"Hmph, I guess I'm more vulnerable to heat attacks than I thought."
Nikita mumbled bitterly to herself; it had been the same when she had fought Alric the other day. If she hadn't had her lightning shield, she would have been instantly taken out the moment he used his fire spells.
Since that fight, she had been pondering how to deal with foes who used fire-based attacks. The silver fox is widely known for their mastery of ice manipulation; its concept was much different from magic, something that is given to humans through the elemental goddesses.
The goddess Khione is the one who taught the silver fox how to manipulate the ice, so... the entire race had spent more time developing their mastery of that specific element.
Though they had a secondary element, being able to easily manipulate the lightning element through their body, unfortunately, Nikita did not spend much time developing her mastery of that element.
(Seems like I have no choice)
She thought, at the same time she increased her speed dodging all the attacks of the sword known as "Crimson Saber" each attack travelled at a speed that a normal human wouldn't be able to react to let alone dodge but, with Nikita's body enhanced by her mana along with the fact that her race also specializes with speed and agility she could dodged them without much trouble.
(Hmm... she's quick, but...)
Leo adjusted his grip and aimed the tip of his sword towards the sky, seeing that Nikita's weariness heightened as she prepared to release the electricity raging inside her body. Soon, the "Crimson Sabre" blood red blade glowed brilliantly as a beam of crimson light was fired vertically towards the cloudless azure sky, drawing a beautiful crimson arc in a straight line.
Soon, the beam of light split apart and broke into countless smaller lights that fell downwards in all directions at great speed.
"This...?"
Nikita's pupils contracted to the size of needles by the attack that went against her expectations, but she didn't give up. Instead, she held her hand upwards, and all nine of her silver tails pointed towards the sky. Soon, electricity started flickering around her before gathering at the centre of her outstretched palm.
Soon, a blast of lightning cannon shot out of her palm and went towards the sky, the lightning cannon easily wiped out the mini-sized crimson lights, but, unfortunately, not all of them; some managed to slip past the lightning cannon and went into Nikita's direction, seeing this she intensely manoeuvred her body nimbly while skilfully evading the small crimson lights.
However, the light fell in continued succession. Eventually, the number of lights slowly started to outpace her speed, causing many of the crimson lights to make direct contact with Nikita's delicate body.
Boom! Boom! Boom...!!!
"Guh."
Nikita's body was blown away and rolled across the ground as she squirted out blood from her glossy lips, her long silver hair spread across the ground, completely dishevelled and dirtied from rolling on the uneven ground.
"Tch."
She clenched her fist as she tried to get up from the ground, but-
"I do believe this is the end, Lady Nikita."
A shadow fell over her head as a gentle and courteous voice sounded from behind her, and she felt the cold sensation of a blade pointed at her delicate neck.
A look of frustration became apparent on her face. She roughly drew her hands against the ground, further dirtying her exquisite, milky white hands.
(In the end, I haven't changed, have I?)
She thought to herself, the reason for her journey, the reason for her hard work, does it amount to anything in the end?
Once upon a time, she was greatly respected for being a prodigy and was known as the "Ice Princess" of the silver fox clan. Her family loved her, her mentor complemented her, and her people respected her; all that happiness went to hell the moment they found out that she wasn't blessed with the gift of "Clairvoyance"; it was like the very gods had abandoned her.
Her own father and siblings treated her like she was defective, never once looking at her with kind eyes ever again; her mentor no longer wanted to teach her, and her people shunned her.
Eventually, when she couldn't handle the criticisms anymore, she secretly ran away with a great desire to prove those who looked down on her wrong.
She lived in the Deki forest, attacking everyone she could find to grow stronger, eventually she decided to travel with Haruto and Alya in hopes of growing strong alongside them...
At that time, she had doubted whether or not he could really make her stronger, considering he managed to forge a contract with one of the strongest spirits she had a little hope.
However, her feelings slowly started to change as she grew closer to the boy named 'Haruto,' as he actually saw worth in her, unlike her clan, but...
Can she really become strong enough to prove them wrong?
She wondered. She didn't want to become a hindrance to Haruto; the fear of being discarded by him as a defective item had existed within her since she started to accept him as her master.
Even though their time together was short, she had really been looking forward to what adventures awaited them from here.
She refused to show the face of defeat before her master. Nikita looked at Haruto and Alya from the corner of her eyes, who were watching her from a distance.
(Yes, even if I can't win, I can't allow myself to lose in such a pitiful way)
With her fighting spirit now ignited, electricity flickered around her. Seeing that Leo narrowed his eyes cautiously, but then he instinctively jumped back as lightning swirled around Nikita in a spiral form with Nikita at the centre.
"Fufufu... sorry, dragon slayer no, Sir Leo. But I will be resisting till the very end, I hope you don't mind."
Nikita asked this with a refreshing expression, as her long silver hair swayed messily behind her back.
Her nine fluffy silver tails swayed gently as though they had a mind of their own. Hearing that, Leo raised an eyebrow before speaking.
"Oh, is that so? Very well... I'll also get serious, I hope you don't mind?"
"Of course not, please get as serious as you want because I will also be fighting seriously from now on."
Nikita declared with a fearless smile that also looked bewitching.
