[Velgus]
Bache's enchant-type magic that imbues things with deadly poison.
The poison is unblockable and is even stronger than a Poison Vermis' venom, which is known to be lethal.
Velgus causes an extremely adverse reaction to whichever part of the body it comes into contact with, causing the affected flesh to rot away almost immediately.
[Abnormal Resistance] grants some resistance, preventing this from happening.
However, its effects are still incredibly harmful and cause excruciating pain in the affected area.
From the very start of the battle until now, Bache had been using this poison to wear Tiona down.
With Tiona's reckless fighting style, it didn't take long for her to become afflicted.
'Tiona... I am sorry, but you have to die and help me become stronger so I won't be devoured by Argana.'
Bache knew that one day Kali would eventually pit her against her sister, Argana.
She was afraid... afraid that her sister would kill her and use her as a stepping stone to become stronger.
Throughout her entire life, Bache had lived in fear, dreading the day she would see her sister standing on the other side of the battlefield.
Not because she loved her sister. There was barely any familial affection between them.
She was genuinely afraid of her.
'I don't want to die.'
For that day to never come to pass, Bache knew she had to become stronger herself.
Looking at Tiona, who was clearly poisoned, purple blotches spreading all over her body...
"It's my win. Quit your useless struggling, Tiona."
The moment the poison reached its full effect, Bache was certain she would emerge victorious.
However...
"Hahaha! This is fun!"
Tiona, whom she expected to fall into despair, was smiling.
Worse... she was getting even stronger.
There wasn't a trace of arrogance on Tiona's face.
She was genuinely enjoying herself.
Looking at Tiona, who seemed as though she was playing with a friend rather than fighting a battle to the death, something inside Bache finally snapped.
"You still haven't understood, have you?"
"Your flesh goes numb every time you touch me! Despite that, you're still smiling?"
Bache shouted as she unleashed a relentless barrage of strikes.
"You bet I am!"
"Hurt me all you want! Even if I'm in pain, I'll never stop smiling! I'll smile for those who can't!"
"Even if I'm afraid, I can smile right now because my hero is here!"
Tiona shouted as the two continued exchanging blows.
'Hero...'
Recalling the hero stories she and Tiona had once read together, Bache clenched her fists tightly, a vein bulging across her forehead.
"You say you're afraid? What do you even know about fear!?"
"My sister always terrified me! I didn't want to die back then! I don't want to die now!"
"I acted all tough and composed, but in truth... I was the one who was the most afraid! I always have been!"
"Maybe I read those hero stories with you because some part of me hoped that a hero would come and save me too!"
Bache cried out the words she had kept buried inside her heart for so many years.
But a second later, she realized the tide of battle had begun to shift.
She was starting to get overwhelmed.
'What's this!?'
'My attacks aren't landing anymore.'
Tiona was moving far too fast, and the power behind each of her blows had risen beyond what Bache could handle.
'Her abilities are rising the closer she gets to death!'
Bache began to panic.
The longer the battle dragged on, the more her confidence crumbled.
Meanwhile, the smile on Tiona's face never disappeared.
"Bache... I had fun!"
Tiona said as she noticed Bache beginning to lose her balance, struggling just to remain standing.
Her fists flew from every direction, each one crashing into Bache's body as the latter gradually lost the strength to fight back.
Finally, one last punch sent Bache flying.
As she tumbled through the air, she caught one final glimpse of Tiona's smiling face.
'These fists...'
'I don't feel any fear from them.'
The corners of Bache's lips slowly curled upward as the tension left her face.
'Heh... I guess I had fun too, Tiona.'
That was her final thought before darkness consumed her vision, marking Tiona's first victory over her teacher.
Breathing heavily, Tiona dropped to one knee.
A moment later, she felt a hand rest gently on her shoulder.
"Tiona... you did well."
The Amazon looked behind her and saw Ais, smiling softly at her.
"Ais... so you were watching... I didn't even notice."
Tiona remarked before shifting her gaze toward her former patron goddess.
"Kali... you lost."
Seeing this, Kali slowly stood up, clenching her fists until her knuckles turned white.
"Dammit... that useless Ishtar got defeated so quickly?"
She subtly signaled the Amazons surrounding her.
But before any of them could move, Loki suddenly descended from above and tackled Kali straight to the ground.
