**CHAPTER TRIGGER WARNING**
Elizabeth's POV
My eyes widen in awe as Emma loosens her grip on Raymond's hand before landing a devasting punch to his stomach creating a massive explosion.
She's that strong?
Raymond grunts and groans, seemingly taken off guard by her powerful attack.
"I never would've guessed there was a talented fighter hidden among the audience all along." He says, his voice low and hostile.
"I won't let scoundrels like you run amuck and cause chaos." Emma replies, her now golden eyes narrowed, her hair levitating slightly.
"Is that so?" Raymond scoffs, swiftly unleashing a barrage of powerful mana blasts.
I grit my teeth, expecting Emma to be crushed by the attack but she dodges every single one, leaving yellow after images in her wake.
I must admit, I severely underestimated her...
"Elizabeth, you with me or not?" She asks, her eyes trained on Raymond in front of us.
"I'm with you." I assure her before lifting my sword and standing next to her.
"Let's finish this."
Emma's POV
Elizabeth takes her stand beside me as Raymond Felix laughs.
"You seriously think you have a chance against me, I'll take pleasure in anhilating you both." He vows, his smirk turning into a dark scowl.
"Let's finish this." I tell Elizabeth before we both race forward leaving a trail of golden and red streaks in our wake.
My full power...
It's been so long since I since I used my true strength, for good reason.
"Die." Raymond hisses as he claws a crimson mana blast towards us.
I can still hear their voices, crying out to me...
I still vividly remember the feeling of their blood on my skin, their screams and pleas for mercy...
Only to be met with...wrath.
"Come on Emma just accompany to the shop, you know mom and dad won't let me go alone." My little sister Eve had asked me.
It was 10 years ago, downtown Pazalian streets were dangerous and infamous for all sorts of crimes so of course I couldn't let her go alone.
"Fine." I relectuantly agreed, already exhausted from that day's schoolwork.
The walk to the local market wasn't a long one, we bought some snacks and a few sandwiches using our own hard earned allowance.
"Thank you big sis!" Eve exclaimed, the child like joy on her face bringing a smile to my lips.
But then...
As we were walking in an alley, a familiar route back home, we were suddenly cornered by some rough looking men.
"They look young enough to fit the requirements don't you think?" One of the men asked before the two others darkly chuckled.
"Yeah, their organs should be healthy and fresh, just like the client wanted." The second added, a sadistic smirk on his disgusting face.
"I bet it would make a fortune on the market." The third chimed in as Eve gripped my skirt and hid behind me.
"Big sis...what's going on?" She asked me whilst I clenched my trembling fists.
Truth is, I was terrified.
But I had to protect my sister, at all costs.
"Don't worry Eve, big sis Emma will protect you." I tried assuring her, turning to her with a shaky smirk.
Eve smiled innocently before I turned my attention back to the three men before us.
It was brutal...
At the time, I was no match for the men that beat me to a bloody pulp right in front of my sister.
"Big sis!" Eve screamed out before rushing to my battered form.
"E-eve, r-run." I croaked out as she vehemently shook her head.
"I won't ever leave you alone!" She protested as blood continuously leaked from my mouth.
"Enough of this." One of the men exclaimed as he yanked Eve's hair and put his hand over her mouth.
Immediately after, I tried to get up but my face was slammed back into the ground by the other lackeys.
I hated it, the feeling of powerlessness...
Using all my remaining strength I slowly lifted my head to see Eve viciously bite the man's hand as he instinctively let her go.
"You little brat!" He shouted before pulling out his dagger and...
From that moment onwards, I was never the same.
My eyes widened as Eve's little body fell to the ground with a gaping cut on her side, blood spilling out like a river.
"Eve!" I screamed before attempting to rush to her side but the men roughly prevented me from doing so.
As I turned my head to face them, my emerald eyes glowed gold as I darkly spoke.
"Y-you did this..." I said, yellow lightning crackling around my body as the men stepped back in caution but by then it was already too late.
They had awoken a monster.
I could feel my emotions take over me as I let out a piercing scream of anguish.
