Sarah, undeterred by the threat, steeled herself for the upcoming battle. She met Mirage's gaze, her expression resolute.
"I won't go down so easily," she replied, her voice steady.
Mirage's swords, a deadly swarm of shimmering blades, hurtled towards Sarah with incredible speed. Acting quickly, Sarah dodged and parried the attacks, her reflexes and agility keeping her from being skewered by the onslaught.
Despite her efforts, Sarah could feel the power behind the attacks, each blow carrying enough force to cause serious damage. She knew that one slip-up could spell disaster, and she had to be careful in her movements.
Sarah's thoughts raced through her mind as she fought against the barrage of swords. Despite her incredible growth in power and her SS+ rank, she couldn't deny that the Glazier Cult members were formidable opponents.
"They're strong," she thought, her mind racing for a way to turn the tables.
Sarah's mind and body were in a state of heightened awareness. She analyzed every movement, every attack, searching for a weakness in Mirage's defenses.
Kenta, standing opposite Phantom, found himself engaged in a intense battle. The cult member fought like a shadow, his movements swift and fluid, as if he could slip in and out of reality effortlessly.
Kenta was forced to rely on his instincts and reflexes, dodging and parrying the onslaught of blows from Phantom. It was like trying to grasp smoke, as Phantom seemed to phase in and out of sight, his movements eerily smooth.
Kenta's frustration grew with every missed strike as he tracked the elusive fighter, trying to anticipate his next move. Phantom's smirk widened, fueling Kenta's anger and determination.
"You're stronger than I thought," Phantom taunted, his voice carrying a hint of mockery. "But let's see how long you can last."
Kenta gritted his teeth, his fingers gripping the hilt of his katana even tighter. He knew he couldn't underestimate his opponent, no matter how agile or elusive he was.
Sarah, her body bearing the wounds inflicted by Mirage's barrage of swords, gritted her teeth in pain. She pushed through the pain, refusing to let her injuries slow her down.
Sarah's adrenaline was pumping, her sense of danger heightened due to the injuries she had sustained. She continued to dodge and parry Mirage's attacks, her moves becoming slightly more desperate as her injuries took their toll.
Mirage, seeing Sarah's injuries, couldn't help but taunt her. With a smirk, she spoke in a condescending tone.
"You're looking a little worse for wear," she mocked. "Those injuries must be slowing you down. Can you keep up this pace for much longer?"
Sarah clenched her jaw, refusing to give Mirage the satisfaction of seeing her falter. She gritted her teeth, her determination growing stronger.
"I can keep going," she retorted, her voice filled with resolve. "You won't break me that easily... didn't expected I has to use System again."
Mirage's smirk faded, replaced by a look of interest. She hadn't expected Sarah to mention a "System."
"A System?" Mirage repeated, her curiosity peaked. "What are you talking about?"
A voice echoed in Sarah's mind, the System warning her of the availability of auto battle mode. It was a last-ditch effort, a hail-mary attempt to turn the tides of the battle.
Sarah knew the risks of activating auto battle mode, but her injuries and the dire situation left her with few options. With a deep breath, she mentally triggered the auto battle mode.
As soon as Sarah activated auto battle mode, her consciousness retreated, and the System took full control. Her eyes went blank, signaling that the System was now in charge.
Under the control of the System, Sarah's movements became mechanical, her actions precise and calculated. She took one of Mirage's swords in mid-air and skillfully parried the other attacks, her reactions lightning fast and unwavering.
In the blink of an eye, Sarah closed the distance between her and Mirage, standing firmly in front of her, her sword poised for a lethal strike.
Mirage's smirk faded completely, and a flicker of surprise crossed her face. She hadn't expected Sarah to fight with such mechanical precision and speed, her movements controlled by the System's programming.
Seeing Sarah's mechanical prowess, Mirage reacted quickly. She once again summoned more than ten swords in the air, launching them simultaneously towards Sarah's direction.
