"Haha! That actually stings!" Hana felt the slight tremble on her right hand, looking at Ichiya in a new light.
She leisurely stepped over the hole of her own making, not fazed by the multiple enemies she was about to face. Her greatswords hummed with activity as she channeled her magic power into them.
"Guess your title of Ace isn't just for show, eh?" She remarked while grinning in excitement.
Ichiya elegantly posed in response, pointing at her with a serious expression. "Normally, I would be honored to have been praised by a fine lady such as yourself…" He trailed off for a moment.
"But! It is rendered useless if it's uttered by a dark wizard!" Ichiya exclaimed, clenching his fists in anger. "A withered flower who supports the death of innocents is not charming in the slightest!"
"Aw~ That's too bad, then." Hana rolled her eyes in disinterest. "I can't let Waynir escape, so can you please move aside?"
"You must defeat us first, Miss Hana." Eve said.
"It won't be that easy, you know?" Ren added.
Hana pouted in dissatisfaction, which would have been a cute gesture if not for the aura she's emitting. The area surrounding her shook under her presence as the sleek, black greatsword on her left hand became lively.
Its blade had an opening that made space for a lacrima that's attached into the center. Blue lines slithered across the surface as it dyed the weapon thanks to her flowing Ethernano.
"So be it." Hana said with a thin smile. "I'll switch my priority to the three of you." As soon as she finished, she swung her black greatsword with fierce momentum, hurling out a blue slice of light.
Its width spanned the entire living room, soaring through the air as it threatened to cleave anyone in its way.
Ren jumped backwards to avoid it completely, creating a safe distance from its range.
Eve ducked just in time and rolled sideways, dodging the impending slash by a hair's breadth.
Ichiya flamboyantly leaped over it, gazing directly at the woman who raised an eyebrow towards his exaggerated action.
BOOOM!
The mansion shook from the might of her strike, its sound echoing across the dead of night. An opening could be seen on the bottom part of the structure, allowing the tranquil moonlight seep in its presence.
"MEN~!" Ichiya let out a cry of determination as he initiated the offensive by descending with an overhead smash.
Hana simply giggled in intrigue, welcoming the challenge head-on. She had no opportunity to match his attack because he was already right above her head, so she nonchalantly braced for impact.
BAM!
CRACKKK!
The Ace's strike landed squarely on the gray-colored greatsword, which was the same one that guarded against his punch previously. Hana's footing caved into the ground as web-like cracks formed due to the sheer pressure of their clash.
However, her face showed no signs of struggle, nor did she budge while Ichiya tried to push for an advantage.
"Guh!" Ichiya's hair stood on end as he looked at those eyes that were reminiscent to that of a hunter.
Feeling the woman's magical pressure up close was a different matter altogether. He knew that such elites can be considered special cases among S-Class Wizards… and immediately understood that she was one of them.
Hana flexed her right arm as she launched the muscular effortlessly towards a wall, paying him back for what he did to herself as he went through it.
"Teacher!" Eve and Ren couldn't assist him in time, yet they still needed to follow up with consecutive attacks. Strength in numbers may raise their chances to get out of this predicament.
"White Fury!" Eve casted a beam of snow at her, traveling across the air as it affected the temperature around its vicinity.
Hana glanced at the next strike as she decided to charge towards it directly. She circulated the Ethernano of her black greatsword, slicing it in half with ease.
Shing!
Eve hastily evaded the frightening blade of light, grazing him on his right shoulder as it cut through the mansion's walls like butter. But he didn't have a moment to sigh in relief since the woman got closer and closer.
He waved his hands as he formed a barricade of snow, enough to go beyond the human height.
Hana briefly observed the construct before gunning for another swing, but a voice behind her managed to stop her momentum, even if it was just a short while.
"Aerial!"
She bumped against a solid form of air, surprising her a little bit. Then, she noticed her breathing slowing down, as if it became scarce. A sharp ringing engulfed her senses as she slightly frowned in discomfort.
