The intense bursts illuminated the garden with erratic flashes, casting fleeting shadows across the battleground as Mavislin's transformed power clashed fiercely against Zenos's imposing might.
"The same trick won't work on me, my little beast…" purred the Viceroy, his eyes darting about to find his enemy within the dust cloud.
"But it did buy me some time!" called out the dragoness as she smashed through a thick dust cloud, primed with her scythe over her shoulder.
The Viceroy's eyes widened in surprise as he took in the sight of the transformed dragoness. He had anticipated her tapping into her Alter form, but the reality of her appearance was still astonishing.
If he thought that she looked pretty before, then now she was drop-dead gorgeous in his eyes.
As their battle raged on, Zenos began to notice an unsettling difference. Despite her impressive transformation, there was something distinctly off about Mavislin's current form compared to the one he had seen the previous day.
To begin with, Mavislin's transformation had brought a striking change to her appearance. Her once silver hair now boasted violet tips, which flickered with an almost ethereal glow.
Her eyes had shifted dramatically, with her left eye adopting a gradient from purple to pink, reminiscent of the eerie hues she had seen when gazing into Scylla's eyes. Despite these notable alterations, her overall form remained unchanged.
In combat, the transformation had enhanced her abilities significantly. Mavislin's newfound strength allowed her to fend off and counter Zenos's physical strikes with remarkable agility, all without relying on her blade.
This display of power ignited the Viceroy's excitement, pushing him to escalate the battle. Eager to demonstrate his own formidable prowess, Zenos decided it was time to unveil the full extent of his capabilities.
The dragoness watched in bewilderment as Zenos leaped into the air, seeking a height advantage. As he ascended, he raised his scythe high above his head, streams of black and blue mana swirling around the blade.
Mavislin recoiled in apprehension, her eyes widening as she observed the mana coalescing into a massive sphere of water, swirling with dark, ominous energy.
Since when had the Northern Cartel harnessed Magecraft to such a formidable extent? The raw power emanating from Zenos was far beyond that of an inexperienced practitioner.
The sheer magnitude of the attack left Mavislin feeling both awestruck and uneasy, realizing that she was facing an adversary whose skill with magic rivaled the most seasoned of sorcerers.
The worst part of it all… He lacks the bare aptitude to perform such tricks so how is he able to do it?!
"Mourning Tidefall!" thundered the Viceroy as he brought both water sphere and scythe down, nearly flipping his whole body forward.
The massive water sphere erupted with a forceful explosion, transforming into a cascading waterfall of seawater and darkness. The torrent of liquid and shadow surged downward, crashing onto the dragoness with a thunderous impact.
The deluge swept over her, engulfing her in a chaotic mix of raw power and dark energy, testing her strength and resolve.
"Miseria Sphere!" yelled Mavislin, snapping out of her trance.
A massive, translucent shield of swirling black and purple encased the dragoness, shimmering like dark glass as it fended off the relentless torrent of the Viceroy's attack.
She strained against the pressure, her hands trembling as she poured every ounce of her strength into maintaining the barrier.
The force of the cascading water slammed against her shield with unyielding ferocity, threatening to overwhelm her defenses as she fought to hold her ground.
"Some friendly duel! Void's sacrifice!" yelled Mavislin as she aimed for the ground below.
Shattering the floor beneath her with a powerful impact, the dragoness plummeted to the level below. She rolled with practiced grace, narrowly escaping the torrent of debris that rained down from above.
Her heart raced as she pushed off the ground, narrowly avoiding the cascade of destruction that roared past her.
The Viceroy chuckled, genuinely taken aback by Mavislin's ingenuity in attempting to escape from such a dire predicament. His amusement, however, was met with little regard from the dragoness.
With swift determination, Mavislin shot back up from the level below, emerging behind the seemingly pleased Zenos. She landed with a resolute thud, ready to continue their intense battle.
Just as the girl prepared to strike, Zenos' eyes widened in alarm. In a blur of motion, he dashed to Mavislin's side, turning his back to her just in time.
It took only a heartbeat for the dragoness to realize the Viceroy had once again shielded her from a hidden attack. As the clash raged on, Mavislin caught sight of their assailant—a massive, crimson creature shaped like a serpentine ribbon, its edges crackling with flames.
The fiery ribbon whipped its forked tip in a defensive dance against Zenos' strikes, then flared its flames even brighter, momentarily blinding them both in searing light.