The menacing aura emanating from Griselda's new form left both Maki and Miya nearly paralyzed. An oppressive pressure blanketed the area, while dark bolts of lightning crackled across her massive frame.
Griselda now stood nearly two meters tall. Her body, possessing an Olympian musculature, was covered in an exceptionally tough hide, across which strange, shadowy markings snaked. Her long hair had taken on a monstrous form: actual living serpents writhed around her head, their maws agape and their forked tongues flickering in the air.
In an instant, she bent her legs and pushed off from the ground.
BOOOOOOM!!!
The force of her launch created a gigantic crater beneath her feet. Her imposing figure surged toward the two young women at a terrifying speed.
"Maki!!!"
Miya and Maki immediately crossed their weapons in front of them, adopting a defensive stance to withstand the assault.
But Griselda gave them no respite.
BAAAAAAM!!!
Her two massive fists slammed into their weapons simultaneously.
The impact was devastating.
Both young women were violently hurled into the air, their bodies swept away by the monstrous force of the blow.
Griselda then opened her mouth wide.
A mass of dark energy began to condense deep within her throat. In a matter of seconds, a colossal black orb—riddled with sinister electrical discharges—formed before her jaws.
Then, it was propelled toward the two fighters.
"Damn it!"
Miya righted her body mid-air and pointed her blade toward the massive projectile.
With a swift, precise motion, she sliced the orb in two.
SHIIIIIIIIING!!! The dark energy split apart in an instant, unleashing an explosion of phenomenal power.
KRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASH!!!
A monstrous blast engulfed the heights of the floating island. Structures were pulverized, buildings torn open, and massive shards of stone sent flying in every direction. Thick smoke soon blanketed the area, while debris rained down into the void.
Silence gradually returned.
Then...
— Kihihihihihihihi...
A sinister laugh echoed amidst the wreckage.
A deeply twisted, almost inhuman laugh.
Through the veil of smoke, an imposing figure began to take shape. Heavy footsteps resounded across the ruins, while two glowing red eyes fixed their gaze upon the two young women.
Griselda advanced slowly toward them, still wreathed in her monstrous aura.
— Kihihihihihi...
"If only you had decided to turn a blind eye to our actions... You wouldn't be here now, fighting for your lives."
Griselda offered a monstrous smile, revealing her fangs.
"You have no chance of defeating me. You'll both die here for a lost cause. No one will ever remember you."
The two young women struggled to their feet amidst the rubble. Despite their injuries, they showed no signs of giving up.
Miya wiped the blood trickling from the corner of her lips and steadied her saber.
"You're far too confident, Griselda. Be careful... the arrogant always end up six feet under."
She shot her a provocative grin.
Maki, meanwhile, tightened her grip on the handle of her scythe.
"We aren't doing this so people will remember us! We're fighting for our country—for the entire world! Even if we have to die here, as long as we take you down with us, that's more than enough!"
Griselda remained silent for a few seconds before bursting into laughter.
"Pathetic! Kihihihihihi!"
She raised a hand to her face, clearly amused.
"You're just like those children terrorists use for their lost causes... making them believe that sacrificing themselves for some imaginary ideal is a form of salvation!"
Her laughter echoed through the ruins.
Miya didn't even bother to respond.
She raised her saber and executed a series of swift, successive movements.
SHING! SHING! SHING!
A barrage of purple energy blades shot toward Griselda. The projectiles tore through the smoke and slammed directly into her imposing frame.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Successive explosions engulfed the creature.
Yet, when the smoke cleared, Griselda was still standing. Her skin showed no visible damage; she took the attacks in stride, not even slowing her pace.
Meanwhile, Maki raised her scythe toward the sky.
Suddenly, the clouds grew dark.
KRRRZZZZT!!!
Bolts of lightning struck Griselda from every direction, illuminating the ruins of the floating island. A veritable deluge of lightning crashed down upon her, making the ground beneath her feet tremble.
Still, the creature kept moving forward.
One step.
Then another.
She walked through the electrical storm without flinching, her gaze fixed firmly on the two young women.
"You're starting to become a real bore..."
Griselda stopped abruptly.
She leaned down and plunged both of her massive hands into the ground.
"Huh?"
Before Miya and Maki could even grasp her intentions, Griselda tensed her muscles and yanked upward with violent force.
KRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAK!!!
A colossal section of the terrain was torn away with a deafening roar. Channeling her monstrous strength, Griselda swept the ground before her, triggering a massive upheaval of the earth.
The rocky surface shattered. Immense stone slabs, multi-ton blocks, and debris were swept up into a destructive wave, hurtling straight toward the two fighters.
"MIYA!!!"
