The following day, word of the enormous sea creature's remains spread quickly across the Land of Shadows, eventually reaching Shadow Castle. Scáthach seemed indifferent to the news, yet I sensed something darker brewing—a battle in the Land of Shadows loomed near. Only one day remained before my complete analysis of Scáthach's soul would be finished, and I'd be better equipped for what lay ahead.
I joined the guards in fortifying the defensive line near the Gates of the Underworld, which would soon open. As I helped set up, my mind drifted to the deities associated with the Underworld, searching for any advantages I could muster.
"The Underworld always brings up names like Hades for the Greeks or Pluto for the Romans. Then there's Persephone, his wife, and maybe Hecate, the goddess of magic," I muttered, deep in thought. "Minor figures like the Erinyes or judges like Minos, Rhadamanthys, and Aeacus—these names echo through myths, but I can't tell if they exist here in the same way."
I felt a mix of nerves and excitement, wondering just how these gods would rank in power. If they had anything near the strength of Diana, the battle ahead would be no simple skirmish. After a moment, I shook my head. "No sense in overthinking it; we'll find out soon enough." I allowed my thoughts to drift to Cú Chulainn. Scáthach rarely summoned him to the castle—perhaps she still recalled his reasons for coming to the Land of Shadows in the first place. Leaving here required more than skill; it demanded Scáthach's approval in some way. Maybe he'd find his chance to stand out in this invasion. Somehow, I felt a touch of pride for him, like a mentor watching a student finally come into their own.
By the time I arrived at our defensive position, I shook off my musings. For now, I had work to do. My task was to observe the fortifications, get a sense of the demon threat's scale, and assist wherever I could with the arrangements and strategies. Setting up defensive measures here felt like navigating a delicate balance. A full-scale assault or unleashing a line of Magic Fortresses wouldn't work—not with so many souls passing through, waiting to enter the Underworld for reincarnation. Using bombardments against divine intruders would disrupt these spirits, and beyond that, this place had always favored the clash of swords and close combat over reckless displays of power. Unfortunately that would also mean a limit on my large scale magic.
Given the recent sea beast incident, I couldn't shake an uneasy feeling. After leaving my post, I made my way to where the creature had been defeated. I wasn't blind to its strength; I'd seen it firsthand during that long-distance race with Cú Chulainn. This was no small enemy, and yet today's report claimed it had gone down with a single blow.
"That's pretty strange," I muttered.
As I traveled, my casual demeanor sharpened to full alertness. The forests of the Land of Shadows were never truly quiet; they were more like hunting grounds, filled with monsters waiting to pounce. But oddly enough, in my long absence, I hadn't come across a single specter or wandering soul.
"Soul Synchronization: Ashe."
"Fantasy extraction, concept fixation, projection implementation."
Without delay, I synchronized with Ashe, summoning the massive black bow into my hands. Moving cautiously through the forest's eerie silence, I kept my steps light. Ashe might not have the raw power of other captains, but her strength lay in heightened environmental awareness—an A-level intellect at its core.
"The Bounded Field in this area has been shattered, and the guards didn't even notice?" I murmured, piecing it all together.
In response to the sea beast, the guards had set up Bounded Fields to keep wandering souls or stray people from getting in. But now, those fields were breached, like some powerful, intelligent creature had tampered with them.
Suddenly, my pupils contracted as a violent surge of magic smashed into the ground, blasting a crater where I'd just been standing. I leapt back just as a spatial slash struck my initial spot. The blade, stretching tens of meters, ripped through the ground, shredding steel-like trees in its wake.
Through the settling dust, I saw a tall, menacing figure. If not for my keen observation, that strike could have done serious damage. Whoever—or whatever—this was, it was definitely beyond guard-captain level.
"Projection implementation: Hrunting!" I called, channeling my energy.
A red arrow shot forward in a burst of magical power. Letting go of the bow, I reached for the Gáe Bolg I'd received from Scáthach. Against such a powerful opponent, I had to be fully prepared.
"Warriors of the Land of Shadows? I must've overestimated; all that's come is a child," the figure taunted.
"Then let me show you the terror this 'child' can bring!" I shot back, feeling energy course through me.
I didn't need Okita Souji's Soul Synchronization; my natural skill and talent were enough. As I prepared to move, I felt that familiar, thrilling sensation as my form flickered and vanished. Through the clearing smoke, I saw the figure grinning, readying itself for battle.
In that instant, I reappeared, materializing just as the figure in the smoke clenched its fists, aiming a fierce punch at my neck. I tensed, twisting in mid-air to counter it with my right leg. The clash of foot and fist sent a shockwave rippling out, clearing the surrounding dust.
