Despite the three arrows that hung ominously over Aurelia's head, All four of us Instantly leapt in, aiming to knock her out of the fight.
The three arrows stood atop her, emitting a low hum, and as all four of our weapons descended onto Aurelia, we were stopped.
It was like the arrows possessed an impenetrable force field, and none of our weapons could get past that.
"Well how do you like that?" Aurelia grinned as she lunged forward and threw one of the blades up in the air, and I thought, no way she's going to hit us through those barriers. I imagine them to be two way barriers.
Zorro stood his ground, and I assumed he was also thinking the same, but with the confidence and way Aurelia was moving, I immediately knew the answer was no. They were not two-way barriers.
"Zorro, get out of the way! They aren't two-way barriers!" As I said that, my blurry vision saw the blade go beyond the tip of the arrow's reach, and Zorro barely managed to avoid a strike, the tip of the blade just hitting his lips, and causing a small wound.
As Zorro moved out of the way, Valeria quickly moved in for a strike from the left, aiming for Aurelia's outstretched hand. Aurelia though, saw this coming and one of the arrows quickly changed positions, turning left, and Valeria's sword met the same barrier, stopping her blade in it's tracks.
So it seems to me like the arrow's barrier positions change with direction huh. I quickly launched another attack from a direction perpendicular to the arrow that had just turned to deflect Valeria's strike.
I brought my blade down with all the force I could muster, and interestingly, my sword managed to dig in a little bit, almost as if the barrier was soft, but it was still very hard.
I smirked a bit, as I pulled back, heaving from the exhaustion. My steps were groggy, and I couldn't stand anymore, and my legs gave out.
"Ed!" Valeria screamed as she turned to me, concern evident on her face.
Using this momentary shift to her advantage, Aurelia quickly turned her focus to Valeria, her sword swinging down on Valeria at blistering speed.
*clang!*
Valeria just managed to deflect the strike on time, but the strike was so powerful, it sent her flying back right into my direction.
She lay right next to me, and was looking into my eyes. "Is she gonna be unbeatable?" Valeria asked, genuine doubt filling her eyes, as tears welled up.
In that moment, the world seemed to slow down around us, and my hand caressed her now slightly bruised cheek, and brought her closer to my face.
"Y-you idiot! Now's not the time!"
She got flustered, and immediately got up to get back into the fray of battle again. Saying that , she started to walk away and I reached out for her leg and grabbed it.
She looked back at me, with a slight hint of disgust on her face. "Pervert." She spat out those words, with a scary voice.
I was annoyed, and gestured her to come closer, which she complied.
I then whispered into her ear "You suck."
"Alright bitch, die." Her sword started to hum , and her eyes started glowing her signature color of green again, as she raised her sword over me.
"Hey, stop that!" I groaned out in agony, trying to muster up as much of my voice as I can.
Valeria broke free of my grip and started to walk back to where the remaining three were duking it out.
"The sides..."
Valeria quickly turned, and her focus was all on me again.
"Focus on the side of the arrow, they're weaker." Her face instantly lit up, and a newfound determination filled her eyes.
"Got it. Thanks for the much needed info." saying that, she jumped back into the fray with Zorro and Adante, who had been keeping Aurelia at bay, but the strained expressions from Zorro and Adante were telling. They're near their breaking point, and Aurelia was still fresh so, in a battle of attrition, they would lose.
As all three of them stepped back a bit to get some distance, Valeria spoke to herself "It's about control, huh?" Her mind flashed back to her encounter with Abaddi.
She raised her sword up, and it started it's familiar hum again, and she swung down in the direction of Aurelia.
For a moment, I watched along as nothing happened.
And then, Aurelia's shield was struck by something strong, strong enough to push her back a couple steps.
I was flabbergasted. What did I just see? Did Valeria just replicate Adante's invisible attack with just one try?
A wry smile crept up on Valeria's face "You know, this isn't that bad."
Even Aurelia seemed to be taken aback by this. Valeria just leaned into Zorro's ear and whispered something, which I believe was my theory that the sides were more vulnerable than the tips straight on.
As Valeria's newfound technique seemed to rattle Aurelia, the atmosphere in the battleground shifted. The three arrows hovering above Aurelia wavered for a brief moment. Her confidence faltered as Valeria's sword swung with a precision she hadn't anticipated.
Zorro and Adante seized this opportunity. They moved in closer, relentless in their assault, aiming to exploit the perceived vulnerability in the arrow's sides.
With a determined grit in her teeth, she changed tactics. The arrows adjusted their positions rapidly and started to revolve, creating a swirling barrier around her. She managed to regain her composure, deflecting Valeria's next strike with ease.
"A rotating barrier!? That's insane!" Adante sighed in agony as he realized his attacks still won't work.
As Zorro and Adante stood on their feet, watching as Aurelia's now seemingly unbreakable revolving barrier, Valeria moved past them, and straight towards the impenetrable barrier.
Zorro and Adante may not have noticed it, but I did. I saw an opening. A small but overlooked weakness. The arrows revolved, but did so in an almost regular pace.
So during the process of revolution, there is a point where all three of the arrow's tips aren't facing the direction of the assailant.
That opening, is what Valeria intended to exploit.
With a quick signal to her Zorro and Adante, they launched coordinated attacks, focusing their strength on a single arrow that seemed slightly less stable. Valeria's blade met the arrow with a resounding clash, and the others joined in, their combined force weighing down on the arrow.
*crrrrack*
The barrier was finally broken. I now had enough strength to get up, and I screamed from the top of my lungs "Now, Finish it!"
For a brief moment, Aurelia was exposed. She staggered back, her aura of invincibility shattered. Her eyes widened with shock, but she didn't yield.
Aurelia grinned wickedly and said, "Impressive, but don't think this is over."
With a swift motion, the arrows reconfigured themselves, and the barrier dropped.
Valeria's face fell as she realized what was happening. "No... it can't be."
Aurelia's voice dripped with confidence. "I'm about to go on the attack."