"Ack!"
Kali grunted as Loki planted her foot firmly on the back of her head.
"How does the floor taste, midget number two?"
Loki said with a smug grin.
'Heh... if only I could do this to midget number one as well.'
"Loki!? How did you get here?"
Kali questioned as she struggled to turn her head.
"Heh... you shouldn't have messed with me, you brat."
Loki replied as she pressed her foot down even harder.
But instead of wincing, Kali let out a dry chuckle.
"Hah... you may have thwarted me here, but it's too late for Tione. Her battle with Argana should've concluded by now."
Kali forced out a grin.
Hearing this, Loki merely shrugged.
"Oh, that? I'm not worried about Tione."
"After all, my very smart and reliable captain is on the job."
She smirked.
Kali's eyes widened.
...
On the half-destroyed ship where Tione and Argana had been fighting...
"That's far enough."
Finn appeared behind Tione, who was still locked in battle against her most hated enemy.
"C-Captain?"
Tione exclaimed in surprise as she quickly jumped back.
Only then did she notice the blood covering her face, subconsciously wiping it away with the back of her hand.
The battle came to a complete halt as the short Pallum calmly walked between them.
"I don't know if my words will get through to you, but let's have a productive discussion, warrior of Telskrya."
Argana narrowed her eyes, meeting Finn's calm gaze as though a life-and-death battle hadn't been taking place just moments ago.
"Let's cease all hostilities here. We already have enough on our plate."
"As a fellow captain of a large familia, I'm hoping for your understanding."
Finn attempted to reason with her, but Tione immediately interrupted, insisting that Argana couldn't be reasoned with and that she didn't want him getting involved in the trouble she had brought upon herself.
"Is that what you think, Tione?"
"I think differently."
"We're a familia... your troubles are our troubles. We help each other when we need each other the most."
Tione froze, unable to utter a single word.
Finn turned toward her, the same calm smile still on his face.
"You must've already realized it... but you and Tiona are no longer alone like you were back in Telskrya, where you fought every day just to survive."
"The current you is a proud member of the Loki Familia."
"Your battles are our battles. Never forget that."
Hearing those words, Tione choked back a sob as tears welled in the corners of her eyes.
"You're going to get an earful from me after this, you know that, right?"
"But despite everything... I'm just glad you're alright."
In Tione's eyes, the dark, blood-soaked battlefield suddenly seemed to bloom with flowers.
'Captain...'
Looking at Finn's face in that moment, she couldn't help but feel her heart skip a beat.
"Yes!"
Tione cried out as she wiped away her tears.
"You can't be serious... What's with all this wishy-washy nonsense!?"
Argana shouted in disgust.
"I don't care who you are, Pallum! Tione and I will finish this battle! If you don't stay out of the way, I won't mind ripping your head off your shoulders right here!"
Dense killing intent poured from her body.
Finn sighed and rubbed his temples.
"Alright... have it your way."
"If you won't listen to reason, then I'll settle this with my fists."
The calm and civilized demeanor he had displayed until now disappeared completely.
"Argana Kalif."
"If you don't mind, I'll be taking Tione's place in this battle."
"If I win, you'll leave her and her sister alone."
"And if you ever make another move against them..."
"We will decimate the country you call home."
Finn declared coldly.
Argana flinched.
A second later, her face twisted with fury.
"How dare a man... a weak Pallum, of all things... say such arrogant words? Don't make me laugh!"
She ground her teeth together.
"Die!"
Argana charged like a ferocious beast, intent on tearing Finn apart.
Finn merely placed his thumb against his forehead and began to chant.
[Hell Finnegas]
The next instant, his eyes turned crimson, and a terrifying wave of bloodlust erupted from his body.
Argana threw a punch toward his face.
Instead of dodging, Finn opened his mouth and bit down on her forearm, causing blood to splatter.
"!?"
Startled, Argana desperately tried to pull herself free.
Then a fist suddenly crashed into her face.
BOOM!
A violent shockwave erupted as Argana was blasted off the ship before crashing into the sea in the distance.
The last thing she saw was Finn's savage expression.
'What a beast...'
With a massive splash, Argana's unconscious body floated atop the water.
Just like that, the Kali Familia had been defeated.
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