A spell that focuses on depriving a person of oxygen? Hana analyzed the sphere with slight interest.
Ren observed the scene in disbelief, seeing a person so relaxed within his air dome. Anyone would panic if they had no chance to breathe properly, yet there is an individual in front of him who treated it like a minor inconvience.
He had already adjusted the pressure to a very high output, since he dared not to underestimate her.
"To think knocking someone unconscious with this spell would be a struggle! This ain't damn fair at all!" Ren clenched his fists was he manipulated his spell to the maximum.
Hana serenely shook her head at the rising lethal danger of the dome, stabbing the black greatsword on the ground.
The lacrima spun with activity, making the weapon pulse with life again. Its blue glow was even more mesmerizing than before, although it only emitted a sense of crisis for Eve and Ren.
She tightened her grip on the handle, pouring her magic power into it in a rapid pace. Once it reached a certain threshold, her weapon illuminated the area that was strong enough to make Ren's eyes squint.
Both him and Eve instinctively leaped backwards as everything went silent for a moment, the glow fading just as fast---!
BOOOOOOMMMM!
A burst of blue transparent energy immediately followed, engulfing the mansion with a wave of destruction. Expensive furniture and a multitude of debris flew out like a bunch of fireworks, littering the greenery outside in the process.
If the location wasn't so far out in the distance while being in a rural section, the loud noise would've drawn the attention of the district residents.
The mansion's bottom half had more gaps thanks to Hana's wanton release of Ethernano, her figure could be seen standing with not even a crumple on her clothing.
"I hope that didn't kill them… Returning empty handed is a big no-no." Hana looked around to find any signs of life.
"Of course it wouldn't, my lady!" Someone responded from her blind spot, prompting her to automatically dodge the supposed strike. She softly landed while turning towards the source, seeing Ichiya who was gazing at her warily.
"Oh? You look great, Ace."
"Men~! Spare me the sarcasm!" Ichiya hummed, his face still adorned with the same determination since the start of the battle.
Unfortunately, it was completely different inside his mind. It's a good thing that my Power Perfume can be maintained for a while… Even if I had vials that's utilized for support, I would obviously be the first target while also being a burden.
As one who concocts a variety of perfumes, there would be obvious favorites during their creation. It depends on the wizard themselves on what they deem as the best effect, signifying its usefulness for all kinds of situations.
Ichiya's status as the Ace defined it, which motivated him to refine his Power Perfume to near perfection. How else would he be in the forefront, if he didn't have sufficient capability?
I must save my Healing Perfume for the others, waiting for those opportune moments to use it on them. He wanted to quickly search for Eve and Ren to administer his perfume, but with an active tailer on their end, it was simply impossible to escape her notice.
Confronting her directly was currently the best approach against a foe like this, so he might as well do it.
He opened a cork from a particular vial on his belt, it had no color as he inhaled it, putting the cover back to its place afterwards.
"Movement Perfume." Adding more effects would boost his chances to keep up, so he didn't hold back with his usage.
Ichiya immediately felt the effect, tensing his legs while adjusting his posture. Then, he swiftly dashed towards Hana's position, arriving in front of her before she could react.
BAM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
He ignored her startled expression as he punched her cleanly on the cheek. The force of his blow sent her flying through the destroyed walls and rubble of the mansion's first floor.
"Ruining a lady's features is not a fitting action for a gentleman like me… But I'll make an exception for you!"
Ichiya gave chase as he avoided the scattered destruction of obstacles around him, seizing the advantage to create an opening for escape.
"Haha! That was a good punch!" Hana laughed uncontrollably, twisting her body to pierce the shattered tiles with her black greatsword, slowing down her momentum as she skidded across the ground.
She channeled her magic power into the larcima of the weapon, its familiar blue glow radiating with raw unfiltered might. Hana swung the moment he reached a certain distance, launching another blade of light to delay him for a moment.
Ichiya easily sidestepped the attack as he exerted himself to catch up to her.
