In a mesmerizing dance of both combatants Risstle initiated the clash by casting a combat domain spell, meeting Karlina in a flurry of movements. As Karlina unleashed her whiplash, Risstle deftly evaded, leading to her next incantation.
"Water spell, attack utilization: Aquarrows Aerial Barrage!"
The air crackled with magic as water transformed into arrow-shaped projectiles, ascending upon Karlina in a relentless barrage above. Swift and calculating, Karlina responded with her own incantation,
"Malevolent Whiplash Deflection,"
skillfully warding off the aquatic assault.
In retaliation, Karlina heightened her agility, swiftly advancing behind Risstle with alarming speed. Executing
"torture impactlash,"
she infused her whip with spikes, aiming for Risstle's back. Yet, Risstle's combat domain spell, enhancing her reflexes, countered in a fraction of a second with
"Water spell, defense utilization: Aqua Guard Veil,"
conjuring a protective shield that thwarted Karlina's whip lash assault.
Karlina, impressed, remarked,
"Not bad, water sorcerer. But how long will you last with only half your soul energy?"
In the silent realm of thought, Karlina acknowledged Risstle's impressive defense, an impenetrable fortress in liquid form.
Risstle, sensing the limitations of her combat domain spell, opted to cast it aside.
Surprised, Karlina questioned, "You cast out your combat spell, your only chance of defense against me?"
With a confident smirk, Risstle explained, "My combat domain spell is is futile if my opponent is running around ouside my combat range so I'll rely on my martial arts. Charge at me if you dare."
Amused, Karlina laughed,
"Have you lost your mind, mere human? Fine, I'll rip you apart."
Undeterred, Risstle calmly replied,
"Don't underestimate us water sorcerers. I used the combat domain to conserve my physical energy."
Karlina charged, claws ready, but Risstle, eyes closed, harnessed her calm state to effortlessly deflect Karlina's assault, countering with a palm strike that sent Karlina reeling, bloodied.
"Impossible! How can a mere human keep up with me and inflict pain?"
Karlina exclaimed.
Perplexed by Risstle's resilience, Karlina learned that water sorcerers weren't just scholars of spells but masters of underwater martial arts, endowed with extraordinary combat capabilities. Undeterred, Risstle proposed a clash. With a sardonic smirk, Karlina accepted the challenge, both of them defying gravity as they ascended vertically on the building's side. The clash of whiplashes and water-infused hand strikes persisted until they reached the towering 13-floor building's rooftop, transforming it into an arena of elemental warfare.
At the pinnacle of the tower, Risstle, panting and nearly drained of anima mundi, confronted Karlina.
"You'll pay for those souls you've murdered and tormented,"
Risstle asserted, her voice strained.
Karlina, ever arrogant, responded,
"Ha! These wretched fools deserve nothing. Life in its nature signifies their justified despair in my hands."
In anger, Risstle retorted,
"Don't you have any remorse for those innocents? Don't you have anyone to value more than yourself?"
Suddenly, Karlina was struck by a headache, and a few flashbacks from her past infiltrated her thoughts.
In Greece, in the year 996 AD, in the remote village of Kallianthi, Karlina was once known as Zoe. At the age of 17, her mother succumbed to illness, leaving her with her abusive alcoholic father named Kakos. Zoe's life was a ceaseless cycle of servitude, compelled to steal for her father's insatiable vices.
"You useless brat! You come to my house empty-handed just because you haven't eaten yet,"
her father berated her while subjecting her to physical abuse.
One day, a repugnant, overweight, and lecherous merchant named Atrinos visited Kakos' house in search of something valuable. Kakos, sinisterly smiling, picked up Zoe, who was in the midst of eating bread, and declared,
"Fifteen gold coins, and you can have her."
Atrinos, uninterested in a servant, countered,
"I am not looking for a servant."
Undeterred, Kakos insisted,
"She is diligent; she can serve you very well."
Atrinos, visibly disappointed
"fine I'll take her for seven gold coins."
Zoe's life took a darker turn in Atrinos' possession.serving atrinos as a slave being Abused and rented out to other men for pleasure, her existence became a nightmare. One night, when Atrinos decided to sell her, Zoe, having endured enough, attempted to escape. In the struggle, she killed Atrinos with a hidden knife.
Arrested for murder, she stood trial and was swiftly judged guilty. In a cruel twist, Zoe, who only sought peace, faced execution. Stoned by those who revered Atrinos, she cried out,
"These people don't have any idea what I've been through. I just wanted a peaceful life."
Her corpse was cast off a cliff, but Netheroc, drawn to the site, resurrected her with his dark purple vine spell the vines strucks her body giving her life sustainance but in exchange of cursed flesh replacing her human blood with cursed blood coming from netheroc.
