As she plucked her fingers, Queen Ayu made the sky grow darker. Thunder and lightning surged, as if a storm was about to occur. Cumulonimbus clouds spread across the entire sky of Grimoir City. It was as if she could alter the weather with just her fingers.
BLARR~~
"So, you've decided to come, sister!"
'We gave you an opportunity, only to let you behave in such a disrespectful manner,' Ayu muttered with an angry glare. Along with her words, the trees twisted and turned as the strong wind blew.
"An opportunity? Is trading someone's life for another life considered an opportunity?!"
The lightning grew more relentless, striking indiscriminately. Beads of sweat started to trickle down Zeyn's cheek, feeling both amazed and trembling. After all, his sister was that powerful. Changing the weather of an entire region at will, as well as manipulating the human body with her mind... she was indeed suited to be the second queen of this mystical kingdom.
BLARR~~ BLAZZT...
From the village, none of the local residents dared to venture out of their homes out of fear. The village chief, along with the elders, observed the celestial events unfolding above them, and all they could do was continue to pray.
"Will we be alright?"
"Hmph! Where's your sense of sympathy? We've been saved countless times because of that kid who always solves our problems."
"But, it's him who always prevents people from entering here... If only he had let those people go in the first place, none of this would have happened."
"You're so foolish! Your thinking is so shallow!"
These people engaged in heated debates, questioning what was right and wrong. On the other hand, the village chief was not particularly concerned about either; the most important thing now was the safety of the child.
"Zeyn..." the village chief murmured, filled with worry.
* * *
The inhabitants of Vasukih forest felt both admiration and fear towards their leader's power, so they chose to keep their distance from the affairs of the siblings.
'Everyone, run from here for your own good!' shouted a humanoid figure with a buffalo head.
In the end, the abstract beings moved further away, leaving Zeyn alone to face his sister, who was a black serpent shapeshifter. Additionally, there were still a few Lizardman palace warriors who surrounded him, supporting the snake queen.
'This is my brother's problem. I'm certain he wants to face me alone.'
'But... Your Majesty?'
The Lizardmen soldiers exchanged glances and eventually nodded in obedience to the command. They took flight and distanced themselves from the scene.
'If you've come here to fight, then I'm ready to face you,' Ayu shouted.
Meanwhile, Zeyn remained unresponsive, contemplating a myriad of ways to handle the situation. The young man charged his energy shield, protecting his body, preparing for the worst possible outcome.
"I am a man, and whatever path I choose, I have already prepared my resolve," he declared.
Their intense gazes locked, each attempting to intimidate the other, causing the ground to crack and the trees to shudder. A clash of chakra auras emanated from two equally powerful entities. Zeyn refused to yield under the pressure exerted by his sister, determined not to be overshadowed.
KKRK~~ Bzzztt...
A thunderclap finally struck with incredible speed. The resounding roar was so deafening that it felt like eardrums were on the verge of bursting. It headed straight toward Ayu, but she swiftly caught the thunderbolt with one hand. The crackling sound of electricity was immense, transforming the thunderbolt into a spear-like weapon.
'I won't hold back,' Ayu muttered. With the natural lightning in her grasp, she appeared even more intimidating.
"Go ahead!"
BLRZT~~
In the blink of an eye, Ayu was already behind him, intending to launch a punch. Her movements were as swift as lightning. However, Zeyn swiftly assumed a defensive stance, using one hand to block his sister's attack.
Blow after blow was directed at Zeyn, not just once or twice. They truly engaged in a physical power struggle, exchanging punches and blocking each other's attacks. Not only that, Ayu also utilized her tail, occasionally swiping it towards her opponent like a weapon.
Bagh~ Bagh...
The clash of their physical energies was so intense that it created shockwaves spreading in all directions. Powerful impacts pushed everything aside, disregarding the fact that their collision caused the ground, rocks, and trees to crack and crumble.
'What is this? Is this all you've got?' Ayu exclaimed.
"Don't be arrogant!"
A smirk appeared on Ayu's face as she continued to attack her brother with bare hands. Yet, each punch was consistently evaded. Zeyn managed to hold his own and counter her strikes. Unfortunately, Ayu was equally adept at evading his attacks.
One of her punches managed to bypass his defenses, and Zeyn relied on the ethereal shield within him for protection. However...
Bagh~ Dagh~
The young man was thrown several meters back, reeling from the impact of the punch that struck his chest.
"Ugh..."
Throughout the encounter, Ayu had only used her hands and tail to attack Zeyn. However, her strikes proved to be effective, as she didn't need to utilize the thunder spear still held in her right hand.
'If you're not serious, you could die,' Ayu remarked.
Zeyn wiped the blood from his mouth, but this time, he smiled with a grin.
"Big sister, you talk as if you're going to kill me. Yet, the thunder is only in your hands all this time."
Was that a challenge? If so, it meant that his sibling had truly gone mad. No human could escape a thunderbolt strike, and she believed he knew that too.
"Let's make a wager. If you dare to throw that thunderbolt at me, then I will be truly serious," Zeyn declared firmly, pointing at her.
'... Hmmm.'
At first, Ayu hesitated, contemplating his proposal. A heavy sigh indicated her weariness of playing around. She raised her hands in front of her and recited an incantation. A chant in ancient Sanskrit flowed from her lips, a language that even Zeyn himself did not understand.
