Miya and Oswald faced each other, their gazes locked with palpable intensity. Then, without another word, they pushed their auras to their maximum. The atmosphere around them changed abruptly, as if the air itself had become heavy and dense, charged with uncontrollable energy.
Their auras, out of proportion, began to swirl around them, giving off a devastating power. Miya's red energy, blazing and fierce, mingled with Oswald's, dark and sharp, creating a violent clash in the air. The server room, once silent and cold, transformed into a scene of chaos. Electronic devices, unable to withstand such a surge of power, began to crackle and malfunction. Screens flickered frantically before exploding, sending sparks flying throughout the room.
Then, a devastating wave of energy unfolded, causing a tremor that shook the entire prison. The walls vibrated under the colossal force, cracks appeared in the floor and ceilings, while the security alarms screamed relentlessly. Outside, the guards were in panic, feeling the prison structure shake beneath their feet. The place, although designed to withstand extreme threats, found itself helpless in the face of the titanic collision between Miya and Oswald.
Oswald, an amused smile on his lips, looked at Miya with an appreciative gaze. "You have quite a bit of power for a young girl, I must say," he said, his voice tinged with irony.
Miya, unfazed, narrowed her eyes slightly. "You're pretty average for a man your age," she replied with a sharp calm.
Oswald burst out laughing, a loud laugh that echoed through the room. "I hope your blade is sharper than your tongue," he said, his eyes sparkling with dangerous mischief, as he tightened his grip on his sword.
The atmosphere in the room suddenly changed. A red aura, even more intense than the one from earlier, enveloped Miya, swirling around her like a blood storm. Above her body, an ethereal figure appeared, floating in the air. It was a masculine figure, majestic and imposing, dressed in traditional Chinese noble attire, adorned with golden patterns. Every detail of his attire, from the refined embroidery to the elegance of his sleeves, spoke of an ancient and unwavering royalty.
In his hand, he held a shining saber, its cold and implacable glow reflecting the power that the spirit exuded
Oswald, an enigmatic smile on his face, looked at the royal figure above Miya and said calmly, "The Red King... an iconic figure in the art of swordsmanship."
Miya replied confidently, her gaze filled with pride. "The Red King is known as one of the greatest swordsmen in history. He dedicated his life to perfecting the handling of the sword, until he became a legend."
Oswald raised an eyebrow, amused. "So, you will enter Schelterv mode."
Miya nodded, her expression cold but determined. "Exactly. A host who masters their power well can control two mode forms at most. Schelterv mode is a basic form that allows the user to exploit a limited portion of their powers, while favoring precise techniques. But the Awakening form, on the other hand, allows one to unleash unique and mythical skills to their full potential."
Oswald burst out laughing, irony floating in his words. "You're explaining this to me as if I didn't already know."
Miya, a smirk on her face, her gaze piercing, retorted softly, "You're getting old. Maybe memory lapses? A little reminder never hurts."
Their exchange, underpinned by a palpable tension, only increased the pressure before the inevitable confrontation.
In a split second, Miya slashed through the air with her saber, sending a huge slash towards Oswald. The attack was so fast and sharp that the air itself seemed to vibrate under its force. But Oswald, without even moving from his position, deflected the attack with a simple movement of his sword, with an almost supernatural precision.
The slash continued its trajectory and struck the wall behind him. The impact was instantaneous and devastating. The wall, although designed to withstand the most powerful attacks, was reduced to ashes, erased into absolute nothingness. There was nothing left where the attack had hit, as if matter itself had dissolved into nothingness.
Oswald smiled, slightly impressed. "Not bad for a first attack," he said calmly, as if the massive destruction he had just seen had hardly shaken him.
Miya, his face still impassive, answered confidently. "It's a technique I call Return to Dust. It erases all matter upon contact, reducing it to nothing, as if it had never existed."
A flash of excitement flashed through Oswald's eyes, realizing the true danger of the opponent standing before him.
In a flash, Miya and Oswald launched themselves at each other, their swords glinting under the glow of their respective auras. The clash of their blades resounded violently, resonating throughout the room. Each sword strike was fast, precise, and of colossal force. They exchanged strikes with impressive fluidity, their movements barely perceptible because of their speed.
