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DN : [394] Clash
🕑 Added 2024-12-25 16:00:04 +0000 UTCBOOM!
In the remote mountains outside the imperial capital, deafening explosions echoed endlessly through the air.
“That’s not enough, Esdeath,” August said, standing atop a rocky outcrop surrounded by craters and rubble. His voice was calm yet commanding. “Your strength is only comparable to a high-class devil for now. You’re still far from your full potential.”
Across from him, Esdeath stood tall, her dark wings unfurling majestically behind her. A pitch-black demonic crest glowed faintly on her forehead, marking her transformation.
Since being reborn as part of the House of Demon, Esdeath’s power had soared dramatically. Her demonic energy surged to the level of a high-ranking demon, and her former Teigu ability, Demon’s Extract, had seamlessly integrated into her newfound powers, aligning her ice-based abilities with her magic.
Now, at her full strength, Esdeath could rival even the most powerful calamities in this world. She had become a force of nature, akin to the legendary super-dangerous beasts of myth.
“Ice Age!”
CRACK!
With her declaration, extreme cold magic began to spread at a terrifying speed. The ground, mountains, and entire landscape around them froze into crystalline ice. Esdeath’s sheer power could annihilate nations with ease.
August watched the scene unfold, his lips curling into a faint smile. With a casual wave of his hand, crimson flames burst forth, roaring through the frozen terrain. The searing fire consumed the ice, erasing it entirely along with Esdeath’s magic.
This was Ignis Draconis, the signature dragon flames of the Crimson Dragon Emperor, Ddraig. After Ddraig’s rebirth as the Red Princess, she had entrusted August with a portion of her original flame, granting him a power capable of incinerating even gods.
“Frost Vanguard!”
RUMBLE!
The ground beneath the shattered ice began to tremble as legions of ice knights emerged from the frozen earth. Their sheer number was staggering, marching forth like an army summoned from the abyss.
“Interesting,” August mused, watching the spectral soldiers assemble. “A horde-style attack. Annoying, but hardly decisive.”
He raised a hand, and a subtle hum filled the air as six ornate staves materialized through the shimmering portals of Gate of Babylon. Each staff bore a different gem, imbued with unique magical attributes: flames, storms, lightning, torrents, earth, and shadows.
“I’ve been meaning to try this,” August said, a playful smile dancing on his lips. “If I was an Archer before, consider this my debut as a Caster.”
BOOM!
The staves unleashed a symphony of destruction, each releasing its respective element. Flames roared, storms howled, lightning crackled, torrents surged, boulders rained down, and darkness engulfed the battlefield. The coordinated barrage obliterated half of Esdeath’s ice knights in an instant.
Esdeath’s eyes sparkled with fascination as she witnessed the spectacle. “So, this is magic?” she murmured. “Quite extravagant. In that case, let me show you something new—True Frost Vanguard!”
BOOM!
Her remaining ice knights began to converge, their forms melting and merging as Esdeath poured her demonic energy into them. The resulting fusion created a massive, towering ice knight, its size rivaling the colossal Supreme Teigu hidden deep within the Empire.
“Hmm? A new technique?”
August’s eyes widened in surprise as he watched Esdeath summon a new ability for the first time.
“You’re the one who said it’s thrilling to pilot a giant mech, didn’t you?” Esdeath teased, a smirk playing on her lips.
“Uh…” August was momentarily speechless. It wasn’t wrong, but still... “That doesn’t mean you can just call this a first-generation mech.”
Esdeath’s teasing grin only grew wider, but August quickly shifted his focus. With a wave of his hand, he summoned his own countermeasure.
“Fine then. Come forth, Guardian Mech: Supreme Throne!”
The words left his mouth, and August immediately felt a wave of secondhand embarrassment. It was as if his latent flair for the dramatic had boiled over.
BOOM!
The ground shook as the massive Supreme Throne emerged through the portal of Gate of Babylon. Its towering form dwarfed the surrounding mountains, radiating an aura of overwhelming power.
August climbed into the control chamber with practiced ease, having used the emperor’s blood to unlock its full operational capabilities. He had also bypassed the restrictions imposed by the first emperor, tweaking the mech into what he now fondly referred to as his Gundam Unit One.
Esdeath raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “A Supreme Imperial Arm, is it? Let’s see how much power it truly holds.”
With a flick of her wrist, she commanded her Frost Vanguard General to launch an attack. A massive spear of ice hurtled toward the Supreme Throne, cutting through the air with deadly precision.
Not one to back down, August countered immediately, maneuvering the mech to retaliate with its own attack. The clash of titanic forces lit up the battlefield, with explosions and shockwaves carving through the already-scarred terrain.
The battle quickly devolved into a turn-based slugfest. Neither August nor Esdeath bothered with complex maneuvers. Instead, they stood their ground, exchanging blow for blow like players in a high-stakes arcade game.
BOOM!
Eventually, the Supreme Throne triumphed, its final strike shattering the Frost Vanguard General into icy fragments. But the victory wasn’t due to superior strength; Esdeath’s magic reserves had simply run dry.
Esdeath let out a sigh, her shoulders slumping slightly. She had just recently acquired her magical abilities, and after such an intense, drawn-out battle, her reserves were utterly depleted.
August deactivated the Supreme Throne, stepping down from the mech with a bemused expression. “Honestly,” he muttered to himself, “this thing isn’t as impressive as I’d hoped. It’s too clunky. Apart from the energy cannon, the rest of its features are borderline useless. And that design? A slow-moving mech wearing a cape? Really? What were they thinking?”
He walked over to Esdeath, who was leaning against a boulder, catching her breath.
“How are you feeling?” he asked.
“Nothing serious,” she replied. “Just exhausted from using up all my magic. But next time, I’ll win.”
“Sure you will,” August said with a grin.
“I mean it,” she insisted. “Once I’ve had more time to refine my control, I’ll surpass even this.”
August chuckled softly. “Your magic capacity is already leagues beyond mine. Yet here you are, running out of power.”
“That’s because we’re not the same,” she retorted, a spark of determination lighting up her eyes. “My magic grows stronger every day. And even if I’ve started over, I’ll reach the peak again. It’s only a matter of time.”
“I believe you,” August said sincerely, handing her a bottle of high-grade mana potion.
Esdeath took it without hesitation, gulping it down. The effects were immediate, a soothing warmth spreading through her body as her depleted reserves began to recover.
“That’s the good stuff,” she murmured with a satisfied sigh.
August shrugged. “It’s extravagant, but when you’re as rich as I am, why not indulge a little?”
