Miki stood firm, dagger in hand shielding Iroh with every ounce of her resolve.
As she watched the battle between Baka and Phoenix in front of her as they were just clashing blades the whole time with their sword skills.
Phoenix: "A kingdom addicted to peace can't produce real magic knights… because they're never forced to learn the only thing that matters—killing.
Baka: "Funny, I thought protecting people was the whole point of being a Magic Knight."
The two created some distance between each other.
As Phoenix lowered his mask and exhaled mist concentrating it into one point and firing it."
Baka channeled his dark magic as it coated his katana blade absorbing the mist.
Meanwhile a mist clone ran up behind Baka attempting to strike while he was busy absorbing.
Clone: "Got you."
Baka didn't turn around
Baka: Hey you."
The clone hesitated.
Baka: "If you're gonna attack me from behind, at least have the guts to make it interesting."
The clone gritted his teeth and lunged.
Baka casually shifted his weight.
Without releasing the magic he was absorbing, he drove a powerful backward kick into the clone stomach.
BOOM!
The clone was launched several meters away, crashing through the surrounding rubble before materializing into mist
Meanwhile, the magical projectile Phoenix fired continued pouring into his Dark Magic.
Baka clicked his tongue.
Baka: "Man... Doing this without drinking beer for two days is tiring.
He finally swung his katana.
Baka: "Dark Magic–Relzidon."
A concentrated wave of dark magic traveled through the air absorbing Phoenix mist attack on contact.
Phoenix dodged the wave of dark magic as he learnt from their previous encounter this particular technique is slow and heavy.
"The wave dispersed after absorbing every trace of magic energy it touched."
Phoenix: "Phew, that was a close call. If that had touched me, it would have absorbed my magic energy completely."
Baka: "Oh, you're learning from our last encounter. Which means you're not as stupid as you look."
Phoenix: "Heh heh I admit you might be stronger than me in magic and swordsmanship skills but if you defeat me… you can't defeat Az. He's a fighting machine with no heart and has abandoned the notion of life. In other words… he's become my sophisticated tool unlike the trash you carry around."
Meanwhile In the Raijin orb domain—tension rose between Aturia and Sieg as Az activated his technique once again.
He materialized into his lightning form again of electricity vanishing into the network of floating spheres.
Az: "100 percent output, fire."
The orbs began to spark again as they shot out lightning but Aturia quickly created a dome of ice protecting her and Sieg from the onslaught.
Sieg: Damnit the plan did work what do we do now?"
Aturia: Well i guess we have no choice. One of us has to call the captain maybe he can help us and absorb his technique with his magic.
She said pouring all of her magic energy to maintain her ice dome.
Sieg: "Forget it dweeb there's no way I'm leaving you behind."
Aturia: "Now is not the time to be playing stubborn doofus. Our survival is what is most important.
Sieg: I know that. It's not a bad idea, but this guy's faster than me. Even if I use my feet as thrusters, he'll probably stop me before I can leave his domain."
Aturia: There must be a limit to his Magic energy, he's been using this technique constantly so I bet he's almost out of fuel.
Sieg: "So do we just wait it out."
Aturia ice dome begins to crack slowly
Aturia: Before we wait it out we will be fried meat before that happens."
Sieg: "Hmm fried meat.
Aturia: Don't tell me you're day dreaming about meat in this situation?"
Meanwhile at the other end of the bridge where Phoenix and Baka fight continued.
Phoenix closed his eyes and began to meditate.
Baka was puzzled for a bit in why he closed his eyes.
Baka: "Why are you closing your eyes?"
Phoenix: "Have you forgotten... I'm a genius at silent killing. What I'm doing is an instinctive skill that minimizes hesitation between offense and defense."
Phoenix took one step forward—and in an instant, he vanished.
Baka glanced around, realizing that Phoenix had used a Flash Step technique.
However, a moment passed without another attack. Baka's expression gradually changed as he realized something was wrong.
Unless...
He had switched targets.
Baka: "Oh no... He's aiming for Miki!"
Miki remained alert unaware of the danger approaching her. She thought to herself.
"That's right… I have to trust Aturia, Sieg, and Captain right now. And I should do what I can do.
She gripped her dagger firmly.
Then a flash of lightning and thunder boomed from the sky.
As Phoenix re-appeared right in front of Miki as both her and Iroh's eyes were filled with shock and fear.
Phoenix: "As easy as killing two birds with one stone."
He swung his huge blade downward intending to kill both of them at once.
The air went eerie silent as blood sprayed in the air—as Miki and Iroh opened their eyes and saw as Baka stood between them and took the damage of the slash as blood was gushing out from the cut across his chest. His white singlet vest soaked in blood.
Baka grunts in pain as he uses his katana to steady himself. His tone tone turns into rage.
Baka: "Phoenix you bastard I'm your opponent leave them out of it.
Phoenix's face expression turned ecstatic as he smiled, his eyes still shut.
Phoenix "Ahh the scent of blood is enough to make me go crazy.
Meanwhile back at the other end of the bride.
The battle between Az and Sieg without Aturia dragged on.
Aturia: I can't hold this sheild any longer.
Crack! Crack! Bang!
Aturia ice dome shattered as ice shards scattered in every direction.
The lightning barrage closed in for the attack.
As Sieg immediately pulled Aturia down on the floor and took the full brunt of the attack by shielding her.
Sieg screamed in pain as the attack stopped. Sieg collapsed on top of her unconscious as his back was scorched.
Aturia was in surprise for a bit as she tried to process what just happened.
She touched Sieg gently on his face as she tried to wake him up.
Aturia: Sieg... Sieg are you okay?
Silence.