569 – Limits and Desperation

Lilixira surges forward with [Immortal Step], swinging her four swords of light.
I deflect some with [Oneiros Raizem], and block the remaining with [Oneiros Flugel].

But, I’m getting pushed back.
I simply can’t manage her sheer number of attacks.
My [Oneiros Raizem] is just barely making it in time, and cracks are forming in my [Oneiros Flugel].

I search for an opening as I fall back, but her movements are too fast.
It’s clear that sooner or later, I’m not going to be able to block one of her attacks.
With my left wing still not fully recovered, I’m forced lower each blow that I block.

Alphiss is flying around nearby, obeying Lilixira’s instructions.

A moment ago, I asked her why she’s still following Lilixira, but didn’t receive an answer.
It seems she doesn’t intend to listen to me.

So then… I’ll have to act with the intent to kill her from here on.
I don’t plan on dying to save her, and the lives of Aro and the others are at stake here too.
They’ve all been fighting their hardest to survive.
It would be completely unacceptable for me to let myself get killed by protecting Alphiss.

If she’s going to point her sword at me, then… The next time she gets in the way, I won’t save her.
She came here resolved to die, too.

Blocking Lilixira’s sword with my [Oneiros Flugel], I use the force of her blow to launch myself backwards.
I also want to keep my distance from Alphiss, as she’s trying to approach into close combat.

As a result, the top part of my [Oneiros Flugel] breaks away.
[Ideal Weapon] is powerful for being able to produce the perfect weapon for the situation, but the cost is considerable… I don’t have much MP left.
If I let it get destroyed without me gaining anything, I’ll really have no hope.

I release a [Dimension Claw] as I shoot away, but at the same time, one of Lilixira’s swords transforms into a chakram and immediately flies towards me.
Her reaction is way too fast.
She probably knew I would choose the option that would take me further away from Alphiss.

I can’t just think about getting away.
Lilixira will press all her advantages to the fullest.
She won’t let any of my naivety slip by… Rather than just not saving Alphiss, I need to commit to taking her life.
If I don’t fight with that intention, I can’t win against Lilixira.

I try to block the chakram with my chipped [Oneiros Flugel].
However, the angle is bad.
The impact passes through the shield’s wing to hit my body.
She timed her throw with how I would move, and the chakram’s initial motion was distorted with [Immortal Step].

Lilixira flies around with [Immortal Step], dodging my [Dimension Claw] while rapidly closing in.
As a result of her swift reaction, I haven’t been able to gain much distance.
While using [Immortal Step] to swerve around chaotically, she swings her three swords of light.

I parry the first with [Oneiros Raziem], then dodge backwards to avoid the second.
Just as I think I’m not going to be able to dodge the third, Lilixira’s body trembles and freezes in place.
In that moment, I’m able to fly up to narrowly avoid her blade.

Lilixira’s expression turns grim… I suddenly notice that all three of her swords have become thinner.

I wasn’t the only one nearing my limits.
She’s probably suffering from the constant HP and MP loss due to [Chakra Awakening].
She’s been holding herself together with recovery skills, but she can’t keep it up.
She’s finally starting to fall apart.

Though her face has been blank all this time, I can finally see a tinge of impatience.

“Am I… going to lose…? No, that can’t happen!”

Lilixira recreates the [Aparajita] chakram in her empty hand.
But, as she does, her other three blades visibly become thinner.

To face her, all I have is my cracked [Oneiros Raizem], and the bottom half of my [Oneiros Flugel].
Neither of us have any strength in reserve.

Releasing a [Dimension Claw], I close in on her.

I’m not trying to attack her myself.
My [Dimension Claw] is only to restrict her movements, limiting the ways in which she can attack.

I’ve come to learn that, against her [Aparajita] and [Immortal Step], I need to press the attack myself to not be at a disadvantage.
While she’s continuing to lose health and mana to [Chakra Awakening], she would have been forced to attack me anyway.

If it was the me of before, I wouldn’t have been able to think of something like this in the middle of combat.
The most I could have done would have been to make up some rough plan.
But, against Lilixira’s thorough and logical fighting style, I have no choice but to adapt mid-combat.

Avoiding my [Dimension Claw] with [Immortal Step], she flies to the side.
There’s no way she’s enjoying this situation where I’m attacking her one-sidedly, but she probably decided she would just die immediately if she tried to charge straight in.

Her mana should be almost all gone with [Chakra Awakening], but her force of will is as incredible as ever.
I can’t rely on her getting impatient and making a mistake.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Alphiss closing in again.
At this crucial moment, let her get close is bad.
I…swore I would act with the intention of killing her next time.
But, even so, my thoughts become muddy as I consider the prospect.
This could easily become the difference between me and Lilixira.

In the brief window where my focus is away from her, Lilixira disappears from view.
She’s trying to slip behind me with [Immortal Step].

Spinning around, I flash out [Oneiros Raizem].
Lilixira repels it with a blade of light.
I block the downward swing of her second sword with [Oneiros Flugel].

“Your intuition has gotten sharper.”

『Thanks to you!』

The moment I respond, Lilixira quickly withdraws her arm and transforms her sword into a chakram before throwing it at me.
She caught me by surprise, but I can dodge this without problem.
Perhaps she hoped to distract me with her words, but if anything, she drew my attention towards her more.
The chakram’s trajectory is straightforward and easy to follow, too.

As I think that, I realise that Alphiss is directly behind me at the moment.
I feel a sinister premonition from Lilixira’s strangely easy-to-read throw.

And yet, I avoid it.
I can’t beat her while I’m distracted by Alphiss.
I already decided I would fight with the intent to kill Alphiss.
Besides… Surely even Lilixira wouldn’t aim directly at Alphiss at this point.

“Ara… An unexpectedly cold reaction.”

Lilixira says, scornfully.
From behind me, I hear the dying cries of the zephyr Alphiss was riding.