[Granberia's side]
Granberia and Arc-En-Ciel were facing each other.
Arc-En-Ciel: ….
Granberia: ...What's wrong? Not going to attack?
Arc-En-Ciel: ...Three of my brethren seem to have been defeated. Their biological reactions have all ceased.
Granberia: ...I see.
It's a good outcome, but it will be completely useless if even she won't give her her fullest. She grabbed her sword and pointed it at Arc-En-Ciel.
Arc-En-Ciel: Oh, that's some good spirit you're showing. It looks like you truly weren't at your best in the Monster Lord's Castle. Even still, my strength is greater. Even when you're in perfect condition! I'll prove it to you, Granberia!
Granberia: Come, Arc-En-Ciel! I'll show you the power of a Cursed Sword master! Taste the blow that can cleave a dragon in two!
She swung down her sword in an overhead arch, slightly damaging Arc-En-Ciel. She attacked with a palm attack, which made Granberia back away some meters back.
She gained back her balance and executed the Bloody Fissure Thunder Thrust.
Granberia: Can you see this step?
She stepped forward like lightning and her thrust booming like thunder, making a big dent of the opponent's armor.
Arc-En-Ciel: There may not even be a Dragon race monster left alive who can use this skill!! 'Sixteen Palm Black Flame!'
Wreathed in black flames, Arc-En-Ciel's palms slammed on Granberia one after another, causing her do receive some serious damage. But Granberia gritted her teeth and clenched her butt before using Death Sword Chaos Star, managing to make more scratches on Arc-En-Ciel.
Arc-En-Ciel: Feel my strength with your body!
Wreathed in fire once again, Arc-En-Ciel slammed her fist on Granberia, who blocked with her sword and sending her back.
Arc-En-Ciel: Look upon my power! The most advanced of bionics have improved my strength! My re-engineered synapses have increased my speed beyond anything you can match! Everything of mine is greater than yours!
Granberia: Are you so proud of your artificial body…? You didn't earn any of that power, it was simply given to you.
Arc-En-Ciel: ...Yes, I am proud! I was created simply to fight! This is the meaning of my existence! I was created to fight, I was created to win!
Granberia: Then… My secret skill… Vaporizing Rebellion Sword!
Granberia attacked with countless slashes with her fire-infused blade, managing to create a big deformation on Arc-En-Ciel's arm, she took deep breaths, seeing that not even her secret sword skill managed to do much…
Arc-En-Ciel: Now fall!
Arc-En-Ciel slammed her palm to Granberia…
Granberia: ...Heh, sorry Marco… 'I'll steal a bit your style…'
Granberia welcomed her Dragon Palm with a familiar stance… Granberia came out unharmed, while Arc-En-Ciel had three more dents on her armor, she just managed to use Daystar…
Arc-En-Ciel: ...That was Daystar, interesting… However, it is useless. Do you understand the splendor of this power? The ultimate nature of my body!?
Granberia: Quit with the acting.
Arc-En-Ciel: Acting… You say?
Granberia: I can tell… You aren't proud of anything. Your strength, your body… Both were just handed to you.
Arc-En-Ciel: ….Why do you think that?
Granberia: I've fought against many opponents with this sword of mine. Naturally, I've come up against many who were just as boastful of themselves. But I've never heard such empty words as the ones coming from you. Far from being proud of your body… You hate it.
Arc-En-Ciel: I thought you fought with your sword, not your words.
Granberia: Oh, just a new hobby…
Granberia then continued her attacks on Arc-En-Ciel, this time using Demon Decapitation, but the other party managed to put her arms on in time and block, before slapping away Granberia.
She blocked the arms with the sword, before managing to pull again Daystar on her, leaving 3 more slashes on her armor.
However, that's all…
Granberia: Guh….!
She was punched away, but managed to stand on her feet.
Granberia: ...You said you were born with the strongest of bodies, right? You think yourself already perfect, with no need to train or grow stronger… But in truth, your body has no potential. You can't grow any stronger than you are now. As a warrior, your circumstances are horrible.
Arc-En-Ciel: ...What are you blabbering about?
Granberia: ...A horrible misfortune, as you were given the soul of a warrior. Forced to suffer the emptiness that comes when further progression in strength is impossible… You suffer every day, knowing you are stuck as you are, eternally stagnant.
Arc-En-Ciel: …..
Granberia: ...Are you jealous? Of life that is weak and powerless… But filled with infinite potential? Honing and training your body and skills, so that you can grow stronger and fight even more powerful enemies… No matter how much you want it, you'll never have it.
Arc-En-Ciel: ...How could I be jealous?! My body is already perfect! You cannot do a thing against me!
Granberia: ...Still trying to fool yourself. As a warrior, you're pathetic. If you're so intent of denying it, I'll show you… The power of a warrior who grows, striving to ever higher heights to do everything to beat powerful foes before them!
