Chapter 190 Clashing Swords.

[Nice dress you got there.] Juni said, casually parrying her opponent's attack. [Though it looks a bit impractical.]

"What about you? Is there really a point to wearing such armor?" The dark haired woman asked as she swung her broad sword with ease. "With your force field you don't need that kind of protection, right?"

[Yeah, but it helps us get in the right mood. We used to only wear it when the fight is serious.]

Amidst the shroud of darkness, the two engaged in an electrifying aerial duel. The night sky crackled with the brilliance of their clashing broadswords, casting wild sparks that painted a mesmerizing tapestry of light against the black canvas above. The Olympian danced with breathtaking grace and power while Juni's movements were much more direct and crude, aiming to do as much damage as she could.

With every swing and parry, the force behind their strikes echoed across the night, mingling with the distant roars of the blazing inferno below. The once wild forest now lay engulfed in a sea of flames, the scarlet tendrils reaching hungrily toward the heavens. Yet, the combatants seemed oblivious to the inferno that raged beneath their feet, nor the rest of the battle that was happening around them.

The Olympian was named Penthesilea. Her dark, smooth skin exuded an alluring warmth, enhanced by the ethereal glow of the raging flames below. Her long, lustrous black hair swayed with each graceful movement she made, adding an air of mystique to her presence. Adorned in a revealing dancer's outfit, the intricate patterns on her attire seemed to come alive as she glided across the sky, leaving a trail of elegance in her wake. Her poise and confidence drew the eye, and with the intricate halo floating over her head, she became an enchanting embodiment of grace and allure.

In the midst of their clash, Juni and Penthesilea showcased a violent dance of skill and power. Each strike was matched with swift parries and counterattacks, their swords moving with such speed and fluidity that it was almost as if they were an extension of their bodies.

The intensity of their battle reached its pinnacle, and for a moment, the two found themselves locked in a stalemate, their blades locked against each other with unyielding strength.

However, the equilibrium was short-lived. In an unexpected twist, Juni unleashed a forceful kick, propelling Penthesilea backward. Swift as the wind, she responded with a teleportation maneuver, vanishing from her original spot and reappearing several yards away.

[You know, using those Calamities was just bad taste.] Juni seamlessly transformed her trusty sword into its whip form. The weapon crackled with intense power as she swung it with masterful skill, releasing scintillating arcs of crimson energy with every fluid motion.

"Bad taste? What are you talking about, little girl?" The Olympian woman jumped around as if her feet were on solid ground. She evaded the arcs of energy with such grace making each of her movements seem like a well practiced dance. "This is war. Don't tell me you expected manners from us?"

[Well, I guess you wouldn't know.] Using the last arc as a diversion, Juni teleported. She made her way behind the female Olympian, her broad sword connected and ready to slash. Her smile was gone as well, replaced by a subtle fury behind a calm expression.

As the radiant blade of Juni's whip sliced through the air, the Olympian's keen eyes caught the gleaming spectacle and swiftly reacted, positioning herself to intercept the oncoming attack. Yet, the instant their weapons clashed, a torrent of overwhelming force surged forth, catching the Olympian off guard. Despite her best efforts, she struggled to withstand the sheer power behind Juni's strike, feeling her grip faltering on her own weapon.

Sensing the impending danger, Penthesilea made a split-second decision. Realizing that resisting the immense force would be futile, she relinquished her grip on the invisible platform beneath her feet, allowing her body to be carried away by the unstoppable momentum. In a daring move, she chose to embrace the energy of the clash rather than resist it, using the force of the impact to propel herself away from the Valkyrie. Her body soared gracefully through the air, carried by the kinetic energy, as she skillfully maneuvered herself to a safer distance. Juni continued the pursuit, not giving her a chance to recover.

[You see, I don't hold a grudge against the Nephilim.] She said as she swung her blade. [But many of us lost comrades fighting Calamities. We really didn't want to see those things anymore.]

"I see…"I think you should take a look at

[Most of us can handle them with ease now, but the scars of old battles won't just go away.]

The air crackled and hummed, her blue armor propelling forward at the speed of sound. The Olympian held her blade to block and sparks exploded with each clash. Juni kept accelerating and her attacks grew heavier with each strike, however her opponent retained her smile. No matter how far she was pushed backward, the dark skinned Olympian never lost her calm, and that only helped to infuriate the tomboyish Valkyrie all the more.

~[]~

Venti and Trenta watched the light show from a distance, listening to the deafening clangs filling the sky.

[Something is of…] Venti spoke from behind her light green armor.

[You think so too…?] Trenta added. The visor of her redish orange armor shifted, turning in the direction B3 and the others were in.

Their red haired companion was handling the enemy leader while Sitta restrained her three lackeys. Up above them Juni engaged another Olympian, and the same went for JX9. There is the sniper in the forest as well, and when counting the one Trenta annihilated, the total number of enemies reached eight, same as the Valkyries who didn't go with the doctor.

After seeing the gigantic ship approaching their camp the girls expected an army to come out to face them. In the end they didn't even get to have one on one matches, with each side having at least three of their members contributing very little to the fight.

[They… aren't that powerful, are they?] Venti said. [I guess it kinda makes sense… they aren't that different from humans after all…]

[Don't make that mistake. They might be flesh and bone, but they definitely aren't humans.]

An autopsy was already performed on one of the captives who attempted to invade the forty sixth base a while ago. Their general constitution looked similar to that of humans at first, but that didn't explain their ability to wield runes and halos.

[B3 seems to be doing fine so… let's go support the two above] As she spoke, Trenta was already floating upward. She stopped when her friend raised her hand, her silence indicating that something has caught her attention.

[No, Juni can take care of herself, and I doubt JX9 will just lose it.] Pausing for a moment, Venti turned to the east where their ship was docked. [Triska is on her own. If the enemy is able to bypass the barrier she wouldn't be able to guard the whole ship on her own.]

[You have a point…]

Coming to a mutual conclusion, the two Valkyries were about to teleport. Just then a brilliant light flashed from the direction where B3 was. There was no sound of explosion, and when they turned to check what happened, all they saw was a towering castle slowly building itself from the ground up.