Never Give Up

Why must I risk my life?

Why is it I who must do battle?

I thought escaping from Being X would be the end of it. He was the source of so many problems just one life previously. That my woes have continued, even free from his influence…

Is it my fault?

No, I don't think so.

I can say that most of my troubles were the result of Being X. However, I am intelligent enough to recognize my own mistakes as well.

…in hindsight at least.

I could have done things differently, no doubt. But there is equally little doubt in my mind that Being X would have found some way to fuck me over regardless of my decisions.

The point is, I can't exactly pinpoint if I've done anything wrong here.

Are there other steps I could have taken to avoid this?

Certainly. I could have left after recovering Gobgala and driving away Nin the first time. Then, I wouldn't be here, fighting in yet another Victory or Valhalla sham of a showdown.

But then again, perhaps it is a good thing I'm here. If I wasn't, well…

Who knows what would have happened?

Oh, who am I kidding? This fucking sucks.

No matter what might've happened or might still happen, that fact's not going to change.

-=-=-=-

Late Morning

Deep Underground, Strategic Military HQ

Xerxes, Eastern Empire

Tanya bent backwards, her feet leaving the ground as Octavius's fist flew past, just centimeters from her face.

She twisted in midair via flight spell, spinning and rocketing a kick into his jaw. Her body flipped back right, and she pressed forward, just in time for Octavius' hand to lash out, catching her across the shoulder and sending her tumbling across the hall.

Too aggressive.

Tanya bounced once, flipping and landing in a crouch. Her hands slammed into the ground, a tsunami of blue flame washing up between her fingers just in time to vaporize an arrow of blood zipping her way.

"Hm." Octavius wiped his mouth, his split lip healing with a red glow.

Relax. Fight quickly, not hastily. I need to be smart about this.

Tanya frowned.

Just breaking his skin gives a chance for greater retaliation. Cutting or slashing attacks are completely out of the question.

She stood up straight, raising an open palm in his direction. A Magic Bullet, bright blue and crackling appeared just in front of her hand, teal energy outlining her eyes and sparks of magic zipping around her.

Magic and blunt force are my best bet. If I can overwhelm his regeneration or wear out his abilities…

The orb split into three, each blasting off one after the other.

Octavius raised a hand, backhanding the first off to the side. It exploded in the background, outlining his form as he punched directly through the second one, detonating it harmlessly.

The third was on him almost too quickly to react, having followed closer than the second to the first. He stepped back, his outstretched fist rising and slapping it up at the last possible second. It shot upward, smashing through the ceiling and splashing the area with multicolored light.

Octavius gathered his feet back under himself, just in time for Tanya's fist to crash into his abdomen. A shockwave rang out from the impact, and he stepped back again, a slight wince the only indication that it had hurt. Tanya pressed the advantage, crashing a hook into where she assumed his liver was, before launching a magic-sparking haymaker right for his sternum.

His eyes widened, flashing a bright gold with veins of crimson.

Before Tanya could react, far quicker than anything before, Octavius moved, sidestepping her entirely. It was her turn to be surprised, her punch hitting open air and nothing else.

Huh?

His elbow was practically invisible as it shot down, slamming into her with loud crack!

Tanya smacked against the tiles, bouncing back up just for Octavius to smash his knee into her sternum and send her flying.

Barely missing a pillar, she crashed back first into the wall, dust and debris flying everywhere, stone plaster and shattered rock falling to the ground alongside Tanya herself. A massive crater emanated from the point of impact, the cracks and epicenter a brutal backdrop to her collapsed form.

Not that Octavius could see her collapsed form yet, since the entire section he'd brutally kneed her into was now filled with dusty smoke and floating dirt.

Inside the cloud, Tanya held herself up on forearms and knees, her limbs shaking from the effort. She coughed harshly, dust-laden spittle and spots of blood dripping to the uncomfortably warm and sharp cracked tiles underneath her.

For a second, I thought it was my spine making that cracking noise. But no. He's just that fast.

Tanya clenched her fists, dropping her head between her arms to take in harsh breathes without inhaling a metric ton of aerial dirt.

