Drip… Drip….
Blood dripped steadily onto the cracked ground, pooling around Thalia’s feet as she struggled to stand upright, her vision hazy from exhaustion and pain. Her voice, though faint, was resolute. “I… I won’t let you… win,” she panted, forcing herself to hold her stance.
Aqualina, equally battered and bruised, let out a heavy breath, her lips curving into an amused smile, “Huff-Huff-Huff…N-Not… bad… Not bad at all,” she admitted with a touch of admiration. “Despite not being one of the Chosen, you’ve proven yourself far more resilient than any of them. If Arcane had chosen you… you’d already be a sovereign,” she said, nodding in acknowledgment before casting her gaze to where Raven lay, enclosed in a dome of healing light.
Helena, on the verge of passing out, strained to maintain the dome around Raven, her focus wavering as her energy dwindled. Her own vision swam, and she knew she couldn’t keep this up for much longer.
Raven’s eyes flickered open as the dome faded, glancing between Thalia and Helena. She clenched her fists, fury burning in her gaze. “You’re seriously getting on my last nerve, Aqualina.”
Aqualina smirked, brushing off Raven’s anger. “Do you honestly think taking turns would wear me out? The fatigue doesn’t vanish with each healing spell,” she sneered, her voice laced with cold amusement. “It’s you three who are wearing yourselves down.”
Raven’s jaw clenched. It was true—they’d devised a strategy of fighting in turns, hoping that by rotating between healing and attacking, they could chip away at Aqualina’s stamina. But Aqualina had barely lost a fraction of her strength, while Helena’s energy was nearing empty.
“AAARRRRRR!!” With a roar, Raven surged forward, disappearing and reappearing in a flash right in front of Aqualina.
She slashed but Aqualina blocked however, Raven tilted her hilt and hit her head.
Thuckk!
“Tch,” Aqualina clicked her tongue, a flicker of worry crossing her face. ‘I can’t keep this up much longer,’ she thought, a grim realization settling in.
Raven pressed her advantage, not giving Aqualina a moment’s rest. She pushed through her own pain, her movements driven by sheer will. As Aqualina dodged, Raven was already there, slamming her hilt into Aqualina’s shoulder and forcing her back.
Aqualina stumbled, her reflexes momentarily failing her. Raven ducked low, knocking Aqualina’s legs out from under her. She raised her sword, aiming for the final blow—
Chucck!
A sharp, searing pain shot through Raven’s stomach. Aqualina’s blade was buried there, crimson spreading across her abdomen.
“Raven!” Thalia screamed, stepping forward despite her own wounds. She turned to Helena, desperation in her eyes. “Helena, I know you’re exhausted, but we need you just a little longer!”
Helena gritted her teeth, her hands trembling as she forced herself to channel what little healing energy she had left. Blood trickled down her nose, but she didn’t stop. “I… I’m trying,” she murmured, her voice barely audible.
With a fierce cry, Thalia charged forward, unleashing a wave of energy that ripped through the ground in her wake. She swung her leg wide, her foot crackling with power as it collided with the earth, sending shockwaves that threw Aqualina back and then Raven pushed her further as they continued to fight her until,
Aqualina staggered, her breathing ragged, and glanced down at her trembling hand. A hint of concern crossed her face as she whispered to herself, “Looks like… I’ve finally hit my limit.”
Both sides were drained, both reaching the point where one final strike would determine the victor. Yet Aqualina’s face twisted into a cruel smile.
“Did you really think I’d come unprepared for betrayal?” she chuckled, her voice dark and mocking.
Thalia’s eyes narrowed. “Who’s betraying who here?”
Ignoring her, Aqualina reached into her cloak and pulled out a small, crystalline orb—the same one they had all used as a signal. She held it aloft, a malicious glint in her eyes.
The trio frowned, instinctively tensing, as Aqualina let out a triumphant war cry and slammed the crystal into the ground.
Crack!
It shattered into pieces… but not just hers,
Crack!
Thud!
Crack
Thud!
Crack!
Thud!
Those crystals shattered on their pockets and All three of them collapsed, helpless against the surge of energy that paralyzed them all of the sudden!
