Defensive Miracle

As Karisa was stunned by the overall remarkable and terrible force, the whip discharged a catastrophic force that shot out from around with a straightening motion that broke out an intense explosion ideal to the power of an impulse grenade that recklessly shattered the surrounds into nothingness. She had already accepted the fact that her life would be cut short and finished in a matter of seconds, but a miracle occurred as a result of the most unexpected event.

Karisa saw her safety as she felt a tense pressure surge through her body, like if a cyclone was approaching from the front. She witnessed a stormy disaster that pushed her inner expectations to the brink of total incredulity. She made it through the attack, and with a timid stare forward, she pieced together the most amazing view.

She was approached by a skinny woman clothed in a white sweatshirt tied with a black route and a short black skirt that rippled in the wind's pulsation. Karisa was taken aback by the person's sudden intrusion and instantly deduced who it was after the girl shuddered on the spot.

"This thing really is heavy..."

While pushing the whip back over her head with her bare hands, which were quivering from the strike, Ayuka showed herself to the rescue and help. While Ayuka thought she had avoided further harm, she suddenly felt a shock run through her body, forcing her to scream in anguish and causing her body to bleed profusely.

The sensation was similar to a fatal electrification that could have destroyed her body within seconds, and it led her skeleton to be almost apparent with extra pulse bursts around her stance, forcing her body to give in and slightly bend her knees to barely be able to stand.

"What's this? Has another prey joined in on the fun? Why, that's unexpected..."

While continuously driving her whip into Ayuka's wrists, which were bleeding freely and flowing on the floor beneath her feet, Naeve wore a sinister grin on her face, a pale face indicating anguish while still managing to keep her balance.

"But I'm amazed you managed to withstand such a cruel and fatal attack. What's the secret behind it?"

Ayuka's protecting stance continued to shake, and she raised her gaze with a faint smile, sweating for her body to guard against the hit.

"Nothing really. I just lightened the impact of covering my hands with dry ice."

Naeve looked around her as she stated the ice and saw frosty bits scattered over the ground that much exceeded her expectations, only to hear Ayuka's next sentence.

"You see. Inside my body, which holds the Spiritual Core, I sculpted an ability that allows me to produce, summon, and shape-shift ice around my body or the ground. I'm basically "ice woman," but with a few more advanced traits."

"Ice Woman?"

"That's right. While our abilities are not yet fully developed, they are sufficient for us to use. It's just something we Spiritual Duelists have managed to build over the years of fighting, and some of us have done so even before we were born. Our team is made up of four fighters with mutant talents that are considerably superior than your average super strength, super speed, or whatever ability you have. It's simply impossible for individuals like you to possess such outstanding abilities."

"I suppose your abilities are developed further than ours, huh? Just thinking about that makes me annoyed, you lousy scoundrel!"

"Oh, they sure are developed, but they can still be developed further."

Ayuka shook on the spot again from the injury, and her speech enraged Naeve, who flew into a rage and pushed the whips back, prompting Ayuka to push the whips back and leap back to gain distance, only to witness the whip press itself into the ground and unleash a threatening shock wave through the ground, which persuaded Ayuka to dodge by leaping into the air, causing the tremor to strike the building behind her.

"Ayuka! I couldn't be happier that you came here!" Smiled Karisa, grabbed her pole and quickly stand up and notice Ayuka land before her with a side glance and a smile.

"Hey, don't worry. Sorry to leave you hanging back there, but don't worry. Leave everything to me. I'll put a stop to this lunatic..."

Both of the girls turned to faze Naeve, who groaned with annoyance as she drew the whip back to her side and noticed the two girls in front of her step together. Ayuka was astonished when Karisa spoke out loud with a confident tone.

"No way. If we're both here, I'll help out too."

"That's what I'm talking about! All right then! Let's show this girl who the real boss around here is!"

A soft smile returned Ayuka's face, and she rapidly reached her arm out from the side of her shoulder. While Karisa extended both tips of the pole and readied for fight, an ice wind suddenly wrapped her arm, revealing a long and slender sword with a razor-like blade that had been shining inside the sunshine.

"Your confidence sure rose quickly. I absolutely despise it. It's the same as if you had some kind of bond, but nevertheless, I don't want to lose my job, so I'll provide you with a lethal 'accident' for you to take a stroll through!"

Naeve clenched her grasp on the whip and dragged her arm above her head, causing the whip to follow her. Then she began to twirl it like a lasso above her head, casting up a whirlwind that swept through the boulders and blew them around like feathers. She hurriedly flung her arm forward, causing the whip to shoot forward in a smooth, even motion, perfectly poised to strike both of the girls.

Ayuka accelerated into a straight dash, grabbing the sword with both hands and swiping it to the side, allowing the whip to strike the blade instead of her feet stamping against the floor.

She moved alongside the outstretched whip, sliding the blade across its body and continuing to create fire sparks caused by the metal touching. During the battle, Karisa took advantage of the opportunity to slip away into the shadows after exchanging grins with Ayuka.

Ayuka finally pushed the sword forward while simultaneously positioning her right foot in front of her left, which she lifted and then hurled her body into a side spin, releasing the sword with her left arm and then hopping and twisting her body around, while dragging her sword above her head and attacking in a slamming position.

Naeve was taken off guard and drew the whip across her chest. She held it tightly with one hand and supported it in a linear posture with the other, then lifted it above her head. When Ayuka's sword collided with the whip's expanded form, the blade ejected a freezing blizzard of ice that burst out and instantly froze her arms.

While Naeve was taken aback, Ayuka landed on the floor, immediately bending her body back and rebounding back to a safe distance. She smiled as she stretched her arm forward to point the tip of her sword. To support and keep her right elbow motionless, she slowly began to move her left arm beneath it.

"You didn't think I could make ice with my sword, did you? The sword is a part of my Spiritual Core, so it's an extension of my power."

"Damn rat..."

Ayuka then rested her cheek on the blade's edge and closed her left eye, allowing her to focus on her target, Naeve, with ease. After then, the sword's tip began to charge up with energy. Ayuka unleashed its velocity for the ice to burst out into a lengthy growth of spikes that blasted ahead at fast speed as soon as it was completely charged.

It drew closer and closer to Naeve's face as she leaned back in shock and terror, unable to free herself from the frozen arms. She jumped out of the way to avoid the attack, but the next obstacle arose in front of her.

Karisa dashed toward Naeve while spinning her pole and slammed her pole into the bottom of Naeve's jaw, shattering her teeth in the process and forcing her to be stunned on the spot. Naeve kicked forward in rage, but her strike went straight through Karisa's body.

"A mirage?! How is that possible?! She didn't seem to have any special abilities!"

As she smiled and began to speak in numerous voices, a swarm of Karisa's mirages appeared all around Naeve, surrounded by mist. They were all different sizes, and some of them had unusual appearances.

"I don't have any unique abilities. I can use my weapon's powers to generate mirages of myself within the chilly area as long as there's enough hot air, so I'd say my pal over there definitely helped me out. So, now that you know what we're capable of... Can you still defeat us?"

To be continued...