I barely saw him move at all. He's been holding back. If I hadn't reinforced my body so thoroughly with Level Three, I would've taken serious damage.

Her breath hitched, a sharp pain stabbing just under her chest. A faint green glow washed over her, the pain in her abdomen diminishing as something under the surface knitted itself back together.

And even with it, he still cracked at least one of my ribs and gave me a chiropractor session. This is the power of a Demon Lord Seed, huh?

She'd been fighting at the maximum amount allowed by Level Two, jumping up to Level Three whenever necessary. Neither had been going all out from the start it seemed.

Still, something doesn't add up here. Why did he only move that fast then? He could have avoided plenty of hits earlier. The only thing different was my target. I went for the center of his chest. He was fine letting me hit his face, stomach, and arms, but when I went for his sternum… Also, there's something odd about his fighting style. He definitely has the speed, but his attacks are relatively slow.

Tanya slowly got to her feet, the green glow of her healing spell fading away. She pressed her hands against her lower back, pushing and stretching until several satisfying pops and cracks sounded out.

…No, they're not slow, exactly. They're just easy to read, which make them seem slower as a result. What's that about? He's a vampire, right? Lived for millennia, a thousand years plus extra. Shouldn't he be… better? You'd almost think he's-

"You're a shut in. Someone who doesn't leave his home. That's the only reason you'd be so excited to fight me."

Tanya's eyes widened slightly.

I was mostly joking at the time, but- Huh. Okay. Yeah, that would fit, wouldn't it?

"Have you gathered yourself yet?" Octavius' voice rang out. "I know that wasn't enough to put you down."

"You could say that." Tanya called back, shifting slightly so the smoke would still cover her.

"I could."

"You know," From Octavius's point of view, Tanya emerged from the smoke with a casual gait, a half-smirk adorning her face. "I've actually had a bit of a recurring pain around the lower left part of my back, and I think you fixed it. Thanks."

"If that's the case, then I must express my joy. Perhaps now, you will be able to fight on an even higher level than before." Octavius shifted slightly, arm outstretched and palm to the ceiling. "Shall we resume our bout?"

"A higher level? Well, I won't say you're wrong." His gesture was matched. "But our battle has already resumed."

"What?"

"Tanya" – or in other words, the illusion of herself that the real Tanya had created and sent out to meet Octavius – exploded into a blinding burst of light.

"Gah!" Octavius stumbled back, clutching at his eyes.

Behind the cloud Tanya crouched low.

I've got a decent read on his power, but that flash of speed worries me. I'd need Level Four to compete in a straight up, all-out battle. That's obvious now.

The dust and debris, held in the air longer than naturally possible by a slight application of wind magic on Tanya's end, blasted away.

But if I jump straight into it, I might run my TLE reserves dry before the fight is over. So, instead let's stack the odds a bit, shall we?

Tanya glanced at the intermittent flashes of blue flame that dotted the room from her earlier attacks.

It was getting a little hot in here, anyway.

FWOOOOOSH!

A tsunami poured from her hands yet again. This time, however, the term was much more literal. Waves of water crashed through the pillars on either side, flooding the hall in the blink of an eye.

Octavius stumbled back a step, bending his knees slightly and bracing himself as his eyes finished healing. His hand dropped from his face, his gaze shooting down to his soaked shoes before turning to rove across the now thoroughly drenched hall.

"Is your plan to make me fight in wet socks?" He called, searching for a sign of his foe to no avail. "I'll admit, it's rather annoying. But don't expect this to be enough to keep me from-"

Octavius paused.

He exhaled slowly, mist forming from his breath. Realization dawned on his face, at the exact same moment the water soaking the floor flash froze into a thick sheet of ice.

Level Four.

Tanya fizzled into view, her illusionary camouflage fading as she blasted forward.

Octavius turned, the ice cracking as he yanked his feet out. His arm lashed out awkwardly, his torso twisting painfully as he tried to stop her.

Tanya yanked herself above the blow, boosting over his head and behind him. She spun into an roundhouse kick, her boot's magisteel toe smashing into the back of his neck.