"You will be a bringer of vengeance and my executioner. Seize them all for me and for yourself, Karlina,"
Netheroc proclaimed.
Reborn as an undead Acolyte, Karlina carried the weight of her tragic past, a past that fueled the relentless pursuit of vengeance and retribution against those who had wronged her.
Karlina's body began to deform under the immense weight, causing cracks to spread across the roof of the building. Without wasting a moment, Risstle initiated her attack on the transforming Karlina.
"Water spell, attack utilization: water cannon ball,"
Risstle commanded.
However, to Risstle's dismay, her attack barely scratched Karlina. The silhouette of Karlina emanated a cursed energy that enveloped her, revealing a tempting yet horrifying transformation.
"Mistress of pain: the bringer of vengeance!"
Karlina announced the name of her new form.
Horrified, Risstle realized the danger Karlina now posed, her curse energy more potent and overwhelming. Remaining on guard, Risstle braced for Karlina's next move.
Karlina's eyes glowed as she uttered, "Die." Her vocal waves transformed into a green sonic beam that shot toward Risstle, containing invisible blades that cut through Risstle's skin.
"I never thought I would encounter an undead this powerful. She's not just elite; she's close to a dread master level,"
Risstle whispered to herself.
Despite Karlina continuously using her vocals to unleash sonic beams, Risstle managed to dodge them this time. Risstle retaliated with a barrage of water bullets, but Karlina's sonic beams blocked and neutralized them effortlessly.
"If you keep dodging, you won't defeat me, little girl. Why not accept my attacks and end your struggle? Let me help you with that," Karlina taunted with a menacing smile.
In an instant, Karlina dashed to Risstle, appearing behind her and grabbing her arm.
"So fast. I never knew she could reach this level of speed in her transformed state. I can't break free from her grip,"
Risstle thought, surprised by Karlina's abilities.
Karlina's eyes glowed once again, and she screamed,
"Scream of PAIN!"
A deafening sound unleashed a powerful sonic beam at Risstle, inflicting massive cuts. Overwhelmed by the injuries, Risstle fell unconscious, and Karlina casually dropped her off the building.
As Risstle descended, flashes of her past suddenly glimmered before her eyes.
"Grandma, are you sure this archery is necessary? I mean, it's not that hard for me to aim my water attack spells,"
a young Risstle questioned her grandmother while training in archery.
"Risstle, an ultimate skill is what our clan specializes in. We, the Mizunari clan, may lack combat prowess, but we excel in ranged attacks. For generations, we have focused on honing our skills to master our ultimate skill. We train our overall spell zone, advanced combat domain spell, unique and combination skills less, but we, the Mizunari, are masters of the ultimate skill. Risstle, aim properly and dismantle your enemies,"
her grandmother advised.
Risstle woke up as she descended from the rooftop, casting a water blast spell to propel herself back to the rooftop. Barely standing, Risstle focused on her sole enemy, Karlina.
"Impossible! That scream is one of my most powerful spells. There's no way Risstle survived it,"
a surprised Karlina muttered to herself after witnessing Risstle's resilience.
Risstle generated a beautiful water bow from her hand, utilizing the water essences absorbed from Karlina's armies, turning them into water arrows. She winded up for her attack.
"Haaa!! You think you can stop me with that? I'll just use my powerful scream of pain to block your arrow and dismantle you when it reaches you,"
Karlina declared, her green eyes glowing as she prepared to unleash her attack. Both combatants readied their attacks.
"Water Spell, Ultimate Skill: Poseidon's Arrow."
"Scream of Pain."
The two unleashed their most potent attacks. The arrow and the sonic waves clashed, destroying the entire building and sending shockwaves throughout the entire city.
Mid-air amidst the falling debris, the arrow pierced through the shockwaves, charging at Karlina. In that moment, Risstle's eyes revealed her ability to see the weak points of anything, not just the enemies but also their attacks. Simultaneously, Karlina unleashed her attack. Risstle anticipated it, knew precisely where to fire her arrow, and the moment it struck Karlina, the arrow exploded, causing significant damage.
Upon hitting the ground, Risstle ran out of anima mundi and passed out. The barrier that enveloped the citizens disappeared, but Karlina remained conscious.
"I can't believe you still managed to damage me that heavily despite the injuries I gave you. But time's up; you ran out of hope. I shall send you to the afterlife."
Just as Karlina was about to strike the unconscious Risstle, the golden necklace jumped out of her pocket, breaking as a shadowy figure of a man appeared and punched Karlina, knocking her back.
"Sorry if I'm late, Risstle. Let me handle everything from here," Oliver declared as he returned with a power-up.