Chapter 290 Absolute Dead Prison - Frozen Twin Bind
After defeating the [Evil God], the black dome that Aaron had created was lifted.
Then, facing countless fake goddesses, a new battle began──at that moment, the real [Evil God] appeared unexpectedly behind Fiona and attacked her.
Just slightly faster than Fiona could swing her sword in retaliation, the [Evil God] activated teleportation magic, taking Fiona with it.
And then──
"──────!?"
Right after, Fiona and the others were teleported to a place where neither the countless wriggling fake goddesses nor Aaron, who was fighting nearby, were present.
However, they were still in the same floor, as the view around them was filled with a fantastical landscape of a mirror-like lake and a blue sky with clouds.
"Ugh!! Get awayyyyyyyyyyy!!!"
Even as she quickly recognized the situation around her, Fiona didn't hesitate in her actions.
To shake off the [Evil God] that had hugged her from behind, she exploded the aura armor that covered her body.
In that moment, the weight on her back disappeared.
With a loud bang, she quickly turned around. The [Evil God], wearing a gentle smile, had pulled back slightly, as if it didn't want to be caught in the explosion.
But there was no panic on her face. In fact, Fiona was the one who was panicking.
(No way...!? Where's "Black Moon"!?)
As she turned around to swing her sword, she realized that the "Black Moon," which she was sure she had in both hands just a moment ago, had vanished from her grasp.
Realized the reason for Fiona's anxious expression, with a chuckle, the [Evil God] said,
"Oh my, it seems... your sword has deflected the teleportation."
"Teleportation... tsk! So that's what happened...!!"
The "Black Moon" was infused with heavy attribute aura. Because of that, the sword alone must have deflected the teleportation magic.
But even if she understood the reason, there was nothing she could do about it.
For now, Fiona had received some heavy attribute equipment from the 4 families, but compared to the "Black Moon," their performance was far inferior. Using those would be worse; it would be better to stick with "Black Radiance."
Fiona quickly took out "Black Radiance" from her ring and infused it with aura.
(If this is the same level as before, if I buy some time, Aaron will definitely come...!!)
That wasn't just wishful thinking. It was pure conviction and trust.
On the other hand, it seemed the [Evil God] also expected Aaron to arrive, as she didn't seem interested in enjoying the conversation.
"Hehe...!! Fiona, we can talk later. Before that person catches up, let's quickly become one."
"Don't mess with me! Who would want to be with you...!! No way!!"
With a shout, she swung her swords left and right. [Flying Blade Dance]. In an instant, countless slashes attacked the [Evil God], but they were easily blocked by the [Space Barrier] that had been deployed in front of them.
But Fiona didn't stop. She used [Flying Blade] to keep her opponent at bay while quickly moving through the air with [Flash Strike].
To avoid being targeted for a counterattack, she kept moving and simultaneously began to reconstruct the [Divine Winged Sword] that she had already used.
On the other hand, the [Evil God] was blocking her attacks with a barrier, wearing a confident smile as he generated his aura.
However, the target of that aura was not Fiona.
It was her own body.
"What is that──!?"
"Hehe, of course, this is not something only you can use, right?"
Before long, the [Evil God]'s body transformed into a pale blue light, from her back to the 12 wings sprouting from it.
God Technique──[God's Body]
The [Evil God] infused her aura into every single cell of her body, and in the next moment, an overwhelming amount of magical energy surged.
"And let me show you the true purpose of this technique called [God's Body]."
Saying that, the [Evil God] cast her magic.
God-Tier Flame Magic──[Agni, God of Flames]
This was magic that surpassed even Expert magic, completely beyond the realm of humans.
The phenomenon of "fire" and its attribute fused with the aura that made up [God's Body], causing flames to flicker and rise from the surface of the [Evil God]'s body.
However, not only was the [Evil God] surrounded by flames, but even the lake she stood on and the surrounding air seemed unaffected by the heat of the flames.
It was far less intimidating than the [Flame Cloak] used by Ignitor.
At first glance, it didn't seem like much of a magic.
However, Fiona quickly realized that thinking that way, even for a moment, was a mistake.
"What──!?"
The [Flying Blade] was a warning.