The ice shattered, his shoes ripping free from the icy prison as Octavius was knocked away. He grit his teeth, ignoring the burning across his neck as he spun around, swiping with a backhand.

Tanya dropped, reaching out with a one hand bracing the other.

Octavius turned to strike again, only to slip on the icy, uneven ground. He attempted to regain himself, crossing his arms over his chest in a guard as he slid and stumbled on the ice-covered tile.

Tanya pressed him, eyes glowing and palms sparking, a blue magic circle spinning just past her palm.

FWOOOOSH!

Another wash of super-chilled water poured from her hands, engulfing Octavius and carrying him bodily across the hall. He tumbled ungracefully, flipping end over end until the wave ended, his back crashing against a pillar with a wet smack.

Violent shivers racked his form, freezing water dripping from soaked clothes and hair. He looked up, just in time for a ragged chunk of ice to shatter across his face. Icy shards dug into his eyes and cheeks, the skin scraping red and raw. A second chunk smashed into his stomach, a third crashing into his shoulder so hard it blasted itself into mist.

His hand shot to his face, the other holding the opposite shoulder. A grimace split his face, blood and icy water trickling sluggishly along his cheeks and jaw.

Then, Tanya was on him, razor sharp magic sizzling along her forearm and hand. She thrust her arm forward, aiming for his sternum.

Octavius snarled, his eyes flashing gold and red yet again. He blurred, practically disappearing from her sight.

Just like before.

Almost like before.

Right… now! Tanya spun, lashing out with a kick, sparks of magic and an undercurrent of teal energy lined her form.

Octavius appeared to her left, just in time to catch the blow on his forearm. Clear shock bled through his pained, bloody expression, only increasing as Tanya spun back in the opposite direction, her other foot smashing through his guard and sending him flying back toward the middle of the hall.

He skid backwards across the ice, flipping once then digging his heels in, kicking up a spray of frozen mist in his wake. With a snarl, he stomped down, craters forming under him as he jerked to a stop.

Immediately, Octavius launched his knee upwards, catching Tanya in the chest right as she appeared in front of him.

She blasted into the ceiling, crashing through the hole that had formed from one of her Magic Bullet attacks.

Octavius lowered his leg, slipping slightly on the wet, ice-laden tile.

He stared at the opening, his labored breathing tugging harshly at the dryness in his throat. His chest shook, shivers and sharp, icy pain lancing across his shoulders and abdomen. His flexed his hands, clenching and unclenching numb fingers and knuckles to force the blood to flow naturally.

"My senses are dulled…" Octavius murmured, brushing his drenched bangs back with a hand. "This wet cold is oppressive; without conscious control, my blood flow is… undesirable. And the pain from her attacks is increased as well. Very clever. Still, it's not-"

A waterfall of freezing water crashed down on his head, flattening his hair again and draining even the idea of warmth from his mind.

"GRAAH!" His magic spiked. The ground cratered, the water and ice several meters around him vaporizing in an instant. A cloud of vapor engulfed Octavius, curling around his position.

Tanya dropped down, floating several meters behind. She kept a hand trained on his position, a Magic Bullet crackling along her palm.

Swirling steam and swathes of mist ebbed and flowed along the waves of his magical aura, the shadow of his outline barely visible.

Tanya let the ball of magic fly, her expression shifting to slight surprise as it shattered into sparks against his back.

However, the burst of energy did manage one thing, that being the dissipation of the fog, and the revealing of Octavius in all his shirtless glory.

Tanya's eyebrow rose. His skin was tinted red, the largest veins along his arms and neck a bright crimson. Blood stained his pecs and abs, red outlining various muscles.

"I'm upset with you."

He turned, sending her a sharp glare. Crimson tracks zigzagged along the upper half of his face, contrasting the golden irises and whites of his eyes.

"You've forced me to use this earlier than I would have liked."

"Hm. Careful Octavius." Tanya said back. "Your words don't match your face. You're grinning."

