The elation of the crowd echoed through the arena as Lur announced Emi and Leslie's matchup to commence. As both sorceresses focused on each other with great intensity, one thought came into their minds as they prepared their first movement.
"I'll have to defeat her off as quick as possible and make her end painlessly."
Their thoughts were one at that moment, as Leslie's raised one of her orbs at Emi's direction, while she, a sword sorceress, rushed towards Leslie with her sword at surprising speed.
"Oh-ho! She's a fast little thing," Daiyu smirked as she rubbed the chin of her Anima.
Meanwhile, Leslie's orb fire heated plasma shots targeted Emi. But Emi countered with a multitude of deflections as she advanced on Leslie.
"Leslie is starting the fight by firing at Emi, only for the sword sorceress to counter each blast as Emi is going for the kill," Lur announces as Emi inches closer to Leslie.
'Okay, I just need one clean strike,' Emi assumed as she launched herself in the air, preparing to swing down her katana for a downward slash. Before Emi could land the attack, Leslie motions to the rest of her orbs, and they glowed and projected a starlit barrier.
Emi's katana clashed against the shimmering barrier, sending a cascade of sparks flying in all directions. The force of her strike was absorbed by the radiant shield, halting her momentum and forcing her to land on the ground, a few paces away from Leslie. Undeterred, Emi quickly reassessed her strategy, her eyes locked on Leslie as the crowd roared with excitement.
'Okay... I guess it won't be that easy to take her down," Emi pondered before taking a step forward with the left foot and holding the sword almost vertically, the hilt aligned with the right shoulder. "Maybe Hassō-no-kamae will allow me to strike before Leslie can go on the defensive."
Emi then blitzes towards Leslie, much to the shock of her opponent and the audience.
'She's gotten faster?!' Leslie quickly sent her orbs propelling towards the sword sorceress. As the orbs rockets closer to Emi, she let out a deep breath before telling Bushin inside her mind.
"Okay, Bushin. Let's show everyone our magic!"
"Right!" Bushin's voice boomed in her mind as Emi felt her movements increase while parrying the orbs with blinding speed.
Sword Sorcery: Boyakeru ha no Kabe (Wall of Blurring Blades)
"What is this?! Emi has seemed to have used her magic to parry each orb like a living wall of blades, and she's now closing in again for a killing strike." Lur spoke as Emi lunged forward and went for a thrust. Leslie's eyes widened in surprise as she witnessed Emi's newfound speed and agility. Her mind raced to devise a counter-strategy, realizing that her usual defenses might not withstand the intensity of Emi's assault. Desperately, Leslie commanded her remaining orbs to form a tighter formation around her, hoping to withstand the oncoming strike.
"HYAAAAAAAAAH!!!!" Emi yelled out as she swung her katana with a series of slashes in a firefly motion while Leslie spun her orbs at rapid speed to block the onslaught.
The audience watched in awe, their eyes glued to the fierce exchange between Emi and Leslie. Gasps and cheers erupted with each clash of magic and steel, as spectators marveled at the dazzling display of skill and power. "This is incredible!" one onlooker shouted, while others could scarcely believe the speed and precision of Emi's movements, whispering excitedly about the unfolding spectacle.
"Well, damn, kid," Jessica declared with a surprised smile on her face. "Emi's putting the pressure on her. What fighting style is that?"
As the FBI agent wonders what Emi's technique is, she hears another voice chiming in.
"That, my dear American, is called Jigen-ryū."
Walking to sit next to Jessica is a stunning woman with dark blond hair, messy bangs tied in a braided ponytail, light brown eyes, narrow half-frame glasses, and a beauty mark on her left cheek. She wore a dark blue cashmere blazer, a white turtleneck sweater, dress pants that matched the color of her jacket, and form-fitting heels.
Sorceress of LoreLucinda Davenport (U.K.)
"I suppose you're a sorceress like me?" Jessica said, watching Lucinda take a seat next to her.
"Indeed. I'm Lucinda Davenport. Professor at the University of Bath. A pleasure to meet you," Lucinda said elegantly as she offered a hand.
Jessica takes the hand firmly before replying, "Jessica Cass. FBI agent of the Criminal, Cyber, Response, and Services Branch. So what do you know about this...Jigen-ryū, you mentioned?"
Lucinda adjusted her glasses and replied, "Jigen-ryū is an ancient Japanese swordsmanship style known for its explosive power and speed. Practitioners are trained to deliver a decisive strike with such force that it can overwhelm opponents before they have a chance to react. It's a rare and formidable technique, which explains why Emi can keep Leslie on the defensive."
"I see," Jessica pondered as she watched the fight from the stands. "Well, I think that's best for Emi to keep the pressure before her opponent has any breathing room. So why are you here instead of being in your room?"