The [Evil God] received it without any defense, even though she had been blocking with a barrier until then.
The aura blade sliced through the [Evil God] without any resistance.
But the body that should have been cut and split didn't fall to the ground; instead, it swelled like a raging flame and, in the next moment, returned to its original form.
(Is it not a physical body──!?)
Just like how you can't cut through flames, the slash passed through the [Evil God]'s body.
It felt as if shehad cut through an illusion.
(Is it an illusion!? No, that's not it!! I don't feel any magical energy other than from that guy!!)
It's not an illusion. Or maybe, like just a moment ago when she was caught off guard, she could be hiding in some way.
However, Fiona's [magical energy sense] still detected a massive amount of magical energy from the [Evil God], who had transformed into an embodiment of flames.
She stopped her attack and focused on moving, trying to uncover the magic's True Identity.
The [Evil God] pointed at Fiona, extending her arm.
"Ehehe, don't worry, Fiona. As long as your head is safe, I will heal you before you die."
"──!!"
Following the chill that ran down her spine, Fiona unleashed her aura and soared into the air.
Shine!! The tip of the [Evil God]'s finger shone brightly. In the next moment, a dazzling beam of light passed through the space where Fiona had just been.
It was a beam of flame.
In an instant, the beam of light pierced far into the distance, breaking through the clouds in the sky and creating a huge hole.
Fiona felt a chill from its power.
(This is bad if it hits me──!!)
Fiona activated [God's Body]. In this state, she could nullify light attacks with small mass. Moreover, even if she was slashed directly with a sword, as long as her magical energy continued, she could maintain her physical form and even force herself to keep fighting.
Therefore, normally, there would be no need to avoid attacks like fire or lightning.
However, the beam of fire released by the [Evil God] far exceeded the power that could be nullified by [God's Body].
Additionally, the [Evil God] could use more than just Flame attribute magic.
"──Ehehe."
Above her at an angle.
The [Evil God], who should have been far away on the surface of the lake, suddenly appeared close to Fiona, who was soaring through the air.
Space Transfer. A magic she had seen so many times recently that it was getting boring. The way to deal with it was to sense the magical energy being emitted and predict the destination in advance. But...
(──So fast!?)
Depending on the caster's skill, the time lag for the teleportation could be very small.
The teleportation of the real [Evil God], not a clone, had no time lag that could catch Fiona off guard.
The appearing [Evil God] was already extending a finger toward her.
That fingertip glowed, and a beam of extreme heat was unleashed.
"Don't underestimate meeeeee!!"
The series of actions had become almost reflexive. From the left "Black Radiance," an aura was released. Explosion. Using the recoil to shift her body, she dodged the beam. At the same time, Fiona, spun by the force of the explosion, slammed the right "Black Radiance" into the [Evil God].
──[Heavy Blast Blade]
A fierce explosion struck the [Evil Goddess]. The fiery body was blown apart. However, as if it were natural, the scattered flames gathered, ignited, and in just a few moments, the [Evil Goddess]'s body returned to normal.
There was no reaction.
But during the time it took to restore her body, there was no counterattack.
In that brief moment, Fiona created some distance and switched her 2 swords from "Black Radiance" to "Silver Peak."
(This isn't just stalling for time──!!)
Continuously moving, she swung her dual swords.
She thought that slashing with Ice and Snow attributes might deal effective damage, but the [Evil Goddess] showed no signs of dodging. And with slashes that weren't explosions, she couldn't even stop her from restoring her body.
Is it really not working? Is there even a little damage?
She wanted to cling to hopeful thoughts and be optimistic, but the truth was that the Ice and Snow attributes used in [Flying Blade] didn't seem to be effective at all.
(I have to defeat her quickly, or I won't last──!!)
Continuing to move at high speed, almost unable to breathe, she swung her sword to keep the goddess at bay. The slashing attacks changed from [Flying Blade] to [Blast Flying Blade].
If it's an explosion, there is a slight effect of distraction. However, the aura prepared for the combined technique delays the attack for just a moment.
And soon, there was no longer any room to launch an attack for distraction.
"Hehehehe──!!"
The [Evil God] repeatedly teleports while firing beams of fire, or flaps her large wings, raining down fiery feathers like a downpour.