"I am…?" Octavius reached up with a hand, his fingers brushing against the corner of his mouth. A deep laugh burst from his chest. "You're right, I am! Is this what I've been missing this whole time?"

Oh, fuck off.

Magic sparked like electricity around her, parts of her hair and skin glowing that same blue-green teal as her eyes.

Don't start monologuing again. I really don't have the time

Tanya cupped her other hand at her side, a ball of water forming just over her palm. Over her fingertips, a magic circle spun into existence just past her fingertips, the formulae inside it an icy white and sky blue.

"I can almost feel it! My heart is pounding, my blood is flowing-"

A Magic Bullet knocked his head to the side, smashing into shards of cobalt debris.

"Why does everyone want to fucking monologue in this world? At least Mary Sue always threw hands on sight." Another orb sparked into existence in front of Tanya's outstretched hand. "You're the one who wants this dance so much. So shut up and fucking dance already."

"Haha! This pride of mine…" Octavius slowly tilted his head back. His grin didn't fade in the slightest. "Is one I've not felt in hundreds- no, thousands of years. Forgive me for delaying our dance further. You're right. But first, please. Tell me your real name, so I may know the one who has gotten my blood roaring for the first time in millennia."

Level Four.

Her magic brightened, her outline growing more tangible than before.

"Tanya."

"Tanya… yes, I will remember you. Tanya." Octavius said, almost reverently. "And I… I am Octavius, a Demon Lord Seed. I am Octavius Valentin, formerly of the Demon Lord Council!"

Goddammit.

-=-=-=-

Around the Same Time

Base Level, Strategic Military HQ

Xerxes, Eastern Empire

Mary slid back, ducking under a horizontal slash.

"I have to say, you're not as entertaining as I was expecting." Nin swiped at her, sparks flying as his transfigured arm clashing against her blade.

"And you're even more annoying," Mary slashed down, fire licking the length of her blade. "Then I could have imagined!"

Nin jumped back, a burn along the tip of his nose healing immediately, before darting back in and stabbing forward.

Mary sidestepped, slashing diagonally up with both hands. Nin forced his blade-turned arm back up, deflecting it.

Clang!

Each was forced back a step, sparks falling in the space between them almost in slow motion. They pressed forward, meeting head on again.

A flurry of blows rang out across the open foyer, green magisteel against steel-transfigured blade clashing in a furious, high-speed display.

Slash. Dodge, swipe. Duck, punch, deflect, shink clang CRASH!!!

Nin pulled back slightly, his right shoulder tensing.

Mary narrowed her eyes.

Modified Style…

He stabbed forward. Mary stepped just past it, switching her katana to one hand. She slapped her free hand down, clamping down just past his blade-turned forearm with a vice grip. His other hand hurtled upwards, open palm flexing in anticipation.

…Piercing Bolt!

Mary stabbed out with her katana, the bright green blade piercing the wrist of Nin's unchanged hand. His muscles spasmed uncontrollably, electricity wracking his form.

She wrinkled her nose, the smell of burnt skin drifting her way.

"You transform things with your hands, right?"

Mary's eyes flashed as she ripped her arm to the side, carving a path out through Nin's palm and fingers and slicing his hand vertically in half. Then, she yanked him forward with her other arm, her blade flashing as Nin's right arm was separated at the shoulder.

She expected him to at least flinch. That, in cutting through his hand and cutting off one of his arms, he'd at least hesitate, even for just half a second. That was all she needed, after all.

He did none of this.

Nin moved far faster than before, his split palm crashed against her stomach and sending her flying backwards.

Mary tumbled across the ground uncontrollably, tumbling end of over end and barely managing not to stab herself all the while. After several heart stopping seconds, she regained control of herself, turning her tumble into a roll and popping back up to her feet, katana held out to the side.

"Well," Nin straightened up, "Perhaps you're a bit more entertaining than I'd thought."

His right arm regenerated straight from the stump in a shower of gore and shadowy mist. The two halves of his left hand slapped into one another, strands of blood and energy of the same color knitting them back into one whole.

Dammit. Looks like having a visual alone isn't gonna cut it.

