I have to fight back now. Raiden has the aerial advantage; I can't keep up with her as long as she's flying up there. I must find a way to go up if she doesn't want to get down.
Oh wait, Cherubim said I can fly by Anemo manipulation. I activated Ninlil.
Suddenly, I felt myself floating. At first, I struggled to balance myself because I felt like there was no gravity to pull me down.
Awesome!
Raiden's eyes widened while watching me floating.
"H-how did you do that!? You were not supposed to fly!"
Yes, I was thinking about that too.
"Does this make us equal?" I said, laughing in my mind, although I'm still adjusting. I'm like a fish trying to swim, except it's anemo and not hydro.
Yep, all I could see through her face was disbelief. Fighting a gothic fairy into the sky would kill me if I messed up and fell instead.
What could possibly go wrong, right?
I could tell she was ready to take me as I could see the gigantic thundercloud under her and definitely preparing for another attack.
"What a pain."
I activated it immediately, creating an anemo block without activating Kaikias. Ninlil had all three skills, especially fighting on air. I lined all the blocks, creating a way for me towards Raiden.
However, I think she already saw it coming. She flew higher than my blocks and went inside her thundercloud. It was so dark there, and I couldn't see anything even here, mana.
Damn, that Ultimate Concealment skill. I couldn't see where the heck she was.
If my observation is correct, the thunder strike that the thundercloud generates is just as large as the entire arena. As long as I'm above ground, what's down there won't be destroyed if the thunder strike gets unleashed, isn't it?
If Raiden doesn't want to leave her hiding, I'll force her to come out.
So once again, Anemo blades started to appear before me as I activated my Pyro Magic: Hephaestus bow and shot the thundercloud. The sound of rushing arrows and blades was so loud that I think Raiden had heard it.
From the thundercloud, countless ice spears and leaf blades met my arrow and blades.
In the middle of elemental weapons clashing, the thundercloud unleashed its fury, and I used more blocks as my footing to get out of the attack's range since floating was not an option. I jumped block by block as the lighting strike to me. Each strike of thunder and lightning somehow barely managed to escape.
As I watched the thunder strike remain for a few seconds on my Anemo blocks, I realized that it remained there to ensure that the target was completely pulverized.
I would never want to get caught in that thing!
I continued my advancement and jumped upward, trying to see her location, but what greeted me was a hail of stones and ice spikes rushing toward me.
That only means she's already near.
I activated my Anemo Blade and a new technique, Pyro bullets, to clash with the stones and ice and to make way for me.
The cloud was too dark for me to be able to see her.
[Notice: New passive skill available to unlock]
Huh? What now, Cheru?
[Answer: Raiden's Ultimate Concealment concentration was distracted by one of Flame Arrows]
[Question: Do you want to unlock it?]
Suppose this passive skill will help. Then, yes!
[Confirmed: Passive Skill Theia unlocked]
[Note: Theia's passive skill will let you see what is hidden inside an Ultimate Concealment]
Like that, something was lifted from my eyes that blinded me for hours. Right through the massive dark thundercloud, I saw red mana surrounding Raiden, who was bleeding, and something was burning in her arms while she was healing it.
There you are.
I activated my Extreme speed and built anemo blocks toward Raiden's exact location after I saw her location. I rushed toward her, and she might have felt since multiple root-like vines came out of nowhere and tried to stop me. I recalled some of my Anemo Blade and let them slice those roots while continuing my charge.
What if Cherubim didn't evolve my elemental magic? Would I ever reach this peak of battle against this veteran fairy?
Even if I tried to, my magic attacks couldn't reach her. She could easily brush them off, indicating her superior magic proficiency compared to me. I will admit that she's far superior to me when it comes to magic. I respect that, but my Unique skill would probably be unhappy if I lost, right?
I activated my Pyro Magic: Hephaestus again, but this time, the flame in my right hand shaped into a Muramasa Katana, the same cursed sword that can cut anything. The flame intensified; it was now glowing blood-red and ready to slash my way to the thick thundercloud, but reddish lightning started to block my way. It shattered the anemo blocks I made on my way into pieces with just one swift hit.
I was forced to stop running and watch that reddish lightning circling the thunderclouds as if they were protecting Raiden inside.
These lightning were not the same as those Raiden had been using at me. This was something else. I know one hit of those, and I'll be chopped in half.
I need to think.
I activated my Anemo Magic and created blocks above me. They would become my shield as I try to get in the thick thundercloud.
I created new Anemo blocks that served me as a way and used my Extreme speed again; this time, there would be no stopping.
As expected, the reddish lightning suddenly stopped circling the thundercloud and started to attack me. As one of my blocks shattered, I created new Anemo blocks and jumped to Raiden, avoiding that killer lightning.
I activated my Pyro Magic: Hephaestus katana-type flame and was ready to jump to the new anemo block I made, but one of the lightning strikes towards me in a swift move, shattering the block I was on. Luckily, I was able to jump off and grab the edge of another anemo black above me, which was close to the thundercloud.
Then, the decisive moment occurred before a bolt of lightning struck me. I swung my body with one hand on the edge of the blocks before letting go and making a long slash to the thundercloud using my Flame Katana.
This was my best and maybe the last bet, so I must give my all.
I managed to slice my way to the thundercloud and entered right to where Raiden was.
I saw her still dealing with her burned wounds. Why isn't she healing it?
She's just drifting into the air, looking at me with a satisfied smile on her face despite the pain in her eyes.
"You passed."
My katana proceeded, but before it could even reach her, a powerful gust of wind obstructed my fist on its way to her belly. Without delay, it exploded and launched her down to the ground, completely negating my attack.
And we're talking about a Warrior's rage-supercharged punch with all the physical boost I received since the battle started. Easily blocking it like that wasn't a joke.
But what grabbed my attention was,
"What do you mean I passed?"
I quickly jumped back down to the ground.
And I become sick for a person who actually managed to float that high for the first time and is now jumping down. I felt like I wanted to vomit. How the hell did I come to this freaking high? Everyone down there was like ants to my eyes.
Jumping up on the blocks was a lot easier and less scary than trying to go down while staring at the far ground and trying my best to calm my nerves.
I performed the floating down slowly and reached the ground, and oh boy, it felt so good finally getting back.
I don't wanna go that high again until I learn how to fly properly, not just float.
I put my hands on my waists as I exhaled and stared at Raiden standing a few meters away from me, aided by Anabelle and Dareth. Her wings were no longer there. Both of them tended her burned wounds, applying something over them.
"You did a very good job back there for a beginner."
Is she mocking me or something? She sounds genuine, but I don't know. I don't even know her, so I can't tell.
"Really? All that floating, jumping, and dodging all went for nothing. At least let me pinch you even a little, you know?"
She shook her head. "No, you already have proven me more than enough. And besides, this wound would probably leave a scar."
"Can't you heal it?" I asked.
She can quickly heal that burned wound, right?
"Can't," she replied. "I don't have any advanced healing to heal such a wound. So tell me, how did you learn to use such powerful fire magic?"