The tension between Sara and Elizabeth was palpable as they stood facing each other in the deserted street. The world around them seemed to fall away, leaving only the two of them in a space defined by the crackling energy of their impending clash. Sara could feel the weight of the battle pressing down on her, but she was determined to see it through. Elizabeth was no ordinary opponent—her reputation as a high-ranking member of the Shade Society preceded her, and her Arcon was infamous for its ability to reflect any magical attack.
Elizabeth's gaze was cold and calculating, her eyes gleaming with a mixture of contempt and amusement. She had fought many battles and had defeated countless opponents, but there was something about Sara that intrigued her. Perhaps it was the fire in her eyes, the unyielding determination that seemed to radiate from her every movement. Or perhaps it was the knowledge that this battle was not just about power—it was about proving something more profound.
"You're brave to face me alone," Elizabeth said, her voice smooth and confident. "But bravery will only get you so far."
Sara tightened her grip on her sword, her expression steely. "I'm not afraid of you, Elizabeth. I've faced worse."
Elizabeth smirked, twirling her Arcon—a slender, gleaming blade—between her fingers with practiced ease. "We'll see about that."
Without another word, Elizabeth lunged forward, her speed and precision almost blinding. Sara barely had time to react as Elizabeth's blade came crashing down, but she managed to parry the attack, the force of the collision sending a shockwave through the air.
Sara gritted her teeth, pushing back with all her strength. Elizabeth was relentless, her movements fluid and graceful, each strike calculated to keep Sara on the defensive. But Sara was no slouch—she matched Elizabeth's speed, her own blade dancing through the air as she parried and countered with deadly precision.
The clash of their swords filled the air, each strike sending sparks flying. Sara could feel the intensity of the battle growing, the heat of the moment driving her to push harder, faster. But she knew she couldn't rely on brute strength alone—Elizabeth's Arcon was too dangerous for that.
As their blades met once more, Elizabeth's eyes gleamed with a knowing smile. "You're good," she admitted, her voice laced with a hint of respect. "But you're holding back."
Sara narrowed her eyes, trying to read the intent behind Elizabeth's words. "I'm not holding back. I'm just getting started."
Elizabeth laughed softly, her voice almost melodic. "Oh, I believe you. But you're forgetting something important." With a swift motion, Elizabeth's blade shimmered with a strange light, and in an instant, the force of Sara's attack was reflected back at her with twice the intensity.
Sara barely had time to react as the energy from her own strike was redirected toward her. She twisted her body, narrowly avoiding the brunt of the blow, but the force of the reflection still sent her staggering backward. She managed to regain her footing, but the shock of what had just happened left her breathless.
Elizabeth smirked, her blade still glowing with that eerie light. "Did you forget? My Arcon reflects any magical attack. You can't win by brute force alone, Sara. You'll have to be smarter than that."
Sara's mind raced as she processed the implications of Elizabeth's power. She had heard rumors about Elizabeth's Arcon, but seeing it in action was a different story. If she couldn't rely on her usual tactics, she'd have to think outside the box.
Elizabeth pressed the attack, her movements swift and unrelenting. Sara dodged and parried as best she could, but the knowledge that any mistake could lead to her own power being turned against her was a heavy burden. She needed a new approach—a way to outmaneuver Elizabeth without falling into the trap of her reflective Arcon.
As they continued to trade blows, Sara noticed something—Elizabeth was relying heavily on her Arcon's ability to reflect attacks, almost as if she were testing Sara, waiting for her to slip up. It was a dangerous game, and one that Elizabeth was clearly confident in winning.
But Sara wasn't about to play by Elizabeth's rules. She needed to change the dynamics of the fight, to find a way to turn Elizabeth's own power against her.
A plan began to form in Sara's mind, but it was risky. She knew she had only one chance to pull it off, and if she failed, it could cost her the battle—or worse. But it was a risk she was willing to take.
Gathering her strength, Sara feigned a moment of hesitation, making it seem as though she were faltering under the pressure. Elizabeth's eyes lit up with triumph, sensing an opening. She pressed forward, her blade flashing through the air as she prepared to deliver the finishing blow.
But just as Elizabeth committed to the attack, Sara's hesitation vanished. With a shout, she called out, "Rise, Aquarion!"
Her blade transformed, the metal turning to shimmering ice that caught the light of the fading sun. The air around her grew cold as a wave of water surged from her sword, crashing towards Elizabeth like a tidal wave.
Elizabeth's Arcon reacted instinctively, reflecting the wave of water back towards Sara. But Sara was ready. She twisted her sword, directing the wave of water to split around her and reform behind Elizabeth. The wave circled back, creating a vortex that trapped Elizabeth within its icy embrace.
Elizabeth struggled, her Arcon glowing as it attempted to reflect the water again, but Sara didn't give her the chance. With a flick of her wrist, the water hardened into sharp icicles, pinning Elizabeth in place. The cold seeped through Elizabeth's defenses, slowing her movements and weakening her grip on her sword.
"I told you I was just getting started," Sara said, her voice steady and confident.
Elizabeth's eyes widened in shock as she realized what Sara had done. She had used Elizabeth's own power against her, turning the reflected attack into a trap that Elizabeth couldn't escape from.
With one final effort, Sara channeled her mana into Aquarion, unleashing a wave of freezing energy that solidified the water and ice around Elizabeth, encasing her in a prison of ice.
Elizabeth's Arcon flickered, its power waning as the ice sapped her strength. For a moment, she struggled, trying to break free, but it was no use. The battle was over.
Sara stood over her fallen opponent, her breath coming in heavy gasps, but her resolve unshaken. She had won, not just through brute force, but through strategy and the clever use of her Arcon's abilities.
"You… you actually did it," Elizabeth muttered, her voice filled with a begrudging respect.
Sara nodded, her determination unshaken. "I told you—I'm just getting started."
Elizabeth let out a low, bitter laugh as she struggled to sit up. "I underestimated you, Sara. But don't think this is over. There are others… and they're coming for you."
Sara's expression hardened. "Let them come. I'll be ready."
With those final words, Sara turned away, leaving Elizabeth to contemplate her defeat. The battle was far from over, but Sara had taken an important step forward. She had faced one of the most dangerous members of the Shade Society and emerged victorious, but she knew that the true test was yet to come.
As she walked away from the battlefield, her thoughts turned to Masha, Alan, and Sam. They were all fighting their own battles, and she could only hope that they would find the strength to prevail, just as she had.