Mary pushed herself to her feet, wincing and reaching up to touch her cheek. Just under her eye, a flake of skin peeled off, a drop of blood staining her fingertip.

It barely lasted a second. Just enough to make his abilities hesitate. That regeneration, his shapeshifting… they're so ingrained within him. It's like they aren't Skills or magic at all. They're just a part of his being. That's annoying.

She touched her side, where Nin's palm had made contact. Her shirt was still fully intact, and there was no pain other than the slight twinge from a palm strike that had been strong enough to launch her several meters.

But not impossible to handle. It's hard to judge which ability he's using at a time, but that's only really an issue when I use my Skill from a distance. If I land a good enough blow…

Mary held her katana parallel to the ground, running her left hand along the blunt side of the blade. A field of neon green energy followed her palm, covering her blade and making it glow.

…It won't matter what he's using, or what he does.

"Oh, that's a nice effect. Are we going to fight for real now?" Nin stretched, reaching an arm up and tilting to the side for several seconds, before repeating the motion on the opposite side. "Good, that's good. I was getting a little bored, but you seem to have just enough power to amuse me. I'm not sure exactly what Skills you've got hidden, but your powerful magic will be a nice appetizer before the main course."

"My magic…?" She narrowed her eyes, "What do you mean by that?"

"Hah? Where do you get off, thinking you can ask such impertinent questions." Nin scoffed, "Don't go thinking you can speak to your future God so casually. I'm the one who makes demands; not some worthless human like yourself."

Future God? Worthless human? Mary's eye twitched.

"It is odd, I must admit. I've fought two interesting humans over the past week, and both of them have been able to shield themselves from my power." He pointed at her. "Your friend, Tasha. And you. I have to wonder what my luck is, in truth. The only marginally interesting humans I've met, and both with internal magicule pools. How interesting."

He thinks I stopped it with my magic? I guess I could've done that…

"But don't get me wrong. Just because you're a little more interesting than the usual trash doesn't entitle you to my life story, nor my abilities. And it won't matter if you managed it once. Just another good tap and you're out."

"You sound happy to throw insults. Calling humans trash, praising yourself as a God." Mary took a breath, trying to reign in her temper, "But you don't look any different from the humans I've seen. Have you looked in a mirror lately?"

She tilted her head.

"Well, I guess you haven't. You'd break it if you did, huh?"

"Hah?!" Nin stared at her in disbelief. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me, du jævla faen."

"I- what? What did you just say to me?" Nin shook his head, his expression twisting, "You- you fucking- Gah! This! This right here, this is why I hate you humans! You stupid fucking mud creatures always get ahead of yourselves. You always need to have the last laugh, even if it kills you. You always act above your station, never showing the proper respect to superior life forms. It's disgusting!"

"The disgust is mutual." Mary glared at him coolly, "I may not look at it, but I'm actually burning with rage right now. It's taking every ounce of discipline I've learned to keep from giving in."

"And that's another thing! Why?! What the hell did I do to you?!" He pressed his hands against his chest, "Hell, what did I do to your friend too, while we're at it. So, I kidnapped a Goblina or three. Who gives a shit! Why do either of you even care? At the very least, you two should understand where I'm coming from. You're some of the good ones! You're powerful! Those Goblinas, the other monsters I've taken, and especially the rest of the human trash that lives here… they're all worth nothing by themselves!"

"They were people." Mary snapped, the leather of her katana's handle creaking under her grip. "They are people. Does someone's life really mean so little to you?"

"Most people are weak! Their lives? What could they possibly mean when their impact is so negligible? Surely, you're aware of that!" He said incredulously, "Those Goblinas, they were the same as the masses. Just weak trash, not amounting to anything outside their own little lives. Their existence is inconsequential compared to the likes of me, of you, even of that bitch, Tasha! They should be ecstatic that their boring, uneventful lives were able to contribute to my perfection!

Nin heaved, his face inflamed from passion.

Sunlight poured through one of the many holes in the ceiling, illuminating the two of them. One beam in particular fell across the blade of Mary's katana, light filling the symbols inscribed just above the hilt.