My expression shifted subtly as I adjusted the force in my leg, angling the Gáe Bolg in my hand. I spun my entire body, my elbow aimed at the opponent, releasing my energy in a strike. Though it was only a partial hit, the figure merely tilted its head slightly to dodge. What it didn't expect, however, was the next strike from Hrunting, now soaring once more. By the time it noticed and tried to dodge, Hrunting had already struck its abdomen, drawing vivid red blood.
Boom!
The figure's face registered astonishment. My foot rose, stomping down on her waist. I vaulted forward, unleashing a burst of raw power like a sprinting technique. My kick landed with the force of a savage war trample, erupting in a potent impact. A cloud of blood mist blossomed in the air as she was hurled dozens of meters backward, flattening trees along the way. Despite the chaos, she managed to get back on her feet after an awkward tumble.
I didn't pursue her; instead, I landed on the ground, sizing up the situation. "An outsider? Here to learn in the Land of Shadows?"
Entering the Land of Shadows while alive was usually done to train with a mentor. Invading this realm was practically suicide. Judging from what this person had said earlier, it seemed more like the latter. This was a woman—not that appearances mattered now; this wasn't some blind date. Martial skill was what counted. Thanks to Hrunting's earlier strike, I hadn't been at a disadvantage. But battles were merciless; one misstep could mean severe injury or death.
The woman coughed, spitting up blood mixed with bile. Her bloody face lifted to glare at me, fiery determination blazing in her eyes. The wind around her seemed to catch the flames, with heat radiating from her exposed arms like red-hot steel. A scorching wind burst out, creating a pressure so intense it made the very air feel sweltering with each breath she took.
There was no magical energy in this burning gust; it seemed driven by sheer momentum alone. Something felt off.
"Very well! You've stirred my fighting spirit!"
"I am Alcippe, daughter of the God of War, Ares. You, warrior of the Land of Shadows! Declare your name!"
With intense combat intent in her eyes, the female warrior gripped her war blade firmly, proclaiming her name with a powerful voice. It was clear she was a true warrior, her spirit unfazed by pain or anger on the battlefield. Brimming with zeal, she thirsted for battle, eager to defeat her opponent in this fight.
"Kara Zor-El!" I boldly declared with a grin. I was never one to back down from a challenge.
"Very well! Kara Zor-El, if you defeat me, you'll find out why I'm here! Now, face me and conquer! Use that spear of yours to strike me down!"
Alcippe's voice rose in pitch, her exposed skin glowing brighter. It was as though she was about to ignite, and a faint mist began to envelop her. I knew that if I wanted answers about why Alcippe was here or why she attacked, this duel was unavoidable. Not that I minded; I was eager to measure myself against this Alcippe. Wasn't she a demigoddess?
"Ready when you are!"
"Just don't go dying on me!"
"Falling in battle is an honor for a warrior!"
Alcippe's veins surged with fiery determination. She gripped her war blade and swung it with seemingly random force, yet it cut into the ground with precision. The blade left a luminous trail, cleaving the earth beneath it and leaving a scar of torn ground tens of meters long. This was only the beginning of our battle. My hand traced a fiery rune in the air, instantly creating a Bounded Field that intercepted the blade's arc and the impact that followed. But in the blink of an eye, her war blade cut through space, closing in on my neck.
The "Mind's Eye" technique was well-named for its precise awareness of the battlefield. I had anticipated Alcippe's advance well in advance. Sparks erupted along the blade's edge. My right hand reached for the butt of the Gáe Bolg, nearly ready to wield it. Simultaneously, the rune that had shifted from a barrier detonated in a shockwave.
As Alcippe was forced back, Gáe Bolg locked onto her vital points. I launched into a fierce assault with superhuman speed. The Gáe Bolg sliced through the air like a tempest, tearing through the earth as it surged forward. I parried Alcippe's strikes again and again, my skill and reflexes undeniably impressive. However, Alcippe had never encountered a warrior willing to cast aside their weapons in the heat of battle.
...
Of course, not having witnessed something before doesn't mean underestimating it—especially in the Land of Shadows, where rulers and commoners alike possess their own unique skills. This familiarity kept Alcippe cautious. Instead of becoming complacent, she heightened her vigilance to its peak. By analyzing the magic spear mid-flight, Alcippe sensed a shift in Kara's demeanor. To her, it was as if I had shed my skin, revealing the temperament of a berserker.
[Martha's Pose: Fake]
[Jacob's Limbs: Fake]
Exploiting the ground's proximity, my left hand, encased in a black gauntlet, struck the back of the blade. The impact jolted Alcippe, nearly causing her to lose her grip on her war blade. But the assault didn't stop there. My right fist targeted Alcippe's arm joints, making her sway. I quickly crouched and surged forward, slamming into her shoulder, colliding forcefully with her chest like a predator's pounce. At the same time, I raised my palm toward her chin. The impact was explosive.
