The leader stood before Sera, his imposing figure casting long shadows over the forest clearing. His black faceplate gleamed, unblemished despite Sera's earlier attacks. Every move he made was precise and calculated, like someone who had been in countless battles before.
Sera wiped a bead of sweat from her brow, her breath steady but labored. Her mind raced as she tried to figure out how to break through his defenses. Every so often, she caught the subtle glow of runes lighting up on the mask, responding to the mana around them.
This guy isn't just wearing any regular mask, she thought, frustration gnawing at her. But I can't worry about that right now. Focus.
With a flick of her wrist, Sera launched into action. Ling hummed with magical energy, its matte-red blade shimmering as she charged forward. Her movements were fast, faster than any ordinary fighter, but the leader was just as quick. He sidestepped her strike, his body moving with a fluid grace that made it difficult for her to land a clean hit.
Sera swung her blade, aiming for the mask, but each time she did, the blade merely glanced off its surface, sending sparks flying. The sound of metal grinding against reinforced plating filled the air, and the leader's calm, relentless focus only heightened Sera's tension.
Nothing. This thing is impenetrable.
She knew she couldn't keep clashing with him like this. He was calculating, each of his counters aimed at wearing her down, and the longer this went on, the more likely she would slip up. But Sera wasn't just about brute force—she had other tricks up her sleeve.
Skidding to a stop, Sera leaped backward, putting distance between them. Her eyes narrowed as she activated her next move: Boom Boom.
Her hand glowed with energy, the familiar heat of Originium Arts coursing through her veins. Small, invisible charges of energy began forming in the air around her as she manipulated the flow of mana with surgical precision. With a flick of her fingers, she unleashed a series of Boom Boom charges at the leader.
The ground beneath the leader exploded, debris and smoke erupting in all directions. For a moment, the world was reduced to chaos—smoke and dust clouding the air, the smell of burnt earth overwhelming.
Sera watched, her senses heightened as she tried to track his movements. She knew better than to assume he'd be caught by such a straightforward attack. Her eyes flickered with anticipation, scanning through the thick dust, waiting for him to reappear.
And then, through the haze, she saw him.
The leader emerged, unscathed, his mask glowing faintly in the dim light. His movements were as controlled as ever, and Sera could feel the weight of his presence pressing down on her. He was fast, too fast. Within seconds, he closed the distance between them, forcing her to parry his rapid blows with Ling.
"Dammit!" she hissed under her breath as their blades clashed once more.
Her mind raced as she dodged and weaved, using every ounce of her agility to avoid his strikes. His attacks were relentless, but they lacked the brute force she had encountered with other opponents. Instead, they were sharp and precise, targeting weak points in her defense.
The faceplate flashed again as Sera attempted to strike it, only for her blade to be repelled once more. She could feel her frustration mounting—this wasn't working.
She jumped back again, dodging a sweeping attack. Her eyes darted around, searching for any kind of weakness in his form, in his movements. There had to be something. Anything.
The mask is the problem, she thought. I need to get rid of that damn thing.
She decided to go all out. Without wasting a moment, she initiated Burning Threads once again. Thin threads of mana wove themselves around her blade, enhancing the sharpness and heat of Ling as she prepared for another strike. Her eyes locked onto the leader's arm this time—if she couldn't break the faceplate, maybe she could disarm him.
Sera lunged, closing the gap between them with incredible speed. She slashed diagonally, aiming directly for his exposed forearm. Her blade connected, slicing through the flesh with a satisfying hiss as the burning threads cut deep into his arm. The leader recoiled, blood splattering onto the forest floor.
But it wasn't enough. Sera's eyes widened in shock as the leader remained standing, his movements barely slowing despite the injury. His arm, though damaged, was still attached, and he was already recovering.
Screw it, she thought, eyes hardening as she charged again. If the mask was impenetrable and he could still fight despite the wound, she needed to up her game.
With a fierce cry, Sera grabbed onto his injured arm, her fingers digging into the torn flesh as she planted her feet firmly on the ground. The leader struggled, attempting to strike her, but Sera moved quickly, dodging his blows while maintaining her grip.
With a sudden burst of strength, she twisted her body, yanking at his arm with everything she had. For a brief moment, time seemed to slow as her muscles strained under the effort. The leader's body resisted, but Sera could feel the tendons and bones giving way.
With a sickening crack, the arm tore free.
Blood sprayed across the clearing, and the leader let out a low, guttural sound—more rage than pain. Sera stood, the severed arm still in her grip, blood dripping from her fingertips. Her heart pounded in her chest, adrenaline coursing through her veins as she tossed the arm aside.
But the fight wasn't over.
The leader, though now missing an arm, remained standing. His masked face turned toward Sera, and she could sense the palpable fury radiating from him. He took a step forward, his remaining hand clenching into a fist.
What the hell is this guy made of?
Her chest heaved as she steadied herself for the next attack. The leader, despite his grievous injury, wasn't going down easily. He charged forward with renewed aggression, and Sera barely had time to react.
The fight resumed with an intensity that shook the ground beneath them. Every strike from the leader felt like it carried the weight of a truck, but Sera was relentless in her defense, parrying and countering with the finesse of a seasoned fighter.
She attempted another hit at the faceplate—if she could land one good strike, maybe, just maybe, she could crack it. But each time her blade connected, the sparks flew, and the mask remained undamaged. The damn thing was indestructible.
Boom Boom wasn't enough. Ling wasn't enough. But Sera wasn't out of options. She was always calculating, always thinking of the next move. Her exhaustion was creeping in, but she couldn't afford to stop now.
Sera gritted her teeth, the determination in her eyes burning as brightly as the flames she conjured. She couldn't let this bastard win.