Soon, mist gathered around her body, blocking the view of her curvaceous figure from everyone's view. Soon the mist cleared, and her figure became visible.
Her entire body was clad in a beautiful, well-made battle armour made entirely out of ice; on her back was a pair of wings made completely out of lightning.
It was her "Ice Empress Armour"; seeing this, Leo widened his eyes in a show of surprise before he burst into laughter.
"Hahaha! It seems you really weren't kidding about going seriously, huh? If I hold back my chance of winning, it's really going to be zero."
Leo said, rubbing the back of his reddish-black hair. Before he gripped onto his sword, "Crimson sabre," for some reason, the sword faintly glowed as though it was communicating to Leo, seeing that he nodded his head before speaking.
"I know, partner, it seems we found a good opponent. So, shall we go all out just like that day?"
As though responding to his words, the "Crimson Sabre" shook twice as though nodding its head. At that, a gentle smile was then tugged on his lips as he took a stance with his sword.
Nikita materialises a long sword made of ice in her hand, before taking a stance with her own sword.
The two made eye contact before both of their right legs marched forward at the same time.
Swoosh!
The air brushes against their skin from their vigorous movement.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
In what seemed like a split second, the two had already exchanged various attacks. Leo had been pushed back due to Nikita's monstrous strength.
However, parts of Nikita's shoulder blades had been damaged by the sword "Crimson Sabre's" blade, and so her ice armour had melted from her shoulder.
However, she paid no attention to such minor damage as she continued to swing her sword.
Her beautiful swing drew a magnificent arc through the air.
However, her blade was easily stopped by the crimson arc drawn by Leo's "Crimson Sabre" sword. A metallic sound reverberated as the path of their blades intersected.
Nikita then held out her hand as ice impalement rose from the ground, sensing the impending danger, Leo promptly jumped from the ground, leaping into the air and dodging the sudden attack.
Using that opening, Nikita immediately closed the distance and swung her sword with the blade of her sword, clad with her electricity, towards Leo's lower body. If it made contact with the human body, it would definitely cause quite a lot of damage.
However, Leo had no intention of getting hit by that attack.
Leo swung his sword downwards, using the momentum of his fall to forcefully stop her sword; the two swords clashed together as their blades converged.
Clang...!
A beautiful melody of metal sounded. They both stared wearily at the other.
(Tch, I haven't been able to land a decent blow even with my physical body enchanted)
Leo thought that, while his sword, "Crimson Sabre," a sword that controls fire and heat, could damage the armour, the damage wasn't anything significant enough to be a deciding blow.
The problem is that the woman in front of him is not only fast and agile but also ridiculously strong; her physical strength greatly outclasses his own, and even with his body enchanted through magic, it still isn't enough to do a telling blow.
<
A cold, irritated voice sounded inside Leo's head, making him frown slightly.
(Sigh, what an unpleasant voice)
He thought.
(Please stay out of this, didn't I tell you that I didn't need you? The bastard that took everything from me?!)
He shouted.
The evil dragon blood that runs through his veins is something that he hated about himself the most; he absolutely detests that dragon and is the reason why he continued to kill evil dragons.
<
The voice of the evil dragon said somewhat exasperatedly.
(Tch, this guy is he really talking about killing my family and destroying my homeland in such a nonchalant tone?)
A vein bulged at Leo's temple.
Nikita then raised her hand upwards as many ice spears gathered there, and they each launched in the direction where Leo stood.
However, he moved his legs as he weaved his way through the gaps of their barrage of fire. Soon, he heads straight towards Nikita, who was manually controlling the spears of ice.
Seeing him approaching her, she quickly controlled the ice spears to follow after him from behind.
"Tch, how troublesome."
Leo quietly muttered, tiredly.
He came to a sudden stop and narrowed his crimson eyes; he braced his sword in both his hands as the blade of his sword was instantly lit with fire that burned intensely.
"Now, I got you!"
Nikita shouted, sure of her victory. However, Leo raised his sword as soon as the ice spears were at a reachable distance and brought it downwards.
Fire was then released from the blade of 'Crimson Sabre' and easily melted the many ice spears coming at Leo.
(I see... so, that was his plan)
Nikita's face turned bitter as she saw how easily her ice had melted.
The fire element could seriously end up being a huge pain for her when fighting against anyone with that element.
Leo then closed the distance between them in one short burst.
Nikita reacted instantly as she swung her sword horizontally sideways. Leo easily deflected her sword with his own. He then spun his body, building up momentum before swinging his sword vertically.
Nikita tried to gain some distance to use a long-range attack again; this time, she was going to use the lightning element. As though sensing that Leo slowly made a stance with his sword.
Crimson Sabre then glowed brightly as Leo's body was enveloped in a crimson glow. He then muttered.
"Sword technique, crimson flare storm!"
He then charged at Nikita in a straight line, drawing a beautiful crimson arc behind him before swinging his sword vertically.
"Huh? Guh."
His movements were so expeditious that Nikita was too slow to react and swung her sword instinctively, but...!
Ting~
Nikita widened her crimson eyes as her ice sword was easily cut through.
All that remained in her hand was the hilt of her sword as the blade fell to the ground with a small ting.