守る.

Mamoru. Protect.

"…I'm going to kill you." Her voice came out in a furious whisper, "They deserve that much. I'll pay you back 100- no, 1000-fold for what you did to them. Not just Gobhua and Gobara, but everyone."

Nin sighed.

"Tch. No one ever listens to me, do they?" He crouched down, pressing his palms flat against the ground. "Fine then. You're welcome to try. Just try to remember the name Nin Gen when you reach the afterlife. That's the name of the God you should repent to."

-=-=-=-

Around the Same Time

Deep Underground, Strategic Military HQ

Xerxes, Eastern Empire

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Tanya and Octavius traded blows faster than the average eye could see, shockwaves and burst of magical energy shattering the space around them. Most of the ice and water around them had been blown away, icy remnants hanging in the air and misting their heated breath.

Tanya darted back, her barrier sparking up just as Octavius' fist dug into it, cracks stretching across the teal-blue surface. She let it fade, ducking a follow up swing and moving past, her elbow flashing out and crashing right above his hipbone. 

A pain growl slipped from his lips, his elbow shooting back and down. Tanya jerked back, Octavius' elbow ruffling her bangs as it went past.

She dropped lower in the air, bringing both hands back over her shoulders and pressing them flat against the ground. Using the tile as leverage, she kicked up with both feet, slamming them into Octavius' abs. He crumbled inward, unable to react as she spun on her hands, hooking his ankle with her heel to throw him off balance.

Then, she spun again, pushing off the ground and smashing a kick into his gut.

BAM!

Octavius soared across the hall, crashing against the ground once before righting himself. He dug in his heels, broken tile and trails of frozen water spreading out beneath him as he ground to a halt.

His arms went up just in time, a spinning Magic Bullet smashing into his guard and digging in. He grit his teeth, ripping his arms to each side and shattering it into cobalt sparks. Two more followed, and he backhanded them in turn.

"Not this time!" Without pause, he leapt forward, meeting Tanya's follow up halfway.

CRASH!

His knee shot up, crashing into Tanya's two-handed block. She winced, jerking back to avoid a punch.

He's much faster now. Almost too fast to keep up with, normally.

Tanya tilted in the air, another punch ruffling her side bangs as it roared by her head. Another punch was rocketing in an instant. She raised her knee to her chest, his fist crashing against it and forcing her back, a shockwave cracking the icy floor.

And much stronger than before. I have to push my reinforcement formulae to the max with Level Four, just to keep my body intact.

She extended her arm and aimed low, water gushed from her hand and passing through an icy blue magic circle. Octavius powered through the torrent, bursting forward with another rapid serious of punches.

Not to mention, he's practically blazing to the touch. Any ice or water he gets stuck with evaporates almost immediately.

Tanya floated through the flurry, dodging, deflecting, and blocking as the situation called. Each missed blow sent the freezing air of the hall flurrying about; each deflected and connected blow creating shockwaves and audible booms.

But that's fine.

Octavius slammed his fist forward. Tanya shot up, pushing off his extended arm with her own. She gripped his forearm, twisting like a break-dancer and slamming her boots into his face.

He reeled back and Tanya let go, dropping down into a crouch. She burst up, feinting a strike at his chest. Octavius guarded high, and Tanya took advantage, driving her fist into his gut and sending him stumbling back, spit trickling from his mouth.

You're pretty predictable, I've realized. Similar attacks, telegraphed moves. That's why your moves were so easy to see earlier. Your fighting style is garbage, and even if it wasn't, you're old and rusty. I don't exactly blame you. With your power, you don't really have to worry about those things as much.

An overcharged optical spell followed her punch, digging into Octavius's abdomen and slamming him into a pillar on the other side of the hall. It crumbled around him, collapsing and burying him underneath.

No, I can blame you, actually. You've let yourself stagnate. And against a smart opponent who has just enough magic to match you, that's tantamount to suicide.

The spell exploded, a cloud of dust and mist kicking up in the aftermath.

