sentinel of the Arcana], if I remember correctly? Welcome back, I believe you came here to report on the damage against a high-threat opponent?" Audrey was shocked, straight off the bat. She already understood the full prowess of Serkyrio but to even see further than that, beyond a realm is something that she could not understand. "Yes, the Fae Realm that I have stayed has a time difference, each second that passes here is forty-eight seconds to that Realm. In my third year there, I fought against a minion from the enemy side. She was a half-spirit, half-goddess, her abilities are..." Audrey grit her teeth in frustration. "Unknown... Huh...?" She was no longer able to remember the abilities the enemy had. "Of course you won't remember yet, both of you are Goddesses of Magic, the enemy, albeit being a former goddess, is stronger than you as of now. She fiddled with your mind while fighting, erasing all information of her abilities in your head while battling." "What?!" Audrey wasn't able to understand the reason, but Serkyrio himself knew everything. "Oh well, at the very least, you did give us great information about our third Apostle. I'm sure this isn't everything you want to talk about either. You want Draxus to see your growth right?" Audrey nodded, feeling slightly pressured as Serkyrio wants to confirm things. "While I do see that you've taken up new courses in both techniques and magic, do you believe that you can reach Draxus's level?" Audrey knew that the question is to test her immediately, considering that Serkyrio seemed to already know that she is a Goddess, she simply spoke with full on honesty. "I want to win against Draxus, even at least once." Serkyrio smiled as he decided to take the control room for the duel.
The next day, a huge audience was gathered because the duel involved an Archon and a newly appointed rank, Executioner. They wanted to see if there's a considerable difference between the two ranks and learn something from it. It recently became popular for adventurers to check out any duel between Preeliance members as it is a chance to catch an idea about new types of magic, or admire techniques used by highly powerful people.
"I will be acting as the referee today, both of you already know the rules right? Specially that Serkyrio will be the one in the control room, you especially understand how his battles work. [Eternal Regeneration] will be activated every minute, and the last one will be at the ten minute mark." The audience pretty much know of the rules set in high-rank duels. Lower end duels only can finish at a point of lethal strike, but higher-end duels require somebody to be unconscious in the duel. In this time however, the rulers of each allied country wanted to see the battle along with the Heroes.
A countdown began as Draxus prepared two swords, now using highly specialized weapons that are meant to make use of both [Concept Magic] and [Theory Magic], while Audrey prepared her staff and hakkero for a speed cast magic. "Begin!" In that second, Draxus immediately disappeared from his position. "[Freezing Coffin]." Straight off the bat, he casted an entrapment spell against Audrey which was cancelled out in the instant he casted it. In return, Audrey spam-casted her standard abilities without hesitation. Against an overwhelming attack by Draxus, Audrey would counter it with the same tactic, but with an element that is much more effective against Draxus.
Against ice, she used fire. Against Electric, she used metal. Against wind, she used earth. Draxus's immediate attacks of magic were immediately proven ineffective. It was a test by Draxus whether she could survive an initial strike, but with that known, he now proceeds if she can survive close-combat, something that she hasn't passed before. However, she does have her new plan for that.
She used another spam attack of both Malevarious and Soul's Embrace to disorient Draxus, but he sliced each magic with his two swords, and dodged the laser with ease. "Judging by his speed, he's fifty percent at full power..." Audrey quickly calculated Draxus's current power usage and completely understood that she won't stand too long against him, specially with his mix of swordsmanship and magic attacks from near-impossible angles. She hid her staff and prepared a surprise attack. Draxus, processing things faster than Audrey, took notice of the surprise attack plan and cancelled his approach. "Figured, there's no possible way to land a surprise attack on you after all." Audrey actually waited for Draxus to get into a dangerously close position, but knowing Draxus, he doesn't enjoy being hit from a sudden angle without a good compensation for it. "I wonder what you have in store? A suicide tactic perhaps, seeing that you let me get too close...? But I will see your tricks now." Draxus closed his position, taking the risk of eating damage as the first minute is now approaching. Just as he was about to slice down his sword, Audrey materialized a shield from [Interdimensional Storage], and a sword on her right hand. She blocked a lethal strike at hairsbreadth and launched a small timeframe counterattack which Draxus was only able to deflect into a graze. "Sheesh, you're now taking up weapons huh?" "To win against you, I have to resort into non-conventional tactics, things you have never seen me do, or use before." And in that moment, the first [Eternal Regeneration] had been activated. "Then how long can you survive?" Draxus disappeared from his position, seemingly raising the power he's using slowly. "Ghh, I knew you'd be this much of a tricky opponent when it comes to melee combat. Audrey barely managed to parry the sword techniques Draxus used with her shield. With ice spikes approaching from all directions, she had to keep in mind about angled attacks and counter it all efficiently.
She used fire to melt all the ice and convert them into mana for her absorption. When Draxus took notice, he dashed back and summoned ice spikes from every direction possible and converged them to Audrey. She quickly dispersed everything but that wasn't the end of her problems. A strong wind gathered in Draxus's position, with a stance as if prepared to cut any attack incoming, she knew what was coming next. "[Kingfisher Bladework Fantasia], [Finale]!" Audrey knew that Draxus now became serious in fighting against her, something that she had wanted to happen because of her training. "[Form of Eternal Magic]! [Metallic Celestial Form]!" With regular Metallic form, Audrey would stand no chance withstanding a highly dangerous sword skill from Draxus. But she has come completely prepared for every possibility this time. Her form changed greatly into a metallic Valkyrie imbued with celestial power, enough to resist the turbulence of time and dimension. Metallic blades move around to surround and protect her like a barrier as Draxus activated the sword skill. "[Beurteilung]!" In less than a split second, the dimensions were split harder and time had been cut into a difficult to read atmosphere.
Draxus silently sheathed the sword, initiating a massive blow of reconnection of everything into place. In that moment, Audrey knew that Draxus would be vulnerable, and thus she immediately used metallic blades to go underground and pierce through Draxus from below. "Shi-!" In such a short time frame, Draxus now understood that Audrey is seriously trying to win the battle. Taking a few blades and shattering them with his gauntlet infused with divinity, he took out two cards. "[Stars] and [Moon] huh...? Guess this is where it gets really difficult." Audrey narrowed her eyes as she prepared on what to do against Draxus next.