The Clash of Gold and Crimson

The katana, lying on the ground, detonated into a myriad of minute golden elemental particles, all of which began to converge directly above the blonde woman’s head. A golden pillar of light slowly began to coalesce, ascending past the highest tree branches and streaking directly towards the heavens.

Upon sensing the formidable golden elemental pillar of light, Miro’s countenance shifted dramatically. Should I employ [Hellfire] for defense? Will it even be capable of blocking such power? Despite her inner apprehension, she resolved to meet the assault head-on.

[Crimson Tide: Myriad Blood Style]!

The blonde woman felt the very blood coursing through her veins stir with a frenzied energy. Her gaze fell upon the jagged stump of her right arm, where beads of blood incessantly erupted, weaving into a crimson thread that flowed directly towards the white-haired girl. Turning her attention to the white-haired girl, the blonde woman observed streams of blood converging from every direction, siphoning from others and continuously funneling into the [Bloodslayer Sword], causing the blade to expand in both length and girth.

If this continues unchecked, those around us will surely perish from catastrophic blood loss. I must intervene and stop her without delay!

Before all the golden elemental particles could fully converge, the blonde woman hastily unleashed her strike.

“Go!”

Witnessing the golden pillar of light descend upon her, Miro instantly halted her continuous infusion of blood, instead maneuvering the now colossal [Bloodslayer Sword] to rise and meet the attack.

“Bring it on!”

The clash of gold and crimson erupted, radiating invisible shockwaves in every direction. Trees were shorn in two at their trunks, the very air grew searingly hot, and a deafening, continuous roar reverberated through the vicinity.

Yet, this violent collision proved fleeting.

Given that both the golden pillar of light and the crimson greatsword were composed of loosely spaced particles, the two forces, initially appearing to be in perfect balance, began to interpenetrate, ultimately severing and hurtling towards both combatants.

Neither combatant had foreseen such an unexpected outcome, each having been convinced they would utterly overpower their opponent. In the throes of desperation, there was no luxury of time for further deliberation; an immediate response was paramount.

The blonde woman’s golden pillar of light had been an incomplete manifestation from the start. Moreover, after its direct confrontation with the sword-shaped blood beads, the golden elemental particles that continued towards the white-haired girl were significantly diminished. Nevertheless, they managed to pierce through her protective membrane of black flames.

In the throes of this imminent danger, Miro hastily darted to one side. Regrettably, her evasion was a fraction of a second too late; while she managed to protect her heart, several of her ribs were nonetheless cleanly severed.

“Crack!”

“Guh…” Miro crumpled to the ground, clutching her chest, her features twisted into a grimace that resembled a mask of pure agony.

The moment the white-haired girl was struck by the attack, the Super-Tier magic abruptly ceased its blood extraction, forcibly dissolving.

The blonde woman, her opponent, found herself in a far more desperate predicament. The crimson greatsword, having cleaved through the golden pillar of light, had diminished somewhat in size, yet it remained an insurmountable force for any mere mortal flesh to endure. Bereft of all defensive capabilities, she had no recourse but to attempt to shield her vital organs, collapsing sideways, only to have both her legs mercilessly severed.

“Aaaah!”

Stripped of her ability to move, the blonde woman was utterly devoid of any means of resistance; even the mere thought of escape had become an unattainable luxury. Though her adversary was hardly in a superior condition, she was, crucially, not human. She belonged to the Bloodkin, renowned for their formidable regenerative powers.

The blonde woman realized that once Miro had recovered sufficiently, her own demise would be inevitable. At this very moment, the deputy commander, sprawled prostrate on the ground, was consumed by an overwhelming torrent of regret. Had I only known the enemy possessed such formidable power, I would have unequivocally chosen to evade their sharpest edge and yielded for the time being.

“Hahahahaha! I truly hadn’t anticipated that a Super-Tier magical girl such as yourself would prove so utterly troublesome. While I concede I was a touch overconfident, not unleashing my full power from the outset, the outcome nonetheless confirms my superior skill!”

“Clap, clap, clap!”

Before Miro could even begin to savor her hard-won victory, the distinct sound of applause reached her ears, swiftly followed by the melodic, yet unfamiliar, voice of a young girl.

“Splendid! Truly, unexpectedly splendid! It appears the time has come for my grand entrance. This divine potion shall now be entrusted to my care!”