That being said, even at Level Four my physical strength is being outmatched. I could push my enhancement further, maybe, but the magical drain isn't cost effective at that point. Not to mention, I'm not exactly running with an infinite source here. TLE is already down to near half capacity. I'm going to run out soon, and at that point it won't matter how unrefined your fighting style is. I'll just be outmatched.

Tanya lowered herself in the air, icy water gushing from one hand to refreeze the floor. Her other hand touched lightly against the water's surface, a bright blue magic circle leaving her palm and settling underneath the rapidly forming ice.

The water and ice are meant to worsen your footing and make fighting more painful for you. But, with that blood boost thing you've got going on, the latter is mostly worthless. And the former is far less useful when each strike is strong enough to blow it all away from shockwaves alone. So, I'm forced to come up with a different use for it.

Her palm glowed again, red this time. It settled under the ice as well, sinking and fading from view.

SMASH!

The pile of pillar rubble exploded.

Here we go again.

Octavius rocketed toward her, arm pulled back for an obvious right hook.

Tanya let him come, jumping back to avoid it and throwing her hand out, fingers splayed. Bright gold burned across her hand, a flare of light bursting from her palm and filling the space between.

"Damn!"

Octavius didn't cover his eyes in time, stopping completely in place as spots filled his vision and his eyes experienced the visual component to an impromptu magical flashbang for the second time that day.

"Again?" He called, rubbing his eyes. His other arm instinctively covered his chest, making sure to protect his heart if nothing else.

"Don't worry, this one is new."

Tanya's voice came from behind. His hand dropped from his face, swiping backwards and hitting open air. Then, he froze.

It was cold. As in, much, much colder than before.

Octavius opened his eyes, the spots disappearing from his vision just in time for ice to encase his body up to the shoulders. Despite his extreme body temperature, he couldn't help but shiver.

"You haven't given up on the ice yet?" Steam drifted up from his hair and face. "This ice has no effect on me. Not in this state. Just my body temperature alone should- huh?"

Octavius twisted, the ice cracking slightly but not breaking like it should have. His eyes widened.

"This is-"

Unlike the freezing water and sheets of ice earlier, this ice was a deep, dark blue. He could almost taste the magicules inside of it. And now that he was looking, there was a blue magic circle under his icy imprisonment, spinning lazily and glowing with obvious power.

"It's magically reinforced. My body heat won't be enough." He said to himself, flexing and shifting in an effort to crack the ice. "I need to move more."

He paused, as a red magic circle spun into being just under the blue one.

"A flare circle too-?"

He was cut off, a massive, white hot column of flame engulfing him.

Now, it should be stated for the record that the hall had dropped several degrees since the fight's beginning. Massive waves of nearly frozen water had filled the room at large, sucking any semblance of heat from the air. Tanya's continued chilling of the hall by way of repeated uses of a water magic and freezing formula combo had dropped the temperature to near freezing in mere minutes.

On top of this, Tanya had just refrozen a large section of tiled floor. Then, she'd created a large structure of ice, artificially frozen far colder than normal through extensive use of an overpowered magic circle, set as a trap for Octavius to walk into. The flare circle placed immediately after was yet another trap, set to activate as soon as Tanya willed it too.

To anyone with a basic knowledge of physics, what happened next should not be surprising in the slightest.

BWOOOOOM!!!

The incredible heat sublimated the ice and evaporated any water nearby. Superheated steam shot up and out, the spot where Octavius stood exploding in less than an instant.

Shards of ice shot across the hall like grapeshot, a massive cloud of steam enveloping the area. The entire hall shook, dust and pieces of wall and ceiling crashing to the floor.

Tanya stood behind a pillar, letting her barrier drop as the worst of it all settled. She stepped out after a moment, carefully making her way toward ground zero. Her steps hesitated, as the steam continued to obscure her vision.

Where are you, Octavius?

Tanya activated Magic Sense, letting it sweep over the area.

I don't think that was enough-

Every sense in her body screamed at her: Move!

Her eyes widened, and she jerked to the side on complete reflex. Her barrier went up in an instant, the magic flashing into being just to shatter immediately.

SCRRSH!