Sparks flew with each contact of their blades, creating a deadly dance between two high-level fighters. Miya, with the aura of the Red King at his side, struck with surgical precision, seeking to pierce Oswald's defenses. But he, with a smirk on his lips, parried each blow with disconcerting ease, as if he had already anticipated his opponent's every move.
Their swords split the air, cutting through the void, and each of their steps made the ground tremble beneath their feet. It was a fencing duel of rare intensity, a true clash of titans where every blow could be the last.
Miya took advantage of a moment of opening and tried to strike Oswald's left side. However, the latter, having anticipated his attack, prepared to retaliate. But before he could counterattack, Miya executed a quick movement, launching a powerful slash that crushed him against the wall behind him, the force of the impact making the entire structure vibrate.
Oswald, a little dazed, came to his senses and asked, an intrigued smile on his lips: "I have learned to anticipate your attack. How come you were able to strike when I was there first?"
Miya, her gaze fixed and assured, calmly explained, "It's a technique called [False Picture]. Once I make contact with my opponent, I can create an image of a fraction of a second, at 0.00001 seconds. This image is perfectly identical to me, thus allowing me to simulate a movement. While the image diverts your attention to a given side, I can then switch sides and change my attack method, letting the initial image take care of the initial attack to make you believe that I'm going to strike there." Oswald, realizing the complexity of the technique, adjusted his expression, knowing that he had to be extra vigilant against this formidable opponent.
Oswald felt Miya's slash hit his right side with lightning power, instantly erasing that entire part of his body. Yet, in an instant, he regenerated what he had lost, his flesh reforming in a burst of light. Wasting no time, he brandished his sword and launched himself at full speed towards Miya, the intention to deliver a decisive blow etched on his face.
Miya, aware of the imminent attack, lightly swung her saber, launching a slash in Oswald's direction. The latter dodged nimbly, continuing his run without slowing down. Trying to strike Miya from above, he ran into a solid defense, as the latter got into position to counter the aerial attack.
Suddenly, Oswald shifted his stance in a swift motion, striking the ground with colossal force. The impact made the room vibrate, causing massive destruction around them and disorienting Miya. Taking advantage of this distraction, he followed up with a devastating side kick, propelling him through several metal walls.
Oswald, determined to continue his assault, charged at Miya again, who still remained on the ground. However, he suddenly felt several kicks hit him, propelling him away from his target, as if he had been struck by ghosts. Confused by the situation, he simply watched as Miya stood up, a defiant glint in her eyes.
She took a moment to straighten up before explaining, "It's an amplification technique called [The Perimeter]. The user expands an area of influence, and this area depends on their power. For my part, I extended it to 100 meters. Everything within this area is subject to my attacks without me having to make the slightest movement or gesture."
Oswald, realizing the magnitude of this technique, began to think of a strategy to counter this formidable ability.
Oswald stood up, determined to resume the assault, but he quickly realized that he could not land a single blow. Miya, with disconcerting ease, dodged each of his attacks effortlessly. With each movement he made, he encountered precise counterattacks, suffering Miya's attacks head on.
But that was not all. He also had to deal with the automatic slashes generated by Miya's perimeter, which struck constantly. These invisible and inevitable attacks added to his difficulty, forcing him to defend himself on all fronts. Oswald began to feel the pressure, wondering how he could turn the situation to his advantage against this formidable opponent, he also felt that his regeneration capacity was decreasing more and more and he felt great fatigue.
Miya, with quiet confidence, continued to explain to Oswald, "The Perimeter also gives its user the ability to predict the movements and attacks of their opponents. I can see your attacks in advance, before you even think about executing them. That's why I easily dodge each of your attempts."
She paused, watching the frustration on Oswald's face. "As for my slashes," she continued, "they are nothing like the first one you encountered. These have the ability to nullify the effectiveness of your regeneration and absorb your vitality with each blow you take. You see, each time you are hit, you only weaken yourself further."
Oswald, realizing the extent of his disadvantage, understood that he had to change his strategy if he wanted to have any chance of turning the tables.
