"This is a plasma rifle, if I recall," Victoria muttered as she studied the sleek black rifle with glowing red outlines in her hand.
"The Vel'ryr Empire soldiers usually have these," Fiona stated as she stared at the various unconscious forms of what she had identified as the Drah'lurahr cultist members. They were all apprehended by black ethereal chains that tightly wrapped around their forms. "What were cultists doing with this kind of weaponry?"
"I would surmise that the weapons were stolen, but Vel'ryr troops are hardly that lax," Victoria started. "But though it may be a stretch, it is not impossible to surmise that some soldiers may be conspiring with these cultists."
"For what purpose?"
"I know not," Victoria shrugged with a smirk. "I may be a spawn of a God of knowledge, but I do not have all the answers. But you sense it too, yes?" Fiona nodded her head.
"Indeed, these men lack mana, like pure-blooded Vel'ryrians," Fiona stated as her eyes glazed over their cloaked forms, momentarily stopping at one whose arm was severed.
"So we could conclude these few cultist members are from Vel'ryr," Victoria spoke with a hum. "It would make sense as to why Vel'ryrians are worshipping dragons as their Gods, considering the royal bloodline of Vel'ryr are vague descendants of Greater dragons."
"That makes sense," Fiona mumbled as she raised her hand towards the downed cultist. "Still, though, that second large explosion worries me." She murmured as she prepared a teleportation spell. Though she stopped as she heard something, a single ear of hers twitched as she heard various heavy steps crunching the snow. She snapped her head back just in time for a bolt of red to whisk past her and struck a nearby tree, completely tearing through it.
"My, my. Seems I need to reevaluate my theory," Victoria mused as she stared at something, Fiona followed her gaze.
There were about twelve in total, all dressed in sleek but heavy black armor that covered the entirety of their forms, with radiating red adorning the armor. Along with that, they wore dark helmets with red visors that gave them an almost robotic appearance. They were all outfitted with the same sleek rifle Victoria had examined.
Though neither of the two girls focused on the numerous guards, instead they zeroed in on the large mass of machinery behind the troops.
Loomed like a monolithic sentinel, its form was an imposing blend of elegance and menace. Crafted seemingly from the finest alloys known to humankind, its surface shimmered with a lustrous sheen that seemed to absorb the very essence of light.
At first glance, its silhouette appeared almost humanoid, with broad shoulders tapering down to a narrow waist, evoking power and agility. Yet, upon closer inspection, one could discern the subtle intricacies of its design—a symphony of curves and angles meticulously engineered for optimal performance in combat.
Its frame was adorned with a series of sleek, angular plating, each panel seamlessly integrated to form a seamless exoskeleton. From its helmeted head to the tips of its digitigrade feet, every inch of its surface exuded an aura of controlled lethality. Its visage was dominated by a single, cyclopean optic—a multifaceted lens that gleamed with a fierce intensity. Its limbs were a marvel of engineering, each joint articulated with precision to allow for fluid and graceful movement.
"Magitech," Victoria noted as she stared at the machine, her eyes seemed to gleam with an otherworldly light momentarily. "That model, a Primus Mark II. Built for speed with excessive weaponry." Victoria informed. She glanced at Fiona to take note of the look of disdain that was directed at the Primus. She threw the girl a look of pity as she continued. "These are actual Vel'ryr troops and no doubt here to retrieve these cultists. I assume you do not need any help, but keep in mind the average Vel'ryrians is somewhat resistant to magic." the wolf-eared girl nodded with a glare as Victoria stepped back.
The guards spread out around Fiona, encircling her in swift coordination. The snow around them sizzled and steamed as the plasma rifles spat deathly energy in all directions. She reacted with lightning-fast reflexes. She summoned small, intricate mana shields all around her body, creating a seemingly impenetrable barrier against the onslaught of plasma rifle fire. The bolts of light struck the small shields all around her with a sizzle, leaving trails of smoke and the acrid smell of burning magic in the air as they dissipated harmlessly.
Amidst the chaos, the formidable figure of the Primus stepped forward. Its chest radiated with a large ominous red light, it grew larger and larger as the troops spread out further before a beam of red light shot out from its chest. It tore through the air with intense heat that melted the surrounding snowflakes and snow.
With a fluid motion, she weaponized the air around her, weaving it into an invisible blade that effortlessly sliced through the Primus's devastating attack, splitting it into two harmless beams of light that fizzled out harmlessly in the cold air and sending the fragmented beams scattering harmlessly into the snowy landscape.