Each small feather that falls has an incredible amount of heat, and when it touches the thin layer of water on the lake's surface, it causes a violent steam explosion, almost like a joke.
Even a single fiery feather cannot be taken lightly. On top of that, Fiona had to keep moving a lot to avoid being blinded by the thick steam that rose like smoke every time it erupted.
(This guy must be able to use skills too...!! The surprise attack before teleporting was probably a scout-type skill! If my vision is blocked, the chances of being tricked are high──!!)
Just using [Aura Camouflage] or [magical energy disguise] in the steam could lead to a fatal situation.
"Oh my! Are you still dodging?"
The attack from the flames after teleporting. The nullification of our attacks. Just those 2 things are already a huge hassle, but the [Evil God]'s attacks were not simple. In fact, they were quite varied.
──[Space Rupture][Space Rupture Slash][Space Distortion][Air Slash Dice]
Naturally, in between the fire attacks, it mixes in attacks using space magic.
Without the "Black Moon" right now, those attacks are impossible to defend against. Moreover, the activation speed is incomparable to that of the fake goddess.
(This can't go on──!!)
Fiona's mind raced with extreme thoughts about intentionally taking a hit as she was pushed into a situation where she could only dodge attacks.
(No! I can't do that!)
Even if she took a slash from magic, she wouldn't die immediately, but if her magical energy ran out and [God's Body] broke, she would die instantly. She had no intention of deliberately taking a hit.
So, the only option was to dodge [Evil God]'s attacks.
Using [Flash Strike], she dashed around, continuing to evade [Evil God]'s attacks mostly by instinct.
Normally, [Evil God]'s attacks would quickly catch Fiona. They were that fierce. However, Fiona's instincts were extraordinary. With a special perception ability that visualized even the fate of death, her instincts were sharper than ever in this deadly situation, where one mistake or moment of hesitation could lead to death.
Eventually, her instincts transformed into a clear vision.
What appeared in her sight was a glimpse of the future, lasting less than a second.
A limited yet certain prediction of the future.
(I can see it──!! I can dodge [Evil God]'s attack──!!)
"Ah! I see!! Amazing, Fiona!! I never expected you to evolve your ability in this situation──!!"
Fiona perfectly dodged the scorching beams, the rain of fiery wings, the magic slashes that tore through space, and the invisible shockwaves released from the distortion of space.
And with each passing second, her precision increased, bringing some ease to the previously desperate situation.
A counterattack with [Heavy Blast Blade]. By momentarily exploding [Evil God]'s body, it delayed her actions.
Delay creates more leeway, and the flow of battle began to tilt in Fiona's favor.
([Evil God] hasn't gone all out yet! She's hesitating to kill me! There's a gap there──!!)
Fiona had noticed it from the start.
The [Evil Goddess]'s attacks are varied, but she has never used a powerful area attack that could blow Fiona away completely.
That's because she doesn't want to kill Fiona.
If she destroys Fiona's body beyond healing, the [Evil Goddess] won't be able to get the "Backdoor Jobs."
So, the [Evil Goddess] can't kill Fiona.
There was definitely a gap.
"Ehehe! Is this a highly accurate prediction of the future!? But no matter how much you can see the future, it means nothing if your body can't keep up! It seems your limit is just a little bit of counterattack!?"
"──!!"
The [Evil Goddess] accurately sees through Fiona's condition. Fiona grits her teeth in frustration──and shows it.
(Does she not realize? Or is she just pretending? ...Either way, this situation won't last long! I'll take advantage of her gap──and defeat her!!)
Each strike is a deadly attack.
A storm of attacks fills the space.
Continuing to dodge with precise movements, slipping between raindrops, She find tiny opportunities for counterattacks and hit the [Evil Goddess] with ineffective strikes.
At first glance, it looks like a desperate counterattack to keep the [Evil Goddess] in check.
However, that wasn't the true aim.
(Just a little more...!! Just, a little...!!)
While being extremely careful not to be noticed by the [Evil God], Fiona continues to prepare for victory.
The seemingly pointless counterattack is a condition to activate 2 skills.
[Sword Dance] and [Dance of the God Offering].
Fiona gradually converts the buff effect gained from [Sword Dance] into a body enhancement buff through [Dance of the God Offering].
