Spirit Art: Radiant Elemental Slash.
This was an attack led by Est, primarily formed by channeling the elements of the four great Elemental Lords within her and layering them upon the Holy Sword to create a devastating slash.
After the Sacred Queen's outer defenses were shattered by the descending strike from the heavens, the elemental slash successfully hit her. However, because she had dodged in time, the blade only pierced through her side.
Even so, for the battle that followed, the Sacred Queen had lost a significant portion of her advantage.
"I never expected you to use such a move," the Sacred Queen said, gently touching her wound as she looked at Elise in surprise.
It had not even been half a month, and this outsider from another world already possessed the power to injure her?
"Last time, those strange eyes of yours let you escape. But this time, you won't!"
The Sacred Queen had not come unprepared. She could clearly see where Elise's weaknesses lay.
Although wide-area attacks could harm the Sacred Queen, they would also affect Elise herself.
That was why the Sacred Queen had always forced close combat, giving Elise no chance to unleash long-range attacks. And this time would be no different!
After stopping the bleeding from her abdomen, the Sacred Queen immediately gripped the Demon Sword and charged at Elise.
But what greeted her was a magnificent blade.
Falling Stars: Blossoming Chaos!
Without hesitation, Elise unleashed a wide-range attack directly in front of her. The dazzling starlight instantly enveloped both herself and the Sacred Queen.
Was she planning to trade injury for injury?
Such disregard for her own wounds genuinely startled the Sacred Queen—and at the same time, filled her with a trace of satisfaction.
What was her objective?
To seize Elise's body!
This mutually destructive style would further drain Elise's stamina, increasing the Sacred Queen's chances of success.
Of course, she could not let Elise realize that. Otherwise, her plan would collapse entirely.
"Your strength is indeed surprising. But if you think that's enough to defeat me, you're still far from it!"
Although the Sacred Queen had been injured by Elise's sudden assault, she did not truly care. She even wore a look of disdain.
"Gather here, Est!"
The Sacred Queen raised the Demon Sword high and pushed her aura to its absolute peak.
Within Elise's perception, three figures seemed to be flying toward them from afar.
The Sacred Queen was calling for reinforcements? Who could they be?
As the lights drew closer, Elise prepared for battle. The moment anything seemed amiss, she would attack immediately!
Yet when the expected reinforcements appeared, Elise was momentarily stunned. Three identical girls stood before her.
Had Elise been present here earlier, she would have realized that the three were actually the same individual.
Millennia Sanctus!
Four incarnations, four bodies with one heart!
Upon sensing the Sacred Queen's summons, the remaining incarnations rushed toward her position and, at incredible speed, fused into the Demon Sword in her hand.
"This time, it is not merely the fusion of four incarnations—but also the true body of the Est in your hand!"
The Sacred Queen smiled.
"The one you hold is merely one of Est's incarnations. I do not know what method she used to separate from the original, but an incarnation can never defeat the true body!"
"In other words, what you hold is nothing more than a counterfeit!"
Though those words came from the Sacred Queen's mouth, the body she wore belonged to Areishia—Est's former master!
Elise could clearly feel the fluctuation in Est's emotions. In the next instant, she pressed the blade against herself, almost as if embracing a sword.
"It's all right, Est. You're my partner—not some counterfeit. I will never abandon you. I will stay by your side, always."
"When I make a promise, I keep it."
After gently soothing the Holy Sword in her hands, the expression on Elise's face vanished in an instant. She looked at the Sacred Queen with complete emotional detachment.
Having undergone the saintess' special training, Elise had no intention of showing any disgraceful expression—especially when overwhelmed by negative emotions.
So whenever her emotions fluctuated intensely, she would assume a blank expression to conceal them.
And now, that was precisely the face she wore.
"Let's skip the unnecessary moves," Elise said directly. "We'll decide everything with a single final strike."
The Holy Sword pointed straight at the Sacred Queen. Naturally, she would not refuse such a proposal. The faster Elise exhausted herself, the better for her!
In the blink of an eye, a terrifying pressure gathered in the area. The students who had fainted earlier from the meteor's impact were awakened by the overwhelming force.
Though they did not know who the person confronting the Sacred Queen was, it was undeniable that she had protected them with a barrier the moment the meteor fell.
For a time, the girls began cheering for Elise. Only Kamito stared blankly at that figure, murmuring softly, "Elise..."
That caused Restia beside him to frown.
The battle required only one strike!
Both the Sacred Queen and Elise understood this. Elise would likely pour everything into this single blow.
As for the Sacred Queen, though no one knew what scheme she was plotting, at least on the surface she appeared to be gathering power...
Elise launched the first attack. Though she could not use much faith now, the strengthened Prana combined with Divine Power was by no means weak!
At the very least, when facing the Sacred Queen earlier, Elise had managed to suppress her.
The structure was similar to her previous attack. However, that earlier strike had clearly been led by Est and used only Divine Power. This time, Elise once again layered Prana on top of it.
The rampage of two energies could not be sustained for long. Therefore, she only needed to release it before it erupted out of control!
Formed from the four fundamental elements that constituted the Elementalist world, infused with Prana, the ultimate result was this technique—
Incomplete—Finishing Move—Stellar Burst!
Had Elise not enhanced herself beforehand, this strike might not have possessed such terrifying power. It was precisely because she had strengthened herself before the battle that she could achieve an A-rank level of destructive force!
Even when faced with such an attack, the Sacred Queen did not act immediately. Only when Elise was right before her did she finally move.
The Sacred Queen...
Threw away the sword in her hand, spread her arms wide, and rushed forward to meet the attack?
No offense. No defense. It was as though she were seeking death.
Yet the smile at the corner of her lips refused to fade...
Elise sensed that something was wrong. Her eyepatch was blown away by the immense wind pressure.
In that instant, their eyes met.
"Too late! The activation time of those eyes of yours is insufficient to affect me!"
Under Elise's attack, the Sacred Queen's body gradually turned to dust. Yet the light around her showed no sign of dispersing—instead, it grew even more condensed.
This was... the Sacred Queen's soul?
"And thus, your body shall be mine! Heh heh heh!"
The golden soul evaded Elise's attack and plunged into her body.
Yet Elise did not reveal the slightest panic, as if everything that had just occurred was already within her expectations.
She calmed her power, slowly descended to the ground, and closed her eyes, sensing the depths of her own soul.
The true battle was only beginning now!