The audience attempted to leave the auction hall but the doors did not budge. They were prisoners within the auction hall until they would be arrested by the SSB Magi. Either that or Rucia would defeat Kuroha.
"I can sense it. You're strong. Your power probably is equal to that of an Emperor, but it's the same for me. I've been training and I'm also that strong."
She said.
Rucia opened her hand, summoning two axes into her hands. She slowly approached Kuroha and stared into her eyes. Their faces barely had any space apart.
The flaxen-haired woman attacked first. She sliced at Kuroha's throat. She dodged at point-blank range and fell onto her hand, swinging her leg at her side. Rucia managed to block her attack.
Both attacks were tests. Neither one was attempting to injure the other. It was simply an attack to test their measure of strength. However, now, they would fight seriously.
"Have you ever heard of Slayers?"
She spoke while slicing her axes at her Kuroha. She drifted backwards, dodging the attacks.
"Slayers?"
Rucia did a feint with her axe and did a guillotine kick. Kuroha blocked it with her forearm.
"Not exactly human but not exactly monsters either. They're granted abilities to be able to slay whatever they specialise in. For example, a Monster Slayer would be able to beat monsters easily."
"Are you saying you're one of those Slayers?"
"You catch on quick. King Solomon granted us this power. Guess what I am."
Kuroha whacked her leg away and punched her chest, sending her backwards slightly.
"I have no clue."
She answered with a straight face.
"Well, I'm a Mortal Slayer. It's not exactly having an advantage over a human but over all kinds of life."
"Then, it was a trick question."
"Basically."
Rucia answered with a grin.
"Now, I guess I'll release it."
Kuroha moved back on guard. Rucia was releasing an intense mana signature. Although, it felt weird. Not only mana was infused into her aura but ether was as well.
"What are you? Not only mana but ether is in your aura. Blending mana and ether leads to death for humans, so, what are you?"
She asked, calmly.
A horn protruded from the right side of Rucia's head. Her veins became black and visible while her eyes became red.
"A demon."
The ground under Rucia creaked. She jumped upwards. A pink-haired girl climbed out of the ground, aiming a sword at the golden-haired woman.
Rucia blocked with her axes and kicked her in the face. The other two men came towards her.
She ducked as she landed, dodging their punches, driving their punches into each other's faces.
"Seriously...?!"
"Shit!"
Rucia rose and hit the two with the back of her axes. They regrouped near Kuroha.
"Leader, let us help you."
They prepared themselves for battle but Kuroha stood in front of them.
"Renya and Takuya save the slaves. Yuzuha, you go and capture any of the audience who escaped from the balcony. I'll arrest everyone in this room."
"But—"
"Orders."
They stayed silent, obediently following their orders. Kuroha took a deep breath before looking at the demon.
"Since you've used some of your power, I'll use some of mine in response."
"I'd like to see it."
The lights flickered around Kuroha.
"This mana..."
A red light glistened in the spotlight. Kuroha Kuroika now possessed a horn. It was a red flame that came from a symbol under her eyes.
This was her utilising a portion of Nyx's power to herself. As she accessed the power, she grinned maniacally.
Rucia dashed towards her, combining her two axes into a battleaxe, cutting towards her. Kuroha caught it, crushing it with a single squeeze.
"Woah!"
Rucia smiled before receiving a punch to the face. As Kuroha punched her, purple lightning sparked profoundly shocking her and sending her to the other side of the room.
"We'll get you with your guard down!"
Multiple mages attacked Kuroha from her blind spot, behind her.
"If you're going to launch a sneak attack, then don't shout."
She took them out with one whack of her tail. As she turned, she was punched in the face.
In the short time it took Kuroha to take out the mages, Rucia was able to recover and deal a heavy blow to Kuroha.
"Now this is fun!"
"I'm not doing this for fun."
Kuroha pulled Rucia in and reached for the handcuffs, however, Rucia suddenly pulled back. She turned, looking at the doors as if something was supposed to be there.
"Guess I'll have to go. Tch, just when I was having fun."
She muttered to herself.
Hearing this, Kuroha rushed towards Rucia in an attempt to capture her. The woman leapt away onto the balconies.
"Looks like your friends in white coats have arrived. I'd rather not deal with them."
White mist appeared beside him, slowly swallowing her body. She waved goodbye to Kuroha before her presence disappeared completely.
"Where did she go?"
Kuroha could not sense her at all. Her presence was concealed. Or perhaps, it was gone.
"Spatial Magic? Oh well, I'll just arrest these guys first."
·———·
"You always do everything by yourself, Kuro-chan, you never tell your superiors."
The SSB officers were taking the slaves into protective custody and arresting all of the remaining customers who attended the auction.
"That's because you're an irresponsible superior, Vanish."
"How many times have I told you to call me by my first name, Drag?"
"Calling my superior by my first name would be rude."
"Isn't calling me irresponsible rude?"
The man crushed his cigarette against his finger.
Drag Vanish. He's part of an elite squad of Magi in the SSB who are often referred to as the Big 4. His hair was lime green. A strand of his hair extended into a braid. The man wore glasses that covered his salmon eyes. He had a tattoo of a tiger on the back of his hand.
"That's because you are."
"Leader!"
A group ran over to Kuroha and Drag. It was Kuroha's unit including Yuzuha Momogami, Renya Shirogane and Takuya Mitogi. They were all rookies in Kuroha's peerage.
"We found all the remaining slaves except for that one girl. She just disappeared."
"What?"
·———·
"You were late! Do you know how long I've been held as a slave!"
The girl rubbed her wrists, relieved that the cuffs were off.
"Relax, Kafka. Master specifically told me to save you today, for some reason."
"Tch, that perverted geezer."
"Yeah, I wanted to save you as fast as possible."
The girl shivered.
"D-don't tell me...!"
"No, don't worry, I still have my chastity. But still...! I sleep in fear every night! I could feel him staring at me with lustful eyes!"
The man held his arms, flinching, remembering the horror he experienced.
The girl shed a tear.
"I'm sorry for getting captured. I'll protect you from now on, Rin!"
"Thank you!"
The two hugged each other, crying tears of happiness but also sadness.