Hana wasn't that fazed by her failed attempt, lifting her gray greatsword to swing downwards.
BOOM!
A cloud of dust emerged from the blow, limiting Ichiya's vision during this period. His eyes darted everywhere as he tried to sense her presence, and what he got in response was trailing blue slash of light again.
He sweat dropped since he couldn't stop his stride now, so he intended to bulldoze against the sharp form of pure Ethernano by putting his arms in front of him.
BOOOM!
"Kghk!"
Ichiya gritted his teeth as he endured the prickling and painful sensation alongside the wounds he received. Tanking Ethernano itself was a unique experience, something that can't be felt from the usual magical spells of fellow wizards.
Shing!
A gray greatsword popped out through the smoke the moment he successfully guarded against the slash. The world turned sluggish under Ichiya's eyes, aware that he couldn't dodge this one in time.
"Aerial Shot!" A piece of debris quickly redirected the lethal strike, saving Ichiya in the process. He managed to open some breathing space to back away safely, creating distance between him and Hana.
The woman in question exited from the cloud of dust thanks to her attack, hitting a pile of rubble as her weapon went through it like paper. She clicked her tongue while glancing at the direction of the sudden assist.
A tanned young man who had his clothes a bit torn was surrounded by dozens of rubble that were carried by his Air Magic, amplifying them with his concentrated magic power.
"That was close, Boss! Don't be so reckless next time!" Ren remarked loudly.
"Men~! Thanks for the save, Ren!" Ichiya nodded in assurance.
Hana narrowed her eyes for a moment, as if contemplating on how to approach the current situation. Her silence only brought more tension for Blue Pegasus, making them raised their guard even more.
Then, she suddenly dashed towards Ren, resuming the fight in an instant. Ichiya hastily followed her while his Movement Perfume was still in effect.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Ren shot out a flurry of rubble towards her, their surfaces brimming with quantities of air. He also applied his magic to his legs, giving him a slight boost to maintain the optimal range against Hana.
Hana parried and destroyed the incoming rubble, exerting more of her strength since they were filled with magic.
A game of cat and mouse had begun, which consisted of Ren manuvering across the entire first floor, using the intact walls and numerous corners to create various angles for his speeding bullets.
Ichiya helped by simply being annoying, yet Hana never lost her focus on him, already prepared for whatever that will be thrown at her.
Crash!
Hana sliced a wall that was in her way, revealing Ren who swiftly launched three pieces of rubble in response. She evaded them just in time by leaning back, however, a fist appeared within her sight, prompting her to roll sideways to avoid it.
Ichiya's fist dented the ground, removing it as he looked back up at her. He immediately sprinted to continue this momentum that was tilting to their favor, winding up for his next strike.
Hana sighed as she leaped back, dodging the Ace's follow up attack. "What an annoying stalemate… Trying to capture wizards of decent capability is a damn chore."
Ichiya posed as he listened to her rambling. "If it annoys you that much, my lady, why not just let us go, then?"
"Teacher is right, you know?" Ren added. "You were the one who started this in the first place. Our group wasn't interested in fighting you anyway."
"It's very tempting to say the least~" Hana lightly scoffed. "Should I kill the three of you if that's the case?" She retorted playfully, although it was more of a threat in context…
"____"
"Guess that's a no, huh?" Hana chuckled. "Let's continue---!"
"White Out!"
A miniature snowstorm suddenly appeared as it engulfed her in an instant, which lowered the temperature of the area to a biting chill.
Ichiya and Ren avoided their companion's spell at the last moment, looking at the patch of snow that covered the entire vicinity with Hana as the center.
"Nice one, Eve!" Ren synergized with the snow wizard's attack as he shot his remaining rubble towards the trapped woman within it.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
A white haze formed after they landed, plummeting the temperature even more. A blonde young man lifted his hands as he adjusted it, channeling it to the pile of snow instead.
"That explosion from her Ethernano explosion knocked me out for a while." Eve was currently riddled with wounds, but he was still fine for the most part.