With the Primus momentarily staggered, she extended her right palm and crafted a massive lightning strike in the palm of her hand, channeling the immense energy of the storm itself. With nothing but a glare, she unleashed the crackling bolt of pure, unadulterated power, aiming it straight at the heart of the Primus. The lightning strike connected with spectacular force, enveloping the robot in a blinding light of energy that scorched the earth and rent the air with its deafening roar, leaving the Primus in a smoldering wreck.
The air around Fiona crackled with mana as she turned her attention to the remaining guards, who watched in stunned silence as their formidable weapon fell before the might of her magic. Usually using modern terms, it would take the force of carpet bombing to completely destroy a Primus unit. But that was neither here nor there.
With a flick of her fingers, she unleashed a torrent of magical energy, conjuring a swirling vortex of wind and fury that swept across the snowy expanse, lifting the hapless guards from their feet and drawing them inexorably toward its heart.
As the guards struggled futilely against the tempest that engulfed them, Fiona raised her palm, channeling the very essence of fire itself into her outstretched palm. With a scowl, she shot the fiery torrent, the searing bolt of flame igniting the swirling vortex with explosive force. The air erupted in a deafening roar as the flames consumed everything in their path, sending shockwaves rippling across the landscape and leaving nothing but smoldering wreckage in their wake.
The guards' bodies were all flung aside in different directions. Victoria watched the scene with an unreadable expression.
"The Vel'ryr Empire conspiring with cultists and sending soldiers to Verdantis," the blonde frowned. "This could be cause for war." She sighed as she approached the blank-faced Fiona. "Are you well, Fiona?" The wolf-girl heaved a deep sigh of her own as she turned to Victoria.
"Sorry, I just get too heated up when I see magitech," the girl spoke with a sheepish expression. "You know of my history, so you can understand."
"It's quite alright, Fiona dear," Victoria smiled. "Though it is nice to see you let loose like this. Mayhap if Mikoto saw it, it would increase your chances. He probably likes strong women."
"It's not like that!" Fiona defended, but her red cheeks just caused the blonde to chuckle.
"Alright then, it won't be an issue if I steal him for myself?"
"He's much too young for you!"
"What is age to love?"
"You'll get thrown in a dungeon cell," Fiona deadpanned.
"I'm sure Mikoto won't allow that," Victoria stated with a smile. "He is a kind boy after all."
--------------------
Amaury fell as the wind violently hit her body. The foundations of her outpost and the surrounding mountains were blown to smithereens, so she had no foundation to stand on. Yet her expression was anything but fearful; instead, her gaze was locked into the levitating form of Mikoto.
"Did he cause all of that destruction just to see if a fall of this height would kill me?" That would make sense, seeing as magic was all but useless. But her gleaming red eyes narrowed as Mikoto flew through the air and toward her, his flight was impressive; he reached her in less than a mere second. And then her eyes widened as she stared at his severed arm. A bony structure grew, taking the form of a skeletal arm and then veins, flesh, and his blood vessels. Before he regenerated even the skin, in almost no time his left arm was back, for good measure his shirt's sleeve was woven into existence once more. ("He has high-speed regeneration as well?") She mentally questioned as the boy raised his right fist.
Amaury raised her blade to block. The fist barreled downward and collided with her blade with a loud explosive noise akin to a bomb. She felt the impact reverberate through her arms as her body was launched further down by the force of the punch. Her body barreled to the ground and collided with it with an explosive noise as a shockwave resounded through the area while snow was kicked up.
Laying in a large crater of her own making, she saw Mikoto barrel downward faster with his fist outstretched. Amaury rolled to the side as she swiftly stood up and flipped backward. His fist collided with the already destroyed snowy ground with a cataclysmic wave that seemed to cause the earth beneath her feet to quake. The crater expanded under the force of the blow as rubble was strewn all around.
"If that hit..." Amaury frowned as she watched Mikoto lift his fist from the destroyed ground. "Some manner of magic that enhances physical abilities?"
"Not that," Mikoto stated as he lifted his fist from the ground and stood up, turning to Amaury. "See, this isn't magic, it's pure unadulterated strength."
"Mere strength won't win you this battle," she stated with narrow eyes as she took a stance with her sword.
"Maybe I would lose if I was just some average sorcerer punk," Mikoto grinned as he jabbed his thumb at himself. "But see, you aren't dealing with the average sorcerer anymore."
"You seem rather full of yourself," she stated with a cold glare. "Pride comes before a fall." Mikoto just grinned beneath his mask as he took a simple left-leading stance.
("I'll hold off on using any martial arts for now; I'll test the waters first.")
The snow parted beneath his feet as the ground cracked, and instantaneously he was in front of Amaury. ("I'll fight her with just my hands for now until I figure out a way through her nullification, and then I'll win.")