However, even after unleashing such powerful magic, Tsukiko remained vigilant, gazing down at the ground without lowering her guard.
In the next moment, as if to prove Tsukiko's judgment right, a dazzling light pierced through the dust on the ground below her.
From the distant horizon, several large eagles came flying towards Tsukiko. These were not ordinary eagles but fiery entities, each replacing their feathers with sparks of flames.
Each of these giant eagles was larger than Tsukiko herself. They soared above the rooftop of the building and descended rapidly, preparing to strike their prey.
"Kinraishou!"
Tsukiko muttered, and immediately, the Kinraishou she had thrown reappeared in her hand.
In an instant, the spear gleamed. Kinraishou accurately pierced the chest of the eagle that had reached Tsukiko first, and the ensuing lightning obliterated the fiery creature completely.
However, there wasn't just one eagle. One after another, flaming projectiles with deadly heat descended upon Tsukiko, following complex trajectories.
With fierce talons and beaks poised to tear her apart, they closed in menacingly.
In the face of this threat, Tsukiko danced lightly.
She skillfully sliced through the eagles' bodies with her spear, swatted away the flames that billowed from their wings, and gracefully evaded the numerous eagles one by one.
Then, Tsukiko balanced herself on the edge of the building, exposing herself to the night sky.
Golden lightning charged her legs as she didn't fall but kicked off the building's wall and sprinted towards the ground.
The eagles pursued Tsukiko, but timing their attacks in unison against her as she dashed along the wall proved to be a difficult task.
One by one, Tsukiko's lightning struck down the eagles within her range.
The explosion of fiery sparks as they fell was reminiscent of fireworks decorating the night sky. Amidst this brilliance, Tsukiko spotted Flame.
Amidst the lingering dust and flames, Flame was looking up at Tsukiko. His hood had fallen, revealing his white hair, and his artificial eye seemed to be scrutinizing Tsukiko's every move.
"..."
Tsukiko's beautiful face breaks into a thin smile.
In their previous battle, Flame hadn't even bothered to unveil his hood, let alone direct his gaze her way. To Flame, Tsukiko had been like a mere roadside stone.
But now, things were different. He recognized her and had come to kill her with clear intent. That was a significant change.
Tsukiko released her left hand from the spear and pulled three needles from a holster at her waist.
"'Hiraishin'."
She threw them. The three needles, propelled by golden lightning, pierced through the dust at a speed surpassing bullets. Enhanced by magic for both speed and hardness, these needles not only possessed formidable attack power but also had the property of attracting golden lightning once they struck their target.
Flame immediately reacted to Tsukiko's unexpected move. Flames erupted from behind her, and he moved to swat away the 'Hiraishin' needles. His massive arms, which had once effortlessly caught the thrust of Kinraishou, now met the 'Hirai-shin' needles. One of them slashed across Flame's cheek as the needles blazed brightly. The second arm attempted to block the needle but was slightly too late. The needles were incandescent with lightning and fire as they vanished.
Now, it was Flame's turn to retaliate. He raised his arm toward Tsukiko, who had taken advantage of the opening created by the 'Hiraishin' needles.
"'Aspita (Red Servant).'"
He murmured, using the name of an ancient magic imbued with words passed down among the demon kind.
Flames swirled at Flame's feet and transformed instantly. The raging red flames, previously uncontrollable, now responded to their master's clear intent.
The 'Aspita' was a magic that transformed flames into creatures resembling beasts or demons. Not only did it mimic their form, but it also granted them entirely new properties.
The flames given ephemeral life possessed the unique attributes and abilities of living beings. When they transformed into a giant, they gained the strength of a giant; when they became an eagle, they acquired flight and speed; and when they took on the form of a dog, they inherited keen senses and agility.
In addition to their inherent violence as flames, 'Aspita' was a versatile magic that could adapt to various situations depending on the type of transformation.
Standing before Tsukiko was a bipedal creatyre. A tail about the size of an adult's arm struck the asphalt, and jaws large enough to swallow a person were spewing fire intermittently.
In a way, it resembled a humanoid alligator or lizard.
Unknown to Tsukiko, Flame had transformed into a creature known as a 'Lizardman' among the 'Asteris.' It had humanoid traits and possessed a powerful physique similar to the overwhelming demon (oni) that had defeated Tsukiko in their previous encounter, but it had distinct characteristics.
"...Weapons."
Tsukiko muttered as she observed the Lizardman's hands up close.
Indeed, the Lizardman created by the 'Aspita' wielded a large machete-like blade in its right hand and something resembling a shield in its left. While these, like its body, were composed entirely of flames, their craftsmanship was remarkable.
Lizardmen were a type of monster with high intelligence and social structure among magical creatures.
Flame had summoned the Lizardman, considering that Tsukiko's current capabilities could pierce even the resilient body of a monster. The Lizardman possessed formidable combat skills.
—Roarrrrrrrr!
The Lizardman roared, brandishing its flaming machete. The air sizzled, and an immense heat wave washed over Tsukiko.
Kinraishou thrust forward, clashing intensely with the Lizardman's blade.
Flame's mastery of magic was top-notch among the demon race. Weapons conjured by flames possessed hardness comparable to metal. Consequently, the Lizardman's machete, clashed against Kinraishou, was not pierced through like the giant eagles or the demon (oni) had been.
However, Kinraishou was a top-tier magic tool in this modern age. After several clashes, it could easily shatter the machete.
Tsukiko recognized this and refrained from pushing forward recklessly. Waiting for the moment when she could destroy the weapon, she kept her distance.
This might have been a reasonable judgment in normal circumstances. However, Tsukiko was now facing Flame, a mage chosen for the God-Demon War, a battle that could be considered the fate of the world. A passive approach wouldn't be enough to defeat such an opponent.
"Human, that's not a strategy. You're just being timid."
"...!"
As Flame spoke, the Lizardman's descending blade gained momentum.
The blade extended, not just slicing but engulfing Tsukiko in flames. The fiery flash turned into a massive explosion that blasted everything in the vicinity.
Yellow, orange, and red mixed together, illuminating the cityscape of the night like a brilliant beacon. Buildings around them shook from the impact, and guardrails consumed by flames melted and fell.
Certainly, if it were just a regular weapon, Tsukiko's Kinraishou could have destroyed it. However, both the Lizardman and its machete were products of Flame's magic power.
If damaged, they could be repaired, and if broken, they could be pieced back together. Tsukiko was fixated on their physical form, but in essence, flames were free entities. Their true nature remained unchanged even after acquiring various properties.
On the other hand, this freedom also came with disadvantages.
Within the Lizardman's shadow, Flame remained vigilant, surveying his surroundings. In the epicenter of the ground-shaking blow from the blade, there was no sign of a human figure. No matter how powerful the strike had been, it was inconceivable that the girl favored by lightning would be obliterated.
What this meant, in essence, was...
Ghrrr! The Lizardman's shoulder was pierced.
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