What happened next was a blur but at the same time, strangely vivid too.
Blinded by rage, I massacred all those men.
They're detached limbs and corpses littered the alley as I walked back to Eve, the light in her eyes dimming with every second.
"Eve..." I whispered, tears flowing from my eyes as I cradled her body.
"Big sis...." She weakly called out to me before continuing "I'm.... I'm scared..."
I could feel my heart skip a beat as she stopped breathing, the light in her eyes had completely vanished.
"Eve...wake up.....wake up." I sobbed to no avail as I buried my face in my hands.
"Don't leave me." I begged but the sound of footsteps behind me caused an abrupt upt stop to my wailing.
Turns out, that day my parents frantically searched for Eve and I, afraid something terrible might've happened.
They were right...
"What in the world...." My father trailed off, taking in the sight of the bloodied alley before my mother's eyes landed on Eve's lifeless body.
"No, no, no." She whispered repeatedly, her eyes blown wide in utter horror.
Having been through so much and desperately craving comfort, I rushed to my parents and hugged them both.
My sobs filling the eerie silence of the alleyway.
I foolishly thought that my parents would accept me with loving arms, console me over my sister's death.
But...after seeing the blood stained on my clothes and face, they were quick to assume I was the cause of Eve's death.
"You monster!" My mother exclaimed before slapping me right across my face.
"No, please wait I can explai--"
"--I can't believe you would do this, get out of my sight!"
Hearing those words only made me tear up again as I clung to the bottom of my mother's dress.
"You're a demon, a curse." She hisses before pushing me off harshly, causing me to land on the ground painfully.
"No please don't leave me!" I begged to no avail.
That was the day I lost not only my sister but my parents too.
I wandered in the streets alone for weeks, surviving on scraps and what I managed to steal.
But it all changed when James found me.
He took me in despite knowing what happened that day.
He was more of a father to me than my real one ever was, he loved me despite...everything.
I swore to never use my real power ever again due to what little control I have over it,
But here I am.
Elizabeth fiercely attacks Raymond with her blade as I attempt to keep my power in check.
I need to end this quick.
Raymond Felix unleashes a powerful blast of red mana, obliterating his surroundings as Elizabeth staggers back.
Now's my chance.
I sprint forward, shattering the remaining ground beneath me, making a beeline straight for Raymond.
My hair and eyes glow gold as I strike Raymond's chest with my claws, creating a massive explosion and shaking the ground.
The whole battle platform which was already damaged prior to this fight is now reduced to ash as I stand in front of a dying Raymond.
His top half injured beyond recognition, his body slumped against the fractured wall as he breathes raggedly.
Finally...
However, a red gemstone rolls out of his pocket, crackling with red lightning before exploding into a bright and blinding light.
What the hell..!?
My eyes widen as I take in Raymond's restored form as he levitates into the air.
"You almost killed me." He states darkly before releasing a powerful wave of his mana across the vicinity.
Damn that gemstone, I can sense he's definitely stronger.
"I'll end this in an instant." Raymond announces before motioning to strike me faster than I can even perceive.
I can't let this imbecile of all people kill me.
In less than a micro second, a flash of blue lightning breaks through the red dome around the tournament arena, shattering it to pieces before moving me out of the way.
My eyes widen before softening and reverting back to it's emerald form.
"Took you long enough Astern." I speak softly as Braun smirks, carrying me bridal style.
"Sorry I'm late." He apologizes before letting me down gently.
"Elizabeth, Emma, you guys did well but, I'm taking over now." Braun continues, his expression darkening as he gazes at Raymond.
Elizabeth lets out a sigh of relief and so do I before eventually collapsing from fatigue.
She immediately rushes to my side and assures Braun she'll take care of me.
"She'll be okay, I'll take care of her while you deal with Raymond." Elizabeth tells him before he nods.
My vision becomes blurry as I slowly begin to lose consciousness.
On the bright side, at least I could rest knowing that he would be able to defeat Raymond Felix and ensure our safety.
Braun Astern, you better give him hell...