Puff!
Alcippe's body shot back like a cannonball, hitting the ground hard. The force carved several shallow craters beneath her, leaving a mist of crimson blood hanging in the air like smoke from embers. I exhaled a long breath, my stance now mirroring Martha's in combat. Strangely, I hadn't delved into Martha's soul or Saint Graph; instead, I'd simply replicated her soul wavelength during the fight. Yet, the synchronization was remarkably strong.
In fact, it was so strong that this shift in stance allowed me to regain the upper hand. I clenched my fists, an aura of violence radiating from me like a tidal wave. "How does that feel, foreign combatant?"
"Exhilarating!" Alcippe spat out blood that had risen to her throat, a grin spreading across her face. "The quick change in fighting style made me vulnerable not only to an assassin's precision but also to a witch's tricks. Now, you—the brute—have sparked a fierce desire in me to fight. But I must admit, I prefer seeing you with that Gáe Bolg. It suits you better as a warrior."
"If you like it so much, then go for it. If you're willing to tell me why you came to the Land of Shadows, I might even help you out!"
Naturally, I didn't pay too much attention to Alcippe's words. Despite only systematically learning rune, spear skills, and deepening my understanding of the Third Magic, the rest of my abilities had been earned through life-or-death clashes or by mimicking movements close to soul resonance.
What's more, each instance of soul synchronization or mimicry gradually brought my own thought patterns closer to those of the original user. The more compatible our personalities, the more my Soul Synchronization mirrored the original wielder's abilities.
"Maybe Martha and I have unusually strong compatibility, but I wonder how this would work in Marvel," I mused. But my opponent interrupted my thoughts.
"Then give me a match worth remembering!"
Alcippe rubbed her chest, her face contorting in pain. Still, she ignored the wound on her abdomen and my kicks, laughing heartily instead. "For the record, I'm not the only one who's entered the Land of Shadows!" Alcippe's proclamation was punctuated by the ground cracking beneath her, a web of fissures spidering outwards. She shot forward at an incredible speed, nearly exploding in the process, her blood-stained war blade held high—the same weapon that had claimed countless foes. With a force capable of splitting mountains, it thundered toward my head with lightning speed. Her relentless attack might have seemed reckless, almost wild, yet it was undeniably an expression of her primal combat fervor.
"Defend against this? No… let's go all out too!"
Facing Alcippe's ferocious swing, I lifted my head resolutely. Anchoring my feet, I poured my strength and magical energy into my fists. This mimicry aligned even closer with Martha's soul, and for a fleeting moment, I felt as if I had truly become her.
With a body stronger than my past self, Illyasviel, I could unleash my skills with a boldness and ferocity previously unimaginable. My magic circuits illuminated across my body, power erupting like a Super Saiyan transformation as I tapped into my inner reserves.
The earth trembled, groaning under the pressure. My limbs bent, then extended in unison, force coursing through me in a direct line as my muscles tensed to absorb the strain. My arms, once steady, now vibrated, pulling in the surrounding atmosphere. I lunged, condensing all my strength. A sonic boom detonated, cloaking the area in a misty veil as my fist collided with her oncoming blade in a staggering impact.
"Iron Fist Judgment!"
The punch, surpassing the speed of sound, tore through the air, and even the space between us seemed to splinter. Soil and blackened trees were swept away in a cascade, shockwaves tearing outward like a typhoon. Alcippe absorbed the brunt of the blow, tossed like a ship in a storm, helpless against the violent force. Her arm bones splintered, flesh tore open, and a stream of crimson erupted from her shoulders.
She soared skyward, her body like a ragdoll, pain flooding her senses. Yet her focus remained on the awe-inspiring force of my strike.
After what felt like an eternity, earth and fractured wood began to fall, raining down in dark shards. I held my ground, my mind calm and focused, as if clarity had washed over me. My blue eyes flickered, the insight of the preceding punch illuminating them.
Boom!
Alcippe's form crashed back to the earth, shrouded in dust and debris.
"Martha, I've glimpsed your essence," I murmured, my voice alive with excitement. I exhaled a gentle breath, a faint mist escaping as the frenetic surge of magical energy within me subsided. The battle had concluded. Even I hadn't anticipated that a fight meant to rage on would end so swiftly, nor had I expected to wield such a technique. I could already imagine deploying such an attack at my cousin's level. Savoring the thought, I checked my body.
Still at my peak, the recent punch hadn't depleted me; instead, it had bolstered my spirit and martial strength. I felt confident enough to claim I could face the captain of the guard without giving much ground, and perhaps even against Scáthach, I might not fare too poorly.
Yet the battle had ended, and Alcippe lay incapacitated.