Oswald stood up, determined to change the situation. Wrapping his body in a protective barrier, he hoped to finally escape Miya's relentless attacks. However, she, lightning fast, instantly teleported behind him. Before he could react, she began to chain her attacks, hitting him from all sides.
Oswald found no moment of respite. Each blow struck him with devastating precision, as if Miya was everywhere at once, each assault adding to the increasing pressure on him. He was cornered, struggling to maintain his concentration under this storm of attacks that threatened to overwhelm him. The barrier that protected him offered some security, but he knew that it would not last forever in the face of his opponent's unrelenting assault.
Miya's Perimeter gave her incredible power, allowing her to instantly teleport to multiple locations at once. With each move, she carefully chose her targets, and as soon as she decided to attack, the Perimeter would execute, taking her wherever she wanted.
This strategic power allowed her to strike Oswald with uncanny precision. He could never anticipate where the next attack would come from, rendering his defense almost useless. Each blow seemed to come out of nowhere, as if Miya were juggling reality itself. The combination of her lightning speed and her control over the Perimeter transformed the battlefield into a veritable labyrinth of chaos, where Oswald found himself increasingly cornered.
Oswald straightens up, a confident smile on his lips. "That's all well and good, but your attacks can no longer affect me like before thanks to my barrier, which cancels the effect of your strikes, rendering them useless. This barrier protects me from your perimeter's automatic attacks, but for your other attacks, it will be more complicated."
Without waiting, Miya charges again, determined to bring down her opponent. She chains her attacks with lightning speed, but Oswald, unfazed, lightly swings his sword after the last blow.
At that moment, Miya's Perimeter completely disperses, like a shattered illusion. Stunned, Miya exclaims: "This is impossible, how is this possible?"
Oswald replies in a calm tone: "It's a technique called [Space Cut]. I simply cut your perimeter. You see, even the best strategies can be circumvented."
Miya's eyes turned scarlet red, enveloped in an intense glow. She entered [Symbiosis] mode, a state that allowed her to sense every detail of her surroundings, every change in the air, every disturbance, even at the atomic level.
With a lightning bolt, she rushed towards Oswald, her movements imbued with newfound power. When she made contact with his sword, Oswald found himself propelled backwards, surprised by the force of the impact.
Quickly standing up, he tried to charge back to counterattack, but Miya dodged each of his attacks with remarkable agility. Her strength and speed seemed to have been multiplied, giving her an undeniable advantage. As their swords were about to collide, Miya's sword passed through Oswald's, causing a sudden and violent explosion. The shockwave hit Oswald full on, crushing him against the wall with devastating force.
Miya caught her breath, her gaze determined as she explained to Oswald, "Symbiosis Mode is a state unique to swordsmen. It allows one to dramatically increase their senses, to the point of being able to perceive changes at the atomic level. It also enhances the user's speed and strength. The base increase is ten times, but I increased it to thirty times."
She paused, her bright red aura crackling around her. "My secret technique is [Atomic Slash]. With this technique, I can vibrate atoms, allowing me to pass through objects and strike directly at my targets."
With a fluid motion, Miya prepared to attack again, ready to use this increased power to defeat Oswald once and for all.
Oswald looked at Miya with an amused smile. "My, my... You really are an interesting swordswoman, too bad you're wasting your talent helping terrorists."
Miya, indignant, cried out, "Terrorists? You're the real terrorists, not the ones fighting against you!"
Oswald shrugged, his tone implacable. "Come on, terrorists are those who attack a country and its state. I represent the state, so, consequently... you're the terrorists."
Miya, frustrated, retorted, "That's a simplistic view of things. Can't you see that those you call terrorists are fighting for freedom and justice?"
Oswald, unfazed, retorted, "Freedom and justice are just words. What matters is power and control. And you're just a pawn in this game."
The two opponents, in the middle of a much larger conflict, looked at each other intensely, each determined to defend his convictions.
Oswald stood up, brandishing his sword with determination and advancing slightly towards Miya, who was preparing to attack him. However, in the blink of an eye, they found themselves face to face, a distance of twenty meters separating them just two seconds before. Before she could even react, Miya was subjected to a series of multiple sword attacks, each blow propelling her far behind.
