Could it be that Fan Xinglou just did something to my throat?
Elise felt for the energy fluctuations around her throat, but nothing seemed unusual. Or was it that Fan Xinglou's power was too strong for her to sense?
No, that didn't seem likely!
But Elise wasn't overly worried. After all, her Strega ability was specialized in countering abnormal states. Surely she could resolve something like this soon enough, right?
But it didn't work!
Purification could remove abnormal states, but after using it, Elise could clearly feel that no restrictions were placed on her body!
In other words, Fan Xinglou hadn't tampered with her at all!
Then why… huh?
At that moment, Sylvia's movements caught Elise's attention.
Her lips were moving as though she were speaking—but Elise couldn't hear a single word!
And with that realization came a feeling of suffocation, her body occasionally drifting with a sense of weightlessness.
Could it be…?
The reason I can't speak isn't because Fan Xinglou did something to me personally—it's because she tampered with the entire battlefield!
There was no longer a trace of air within the arena. Fan Xinglou had removed it all, leaving behind a complete vacuum!
And in a vacuum, sound could not travel. Speaking was useless!
This was bad—the Kotodama had been completely sealed!
Elise's Sacred Speech relied on her faith power, released through her voice. She knew that in some worlds, Kotodama could be used differently, but she hadn't developed it in that way yet!
Truth be told, Seidoukan Academy's world was only the second world Elise had experienced. Before this, she had always lived in a world akin to a typical medieval setting!
Battles there had been little more than steamrolling—one-sided victories!
Suddenly being thrust into such a high-level battlefield, she was completely unprepared!
It was like playing LOL: both teams had already reached level 18, everyone fully geared with six items, and yet you were still running around with only boots and a Doran's item, hoarding thousands of gold! As long as you hadn't died or recalled, you refused to buy anything!
Tsk tsk! She really needed to hone her combat skills, otherwise situations like this would cost her dearly in the future.
"Well then, little girls! Are you ready? This old lady is coming!"
Fan Xinglou's voice rang in both their hearts, startling Elise. She could communicate this way too?
But they were in a vacuum—sound was useless. Even Sylvia beside her had turned red in the face, struggling.
Fan Xinglou's figure vanished again. Elise braced herself for combat, but under these conditions where she couldn't use Sacred Speech, all she had left were raw energy attacks and hand-to-hand techniques.
But only those?
If Elise in this incomplete state could strike Fan Xinglou with such clumsy methods, then Fan Xinglou's title as a millennia-old immortal fox would be a joke.
Heh! This old lady is right here!
Fan Xinglou flashed behind Elise, and before she could react, smacked her hand squarely onto those soft, springy curves.
Elise whipped around angrily, but all she saw was Fan Xinglou's smile—a wicked, mocking smile.
I'm angry! Truly angry! I'll beat you so badly your master, your Onii… err… and your disciples won't even recognize you!
This grudge, I'll remember it!
A surge of tremendous energy erupted from Elise, centered on her body. It was still faith power, but without Sacred Speech to convert it, she could only wield it as raw energy.
Even so, the result wasn't bad. At the very least, it forced Fan Xinglou to retreat… or rather, she withdrew on her own.
Can you still bring this old lady joy?
Light flared around Fan Xinglou, thunder, flames, and countless elements gathering around her.
She could even use this in a vacuum?
If this is all you've got, then with the next strike this old lady will end the match!
Elise read the intent clearly in Fan Xinglou's eyes. Without hesitation, she hurried to Sylvia's side.
Sylvia's situation was even worse than Elise's. She too was a Strega who fought through voice, and without her ability she was left with nothing but martial arts.
Her martial arts were undeniably strong, but in Fan Xinglou's eyes, that was hardly impressive. In just a few exchanges, Sylvia was knocked to the ground.
"Sylvia! Are you alright?"
Elise quickly checked her condition. Thankfully, she had only suffered light injuries, nothing serious.
Sylvia was still conscious, so Elise hurriedly reached into her pocket and pulled out a pair of earrings. She also had some small tools she had prepared earlier for emergencies.
Trying to use tools?
Fan Xinglou had noticed Elise's plan. Do you really think this old lady will give you the chance to use them?
Her body might be that of a child, yet she wielded martial arts beyond the reach of most. But her young form didn't limit her Prana—her Prana was truly top tier!
Flames? Lightning? Waves of water?
No—it seemed to be chaos formed from the fusion of all those elements.
Just looking at it, Elise could feel the immense power contained within!
The spectators thought the same. This generation's Banyuu Tenra was beyond imagination!
After all, this was Fan Xinglou's first time showing her strength in public, and she was still not even ten years old. Yet she could suppress both Elise and Sylvia at once. Her strength was self-evident.
Even so… some in the audience couldn't help but wonder. Why hadn't Elise unleashed the overwhelming power she had shown during the Lindvolus Festa? Was there another purpose?
On the battlefield—
Facing the oncoming black chaos, Elise pulled out a small golden sphere and hurled it. It was a single-use weapon she had crafted earlier, carrying immense destructive force.
Pseudo-Star of Eden!
Borrowed from the game Honkai Impact 3rd, it was modeled after a Herrscher's Core that could generate a black hole. At close range, it could even distort time itself. Walter had once used this very effect to hold back the Second Herrscher on the moon.
Now, Elise was using the same approach. The only question was: how long could it hold Fan Xinglou?
Elise handed one earring to Sylvia, pointing to her own ear. Sylvia instantly understood.
This was the trump card Elise had spoken of!
But… why earrings?
Though puzzled, Sylvia put it on. Elise gave her a thumbs-up and wore hers as well. At once, an indescribable force surged between them, as though trying to fuse their very beings together.
Just then, the Pseudo-Star of Eden shattered in the sky!
After all, such a single-use item could never restrain Fan Xinglou for long. Her attack surged once more, enveloping Elise and Sylvia!
But this time… something was different.
Purple light and golden light intertwined, weaving together a completely new spectacle.