With all eyes now focused on their fight, and everything riding on it, Alise and Ottar seemingly pressed harder than they had before, as if the battle they'd been fighting was just so the others could keep on fighting, unimpeded.
Lyra had numerous wounds, covering her small form, however, she continued to stand triumphant over the unconscious Finn. She glared at Finn, her disgust of him rising to the surface, she clearly wanted to kill him, but she didn't bother, not yet. She grabbed the idiot Finn, by a tuft of his hair, and dragged him out of the way of Alise, he still didn't wake up despite the harsh treatment that bordered on torture. Finally back with her allies, where everyone was bringing their defeated opponents so they could keep an eye on them, she finally let out a sigh, but remained alert.
"Hey Lyra, that was excellent fighting out there. Want me to patch you up a bit?" Celty asked, before bothering to use the spell.
"No, I'll be fine. Better to wait for now, since we're all going to get the best heal of our lives within the hour."
"Right, I'll leave you alone for now then."
Kaguya looked to see Meda more than a little upset as she stared at the pile of defeated enemies.
"What do you want, Meda?"
"I'm just bored, I haven't got to fight at all. Everyone was too easy to beat."
"You know good and well that Zald, Leon, and Shurry are the only ones who can survive your spells. Don't get too eager, remember you'll get to demonstrate it after everyone is out of the area."
"Fine, I guess we can use it as proof that we could have won in a single shot." Meda crossed her arms.
Donathan and Iska arrived dragging their opponents over as well, setting them into the line up. After that the two stretched all manner of muscles, it was like they had just finished their warm up routine. Then both took a long look at the other, their lips curling into a small smirk before it disappeared and they both stood watching the last remaining fight.
"They're really going at it, aren't they?" Donathan commented, watching the fight with intense curiosity.
"Yeah, Alise is strong, I'm actually surprised that Ottar has managed to keep it up this long."
"Well, it looks like he's already activated his beast-like transformation. So he's around mid level 7, and… Alise is holding pace with him while keeping her breath steady. This kinda makes me want to fight her myself."
"You think you could beat Ottar?"
"Definitely. Though, I don't think I could do it without using my sure fire method. And Lady Hathor has ordered me not to use it unless absolutely necessary."
"That thing you used against Arachne?"
"Yeah, I hate using it since it feels like a cheat. However, that insane bitch deserved it."
"You used it against Shurry during training once, right?"
"No, I used it every single time it became usable again. He just shrugged it off like it was a mild inconvenience at best, and nothing at worst."
"Pfft, sounds like you had a bit of ego damage there."
"Oh shut it Iska, I'm not the only one with a bit of ego damage."
"Hey, there's still hope. It's not over until I give up. Which I won't, so hope is not yet lost."
"If you say so."
"Can the two of you shut up already?"
It was just as Kaguya was about to finish her question that everyone saw Alise give the signal. All Astraea familia members and allies grabbed the defeated and evacuated from the scene. Once the scene was clear, Ottar, and Alise pushed off from each other creating a little bit of distance. Ottar noticed the fleeing allies, and then looked back to his only slightly tired opponent.
"I knew you'd be difficult. But what are you planning?" Ottar asked, with an unstable breath, his body covered in sweat.
"Nothing much, just a demonstration. Don't you want to show off a little bit, like in the arena all those years ago? You know, when Bokhoir beat the daylights out of you. Unfortunately, we don't have the same type of containment fields that my dear friend… no, my brother, Shurry has. So evacuation was in order."
"You mean to say, you've been holding back more?"
"Yes, though not because I wanted to, I just don't have perfect control over it, and didn't want to hurt my allies."
"You speak words I've heard before, from another group of adventurers. Many years ago, when I tested myself against them in stride. I felt weak every time I fought them. I feel a similar thing from you."
"You mean the aunts and uncles of Lady Hera's, & Lord Zeus' familias?"
"Indeed. I struggle to understand what makes you so strong, I regretfully can no longer receive their guidance easily, so show me, use everything, hold nothing back."
"I don't intend to do so, just do your best to hold on, oh, and don't blame me if I accidentally roast you."
Both began chanting their magic, Ottar's Hildis Vini, and Alise's Agaris Alvesynth. And then while they stared each other down, Alise smirked, and began chanting once more, a new spell, one she learned after the war against Evilus, Noble Blaze.
From behind Ottar's shining blade, his eyes glinted with both awe and fear. The concept of the power he was witnessing before him was terrifying, let alone actually facing it down in person. He felt, for the first time in a long time, fearful… he gulped, and then hardened his focus once more.
Alise had finished her own spells, she now stood among the dancing flames. However, she had made a promise to Ottar, to not hold anything back, and so she began charging her own Afterglow. Suddenly the flames began to dance with a variety of glowing colors, her body surrounded in a beautiful flaming aura.
"Ottar, I want you to know, this is what you asked for. I'm not going to lose to you, because I made a promise that I would defeat you."
"I- I understand."
The two of them finished their preparations, Ottar's mix of magical, and physical might, came down in a quick, and powerful strike directly towards Alise… in return, she pointed her sword forward, and gave it a thrust as she spoke her trigger spell… "Piercing Phoenix"...