Lucy merged Damascus back into one blade, gripping it with both hands.
Without breaking eye contact, she stabbed it into the ground.
CRACK—!
The earth split apart, fissures racing forward like lightning—
reaching all the way to Susa, who stood firm, unflinching, her crimson eyes locked on Lucy.
Then, the ground shattered into countless massive fragments, levitating into the air.
Lucy had invoked the Art of Mojito, suspending the debris midair—
her eyes already sensing Alfie's Renshi aura deep underground.
(The depth of Damascus's pierce wasn't enough… I can't break the underground house open yet...)
Lucy vanished—
switching forward in an instant.
Susa reacted immediately, crossing her twin daggers, slashing at the oncoming blur.
CLANG!
The clash of power sent shockwaves through the air—
The impact launched Lucy backward, slamming her spine into one of the giant levitating earth fragments.
BOOM—!
Dust exploded around her.
Still hovering amidst the floating terrain, Susa lunged again.
Lucy split Damascus in two, her twin blades flashing with dark Renshi.
The air trembled.
Two figures—
one cloaked in black, one in red—
darted through the sky, colliding in a relentless exchange of blades and daggers.
Each impact echoed like thunder.
They switched continuously—
each strike faster than the last,
the two fighting with all they had.
Below, the residents could feel the overwhelming pressure.
Panic swept through the kingdom as civilians migrated in fear.
Even Susa's guards abandoned their posts, rushing toward the burning remains of the mansion,
caught between natural fire and Renshical flames.
Lucy seized the moment—
She controlled a massive floating rock behind her, sending it hurtling forward at incredible speed.
As it neared, Lucy switched away at the last second.
The colossal rock collided head-on with Susa.
BOOOOM—!
The explosion sent her flying through the air.
Lucy didn't stop—
Another boulder followed, propelled like a meteor.
The twin strike detonated in a shockwave that rippled through the skies.
Before the dust could settle, Lucy switched again,
appearing before Susa and landing a devastating uppercut to her face.
CRACK—!
Susa's body soared upward.
Lucy—Damascus now reformed into a single blade—
switched midair, following up with a powerful side kick straight to her stomach.
Susa crashed downward—
BOOOOM!
—her impact setting off a massive explosion, red Renshi bursting outward.
Lucy barely escaped, switching away at the last possible moment.
"...What was that? Did she just self-destruct? No… that's impossible. That's another clone. Damn it."
Her voice was low, frustrated.
Suddenly, five enormous palms made of red chains surged out of thin air,
attacking from all directions—four sides and one above.
Lucy unfurled her wing, curling into a cocoon to brace herself.
The five chain-fists clenched around her, squeezing relentlessly.
A voice echoed through the chains—
"You see, Lucy, I'm not some all-powerful being like my big brother.
Every single me you've defeated so far—each displayed my true strength.
But the real question is… where is the real me? How many of us are left?"
Susa's tone turned mocking.
"But guess what? There are infinite Susa. She never dies—
unless her big brother does."
Lucy's eyes narrowed.
"Then I just have to kill your big brother."
Her Renshi surged, dark Renshi pressure bursting through the chains—
She tore them apart with sheer pressure, her wing glowing bright.
Lucy flew straight at Susa, sword raised high.
She swung for her neck—
CLINK!
A red Renshical chain appeared in a flash, binding Damascus mid-strike.
Susa smirked.
"There's one thing I excluded, Lucy. Each time you kill me—
I come back stronger. So you see… I'm not as weak as before."
BAM!
Her fist slammed into Lucy's stomach.
The force sent Lucy flying backward through the air.
She crashed, planting Damascus into the ground to stop her momentum—
gripping the hilt tightly, forcing herself upright.
But Susa was already there,
chains coiled around her arms, daggers attached to their ends.
Without hesitation, she thrust both forward—
the chained daggers snapped out like vipers, aiming for Lucy's face.
Lucy crossed her wing before her, blocking just in time,
then flared it outward, blasting Susa back with a gust of force.
She switched forward, pressing the attack.
"Come on, Lucy," Susa sneered, blocking another swing. "You know you can't defeat me. Why push your luck?
Are you really willing to throw your life away… for a battle you can't win? Just for some kid?"
"Mind your words, Susa," Lucy replied coldly.
Her aura spiked—
the second black wing unfurled from her back.
Her arms were covered in Renshi tattoos, both eyes glowing deep crimson.
She exhaled slowly, eyes closing for a moment.
(Her form's not at full power… she isn't channeling her Dark Renshi externally like she did against Fedora...)
Susa scoffed.
"Now you're giving it your all—to defend some random kid?"
She switched again, striking fast.
Lucy raised Damascus, blocking both daggers, sparks flying.
This time, Lucy countered.
She went on the offensive, her movements sharp and fluid—
twin arcs of steel cutting through the crimson light.
Each swing echoed like thunder.
Susa struggled to keep up, defending desperately,
chains whipping from Renshical portals around them.
The links sharpened into blade edges, slashing from all sides.
Lucy twisted and switched, evading the strikes,
her wings shielding her from unavoidable hits.
Step by step—
she gained the upper hand.
"Guh—!" Susa gasped,
as Lucy's blade carved through her shoulder, cutting her a quarter deep.
Susa's eyes widened. (What's with this power…? I can't believe a witch can be this strong...)
Her voice faltered.
Her form began fading away, dissolving into glowing particles.
Lucy's gaze narrowed—
in the flicker of Susa's fading light,
she caught a glimpse of something sparkling faintly,
glimmering in the center of where Susa once stood.