The tidal wave of rock and debris was already engulfing their position.
Maki watched in horror as an immense wave of debris hurtled straight toward them. The ground was breaking apart at a terrifying speed, leaving them virtually no chance of escape.
"MIYA! HOLD ON!"
Without giving her time to respond, Maki lunged toward her friend, grabbed her hand firmly, and summoned all her strength.
"Maki?! What are you…"
BOOOOOOM!!!
With a violent heave, Maki threw Miya upward with all her might, aiming for a structure that was still standing atop the ruins.
"AAAAAH!!!"
Miya soared through the air before crashing heavily onto the upper platform. She tumbled for several meters, her body battered by the impact.
"M-Maki…"
As she lifted her head, she caught sight of her friend—still down below.
But it was already too late.
The landslide completely swallowed the spot where Maki had been standing. An avalanche of rocks and debris came crashing down, burying everything in its path.
KRRRRRRAAAAAAASH!!!
The entire structure shuddered under the force of the impact.
Miya remained frozen for a few seconds, her eyes wide. She stared desperately into the massive cloud of dust, trying to make out anything at all.
"…Maki?"
No answer.
"Maki!!!"
She rushed to the edge of the platform, tears beginning to stream down her cheeks.
"NO!!! MAKIIIIII!!!"
Her voice broke into a heart-wrenching scream.
She reached out desperately toward the rubble, as if that simple gesture could bring her friend back.
"Why… Why did you do that?!" Her legs were trembling. She clenched her fists so tightly that her fingernails dug into her palms.
"Why, damn it?! We were both supposed to make it back alive! We promised each other we'd return together! Or else… or else we were supposed to perish together!"
Her breathing grew erratic. She couldn't tear her eyes away from the spot where Maki had vanished.
"You had no right to decide this all on your own…"
But just as she allowed herself to be consumed by her grief, a sinister presence suddenly appeared behind her.
SNAP!
A massive hand clamped brutally around her throat.
"GHHH…?!"
Griselda had appeared right behind her.
"Kihihihihi… You seem to have forgotten something, little one."
Miya immediately grabbed the creature's arm with both hands, trying to break free. She kicked out repeatedly, aiming for its abdomen, but Griselda didn't even budge.
"L-Let… go…!"
"Oh? You still have enough strength to struggle?"
Griselda tightened her grip slightly.
"GHHH…!"
Miya tried to reach for her sword, but Griselda was faster. She seized the weapon by the blade and tore it from the young woman's grasp.
"Looking for this?"
With a casual flick, she tossed the sword over the edge of the structure.
The weapon spun through the air before vanishing into the void, far below the floating island.
"NO! MY SWORD!"
Miya watched the weapon disappear, then shifted her gaze back to Griselda. Her face now wore an expression of mingled terror and helpless rage.
The creature brought its face close to hers. "What a waste... Instead of continuing to fight for your so-called cause, you let yourself be thrown off balance by the death of one of your comrades."
She offered a twisted, unsettling smile.
"So, this is the extent of your determination? A few pretty words about sacrifice and solidarity? Does it only take one of you falling for the rest to lose all will to fight?"
"S-Shut... the hell... up..."
Miya struggled to speak, despite the pressure on her throat. Her eyes remained tear-filled, yet her gaze burned with pure hatred.
"Don't... you dare... talk about Maki..."
Griselda raised her eyebrows slightly.
"Oh? Did I strike a nerve?"
She burst into a harsh, grating laugh.
"Kihihihihihi!"
Then, slowly, she brought her other hand toward Miya's face. Her long claws grazed her cheek before trailing down along her neck.
*SCHK!*
A deep gash opened across her shoulder.
"AAH...!"
Miya's body seized up violently.
Griselda watched as blood began to trickle down the girl's skin. She leaned in close to the wound and slowly ran her tongue over the scarlet droplets.
"Mmmh..."
Her expression shifted.
She closed her eyes for a brief moment, savoring the taste of the blood, before letting out a small, satisfied chuckle.
"Interesting..."
Miya turned her face away in disgust.
"You... monster..."
Griselda didn't seem the least bit offended. On the contrary, she appeared increasingly amused by her victim's reactions.
Her claws sank into the young woman's body once more, carving several new gashes. Miya stifled a cry, her hands desperately gripping the arm that was strangling her.
"Hahaha... You know, I'm not entirely sure what to do with you, after all."
Griselda tilted her head to the side, examining a face covered in sweat and tears.
"I had initially intended to kill you, along with your companion. But…"
She licked the blood dripping from her claws once more.
"Your blood is truly exquisite."
Her smile widened.
"I think I shall have to revise my plans."
Miya was trembling. Her body was beginning to lose its strength, yet her spirit still refused to yield.