Lucinda leaned back slightly, a hint of amusement in her eyes. "I'm here to observe, of course. Both of these ladies' skills are exceptional, and I believe they might possess untapped potential that could be of great interest to my research on mystical combat techniques. Plus, it's not every day that you get to witness such a display of raw talent and precision."
Back in the fight, Emi unleashed an onslaught on Leslie as she thought to herself. 'I got her on the back foot now. Just need... an opening. A gap to finish this battle quickly!'
As Emi watched Leslie's orb orbit, she spotted a narrow space between two of the orbs.
"There it is!"
Summoning all her strength and focus, Emi dashed forward with incredible speed, her sword poised for a decisive strike. She aimed precisely for the narrow gap, her blade slicing through the air with a sharp whistle. As she closed in on Leslie, Emi's movements were both fluid and relentless, a testament to her mastery of the Jigen-ryū technique.
"Leslie, I'm sorry to do this, but it's over!" Emi declared before closing in for a horizontal slash. Leslie managed to dodge, but her left arm received a minor gash.
"First blood has been drawn! Emi has managed to be the first to land the first attack on her opponent! Talk about unexpected," Lur proclaimed as the audience cheered for the bloodshed to continue onward.
Leslie winced as the pain shot through her arm, but she refused to let it slow her down. Her eyes narrowed with determination, and she quickly adjusted her stance, preparing to counter Emi's next move. "You got me this time, Emi," she acknowledged with a smirk, "but don't think I'm out of this fight just yet."
Emi, however, looked surprised at the fact that she was able to strike first since this match began.
'I actually struck her first," Emi thought to her with a mix of disbelief and a sliver of pride. "I thought my magic would be weaker than hers, to me wielding the sword and her having control over the cosmos, but maybe I can win this.'
As she thinks about it, Bushin's voice comes into her mind once again and says, "Yes, but stay focused, Lady Emi. You cannot let yourself get overconfident and get careless."
Emi nodded inwardly at Bushin's advice, fully aware that one moment of overconfidence could turn the tide against her. She took a deep breath, reaffirming her grip on the sword as she analyzed Leslie's stance and the swirling orbs around her. 'Stay calm and calculated,' Emi reminded herself, her mind now clear and ready for the continuing battle.
Sitting at her throne, Morgana watched on with an amused look, with a conniving glint in her eyes.
"My, my. So the Little Sword was able to land a hit against her opponent. Hmmm, I'll be honest, I was not expecting her to get far. I'll give her that credit for that, but..."
Morgana then focused her attention on Leslie.
"This one is holding back. Maybe a little incentive should help make this match more exhilarating." Morgana purred sinisterly as her void eye glowed with an ominous flare.
Meanwhile, as Leslie prepared her next move, a sharp pain pierced through her mind, and she clutched her head. Leslie staggered slightly, the unexpected agony momentarily clouding her vision. She gritted her teeth, refusing to show weakness in front of the crowd or her opponent. Sweat beaded on her forehead as she fought to regain control, determined not to let this mysterious interference derail her focus.
"L-Leslie!" Emi shouted, unsure of what was happening to Leslie, just as the audience was.
"I know you're holding back, Leslie dear," Morgana's voice rang through Leslie's mind like a bell through Notre Dame. "Do you think I'm a fool to not know what you and the girl are doing? Trying to finish one another as quick and painlessly as possible? So sweet, yet so pathetic. The audience wants a fight to the death, and you will give them that. Or perhaps, I could simply erase your will and make you forget why you love the stars. And you don't want that, do you?"
Leslie's heart pounded with a mix of fear and defiance as Morgana's threat echoed in her mind. The thought of losing her will or having her cherished memories of the stars erased filled her with dread.
"Then, fight for my amusement, human," Morgana's voice commanded before it faded from her mind.
"Leslie...? Are you o-" Before Emi could finish, Leslie furiously launched her orbs at the sword sorceress.
"Whoa!" Emi dodged the orbs before glaring at Leslie incredulously. "What was that for?!"
"I'm sorry," Leslie uttered with determination, a lingering fear etched on her face. "But I have to win by any means necessary!"
Leslie then pressed her radiant hands and chanted, "Come down and tip the scales to my righteous cause. BRING YOUR JUDGEMENT, LIBRA!"
A blinding light erupted from Leslie's hands, and the air around her shimmered with celestial energy. From the radiant glow emerged a towering figure, a giant female arbiter clad in gleaming armor. She held massive scales in one hand, each side balancing with cosmic precision, her presence exuding an aura of divine authority and justice.
Star Sorcery: Zodiac Convocation-Libra
Emi's eyes widened in awe and disbelief as the celestial arbiter materialized before her. The sheer magnitude of its power and the radiance of its presence left her momentarily speechless.
"I'm truly sorry for this, Emi..." Leslie said, trying to push her guilt as she prepared to command Libra to attack the teenage girl. "But for the sake of the stars, your life must be paid."
Her Love for the Heavens has Come into a Terrifying Form...
Next Time: Under the Night Skies