Chapter 19 [Battle with other Apostles of god (part 4)]
On the other battlefield, there was a battle between two universes toppling Beauty, Emma and Alicia.
As their weapons collided, Emma and Alicia transformed into radiant streaks of crimson light, their forms blurring as they exchanged blows at incredible velocities. With each clash, massive shockwaves reverberated through the surroundings, generating immense energy that shattered the air and sent tremors through the realm. The two warrior goddesses darted from one location to another, their movements lightning-fast as they unleashed a flurry of strikes.
As the battle raged on, the both crimson streaks began to ascend, their trajectories entwined in a breathtaking dance. The two rays of light rose higher and higher, their intensity growing as they pierced the skies, leaving a trail of glittering stardust in their wake. The air was electric with anticipation, the outcome of their celestial duel hanging precariously in the balance.
In a stunning turn of events, Alicia emerged victorious from the collision, her grip closing around Emma's throat like a vice. With an effortless lift, Alicia suspended Emma in mid-air, her left hand refusing to yield as Emma struggled to break free. Emma's face contorted in desperation, her gasps for air growing more frantic as she flailed against Alicia's unyielding grasp.
Despite her valiant efforts, Emma couldn't escape the ironclad hold, her movements restricted as Alicia's fingers constricted around her throat. The air seemed to grow thicker, Emma's vision blurring as her oxygen supply dwindled. Alicia's gaze remained unwavering, her expression a mask of unrelenting determination.
Ahh!!!
Crimson rivulets trickled down her chin as Emma's teeth were painted with the vibrant hue of her own blood, a testament to her desperate struggles. Her consciousness began to unravel, threads of awareness snapping like fragile fibers as the darkness closed in. Time was a luxury she couldn't afford, each passing moment a countdown to oblivion.
Just as the abyss of despair seemed bottomless, Alicia's grip relaxed, releasing Emma from her vice-like hold. Emma plummeted toward the ground with the force of a fallen star, her trajectory a mere whisper from catastrophe. Yet, in a burst of defiance, she summoned forth a pair of majestic demonic wings, their tattered majesty unfolding from her back like a dark benediction. With a gentle flutter, she stabilized herself in mid-air, her gaze locked onto Alicia's triumphant smile.
Alicia floated above, her face aglow with an otherworldly radiance, her mouth uncovered and stretched wide in a grin that seemed to devour the very air around her.
As Emma's gaze met Alicia's, the latter's face suddenly materialized mere centimeters from her own, the proximity sending Emma's heart racing. Alicia's devilish grin seemed to grow wider, her eyes glinting with mischief. "Let's make a wager," Alicia proposed, her voice dripping with sly intent. "If you can land a single scratch on me, I'll reveal a secret about yourself that you never knew. But if you fail, you'll become my test subject for 10 days, I will only use my physical strength alone – no magic, just brute force."
Emma's discomfort grew as she beheld Alicia's unnerving smile, yet her curiosity was piqued. What secret could this enigmatic girl possibly know about her? "How can I trust that you possess this secret, and that you'll actually share it with me?" Emma asked, her skepticism evident.
"If you don't believe me, then I'm powerless to convince you," Alicia said, her fake sad face a mockery of genuine emotion. "So, will you accept the bet or not?" she asked, her voice dripping with anticipation.
"I accept the bet, and I hope you'll keep your promise," Emma replied, her determination evident.
With that, the fierce battle resumed. Emma unleashed a barrage of crimson rays, each one chasing after Alicia like a relentless predator. As she pursued her foe, Emma brought her palms together and unleashed a flurry of demonic fire lightning bolts, the air crackling with energy.
Alicia, however, remained unfazed, dodging each attack with an ease that belied her sinister intentions. Her movements were a blur, a testament to her supernatural agility.
Boom!!! Crack!!! As the seconds ticked by, Alicia realized that Emma's lightning bolts were imbued with an otherworldly power, their intensity far surpassing that of ordinary lightning. Alicia dodged out of the way just in time, as the demonic fire lightning bolts struck the ground with unrelenting fury. The impact sent shockwaves through the earth, and a massive inferno erupted, engulfing an area nearly 200 meters in diameter. The flames danced with malevolent intent, consuming everything in their path.
Alicia's gaze snapped back to Emma, who had summoned a colossal 10-meter orb of blue flame, its core crackling with an immense concentration of lightning. 'This is no ordinary flame,' Alicia thought, her mind racing with the implications. With a swift, decisive motion, Alicia unsheathed her sword and swung it in a powerful arc, unleashing a razor-sharp energy slash that hurtled toward the blue flame orb with unerring precision.
Boom!!!!! The two attacks collided in a spectacular display of energy and light, yet Alicia and Emma refused to yield, their chase continuing with unrelenting ferocity. Emma pursued Alicia with unwavering determination, her voice ringing out across the landscape. "I expected this to happen. I wonder how you will face this?"
As Emma finished her sentence, the night sky suddenly erupted into a kaleidoscope of light, the stars brightening to a dazzling intensity that forced all eyes upward. A collective gasp echoed through the air as thousands of red shooting stars streaked across the sky, their trajectories converging above Alicia. Over a thousand crimson streaks blazed above her, a celestial onslaught that left no room for evasion.
With a fierce battle cry, Alicia swung her massive, heavy red sword in a wide arc, unleashing a flurry of upward sword slashes that shredded the air itself. The sword's energy slashes danced among the shooting stars, a desperate bid to deflect the impending onslaught.
