The air around her seemed to shimmer as her hands traced arcane patterns, culminating in a radiant burst of energy that surged toward us.
The intensity of light momentarily blinded me, my instincts kicking in as I shielded my eyes with an upraised arm. The impact spell reverberated through the chamber, a forceful wave that threatened to throw me off balance.
I could hear Claudia's voice amidst the chaos, her words of determined encouragement urging us to press on and not falter.
A beam of light pierced the chamber as Darniqtia raised her weapon high. Radiating brilliance from her staff, I watched as everything seemed to warp and fold around me.
I stood there, immobilised by a mixture of confusion and fear, unable to make a single movement.
The world around me twisted and contorted, the very fabric of reality warping under the influence of Darniqtia's power.
The sensation was disorienting, like being caught in the grip of an otherworldly force that defied comprehension. I struggled to maintain my bearings, my thoughts racing as I tried to comprehend the extent of Darniqtia's abilities.
A golden light manifested behind Darniqtia as she continued to channel a powerful emission of light. As her efforts intensified, an astonishing development occurred: not one, but sixteen portals burst open simultaneously.
With a wicked grin, she extended her fingers in my direction. Her expression exuded a malevolent satisfaction as projectiles emerged from the shimmering golden portals, akin to a barrage of machine gun fire erupting from their confines.
The projectiles hurtled toward me with alarming speed, their trajectory seemingly guided by Darniqtia's malicious intent. Each one gleamed with otherworldly energy, and their collective force promised a devastating impact.
The air vibrated with the chaotic energy of the assault, and I knew that evading this onslaught would be a formidable challenge.
Instinct kicked in as I leapt to the side, narrowly avoiding the initial wave of projectiles. The ground where I had stood a moment before was pockmarked with impacts, evidence of the sheer destructive power that Darniqtia commanded.
Adrenaline surged through my veins as I moved, and my senses heightened as I assessed the situation.
In an instant, one of the projectiles found its mark, striking my body directly. The impact was staggering, and pain erupted through me as the catastrophic injury took its
toll. I crumpled to the ground, a grunt escaping my lips as I instinctively pressed my wounded area with my right hand. Despite the agony, I clenched my revolver with my left hand, unwilling to relinquish the weapon even in the face of adversity.
The scene unfolded before Claudia's eyes, her shock mirrored in her expression as she witnessed me being hit square in the chest. Reacting swiftly, she moved to my side, her grip firm as she encircled my waist.
With a determined focus, she conjured a protective barrier, a shimmering shield that surrounded us. Within its confines, she set to work on treating my grievous wound.
The pain was excruciating, every breath a struggle as I lay there, the world around me a blur of chaos and turmoil.
Claudia's efforts were a lifeline, her healing abilities weaving a restorative magic that eased some of the pain and slowed the severity of the injury.
Through gritted teeth, I managed to maintain my grip on the revolver, a testament to my refusal to be defeated.
As Claudia's healing magic took effect, a sense of warmth spread through me, counteracting the shock and pain.
With her support, I found the strength to prop myself up slightly, my back pressed against the reassuring solidity of the shield barrier. My gaze met Claudia's, gratitude and determination passing between us in that unspoken moment.
"Can you still fight, Kazuki?" Claudia's concerned voice reached me.
I gritted my teeth against the lingering pain, determination fueling my response. "Yes, I can still fight."
Claudia's eyes locked onto mine, a shared understanding passing between us. She nodded her expression with a mix of determination and readiness.
"I want to blast a hole in her defence," I continued, my tone resolute. "Claudia, you take care of the rear and cast a force field spell around me. I'll flank her from the side. And I give you the initiative to use your strongest spell against her."
With a nod of agreement, Claudia adjusted her stance, her focus shifting to the magic she was preparing. I tightened my grip on the revolver, my heart pounding with a mixture of adrenaline and determination.
"HERE WE GO!"
I dashed forward, swiftly closing the gap between us and entering Darniqtia's range of fire. I fired a couple of shots to create a diversion, while a mixture of Claudia's ice and dark spells intertwined in a mesmerising display.
With unwavering determination coursing through me, I transformed my dual revolvers into melee weapons as I closed in on her. Transitioning seamlessly from long-range to hand-to-hand combat, I engaged her in a fierce and dynamic confrontation.
Same as firing a gun, my agility and speed never matched Darniqtia's relentless offensive. I swung and slashed my revolvers with lightning speed, countering her attacks with well-timed parries.
Each clash of our weapons registered a hit on her metallic body, igniting sparks of fire with every impact.
Amidst the chaos of our battle, I couldn't help but notice that Darniqtia's confidence seemed to waver slightly. Her expression, once smug and assured, now held a hint of frustration.
It was as if my relentless assault was chipping away at her composure, testing the limits of her formidable abilities.
[CLANG… CLANG… CLANG…]
"BREAK!"
A hard swing from my right hand destroyed a fraction of her metallic body, scattering sparks and debris across the chamber. The echoes of the impact reverberated through the air, a testament to the intensity of our struggle.
"NOW, CLAUDIA, BRING IT DOWN!"
"ABYSSAL WAVE!"
Darniqtia's once imposing metallic body was now severely damaged, but the attack had not proven fatal. However, even in her weakened state, there was an unsettling aura about her, a fanatic craze that seemed to emanate from every fibre of her being.
She channelled a surge of energy, her form surrounded by an ominous glow that signalled her determination to continue the fight.
"I… finally… found… a potential wielder…" Darniqtia muttered to herself with a face of satisfaction.
"I'm impressed with your strength too, but I've seen enough. The ancient artefact is all yours. You've earned it. Until we meet again, bye-bye~"
With those enigmatic words, Darniqtia threw a canister that contained a flash, temporarily blinding both Kazuki and Claudia. As their vision slowly restored, they realised that Darniqtia had disappeared without a trace.
As they looked around, trying to make sense of the situation, a realisation dawned upon them: they had unwittingly passed Darniqtia's endurance test.
The scene had shifted from the intense battle to an eerie stillness. The chamber was silent, the only sound the soft crackling of sparks. Kazuki and Claudia exchanged glances, their breathing heavy and hearts still racing from the intense
the battle they had just emerged from.
"Did we... Did we win?" Claudia asked, her voice filled with a mix of disbelief and relief.
Kazuki slowly got up, his body aching but his determination unshaken. He looked around the chamber, his gaze settling on the remnants of their battle, the signs of their struggle etched into the walls and floor.
He then turned his attention to the centre of the chamber, where the mysterious artefact was located.
Walking over to it, he cautiously picked it up, feeling its weight in his hand. The artefact was intricately designed, with an otherworldly shimmer that seemed to dance across its surface.
As he held it, he could sense a surge of energy coursing through him, a feeling of power that was both exhilarating and unsettling.
"It looks like we did, Claudia," Kazuki replied, a mixture of exhaustion and triumph in his voice. "We passed her test."
Claudia joined him by his side, her eyes fixed on the artefact. "What do you think it is?"
Kazuki shook his head, a thoughtful expression on his face. "I'm not sure, but I have a feeling that it's connected to the ancient Ko'olqurea technology she mentioned. Whatever it is, we should be careful with it."