"Years have gone by and for what?! Your twisted game?"
"I had expected you to act in kind... After all, it was said you've never valued lives beyond your own. Your battles were always about safeguarding your realm, never truly concerning yourself with the fate of others."
"You are selfish and I thought we would have a common ground," said Zenos, his smile nearly fading.
"What's wrong with safeguarding the life I fought tooth and nail for?! You're damned right about me being selfish but it doesn't turn me into an unfeeling being!" roared the dragoness, her knuckles nearly white with anger.
The Viceroy merely chuckled as the giant monster towered over Mavislin, whose mana began to channel into her scythe.
"Nothing at all wrong with defending the life and path you've chosen. In this world, justice is merely a set of principles crafted by those in power to further their own agendas. The idea of caring for others is nothing more than a façade."
"Fail to keep pace, and you'll lose everything. Though we might be at odds in regard to the importance of life itself, I still think you and I are compatible. Now, let's not squander any more time…"
The monster slowly unclasped her hands, letting them rest outstretched and flat upon her dress. Scylla's serene facade shattered as she erupted into a deafening scream.
The force of her cry reverberated through the area, a shockwave of sound that slammed into Mavislin, sending her reeling backward.
With the dragoness struggling to maintain her footing, Scylla's form grew more formidable. She began to channel her energy into her left hand, which glowed ominously with a swirling mix of amber and green.
The colors fused and churned, crackling with raw power as if harnessing the fury of the sea itself. The dragoness' nose scrunched up in disgust as the familiar scent blanketed the area.
"Oh to hell with you!" yelled Mavislin, her blade covered in ribbons of black and purple.
With a deft flick of her wrist, Mavislin swung her scythe above her shoulder, its blade catching the light as she readied for the attack. Channeling her mana, she surged forward, the power within her weapon crackling with anticipation.
As she closed in on her foe, Scylla's monstrous form released a blinding beam of green and amber energy. The beam shot forth with relentless intensity, and Mavislin barely managed to evade its searing path by ducking sharply to the side.
Quickly adjusting her trajectory, the dragoness maneuvered to the left of the monster. Scylla's high-pitched screech cut through the air, a futile attempt to disorient her opponent. Ignoring the sound, Mavislin pressed on.
In a desperate counter, the creature's lower body began to writhe and extend its formidable tentacles, their grotesque lengths stretching menacingly towards the dragoness, seeking to ensnare her in a deadly embrace.
"Sombre Dance!" yelled Shadow as she jumped up and began running along a huge tentacle.
"Hang to the Gallows!" continued Mavislin, her voice fierce and determined.
She swung her scythe with practiced skill, the blade arcing through the air in a sweeping, fluid motion. Her body moved in perfect harmony with the weapon, twisting and turning as if she were part of a grand, deadly ballet.
Each spin and twist was precise, her movements a graceful dance of destruction as she sliced through the monster's tentacles with relentless focus, leaving a beautiful trail of black and purple stream behind her.
Meanwhile, the Prince of Darkness merely observed with a mix of fascination and intense interest. His gaze was fixed on Mavislin as she danced through the chaos with her scythe.
Each of her movements was a masterful display of agility and precision, her body twisting and contorting to evade the relentless assault of Scylla's tentacles.
With every sweep of her weapon, she dismembered the monstrous appendages, her fluid grace and expert skill transforming the battlefield into a stunning spectacle of combat.
Zenos's heart pounded in his chest, captivated by the sight of his trophy proving her worth in such a dramatic and thrilling manner.
"Yes… That's what I wanted to see, the dance of a true beast…" said Zenos, licking his lips once more.
"Damn it! I have to get closer!" yelled Mavislin, as her blade glowed again, brighter than before.
Focusing her mana into her legs, the dragoness propelled herself toward Scylla's left flank with explosive force. The monster roared in pain as the bright scythe nicked her side, causing a gaping wound.
Mavislin twisted her body with an almost unnatural agility, her blade flashing through the air. In one swift, decisive motion, she severed Scylla's veil, exposing the monster's contorted face and glowering eyes.
As Mavislin and Scylla locked eyes, the monster's glowing green orbs pierced through the dragoness's vivid red ones, sending a shiver down Mavislin's spine.