"It's a technique that allows me to shorten the distance between me and my target to zero," Oswald said, his tone of voice filled with pride. "No matter how far apart we are, the target is instantly in front of me. And when I shorten that distance, I record in that space multiple sword attacks that are proportional to the damage I once received."
He watched Miya closely, waiting to see how she would react to this display of power, a defiant glint in his eyes.
Miya, determined to gain the upper hand, teleported behind Oswald, ready to strike. However, she found herself thirty meters away from him, a distance that defied the very logic of her teleportation technique. She had barely had time to absorb the surprise when even more severe damage struck her.
Oswald burst out laughing, his voice resonating with deliberate arrogance. "Don't you understand?" he exclaimed, a triumphant smile on his face. "I can push you away and get you closer to me as I wish. And as for the attack you just attempted, it's simple: the attack you wanted to make on me, you suffered it instead of me. And that is multiplied by the rage you had towards me, , the more enormous the rage, the more devastating the effect will be"
He stood there, confident and unwavering, savoring the effect of his technique. Every movement, every gesture was calculated, and Miya was beginning to realize how disadvantageous the situation was for her.
Miya, with unwavering determination, stood up and instantly healed her wounds, the energy emanating from her body dispelling the aftereffects of her last fight. Oswald, on the other hand, gave her no respite. With a fluid gesture, he swept his sword in a circle, and a floating space appeared in the air, quickly transforming into a labyrinth of shimmering mirrors.
Each mirror reflected Oswald in impossible positions, throwing him up, down, right, left. It was as if thousands of himself were watching him, ready to strike at any moment.
"I present to you a technique called [Realm Prison]," he announced, his voice filled with confidence. "A labyrinth that allows me to have many advantages, including the ability to attack through any space and strike at blind spots."
Miya, although intimidated, retorted with bravado, "No matter what, I will win in the end." »
"Ooh... Don't be so sure," Oswald replied, appearing in the reflection of a mirror behind her. When Miya turned to attack and shatter the mirror, she was met with an instant counterattack that seriously injured her.
"A little clarification," Oswald added, a satisfied smile on his lips. "When you attack a mirror, a counterattack effect is passively triggered. It disables any attempt at defense, even if you try to retaliate. You will automatically expose yourself to the attack."
The maze of mirrors shimmered around them, and Miya quickly realized that every move she made was now a dangerous dance on a razor's edge. She had to find a way to navigate this trapped space, or risk succumbing to her opponent's relentless attacks.
Oswald, leveraging his strategic advantage in the mirror maze, unleashed a series of multiple attacks that flew at Miya from all directions. Each blow seemed inevitable, as if time itself were bending to his will. Miya, trapped in the heart of this whirlwind of attacks, could not dodge or escape. The mirrors were omnipresent, each reflecting the threat surrounding her.
Each attempt by Miya to retaliate only worsened her plight. No sooner had her sword risen to strike than a violent counterattack erupted from one of the mirrors, wounding her even more severely. The pain piled up, and she realized that Oswald had gained the upper hand, manipulating the space around them to his advantage.
Oswald, though surprised by Miya's determination, couldn't help but smile. "This is the pinnacle of swordsmanship, dear," he declared, admiring her audacity.
Miya, after a moment of intense concentration, managed to gather her energy and activate her perimeter with renewed force. In an instant, Oswald's Realm Prison cracked, then burst into a burst of light.
Oswald, observing the scene, replied with a look of admiration and defiance, "You destroyed my prison, but you made enormous sacrifices."
Miya, panting but resolute, replied, "I put all my effort into attack and reduced my defense. I stacked all the damage I received into energy, coupled with my symbiosis, which allowed me to strengthen my perimeter to rival your Realm Prison. Sacrifices must be made when you're a swordsman who wants to win."
The two fighters faced each other, the tension palpable in the air. Miya's injuries, while serious, only served to fuel her will. She could feel the energy pulsing through her, fueled by every blow she had taken.
Miya, fully regenerated and in symbiosis mode, stood ready to counterattack. Activating this mode had strengthened her abilities, transforming her presence into an almost palpable force on the battlefield, Symbiosis mode once activated becomes permanent, and continues to increase the power of its user. Miya increases his power by 7 times. She launched a series of rapid and precise assaults towards Oswald, but, against all odds, he dodged each of her blows with disconcerting ease.