"Don't worry about it, Eve." Ichiya did a thumbs-up, then glanced at the scene solemnly. "We must retreat now before she gets up again!"
Perfume Wizards develop highly perceptive senses, and Ichiya had a particular trait of identifying the scent of one's magic with ease. The wildly streaming magical power he's felt within the pile of snow made his hair stand on end.
All three of them were aware that she held back her strength, considering the quality of aura she emitted throughout the fight. Which is why they opted for an opening to escape, while she was still in the mood.
But before they could even think of bolting out of the place…
They were already one step too slow.
Fssssshhhhh!
The pile of snow quickly melted as a fiery red glow quickly snaked across its surface, releasing heat that was strong enough to counteract against the cold that was enveloping it.
Eve instantly stepped in front of his guild mates, forming a snow barricade that was wider and taller than the one previously.
"Boss, help me out here!" He shouted in urgency.
Ichiya knew what he meant without explanation, opening two vials on his belt in succession. The perfumes hovered around them serenely as they felt the effects in no time.
Ren, on the other hand, conjured his air on them. He was ready to move if the situation would demand it.
Such synchronization and teamwork could be only achieved through absolute trust, which was an ideal development for any job that will be taken.
Their sequence of actions spanned a few seconds, displaying utmost precision and efficiency to block the impending breakthrough of the woman who was buried under the snow.
They managed to react before Hana's voice echoed from within, her magical pressure overwhelming them like a mountain weighing on their physiques.
"Requip."
BOOOOOMMMM!
A ferocious burst of flames manifested, completely obliterating the temporary bundle of snow that was meant to restrain the one inside. It spread throughout most of the first floor like an unstoppable wave.
The mansion rumbled even more prominently as more cracks formed that reached the upper parts of the structure. Multitudes of debris fell towards the lowest floor where the battle took place, displaying the destructive aftermath of just a simple release of flames.
A silhouette walked out from the cloud of dust, its figure clearing as it showed Hana who was holding a new greatsword on her right hand. Her eyes turned into bright orange orbs of pure power, which can be attributed to said weapon.
It had a red-orange color that proudly presented its flaming design, alongside the fire that was currently curling in an embrace. Hana only had this out in the open and stored her previous weapons in exchange.
Hana calmly observed the dwindling snow barricade that stood strong against her onslaught. "I underestimated the three of you a bit too much, so I'm gonna use a stronger weapon in my arsenal."
Once the barricade evaporated, she saw Eve who had both his hands raised as he panted. Ichiya and Ren were behind him and didn't receive fatal injuries.
In fact, they looked like they were healed somehow, which was the same for the blond young man.
"Are we supposed to be flattered by your statement, ma'am?" Ren grumbled.
"Men~! She's a Requip Wizard… That was unexpected." Ichiya swiftly closed his two vials to save their remaining amount.
"Too much of a close call there…" Eve sighed. "If it weren't for boss' Healing and Amplifying Perfumes, we would've been unconscious on the ground with burns." Although his hands and arms were slightly seared in the process.
During that moment, Ichiya decided that it was the right time to invoke his two vital support spells that may increase their chances for overcoming this hard battle.
The Heals sustained their body's condition to endure the flames that threatened to consume them, since Eve couldn't block everything at once. Other than its recovery effects, it also restores their magic container reserves.
This also compliments with the other perfume that was casted, which directly amplifies one's magic to a certain degree. Obviously not to the point of a miracle, but enough to ensure survival.
However, that doesn't them exempt from the pain of being burned, so they gritted their teeth and fearlessly took it head-on.
Additionally, there was good news to gain from this… The effects are still active. Which means that Blue Pegasus were reinvigorated and ready to resume the fight without any problems.
Hana noticed this and and had no more words, wordlessly circulating her magic power into her red and orange greatsword. It absorbed the flickering fires that managed to linger within the first floor, resulting in an active burning weapon.
Then, the flames resting on the greatsword responded to the action by creating three swords made out of its essence, floating silently around her.