Aqualina chuckled darkly, slowly rising as she held the newly acquired pieces of parchment she’d ripped from her paralyzed friends, “Well, I didn’t think I’d have to use this… it’s costly, but it looks like there’s no other way.” Her fingers flexed over the papers and added, “Next time make sure to check any kind of bug place in Artifacts!” but a faint voice interrupted her
“N-No… don’t…” Helena gasped, her voice weak but defiant.
Aqualina paused, slightly startled to see Helena’s trembling hand clutching her leg. ‘Impressive,’ she thought with a flicker of annoyance, ‘Her healing abilities must be stronger than I realized.’
Helena’s body shook as she tried to hold on the paralyzing pain, “Y-You’re nottt… yourself, A-Aqualina… snap out of it…!!!”
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Aqualina’s expression morphed into pure rage. Her voice dripped with venom as she screamed, “This is me, you BITCH! It’s
always
been me!” She lashed out, kicking Helena repeatedly with a brutal fury. “Bitch like you could never understand! Bitch, bitch, BITCH!” Her foot came down over and over, her voice echoing with raw hatred.
“N-N…” Raven struggled, desperately trying to move, her muscles rigid and frozen like stone.
“Mmmmffff!” Thalia’s glare burned with fury, but her body betrayed her, leaving her helpless.
Aqualina’s face contorted with hatred as her chest heaved, her breath ragged. She kicked Helena again and again, driven by an inexplicable grudge. “Die! Just die already! You’re all nothing but pests, all of you!” Her kicks grew more violent, unrelenting.
Helena lost her consciousness!!
But then, a single, faint word slipped from Helena’s lips, “A-Aether…” in her unconscious state.
Aqualina froze, her eyes widening with blind rage. “HOW DARE YOU SAY HIS NAME!” she screeched, “BITCH!!!!!!” summoning her sword with trembling hands. She gripped it tightly, positioning the blade over Helena’s throat, ready to strike.
“MMMMFFF!” Raven forced a shout, her fingers twitching as she fought to reach for her weapon, her hand moving only an inch.
“SSSTTTT!!!!” Thalia strained, managing to push herself up slightly…. but that’s all that paralyzing power was too much for them to handle!!
All they could do was…. helplessly watching as Aqualina’s sword lowered toward Helena’s throat.
“DIE, YOU THIEVING BITCH!” Aqualina screamed, raising the sword for the final blow.
The blade pierced Helena’s neck…. or so they thought until calm but firm voice broke through the chaos.
“Did you forget your promise?”
Aqualina froze as a hand appeared, grasping her wrist firmly.
Raven and Thalia’s eyes shifted, spotting a figure standing behind Aqualina—a woman in a sleek, black suit.
Celestia let out a quiet sigh of relief.
Actually, She’d been blocked out when Aqualina initiated the final phase of the game, unable to enter and waiting until she’d used her last resort activation code. After rushing in, she was horrified to see the woman before her—the old Aqualina… The Princess who was about to kill Helena!
The one who’d existed before Aether had brought light into her life.
Celestia wasn’t sure what happened but she knew how to handle the situation…
With a measured voice, Celestia spoke, her words sharp with disappointment.
“He would have been heartbroken… devastated to see his beloved acting like this.”
At those words, Aqualina blinked, something shifting behind her furious gaze. Her grip slackened, and her expression slowly morphed into one of horror, “W-What… what have I done? Why?” she murmured, her voice trembling as if she was only just realizing the gravity of her actions.
She staggered backward, her face pale with shock. “W-Why? Why would I…?” Her gaze fell to the bloodied, broken forms of Thalia, Raven, who stared back at her with a mix of pain and anger, their eyes bloodshot and there was unconscious Helena!
Aqualina’s lips quivered but then she saw the pieces of paper, she suddenly remembered something, “I-I need to know!!” as she retrieved a final piece of the puzzle from her pocket.
Her hand shook as she placed it beside the other fragments.
Ssssssnnnggggggg!
A blinding light erupted from the assembled pieces, enveloping everything in its radiance.
“PRINCESS!” Celestia’s voice called out as Aqualina disappeared, vanishing into the light.
Raven and Thalia frowned but sighed as they didn’t care anymore… they fell down too!
Celestia bit her lips before glancing at the trio and poured healing potions to them!