The ethereal and golden magical auras violently clash against each other. The intent to kill is sharp and heavy throughout the arena.
Anima's ethereal aura that had flood the arena starts to become hazy, almost like a heavy mist. She disappears from sight, only mist filling Ergillaz's view.
*Clank*
The sound of Anima's ghostly sword clashing against Ergillaz's back, fills the arena, The part where the sword wanted to penetrate his bronze skin turned itself into different kinds of magical gems.
Ergillaz exhales a heavy breath, making a large amount of gold dust come out of his mouth. They quickly fill the arena, as bright golden glitters are now mixed with the heavy mist.
A woman's figure is now clear for the eye to see as the gold dust shows her glittering silhouette. Pointing his hand in her direction, a surge of energy bursts out.
The wraith queen slices the incoming burst of goldlike mana, successfully stopping in its path. The floor that it had touched transformed from stone into several different minerals and other valuable materials.
Anima's silhouette stands still. Then another appears to her right, another to her left, one in front of her and one behind her. Now 5 silhouettes of the wraith queen exist as she uses her illusionary magic to confuse Ergillaz. They spread out, encircling the arch devil of Lucille's Light.
The one to his right rushes forward to attack. Ergillaz does not respond, his golden eyes still looking at the one in front of him. The attacking duplicate of Anima goes to slice him, but simply passes through. An illusion that cannot actually do any damage it seems.
Ergillaz's gold dust that had spread in the arena has a multitude of purposes. The first is that he can force mass petrification if his opponents are weak enough, the second it can help visually and finally if strongly infused with his aura it can help see the magical residence in his opponent.
The mere illusions of Anima do not have the magical residences to be considered a threat. Making it pretty clear who the main body is. Ergillaz holds out his dominant right hand once more, firing multiple smaller bursts of arcane energy towards the wraith queen.
Anima does not dodge, again she easily slices them apart. She rushes forwards, blade in hand, preparing to strike. Ergillaz who knows that she's the main body prepares to block. Until his feeling of mana is suddenly thrown off completely.
The figure that was rushing was definitely the source, but now it had instantly switched towards the duplicated that was attacking him from behind.
Anima's ethereal sword again makes contact with Ergillaz's automatic defense. The sound of the auras violently clashing is deafening, causing the northern wall of the arena to finally completely collapse.
Ergillaz however was still unharmed. From that one strike, different minerals start to appear on Anima's hands and the sword she wields. These magic minerals attach themselves to Ergillaz's mineral defense, locking the arch devil and wraith queen together.
Ergillaz's two hands grab the slender and thin, ethereal throat of Anima. An incredible force behind them as he pours his magical essence inside of her, causing her to begin to transform into a golden statue. A small layer of gold is formed on her neck, as his pure force is unleashed upon her.
Anima's clouded eyes look even mistier than usual. Struggling to breath, a sudden large exhale of her breath turns misty. The misty breath directed at Ergillaz's his face makes it way through his nostrils.
Several Illusions fill his head. None are able to distract him, after all, he has dealt with many illusionists in the past. However, this illusion leaves behind a heavy headache, making it feel like his head will split apart.
Ergillaz realizes that instead of forcing illusions of memories or fears, Anima had opted for something more nuanced. The illusion of pain, not mentally, but pure physical agony. The golden eyed arch devil's nervous system believes that something is wrong, and thus they replicate this pain. This false information was of course provided by Anima's illusion.
Realizing that the pain he feels is not lethal, his grip tightens, even more, as a response. Anima's ethereal form has forcefully begun to transform to something golden and physical in nature.
This fight is over, Anima no longer had any chance.
"Ergillaz, what is my goal?" Anima asks softly and way too composed.
"I don't care." Ergillaz responds firmly.
"You're stronger than me. This battle to the end, to kill each other. You're the victor, congratulations." Anima says with a small smile now visible as her mouth has turned slightly golden.
She leans closer to Ergillaz's his left ear, whispering into it.
"Do you truly believe that I came here just to die?" Anima speaks softly, as a surge of mana forms around Ergillaz. The mist that had filled the area, comes together to one spot. Seemingly attacking Ergillaz with not an intent to kill, but to make him retreat. Ergillaz who does not trust the sudden density of mana let goes of the wraith queen and jumps back, creating distance from the swirl of mist.
The mist now goes to Anima, causing the tiny golden layer that surrounds her to disappear with it.
"Ergillaz, what is the essence of battle? You should know what you fight for, but more importantly, you should know what your opponent fights for."
"…"
"You never stood a chance. Because you do not understand me." Anima continues her little berate, seemingly preparing to leave.
"Where do you thi…" Ergillaz suddenly stops speaking. His gold dust that is still scattered across the arena, feeling a presence that shouldn't be here.
Ergillaz turns towards the presence to see the beast of beasts approach. Volathriis approaches, the chimera that has transcended the boundaries of what chimeras were supposed to be. One of the pillars of Lucille's Light, a beast that did not leave the abandoned district. The mount that had killed its master, the manifestation of the abandoned district's hatred.
It approaches menacingly like a beast looking at its prey. The large beast with the skeletal head of a hellhound and with lion like manes made out of pure fire is coming closer and closer.
"Do you understand now, Ergillaz? Our battle was not to the death. It was simply to pass the time." Anima speaks in a lofty voice.
"Unfortunately, I have to do something actually important now. So play with the dog for a moment." Anima says before her misty figure disappears from sight. Leaving the arch devil and the strongest chimera behind. The 2 pillars of this grand city face each other, a seemingly inevitable battle to follow.