Shing!
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
She swung with powerful force, launching a fiery blade of light. The three flaming swords followed alongside it, as if understanding her intentions.
BOOM!
Ren's air application was still in play, so they evaded the incoming vast attack with ease, which cause another explosion.
But they didn't let their guard down as the swords relentlessly picked their targets.
"Tch! Is she controlling them?" Ren tilted his head to dodge the sword coming for him, feeling its searing heat as it grazed him.
"These things are no joke." Eve used a wall for cover as the one gunning for him pierced through it with ease, making him duck just in time.
"Men~! We can't lose our focus on the frightening lady!" Ichiya sprinted vigorously as he kept his distance from the annoying sword chasing him.
Eve took a deep breath as he surrounded himself with snow. "Converge on me, you guys! My magic will be---!"
"Which is why I'm aiming for you first~" A relaxed voice called out to him.
He quickly turned towards the woman who was closing in with huge strides. Eve waved his right hand to limit her vision with a blockade of snow. Then, he hit the surface with a punch
"White Fury!"
Hana watched the center of the blockade morph into a familiar beam of snow, sensing that the spell was stronger than last time. She clashed with it directly, feeling the chilling cold of the atmosphere again.
While she was preoccupied, Eve followed up by taking a part of the snow to restrain the sword, stopping its momentum for a short moment.
He leaped backwards as he clasped his hands together, aiming at the danger in front of him.
"White Dome!"
A huge amount of snow engulfed both Hana and the flaming sword, turning it into an igloo filled with his magic power. He hoped that it was enough to delay her, considering the Amplifying Perfume he inhaled.
Eve estimated the boost to increase his magic output by five percent. Although it may look weak in paper, it could be a deciding factor that can tilt the scales to their favor.
Ichiya and Ren noticed that the swords froze after Hana was trapped within the white sphere.
They momentarily sighed in relief, although were still on guard. Ichiya in particular, opened up a specific vial and threw it towards the dome. The vial shattered upon contact and released a gray haze.
"It is time to gracefully make our escape, my juniors!" He said as he swiftly exited the mansion. The first floor was mostly destroyed, which showed the tranquil night sky.
One could call it a miracle that it was still intact for some reason.
Eve and Ren followed their Ace, sprinting for the woods in the distance.
BOOOOMMM!
A pillar of flames broke through the mansion's upper part, splitting it entirely into two halves. Massive chunks of debris flew all over the place wildly, presenting a scene of destruction that was normal for truly monstrous individuals.
A silhouette could be seen in the air, leaping out from the top of the mansion. She was accompanied by fiery orange light and three flaming swords.
Hana looked below, her gaze locking on the three figures that were attempting to flee. She motioned her left hand as the swords soared like bullets, their heat more potent and lethal.
Pierce! Pierce! Pierce!
CRASHH!
"Ugh!"
"Kghk!"
"Gah!"
The Wizards of Blue Pegasus weren't able to react in time as the flaming swords were embedded into them.
Hana descended on the ground softly, skipping towards the trio who were convulsing in pain.
"Hmmm… That was a decent fight, you three." She remarked in satisfaction. "But great things must come to an end~ I'm lucky that I still have Magic Cuffs stored in my space here."
There was no response, which was what she expected. Nobody will have the energy to speak while getting burned from the inside anyway.
But before she could even successfully capture them, Hana frowned as she suddenly received a headache.
"What?"
She shook her head at the unusual timing, looking back at the unconscious trio. However, Hana froze in the next moment, only to be greeted by an empty ground full of craters.
Her flaming swords were still there, yet the bodies silently disappeared without alerting her.
Then, she realized something, prompting her to giggle in irritation.
"Was it that gray haze when I melted the snow?" Hana muttered. "You've fooled me completely, Ace!"
"... A spell of illusion, huh?" She continued while clicking her tongue.
Paramount Tide's Battle Maniac… embarrassingly failed her task.
------------
AN: Sorry about the delay again, guys. I had to rewrite it.