Mrazivý kept one eye over her shoulder and the other locked onto her opponent.
While engrossed in her battle against Mara, she had sensed someone suddenly begin approaching them at a high speed.
With her heightened senses she could tell that the presence was hostile towards her.
It was not long before she realized that it was the man that Marcus was fighting and that he possessed a significant threat.
She had been keeping watch on each of the conflicts happening throughout the collapsed castle and knew that Sato was a force to be reckoned with. The tales she had heard about him as a prominent adventurer did not do him justice. His true strength was astounding. If not for his inability to use spiritual energy he would have been a match for Marcus.
'Looks like she's noticed as well.'
Mara had been mostly on the defensive, but noticing Mrazivý's wariness, she had begun attacking fiercely. Undoubtedly, she wanted to make sure to create an opening for either her own or Sato's attacks to land.
Unfortunately, Mrazivý could not shift her full attention to either of the threats bearing down on her.
She trusted Marcus with her life, but it was entirely possible that he would be unable to stop Sato's advance. In that case she would need to be prepared to take his strike as well as Mara's.
'His will be more dangerous. Even if I need to sacrifice an arm, I can block whatever Mara can throw at me. So long as I am still alive, I know I will be fine.' Mrazivý thought, turning her focus squarely on Sato in order to intercept his strike.
Her resolve to face both Mara and Sato was never needed, however. Before he could make a move, Sato was consumed by an inky veil. Marcus had trapped him within a sealed space and prevented him from ever reaching Mrazivý.
So, even if it might be a bit cliché, to answer your question, I'm am this strong because I have someone I care about dearly. Oh, but I shouldn't go on bragging like this to a lonely old hag like you. That was terribly insensitive of me." Mrazivý said, wearing an exaggerated expression of pity.
Her words had been carefully crafted to infuriate Mara, and after only a moment of silence, it became clear that she had succeeded.
An almost tangible rage began to emit from her opponent. From every small inconvenience to the monumental failures that had occurred today, the pressure had finally pushed Mara over the edge.
Throwing away her rationality, she charged towards Mrazivý like a berserker.
In her mouth she removed a false tooth that was actually a pill containing a small quantity of concentrated demonic essence.
This was not the low-quality product that was given to grunts or expendable pawns, but a creation made from the blood of the Blue Primeval Demon. Its ability to enhance those that consumed it was immense. As was the toll it took on their body.
Usually, Mara would not have resorted to using this most reckless trump card, but her infatuation had reached a point where she could no longer contain it. She would not allow herself, one of the Eminences of the Blue Primeval Demon, to continue to be belittled.
"Vanquisher Hurricane!"
Activating her most powerful attack skill, Mara unleashed a flurry of blows that all came at Mrazivý like a raging storm.
The force behind each of her swings grew greater as the seconds went by and the dangerous but powerful drug she had taken permeated her entire body.
Yet the confidence and euphoria that had overtaken her soon gave way to confusion, followed by disbelief.
Despite empowering herself with the Primeval Demonic Essence, Mrazivý was still unharmed and methodically parrying each of her strikes.