Suddenly...
Blood spurted from Griselda's mouth.
— ...Huh?
Her expression froze. She slowly cast her gaze downward toward her torso. A massive gash had just appeared across her chest, slicing through her musculature. A silver scythe, crackling with powerful bolts of lightning, had pierced clean through her.
— I... Impossible...
Griselda spat out another mouthful of blood.
— How... How did you manage to get close to me without me detecting you?!
Standing behind her was Maki.
But her appearance had changed—radically.
A magnificent suit of silver armor now encased her body, fitting her form perfectly. Two grand, angelic wings unfurled from her back, with potent arcs of electricity dancing across their metallic feathers. In her right hand, she held a colossal silver scythe, its blade glowing with electric light.
Her mythical power had finally manifested.
THE WINGED WARRIOR.
Maki yanked her scythe from Griselda's body, then grabbed the creature and hurled her violently toward the ground.
BOOOOOOM!!!
The creature's body slammed into the rubble, kicking up a thick cloud of dust.
Without wasting a second, Maki spread her wings and darted toward Miya. She caught her gently in her arms, careful not to aggravate her injuries.
— So... you weren't dead after all.
She offered a reassuring smile.
Miya, still in shock, looked up at her with great effort.
— Maki...?!
— You didn't think I'd let you face that monstrosity all by yourself, did you?
— You absolute idiot...! Miya's voice trembled. Tears began to stream down her cheeks once more.
"You made me believe you were dead..."
"I'm sorry. I didn't really have a choice."
Maki gently placed a hand on her shoulder.
A silvery aura emanated from her body, gradually enveloping Miya. A soft light washed over her wounds, slowly sealing the gashes and restoring some of her strength.
Miya felt the pain subside almost immediately.
"This energy..."
"Don't move. I'll get you back on your feet."
Once the healing was complete, Maki reached out into the empty air.
A moment later, the sword Griselda had discarded earlier reappeared in her hand.
"Here. I believe this belongs to you."
Miya took back her weapon and gazed at it for a few seconds.
"Thank you..."
But before she could say anything else, a new kind of energy began to manifest around her.
A crimson aura gradually wrapped itself around her. A remarkably dense concentration of red energy radiated from her form, causing a visible distortion in the surrounding air. Even the wind seemed to warp under the pressure of this power.
VMMMMMMMM...
The light intensified, then abruptly dissipated.
Miya now stood upright, completely transformed.
Dark armor covered her body, giving her a silhouette that was both elegant and menacing. Her long red hair rippled behind her, while her eyes—a vivid, glowing red—burned with an unusual intensity.
She turned her sword slightly, observing the new appearance of her weapon.
Then, she looked up.
"THE BLOODTHIRSTY PREDATOR!" The two young women exchanged a brief glance.
Without another word, they vanished simultaneously.
SHUUUU!
They reappeared a few dozen meters away, facing Griselda, who was beginning to pull herself up from the middle of the crater.
A massive gash still marred the creature's torso. Blood poured freely from the wound, and electrical residue still crackled across her skin.
Her face twisted with rage.
"WHAT DID YOU DO TO ME, YOU LITTLE WITCH?!"
Miya twirled her saber in her hand before resting it on her shoulder.
"Talk about the pot calling the kettle black! A witch calling someone else a witch... now that's truly comedy!"
Griselda gritted her teeth.
"You little..."
"My scythe possesses several unique properties," Maki interjected, ignoring Miya's provocation.
She rotated her weapon, letting arcs of electricity dance along the blade.
"The first allows it to absorb a significant amount of energy from anyone it pierces. But it also has a far more interesting ability..."
Maki locked eyes with Griselda.
"It allows me to temporarily suppress one of my opponent's abilities."
Griselda frowned.
"Huh? What are you talking about?"
"I've chosen to neutralize your power to turn your targets into stone—for the next eight minutes."
She paused briefly.
"In other words, for the next eight minutes, you will be completely unable to use that ability, You're going to have to rely on your other skills! "
"Don't worry about it."
Maki studied her face.
Miya offered a determined smile.
"Eight minutes—that's more than enough. We just have to give everything we've got to finish the job."
She tightened her grip on her sword.
"This time, we won't let her get away."
Maki smiled back.
"Yeah. Let's end this."
Across from them, Griselda watched the two combatants in silence.
Her smile gradually faded.
For the first time since their clash began, she was no longer facing two desperate opponents.
She was facing two warriors who had finally decided to reveal their true power.
Griselda slowly spread her arms wide.
A phenomenal amount of dark aura began to pour from her body. The energy gradually spread across the entire floating platform, shrouding the ruins in an oppressive darkness. The ground trembled under the pressure of this power, while black tendrils rose into the air.