Boom!!! Boom!!! Bang!!! Bang!!!! The air was filled with the cacophony of multiple collisions as the golden shooting stars clashed with Alicia's sword slashes, creating a kaleidoscope of fireworks that illuminated the night sky. Alicia's sword effortlessly obliterated the celestial onslaught, its power leaving Emma aghast.
Emma hovered in mid-air, her chest heaving as she struggled to catch her breath. She had exhausted her Reserve Mana, pouring every last ounce of energy into her final attack. The Mana Heart, the mystical repository of a mage's power, was depleted, leaving Emma's magical abilities dormant.
As she gazed in Alicia's direction, Emma's eyes widened in awe. Alicia approached her with a relaxed, composed demeanor, her body showing no signs of injury or fatigue. The fact that Alicia had single-handedly annihilated the thousands of golden shooting stars with a mere swing of her sword left Emma stunned. "What a monster she is," Emma thought, her mind reeling from the sheer scale of Alicia's power.
With a surge of determination, Emma attempted to stand, her body still radiating a faint aura. The battle was far from over, and Emma refused to yield. she still had an aura in her body.
Alicia halted approximately 50 meters from Emma, both warriors poised for their final confrontation. Emma focused her remaining aura and mana, attuning herself to the intent of her Warhammer. As they clashed, their weapons met in a spectacular display of force, generating a massive shockwave that ravaged the surroundings, annihilating trees, landscapes, and mountains.
The two combatants stood firm, locked in a fierce stalemate, until Emma began to yield ground beneath Alicia's relentless pressure. Seizing an opportunity, Emma angled her Warhammer downward, allowing the top portion of Alicia's Crimson sword to slip and embed itself in the earth. With a swift motion, Emma swung her Warhammer from the right, unleashing a powerful blow that Alicia blocked with her left hand.
Though the attack was repelled, its force was so immense that it shattered the ground and landscape on Alicia's left side, creating a vast network of cracks that spanned over 2 kilometers. Emma's exhaustion finally overcame her, and she fell unconscious, unaware of the outcome.
Alicia gently laid Emma on the ground, her eyes flicking to the tiny cut on her left hand, which healed in an instant. Though Emma had lost the battle, she had won the bet. Intriguingly, Emma had reserved a quarter of her strength in their final clash, channeling it all into her last attack.
"It's impressive that you can think strategically even in the midst of an intense battle," Alicia whispered, her words lost to Emma's unconscious ears.
----
In the finally showdown, Aether Valeria, the Apostle of Light, faced off against Akarya, the Apostle of the god of life, magic, wealth, and contract. But to Aether's astonishment, the battle was unfolding in a catastrophically one-sided manner. Despite his impressive repertoire of skills - mastery over Ice, Wind, Holy Fire, swordsmanship, and Light Magic - Aether found himself on the back foot, struggling to defend against Akarya's relentless onslaught.
Aether's normally unshakeable confidence was wavering, his strength and ground dwindling by the second. As the Crown Prince of a formidable Empire and the Holy Son of the Church of Light, Aether had been groomed for greatness since childhood. He had access to the finest resources, tutelage from the strongest mentors, and the protection of Shadow Guards. Moreover, as a Reincarnator, Aether possessed the powerful Golden Finger ' a System' and also has the memories of his past life and amplifying his genius-level intellect.
Yet, despite these unparalleled advantages, Aether was being decisively outmaneuvered by Akarya. His perfect elemental combination, typically a guarantee of victory, was being expertly neutralized.
At the age of six months, Aether took his first steps; by one year, he spoke his first words; and from the tender age of four, he began his rigorous training with a sword. While other noble children indulged in playtime and indoor lessons, Aether honed his skills, battling instructors and pushing his body and mind to become the ultimate Hero. He traversed realms with ease, shattering expectations like a hot knife through butter.
Upon awakening his magic, Aether's prowess skyrocketed. His mastery over the five elements was unmatched, and he seamlessly merged his magical abilities with swordsmanship to become the most exceptional Magic Swordsman. He even grasped the rare ability to purify darkness and evil.
Throughout his life, Aether clashed with Apostles of various Gods and Goddesses, outshining them all. His reputation preceded him, striking awe in the hearts of many. He envisioned a life of ease, growing stronger, gathering a harem of Goddess Apostles, and effortlessly vanquishing Abyssal Monsters.
However, for the first time, Aether encountered a being who defied comprehension - a monster more terrifying than himself. Doubt crept into his mind, and he questioned his abilities. Despite his impressive feats, such as effortlessly slaying monsters far stronger than himself and holding his own against grouped Apostles, Aether felt humbled. He could even defeat Blaze in her formidable dragon form without breaking a sweat, yet this enigmatic person left him bewildered.
From the moment their eyes met, Aether sensed that the Elven girl was an Apostle of a God or Goddess. The distinctive Mana Signature, unique to all Apostles, was unmistakable. Aether's initial impression was that she was a beautiful, yet easily conquerable opponent. He thought it would be a simple matter to defeat her, perhaps even recruit her to his harem and leverage the Elven race's power to his advantage. But, he was grossly mistaken - delusional, even.
This girl, Akarya, was his equal in age but surpassed him in strength by a staggering margin. Aether's past life as a genius martial artist, mastering various disciplines from Boxing to Karate to Kendo, seemed irrelevant against her. Every arrow Akarya shot was like a constraint, tightening the world around Aether, restricting his movements, and forcing him into a passive state. The fabric of space itself appeared to collapse, suppressing him with an otherworldly force.