She keeps her evasion speed constant so that her enhanced physical ability goes unnoticed.
And then──,
(──Now!!)
The buffs stacked by [Dance of the God Offering] reached their maximum enhancement.
At that moment, Fiona moves.
"Oh? What is this──!?"
While dodging the [Evil God]'s attacks with ease, which she had barely avoided before, she swings both swords once.
What is unleashed is a slashing aura that soars.
[Dance of Final Flash]──[Ice Fang Heavy Blast Blade: Twin Fangs]
This is a double strike of [Ice Fang Heavy Blast Blade] combined with [Dance of Final Flash], which converts all buff effects into attack power.
The two slashes that caught the [Evil God]'s body spread a freezing cold air and exploded into a massive blast around them.
The steam rising everywhere instantly turned into sparkling ice particles, and the lake surface spread out as far as the eye could see, freezing over.
That was just the aftershock of the attack.
Even Ignitor could likely take it down with just this attack, without needing to strip off the "Dragon Scale."
And the [Evil God]'s fiery body was blown to pieces.
But──.
Pop.
There was a fireball where the [Evil God] had been blown away by the attack. It was about the size of a human head.
Fiona instinctively realized that this was the core of the [Evil God], transformed into a body of flames.
In the next moment, the fireball blazed even more fiercely, and then──as if nothing had happened, it began to reconstruct the [Evil God]'s body.
"Hehe."
The [Evil God] laughed.
However.
"──This is the end."
"──!?"
The time she took for the body to be restored was the longest moment of vulnerability for the [Evil God] in this battle.
What Fiona was aiming for was that moment.
The instant the [Evil God] restored its body, Fiona was already inside the range.
From both "Silver Peaks," a refreshing aura resonated with a sound like "Riiiing──!!"
Fiona swung her sword twice at the [Evil God] in front of her.
Sword God technique: Revised──[Absolute Death Prison: Frozen Twin Bind]
The feeling of "Silver Peak" vanished from Fiona's hands. Before she could finish her swing, the two "Silver Peaks" turned to dust and released an enormous aura, which instantly formed a sphere that enveloped the entire [Evil God].
And then──Ging!!
The aura sphere compressed while slicing, grinding, and crushing the things inside.
"Kuuh──!?"
Just before losing her physical form, the [Evil God] definitely showed a look of panic for the first time.
But it was already too late.
[Absolute Death Prison] compressed in an instant, completely erasing the [Evil God] inside without letting a single piece escape────vanished.
"......"
The [Evil God]'s body completely disappeared.
However, Fiona did not let her guard down.
She focused her mind on [magical energy sense] and the newly acquired ability of future prediction, staying alert to ensure that the [Evil God] wouldn't revive and catch her off guard.
"......"
But after waiting for several dozen seconds, the vanished [Evil God] did not come back.
* * *
"──Fionaa!!"
A few minutes after the [Evil God], which had turned into pure flame, was erased, Aaron flew in at high speed and reached the frozen area of the lake.
When Aaron saw Fiona standing on the ice, he landed next to her with the force of a meteor crashing down.
Meanwhile, Fiona turned to Aaron and smiled reassuringly.
"Aaron, you're late."
"......"
"Hehe! I had a bit of a tough time, but... as you can see, I defeated the [Evil God] all by myself!"
"......"
"Now the battle is over... or maybe, there's still the Chronosphere left? I hope they're taking care of that over there."
"......"
"Anyway, let's regroup with everyone. We're almost there!"
"......"
"...What's wrong, Aaron?"
"......"
Aaron stared at Fiona, wide-eyed and shocked, as she tilted her head in confusion.
His body felt frozen, unable to move.
When faced with a reality he didn't want to accept deep down, Aaron realized that humans can't think at all.
Even so, escapism is not allowed.
"Fi, Ona...!!"
"What is it, what's wrong?"
"...Don't mess with me...!! You...!!"
He glared at Fiona with intense anger and hatred.
Fiona laughed at Aaron. "Ehehe."
With her fiery, bright red hair flowing, Fiona had a loving smile on her face as she looked at Aaron with her golden eyes. From her back, pure white wings, 6 pairs, spread out, not from an aura.
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