The System, which was controlling Sarah, responded to the onslaught of swords with precision and speed. Sarah dodged the incoming blades with grace and finesse, her movements a near-perfect dance. When the swords closed the distance, Sarah struck back, attacking Mirage simultaneously with her own sword.
As the System guided Sarah's every move, she executed a skill perfectly suited to the situation. Her sword struck Mirage from behind, the blade finding its mark with unwavering accuracy.
Mirage let out a cry of surprise and pain as the sword pierced her flesh, and her knees buckled underneath her. The shock on her face indicated that she hadn't expected such a calculated and efficient attack.
Kenta, his expression determined, swiftly drew 'Yami to Hikari,' the dark blade, from its sheath. The ominous energy emanating from the black blade crackled in the air, filling the room with a dark aura.
As Kenta's eyes turned a glowing red, signaling his transformation, an ominous aura emanated from his being. The room seemed to chill, as if the very atmosphere itself could sense the danger Kenta now represented.
Phantom, who had been trading blows with Kenta, took a step back, his eyes widening in surprise as he saw the change in Kenta. He could feel the surge of power that came from Kenta, and his expression shifted to one of caution and wariness.
"What... what is this power?" Phantom muttered, his voice tinged with a mix of alarm and fascination.
In a swift and unexpected move, Kenta's dark blade cut through Phantom's neck, decapitating him in an instant. The head, still hovering in mid-air, saw Mirage, her expression changing from surprise to shock.
Both Mirage and Kenta were badly wounded. The intense battle had drained them both physically and mentally, leaving them near the brink of exhaustion. Their breathing was ragged, and their bodies bore numerous injuries.
As the auto battle mode ended, Sarah's consciousness returned to her, and she felt a sharp pain coursing through her muscles. The strain of the System fighting through her body had taken its toll, and her muscles protested vehemently.
Despite their desire to end Mirage's life, Kenta and Sarah held back, realizing the importance of gathering information. They both looked at Mirage, their expressions stern yet expecting answers.
"Who are you... and what is your cult real goal?" Kenta demanded, his voice firm yet tinged with a hint of tiredness.
Mirage, realizing she was at their mercy, took a deep breath and spoke, her voice laced with a hint of defiance. "We are members of the Glazier Cult... our goal is to overthrow the current power structure and establish a new order... one where people like us, those with powers, rule the world."
Kenta and Sarah exchanged a quick glance, their expressions hardening further. They had expected the cult's goals to be of an ambitious and violent nature, and they weren't surprised by Mirage's revelation.
"Overthrow the current power structure... and rule the world, huh?" Sarah muttered, her voice cold and her expression hardening. "That's quite a lofty goal... but it's also foolish and dangerous."
Mirage, sensing their skepticism, felt compelled to defend her cult and the actions of her leader. She responded with a hint of loyalty in her voice.
"Our leader, Eclipse, has a grand vision for the future. He seeks to elevate us, the ones with powers, to a position of dominance. He believes that society should be ruled by those with the strongest abilities.''
Mirage, despite hinting at the cult's grand ambitions, remained discreet about the specifics. She didn't mention the ancient artifacts the cult possessed, even though they were in an old and ancient cave.
Instead, she continued, "We are closer to achieving our goals than you think... the artifacts we possess will ensure our... ascension."
System: Level Up! Congratulations you've defeated two SSS+ rankers
Status: Sarah Yamazaki
Strength: SSS+
Speed: SSR+
Endurance: SSS+
Intelligence: S+
Potential: S+
Rank' SS+
Status: Kenta Yazuru
Strength: SSS+
Speed: UR++
Endurance: SR+
Intelligence: C+
Potential: SSR+
Rank' SSS
(only Sarah could see system)
As the System informed Sarah of her level up and the new status update, she couldn't help but feel a mix of surprise and satisfaction. Her eyes widened slightly as she read her new rank of SS+. The pain coursing through her muscles from using the auto battle mode was temporarily forgotten.
~Next chapter "The War"