VMMMMMMMMM...
Suddenly, various forms began to emerge from this dark mass.
Gigantic spiders with numerous razor-sharp legs, panthers with disproportionately large jaws, and even humanoid creatures whose limbs had been replaced by monstrous weapons.
Some had arms shaped like swords; others bore scythes, hammers, or jagged blades. Their distorted silhouettes multiplied, stretching as far as the eye could see.
Within seconds, the entire platform was overrun by this army of creatures.
Griselda gazed at her summons with a satisfied smile.
"Go on, fetch their heads for your mother, my darlings!"
She extended an arm toward the two young women.
"GO!!!"
The creatures let out a chorus of monstrous shrieks before lunging toward their prey.
Maki, however, showed no sign of concern.
She simply raised her scythe.
CLING!
Several glowing circles appeared instantly all around her. Their surfaces were etched with electrical symbols, and an intense, silvery light gathered at their centers.
"There are far too many of you for my liking..."
She lowered her scythe slightly.
"So, I might as well clean house."
KRRRRRZZZZZZT!!!
Dozens of electrical discharges erupted simultaneously from the glowing circles. Lightning bolts struck the shadow creatures with terrifying precision. Each impact triggered a brilliant explosion, instantly pulverizing the monsters they hit.
But that wasn't all.
The discharges continued their path over vast distances, leaping from one target to the next. Their reach seemed to expand exponentially, tearing through the ranks of creatures and disintegrating every single one without leaving a trace.
BOOOOOOM! BOOOOOOM! BOOOOOOM!
In a matter of moments, a significant portion of Griselda's army was wiped out.
Meanwhile, Miya had already plunged into the midst of the monsters.
Armed with her saber, she cut through their ranks at an astonishing speed.
SHING! SHING! SHING!
Her movements were so swift that, to her adversaries, it appeared as though she had multiplied. Each swing of her saber unleashed a crimson slash that sliced through the creatures with surgical precision.
Yet, unlike ordinary cutting attacks, her strikes penetrated deep into their bodies before releasing a violent surge of red energy.
BOOOOM!!!
The creatures exploded from within.
A gargantuan spider attempted to crush her with its eight legs.
Miya vanished from its field of vision.
"Too slow."
She reappeared behind its head and swept her saber in a circular motion.
SCHLIK!
The creature's head was severed, and its body erupted in a spray of crimson energy.
Several humanoids, wielding massive hammers, lunged from her flanks simultaneously. Miya pivoted on her heel and executed three rapid, successive strikes.
SHING! SHING! SHING! Their bodies were severed before their weapons could even reach their targets.
It was an absolute slaughter.
From her vantage point, Griselda watched the scene, an expression of disbelief on her face.
"...What?"
She watched as the last of the creatures vanished under the combined onslaught of the two fighters.
"But... what on earth..."
She gritted her teeth.
Those two...
Her gaze shifted from Maki to Miya.
They aren't the same as they were when we first met.
Their abilities, their speed, their destructive power—everything had evolved significantly.
Their power has reached an entirely different dimension...
She could hardly believe it.
They are now capable of rivaling me!
Griselda threw her arms wide.
A fresh concentration of dark energy coalesced around her hands.
"ENOUGH!!!"
She unleashed two massive waves of dark energy, both aimed directly at Miya.
The two surges tore across the platform, obliterating everything in their path.
But before they could reach their target...
KRRRRRZZZZT!!!
Maki appeared in front of Miya and swung her scythe horizontally.
Two immense electric arcs cut through the dark waves, slicing them apart in mid-air.
The attacks dissipated in a violent explosion.
"You won't lay a finger on her!"
Miya cast a brief, grateful glance her way.
"Thanks!"
"Focus on her!"
Impossible.
Maki trembled from the exertion, yet held her technique firmly in place.
"MIYA! NOW!!!"
Miya understood immediately.
She lowered her center of gravity slightly and focused all her remaining energy into her legs.
VMMMMMMMM...
Her purple aura intensified one last time.
Griselda turned her gaze toward her.
In that instant, she understood.
This attack was meant to bring the battle to an end.
— Heh-heh...
She weakly raised her right arm toward the sky.
— We did it...
A broad smile lit up her face, despite her exhaustion.
— We actually did it!
Miya watched her for a few seconds before letting out a weary laugh.
— YEAH, HELL YEAH! WE DID IT!
She pulled her friend into a gentle embrace.
— We won, Maki...
The two young women remained like that for a few moments, amidst the ruins of the floating platform.
They were exhausted, wounded, and barely able to stand.
But they were alive.
And, above all, they had succeeded in defeating Griselda.