The wind pressure from the violent collisions continuously spilled from the sky, pushing aside everything in its surroundings.
If there were concrete buildings standing as a backdrop, one could vividly witness them being shattered into debris by the tremors.
Mana had already cleaved through the third meteor.
A meteor spanning over a kilometer was an entirely different beast compared to one merely dozens of meters across.
Slicing through the smaller ones required only a modest effort, but the colossal one demanded her full, undivided power.
Yet even this only managed to split the meteor down the middle.
The actual impact would largely depend on the atmosphere's buffering effect.
The Immortal Blades were in position, every face etched with grave determination.
The burning celestial bodies streaking across the sky carried an unstoppable momentum.
Though tempered by the atmosphere, their speed and destructive power hadn't diminished; if anything, they had become even more perilous.
"I will intercept the first wave of meteors. After that, I leave the rest to you."
At the center of the group stood a golden-haired maiden, clad in white raiment condensed from the power of Palatinus Equinox, her expression solemn and serious.
"Understood."
Rita was well aware of the danger.
The Immortal Blades' plan was straightforward, as usual: let Durandal charge ahead alone.
She would intercept the initial meteor barrage during her advance, then engage the Spirit directly, denying her the opportunity to hurl more meteors en masse.
Any subsequent meteor attacks would either be shattered by Durandal or evaded, ensuring the ground below wouldn't face the crushing pressure of a full-scale meteor shower.
"Lady Durandal, please proceed to the most critical battlefield."
Origami also wore a serious look.
Her training during this period had made her increasingly powerful.
Though she couldn't compare to the seemingly 'cheating' Amber, she was now second only to top-tier warriors like Rita and Ellen.
Nodding to the two of them and the other Valkyries, Amber said no more. She soared directly toward the nearest meteor.
As the power of Palatinus Equinox coalesced, a black warhorse clad in full armor materialized beside the maiden.
Seizing the reins, she swung onto its back as if mounting on solid ground.
Rider and steed became a single blue-black meteor streaking upward against the sky, colliding head-on with the lead meteor bearing its aura of annihilation.
"Krishna!"
A steed born from the maiden's own power understood its master's will perfectly.
A translucent shield, shimmering with blue light, materialized ahead.
Krishna's speed didn't falter; instead, it increased, punching straight through the seven-hundred-meter-long meteor before continuing unabated toward another.
Its trajectory wasn't aimed at shattering every meteor, but at selectively targeting those that wouldn't hinder its advance while maximally alleviating the pressure on the Valkyries below.
Amber, of course, wasn't idle either.
The Black Abyss White Flower in her hand, seeming to weigh nothing, was spun and thrown.
It not only shattered two sizable meteors but also arced back perfectly into her grasp.
The other Valkyries weren't mere spectators.
Though they often handled the mop-up work after Durandal's battles, their elite prowess wasn't diminished by these repeated missions of 'non-combat' returns.
They always understood: the reason they only needed to clean up was because Durandal held the front line.
And the reason the Immortal Blades still adhered to the strictest selection standards, even with Durandal leading, was to prepare for the potential scenario where even she might be overwhelmed.
Therefore, they never grew lax. They were the first line of defense behind Durandal.
"All personnel, maintain maximum engagement distance! As members of the Immortal Blades, not a single meteor must be allowed to strike the ground!"
Rita led from the front, her clear voice ringing with command.
The formation of the Immortal Blades gradually expanded.
"This is the first line of meteor interception. Closer to the ground, countless other Valkyries stand guard. But harbor no complacency because of this! We must demonstrate our utmost capability to Lady Durandal with our full effort!"
"Yes, ma'am!"
Intercepting all the meteors was, of course, impossible for the Immortal Blades alone.
With increasing distance, even a ten-degree difference in the angle at which the meteors were launched could result in impacts separated by vast distances on the ground.
While the Immortal Blades operated at extreme altitude, allowing them to check the meteor spread initially, stopping every single one was unrealistic.
Just as the Immortal Blades' morale soared, Takamiya Mana was drenched in sweat.
No matter how prodigious her talent, this was the vacuum of space.
The computational strain on her Territory here far exceeded that on Earth. Coupled with such prolonged, full-power output, even she was nearing her limit.
Most of the other Wizards had already withdrawn, pulling back just before reaching their breaking points.
"She's an absolute monster!"
Watching Hoshimiya Mukuro, whose expression hadn't shifted in the slightest from beginning to end—not even a flicker of emotion—Mana felt a profound sense of helplessness, even deeper than what she felt facing Durandal.
After all, Durandal wouldn't truly harm them. But this Spirit clearly reveled in battle and showed no hesitation in killing.
"It appears this is concluded."
Mukuro tilted her head slightly, stating a fact.
Mana had no intention of replying.
She had tried communicating many times before—pleas like 'Stop throwing meteors, come at me instead!'—but all were ignored.
The Spirit's words now weren't directed at her; they were merely muttered to herself.
This Spirit was fundamentally beyond communication.
Just as this thought crossed her mind, Mana noticed the Spirit's gaze shift past her, focusing on something behind.
Behind her?
Takamiya Mana instinctively turned and saw a figure astride a black warhorse, trailing blue light, ascending at incredible speed.
It even managed to casually shatter a few meteors that hadn't fully coalesced. In less than two blinks, the figure arrived before them.
She looked… familiar?
Takamiya Mana felt a strong sense of recognition but couldn't place it immediately… Wait… A Valkyrie who could reach this place unaided, with golden hair and blue eyes…
No matter how confused she was, she had to equate this buxom, heroic-looking young maiden with Durandal.
Come to think of it, hadn't Artemisia and Ellen both mentioned that Durandal had inexplicably grown younger?
The girl, who usually concerned herself only with her sister and training, belatedly recalled this fact.
Seeing another arrival, Hoshimiya Mukuro showed no hesitation.
She immediately extended her hand, aiming her key-like staff at the newcomer. A violet beam shot from its tip, only to be swept aside by the black-shafted, white-headed lance.
Mukuro's expression remained unchanged.
She tilted her staff slightly, and a dark portal appeared at its base—the key's blade.
As the blade vanished into the portal, the missing section reappeared behind Amber, about to make contact.
But with a swift turn from Krishna and a follow-up sweep of Amber's lance, the attack was neutralized again.
Finally, Mukuro spoke: "Who are you?"
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! Webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.