A massive dark bow now rested in Ayu's left hand, radiating a sinister aura. It resembled a weapon engulfed in black flames, and the bright blue glowing string indicated that this was no ordinary artifact.
"Finally, you're willing to use your magic."
The massive thunder spear in Ayu's right hand transformed into a giant arrow. A crackling sound accompanied by lightning bolts crackling in every direction. Without hesitation, Ayu aimed at Zeyn from a distance of just 9 meters.
'What about you? Or have you exhausted yourself with your previous spectacular action earlier?' she taunted.
Ckrzcttztzt~ Blrzt~~ Zhuuzzttt...
Taking careful aim, she prepared to unleash the devastating power of the divine weapon directly at her brother's chest.
"I have planned everything carefully, don't hesitate," Zeyn murmured.
'Ok then...'
BLRZZT...
The thunderous arrow was released, obliterating everything in its path. Trees and rocks bore witness to its immense power. Its movement was so swift that Zeyn couldn't even blink. The speed of lightning, which can reach up to 670 million mph, was no joke.
BLAZZT~~
The rocks, trees, rivers, and even the ground on which Zeyn stood were immediately pulverized upon the impact of the weapon. The scorching heat from the attack could be felt within a radius of 500 meters, as expected since a giant lightning strike has a temperature hotter than the surface of the sun. A significant portion of the Vasukih forest was instantly reduced to ash and charred remains. If the supernatural beings hadn't instinctively evaded, they would have become victims as well. Only the wielder of the bow remained unaffected by the repercussions of her own attack.
Compared to Zeyn's earlier technique, the impact of Ayu's attack was broader and more destructive, even though it was just a single arrow.
"...So, is this the extent of your abilities?"
'What!?'
Simultaneously, Zeyn's voice emerged from the left as he directed a kick towards his unprepared sister.
Dagh~~
The kick successfully landed on Ayu's ribcage, causing her to stagger and feel intense pain.
'Ukkh...!' she groaned.
"One"
Dagh~~
Another kick struck Ayu's abdomen, inflicting a searing and excruciating pain. She felt a burning sensation engulfing her body.
"Two!"
Dagh~~
"Three!"
Dagh~~
"Four!"
Dagh~~
Zeyn carefully calculated his attacks. Unlike before, where they seemed ineffective, each strike now hit its mark with tremendous force. The power surrounding him was overwhelming, enough to break through Ayu's defensive shield. It was as if he had become a close-range cannon, relentlessly bombarding his sister.
"Five! Six!" he counted, his attacks landing with precision. From within his body, a reddish aura transformed into a darker shade. Simultaneously, his fiery red eyes gleamed brightly amidst the darkness of the forest.
"Seven!"
The serpent spirit felt the impact of each strike intensely. Zeyn's kicks and punches had managed to severely weaken its body, despite appearing as ordinary blows. What made them extraordinary was the surge of energy or chakra that accompanied each attack. The blood-red aura surrounding Zeyn's strikes held a deadly power. If a normal person were struck by one of his blows, they would likely be fatally injured. The strikes harnessed the immense chi energy from within his body, capable of shattering internal organs with a single touch.
"Eight!"
'Geez, you are too excited.'
With her strength, she infused her body with electricity and sparks once again. But this time, she generated the lightning herself, harnessing its power within her. In a surprising move, she swiftly pulled Zeyn into an embrace, as if intending for him to be struck by the electric current coursing through her.
As their bodies connected, an intense surge of energy and electrical discharge engulfed them both. The crackling sound and blinding light filled the immediate vicinity, creating a spectacle of raw power and elemental forces entwined in a fierce clash.
Chhzzzttt~~~
"Uaaghh... aahh. Haah!"
The thunderous bolt struck Ayu as she raised her hands, seemingly commanding the sky to strike her once more, just as she did before the battle commenced.
BLARRZTT...
Now that it was connected to her, the thunder seemed to energize rather than harm her. Her wounds rapidly healed, her energy replenished, and her protective shield not only restored but also transformed into a shimmering blue aura of electrical energy that enveloped her form.
The surge of power revitalized Ayu, empowering her for the battle that raged on. With renewed energy, she stood ready to face Zeyn, her body now radiating with the electrifying essence of her elemental prowess.
"You... You can do something like that...?"
While still lying on the ground and convulsing, Ayu left him there and picked up her fallen bow. Just by raising her hand, the bow flew towards her on its own.
'To match my speed, you developed a technique to split your body's molecules and move faster. And to attack me, you convert your energy into a devastating destructive aura.'
Once again, the serpent woman sighed, not out of disappointment, but out of pride.
'It's a pity that your magical defenses drastically decrease when you transform your chakra into an offensive style,' Ayu said with a gentle smile. 'Did you think your sister wouldn't understand your tricks?'
As if cursing the world, the young man rose unsteadily while suppressing his emotions. Despite being prepared, he had been careless with his eighth attack.
'Well then...'
Blrrzztt~~
'Should we just put an end to all of this?'
With power, she once again summoned thunder from the dark clouds above. Now she formed a giant sword, ready to strike down her own sibling.
'It's still a hundred years too early for you to defeat me, my dear brother.'
"Damn it~"
'Besides, you are incredibly foolish. Using your trump card at the beginning of a battle, and that's only to slaughter individuals weaker than me. Do you think you can defeat your own sibling through mere self-defense?' Ayu asked, perplexed.
* * * *