Arc-En-Ciel: Yes, show it to me. If such a thing is even possible!
Granberia: 'Alright… I can't win if I keep being myself… Myself… Then I'll just go all out! Marco, I'll borrow your style again…'
Granberia's eyes narrowed and crouched down, holding her greatsword with a single hand. Just like the first time they met… A warrior against a beast… If it wasn't that Marco was weaker than her, he could have been a difficult enemy back then.
Arc-En-Ciel's eyes narrowed too, not recognizing her stance, she could see so many blind spots, but at the same time she felt danger coming from Granberia…
Arc-En-Ciel: 'Is she trying to attract me in a trap? I'll just attack head on!'
Granberia lightened up her sword with wind and fire power, then dashed at Arc-En-Ciel, who threw a punch forward…
Granberia: 'Attacking at any opening, no matter what…'
When they were in front of each other, Arc-En-Ciel's fist reached Granberia's face, and punched her…
*Thump*
Something fell… It was Arc-En-Ciel's arm that was used to punch Granberia.
Granberia used the momentum given from Arc-En-Ciel's punch to drive her strengthened sword right on the place where there was a big dent, and cut it off with a brutal strength.
The Dragonkin had blood trailing out from her mouth, but it was worth it for seeing the arm fall down.
She didn't stopped for thinking and rushed at Arc-En-Ciel before she could say a word regarding the arm, then she used another technique she "learned" from Marco, Chain-Claw.
She jumped up and started twisting her body around like a beyblade, while Arc-En-Ciel defended herself with the other arm.
Since she didn't have the other arm, she could stay only on a defensive, if she uses one of her legs, she will lose footing and fall… Granberia will get tired from this, right? Right!?
She was still twisting her body, and was halfway to cut off the other arm, which stopped working, she grabbed the arm and used it as a pole to get around and be in front of Arc-En-Ciel's face, before using her head protection as a weapon and headbutting her.
Arc-En-Ciel: Guh!
Granberia gritted her teeth, feeling a tiredness that would break her muscles, but she continued on, she grabbed Arc-En-Ciel's ponytail and used it to get at her back, then she used as much strength as possible to stick her sword in the back, where there was less armor.
It was stuck, even if it didn't pierce Arc-En-Ciel's back that much. Granberia held on the ponytail of the monster that was 3 times as big as her and jumped from her back, still holding on the ponytail. And then Granberia got down and pushed the guard of her greatsword inside her body with as much strength she could use on her legs.
Arc-En-Ciel: Arghh!
The greatsword pierced her body, making her stop for a moment before she fell on her knees, and fall on the ground. Then she took deep breaths
Granberia: 'For the Dark God, how can Marco not be tired from fighting like that?!'
Arc-En-Ciel suddenly started talking from below.
Arc-En-Ciel: ...It's as you said. I hate this stunted body. It would be better to have been as Rapunzel and Hainuwele, with broken minds. But to infuse me with a warrior's soul…? Nothing but suffering….
Granberia: In that case, why not find a new path in life?
Arc-En-Ciel: No, that's impossible. I only have five years until this body ceases to operate. No matter what, my life would be short. The price to pay for this ultimate body…
Granberia: I see… A further cruelness…
Arc-En-Ciel: Honing your body and mind, overcoming strong opponents and becoming stronger yourself… I wanted to taste it, just once. But once I finally admitted it to myself, I realized it was impossible… I am utterly cursed.
Granberia: …
Arc-En-Ciel: But I was blessed, right at the end. That was a splendid final act, Granberia. My wish was to fight the Sinner Marco… Until I heard about what happened at the mountain range of Irina.
Granberia: …Heh, if you had fought him first, you would be already dead. That guy doesn't hold back a punch…
Arc-En-Ciel: Whatever… Now it's too late… I'm…
She was unable to finish that sentence when the reactor inside her chest stopped working.
Granberia: Your body can't even return to soil… At the very least, I shall pray that your soul is reborn as a warrior's again.
Deep anger flashed on Granberia's mind, thinking about how Promestein played with those chimeras like toys. Then she started to send a telepathic message.
Granberia: ...Sorry about the delay, I'm ready here. How about everyone else?
Alma Elma: No problem here, I'm ready whenever.
Erubetie: No issues here…
Tamamo: Fluffy, fluffy!
Granberia: ಠ_ಠ
Yao: Excuse me, I shall act in Tamamo's place. Now then, let's all replace the CDs at the same time. On three. One.. Two.. Three!
[SPECIAL QUESTS]
1st. Kill Illias
2nd. Return to Lucifina's grave
3rd. Make Alice happy
[EVENT QUEST]
1st. Kill Illias
2nd. Save as many people as possible: [27832/???]
3rd. Defeat or Kill Promestein
4th. Defeat or Kill Black Alice
5th. [Optional] Kill as many angels as possible: [110/???]