329 Bethel

"Fight!"

A symphony of war horns blew, as Asai unleashed [Ruin] from its sheath, brimming with divinity. The golden radiance was so overfilled with intent, even to persons born without mana were able to see the beautiful shards flow.

[Decimate: Full Moon]! Although he only needed to strike before himself, with half moon. Rather than optimize and efficiently utilize his mana stores. Asai deigned himself to fight as powerful and flashy as possible.

Just as Bethel did, Asai decided to showcase his utmost in this fight before the people. A message to all that were stupid and ignorant enough to host any hostile intentions towards him and his people.

"[CRASH ABOVE]!" Bethel shouted aloud, slamming her massive blade into Asai's. The two skills erupted as the two magical signatures repulsed one and another. The sudden blast of wind and energy forced both fighters meters away from each other.

Asai, thanks to his hell mode training camp, in which Silva, the goddess of wind bullied him with her divine winds. Was quicker to regaining his stance. Glancing down, [Ruin] already appeared fractured, as numerous cracks covered its surface.

Goddess Loha, who was keeping the arena in tact, was beginning to wonder whether or not the two below were deliberately trying to break the stadium or not.

"Insane, she's basically half of my level, but strong enough to meet me half way. Arthur would be pissing himself if he met this girl."

Resetting his weapon, Asai figured it was due to their choice of weapon. Something he was increasingly getting close to unravelling. Whilst humans had levels and stats that gave points of strength which in turn increased melee attack. A fighter's weapon of choice acted as an amplifier to its wielder's stats. Daggers being 1:1, swords 1:1.5 and great swords and war hammers being 1:2 etc

If all other factors, such as critical rates, dexterity, mana-potency and velocity weren't taken into consideration.

Thus, although Bethel was half of Asai's level, her weapon of choice allowed her to fight against foes near double her strength. Something that wasn't achievable by just anyone, as the heavy weapon came with its cons.

Cheers erupted, as the crowds understood what just happened before their eyes. Courtesy of Goddess Loha, ensuring everyone was equally enjoying the magical spectacle on stage.

Seeing the girl's blaze in fire, the crimson flickers of light appeared to ignore its wielder entirely. And just as Asai imbued his limbs with [divinity] Bethel throttled her [blazing] elemental mana into hers. Causing sparks to erupt from her feet as she shot herself forward.

[Death Call] !

[Psychic Phantom] !

With his open palm facing her, Bethel found her body suddenly going limp for a second as her speed towards the duke increased. However, rather than being stunned and controlled by telekinesis. Her blazing mana burnt all foreign mana upon contact. Relinquishing her body from its control. Her blade dragging besides her body was swung as she entered range.

"[CLEAVE]!"

The large mass of iron swung horizontally, slamming into Asai's second skill.

Again, the two skills nullified one and another, but just before Bethel could regain her stance, as her blade continued upon its path to her rear.

Asai's [Lingering Shadow] suddenly emerged, vaulting and dropping another [Psychic Phantom] upon the girl.

Taking the brunt of the skill into her face and her armguards. With brute-force, she swung her weapon back around, fighting against the momentum that was tearing her muscle fibres apart.

Her secondary attack slamming into Asai as he was leaping back out of range, caught the man with its tip. Although landing a powerful blow upon the duke's shoulder. Due to it not being a skill that amplified damage output, the sword with just [Blazing] simply slammed him backwards, creating distance.

Asai took this moment to observe her condition. Whilst he still felt greatly energetic, albeit having a shoulder that slightly stung as it was now bruised. Bethel seemed to be wrecking her own body, as the weapon appeared too large and heavy for her frame.

"Berserker? Barbarian? Will she deal more damage the more she hurts herself? Alright, lets see how you handle this."

Asai dipped into [Hide] 

Within the time frame it took her to blink, the man had vanished. Looking around, the entire stage was empty. Feeling somewhat confused, and almost believing the man had decided to forfeit. She almost lowered her guard before the man appeared before her very face.

[Psychic Phantom] slammed directly into her torso, shredding the leather armour that kept her chest protected. Bethel, finding her suddenly sent backwards, quickly swung her blade, cleaving horizontally. Ensuring that if the man had decided to follow through with another attack, her AOE would surely hit.

However, again. The stage was empty.

To the spectators who were blessed with this viewing. They now found themselves to be dumbfounded, as Asai Trichia now appeared semi transparent to them, as he circled around the girl. Vaulting from her blind spots, flanking the girl and pressuring her. His person kept revealing itself in its entirety, before turning semi-transparent again.

And seeing how Bethel was greatly confused, stressed and cornered. They quickly understood that the man was in complete stealth to the girl, whilst allowing himself to be seen by the bystanders.

Jin, who was carefully watching the battle play out. Now figured out why the elves were unable to stand up against the man.

"Fight me like a man!" Bethel shouted in great indignation, as if she was being cheated of her efforts.

Asai appeared. Except, Asai appeared in all directions as five. The five dukes in unison rose their swords above head. Mimicking the first stance the girl took. In response, she lowered her stance, her weapon gripped behind her person.

[Weighted Slash] !

"[MASSACRE]!"

All five Asai's throttled their swords down, however, until the last moment of truth, Bethel wouldn't know which one was real, and which was simply acting out the overhead attack.

The girl believing it to be some form of illusion, or genjutsu. Erupted her blazing mana in a AOE zone that surrounded her. The full circle sent pillars of flames surging from the ground up. Hitting and destroying all clones, except the one real duke.

Who's skill slammed into her front, directly into her bare chest, sending her crashing and rolling across the stage.

Once again, Asai had decided to face her skill head on. Not knowing the man and his tendencies, Bethel had focused the greater portion, the most potent arc of her skill towards her rear. As common sense would dictate, it simply made more sense for the real Asai to attack from behind.

The crowd, awaking for their stupor. Roared and cheered as they were unable to describe the fight they had just seen. Even now, they continued to doubt their eyes and ears, as their skills and abilities were simply magical.

The knights, and templars who were in the informed group, however, at the very least came to greatly respect the two combatants. 

"Your Majesty!?-" A maid suddenly screamed.

Looking back up towards the booth, Asai saw Victoria mimic his previous jump. However, as the woman landed, not even Goddess Loha was able to prevent the stage from breaking due to her sheer amount of strength.

Rumbling, shaking, fracturing and breaking. Victoria left a crater around her landing point as she pulled the man into a hug.

"Thank you for the show! You did great!" Victoria lifted his hand up high, as the victor, allowing the crowd to once more cheer.

Along the sidelines, Bethel was unconsciously carried away. Tended to as the show must go on.

"I hit her with my hardest hitting nukes dead on the chest, and she didn't even bleed. Not even a paper cut, what the fuck? And why is she shouting out every single one of her skills? Does she not know, she doesn't need to?"

Glancing up, and noticing the gentle radiance of divinity that covered the arena.

"Or maybe Goddess Loha is interfering with this stage. Like a dungeon, she can control whether death is permitted or not? Especially if its her Hero that's at stake."