Frustrated, Miya focused, trying to adjust her technique. "Why can't I hit you? I'm stronger now!"
Oswald, with a quiet smile, explained: "I activated the [Knight Instinct] mode. It allows me to be in perfect synchronization with my opponent. I feel every breath, every change in movement, even muscle contractions and the state of your nervous system. I can anticipate your attacks even before you execute them."
Miya's attacks, despite their intensity and speed, were in vain. Oswald dodged and counterattacked with surgical precision, frustrating the young swordswoman. Every time she thought she had anticipated his movements, she found herself faced with an unexpected counter-blow.
Suddenly, in a fluid movement, Oswald went on the attack. Miya braced herself, expecting a frontal blow, but what she received was much more powerful: a lightning kick that crushed her against the wall. The force of the impact left her stunned, and she realized, incredulously, what had just happened. "He copied my technique [False Picture]?"
Oswald, looking satisfied, replied: "Exactly. But I improved it. I learned to create multiple images of myself that target different points of your predictable position. You thought you could defend against all my attacks, but in reality, you exposed yourself to your blind spot. And that's when I struck."
Miya, panting and disoriented, straightened up with difficulty. "It's impossible... How did you get there so quickly?"
Oswald, with a confident smile, continued: "It's one of the abilities of Roland, one of the 12 paladins of Charlemagne. I can copy fencing techniques after seeing them.
As Oswald expanded his perimeter to 200 meters, he multiplied into 30 clones, each preparing to attack Miya with deadly precision. The clones, armed with the same swordsmanship as Oswald, rushed toward her, unleashing a barrage of synchronized attacks. Miya, exhausted and at the end of her strength, held her saber in both hands, her mind clouded by fatigue.
"Might as well try one last attack," she murmured determinedly, well aware that this technique was still imperfect. But she had no choice. This was her only chance.
Concentrating all her energy, Miya closed her eyes and visualized the complex structure of her attack. With surgical precision, she initiated her movement, a cutting wave that cut through the air with lightning intensity. The technique simultaneously severed the hearts and nervous systems of all of Oswald's clones, who instantly collapsed, their bodies dissolving into a blood mist.
Oswald, who was watching the scene, felt a dull pain spread through his chest. Blood escaped his lips as he realized the consequences of Miya's attack. "Damn," he muttered, his voice betraying a mixture of astonishment and pain. "I'm really lucky she hasn't mastered that technique yet. All I felt was the damage done to the 30 clones. Otherwise, I would have died with them if she had fully mastered it."
Oswald's aftershocks fading, he struggled to his feet, aware that the real Miya was still standing, but visibly weakened. She had expended a lot of her energy in that last attack. "Impressive," he declared, his piercing gaze fixed on her. "But that's not enough. What will you do now, swordsman?"
miya said: "I'll still fight until the end."
Oswald, teleporting with disconcerting speed, found himself in front of Miya in the blink of an eye. Grasping her throat with a firm hand, he stared at her intensely. "You're at the end of your strength," he declared with a sneer. "You can no longer use your symbiosis mode, nor extend your perimeter. Your mastery of energy is still limited, which restricts you considerably."
Without giving her time to respond, he propelled her against the wall with brutal force, making her hit the surface with a dull thud. Miya buckled under the impact, but her fighting spirit refused to be defeated.
On the other side, an equally intense confrontation was brewing. Yamero stood in front of Ha'arm, anger burning in his gaze. "You killed Azaku, you son of a bitch! I'm going to make you pay!" he cried, filled with vengeful rage.
He charged, determined to make Ha'arm pay for the loss of his comrade, but the latter, impassive, did not move an inch. "Stop," he whispered in a calm but authoritative voice.
At that moment, Yamero froze as if time had stopped for him. His body refused to obey his commands, an inexplicable power paralyzing him in place. His muscles tensed with the effort, but he was unable to take a step forward. Frustration mixed with fear as he realized that Ha'arm had control of the situation.
"I am not here to play with angry children," Ha'arm continued, his voice devoid of any emotion. "Understand that you are no match for me. Your desire for revenge is useless."