Part Twelve

Isadora lands on her feet with cat-like agility, despite the ferocity of Orion's assault. However, before she can fully regain her composure, Tara is already there, waiting behind her. Tara's jade bracelet emits a bright glow, signaling the release of her power. With a swift palm strike, she hits Isadora on the back with full force, propelling her across the lake.

Mid-air, Isadora coughs, spattering blood from the sheer impact of Tara's hit. Tara, with a mix of regret and determination in her voice, says, "We're so sorry for this, but you are the biggest threat here."

As Isadora lands, she contorts her body at a 90-degree angle, narrowly dodging an attack from Axl, whose mechanical prosthetic arm whizzes past where she was just a moment ago. Orion, not missing a beat, charges at her, his sword raised for another strike.

In response, Isadora lifts her sword, blocking Orion's attack. The collision sends shockwaves through the area, a testament to the immense power behind both combatants. Orion, a grin spreading across his face, can't help but admire her resilience. "Seriously, you're amazing. Just how are you still up?" he exclaims, his voice laced with a mix of respect and excitement.

Attempting to create some distance from this newly arrived team, Isadora jumps back. But her efforts are interrupted by the sound of laughter. "Hahahahaha! I am the queen, so bow down!" Cassia's voice rings out, filled with mischief and confidence. She casts a huge magic circle, and in an instant, a blast of fire, akin to a powerful laser, shoots out towards Isadora.

Isadora, caught in mid-air, flips her body, trying to slice through the relentless flames. The constant barrage makes it difficult to find an opening. Her eyes widen slightly as she senses another presence above her.

Azura, coated in a dense aura, appears from above. With a powerful strike, he sends Isadora crashing down into the lake, causing a massive impact that sends water spraying into the air.

Cassia, her eyebrows knitting in frustration, shouts, "Who the hell are you to steal my win!?" Her annoyance is palpable, her moment of triumph interrupted by Azura's sudden intervention.

Azura, spitting out blood from the exertion and ongoing battle, retorts, "We've been fighting her the longest, so back off!" His voice carries a mix of pain and indignation, emphasizing their prolonged struggle against Isadora.

Orion, with calculated aggression, charges at Azura. "You fuckers are pathetic bastards that only decided to come out once Isadora lost some energy!" Azura shouts, his voice laced with disdain. Without even turning to face his attacker, Azura covers his hand in a dense aura and counters Orion's sword strike, creating a powerful impact. "You're all fucking weak compared to her," he snarls, his contempt for the others' tactics evident.

Orion, unfazed by Azura's rebuke, grins cheekily. "Come on, we're just being smart about it. Why waste our energy?" he retorts, his smile reflecting a strategic mindset rather than cowardice.

In the midst of their exchange, Quinn appears, her daggers glinting dangerously close to Cassia. However, Tara anticipates the attack and shoves Cassia out of harm's way just in time. She then blocks Quinn's strike with her jade bracelet, a defensive move that saves Cassia from a fatal blow.

Quinn grits her teeth in frustration. "You again, I'll beat you this time, you fucker!" she exclaims, her eyes burning with a mix of anger and determination.

Cassia, visibly shaken by the close call, shouts, "What the hell! I almost died... Kill her, Tara! Kill her!" Her voice is a mixture of fear and command, urging Tara to eliminate the threat.

As the battle rages on, a sudden change in the atmosphere catches everyone's attention. They feel the disappearance of Isadora's aura, a development that leaves them momentarily confused. Sylvie voices the question on everyone's mind: "Did she lose?"

Elina, joining Tara at her side, shakes her head. "Of course she didn't fucking lose, she's hiding her aura. We need to stop fighting each other and fight—" Her words are cut short as a collective gasp escapes the group. All eyes turn upwards as Isadora appears above them, her presence unexpected and formidable.

Azura, instinctively preparing to block an anticipated sword strike, raises his arms in defense. But Isadora cleverly bluffs, instead delivering a powerful kick from the side. Azura is sent flying across and out of the lake, his body creating a massive impact as it hits the ground.

In the next instant, Isadora targets Elina, her sword slicing through the air with deadly precision. However, to Isadora's surprise, her blade cuts through an illusion. Elina's strategic foresight had created a deceptive image, allowing her to evade what would have been a lethal strike.

Orion and Tara join forces to counter Isadora's relentless onslaught. Orion lifts his sword while Tara uses her bracelet, both straining under the immense pressure of Isadora's attacks. They are gradually pushed back, their feet beginning to sink into the water's surface under the sheer force. "J-just how the hell is she so strong!?" Cassia screams, thrown back by the shockwave of the impact, despite not being directly involved.

Orion, despite the strain, manages a grin. "L-look at her. She's starting to look tired, we just need to hold out a bit longer!" he encourages, trying to rally the group's spirits.

Suddenly, Quinn and Knox emerge next to Isadora. Knox, with all his might, aims a powerful punch at her, while Quinn's blades target her with lethal intent. However, Isadora, using the momentum from her clash with Orion and Tara, propels herself backward, evading their combined attack. She flips mid-air, quickly repositioning herself for a counterattack.

Just as she seems ready to strike back, another team joins the fray. Gareth, with his imposing muscular frame, grins confidently. "Hahahah! I won't lose this time!" he exclaims, clenching his fist and launching a formidable strike at Isadora. She blocks with her left hand, but the force is so great it pushes her into the lake, breaking her arm.

Submerged, Isadora assesses her injury, gauging how much mobility she has left in her damaged arm. As she leaps out of the water, ready to retaliate, she finds herself immobilized. Looking down, she sees the water clinging to her, manipulated by Elara's magic from a distance. "I'm sorry, Isadora! I promise to make it up when the test is over!" Elara calls out apologetically.

Mira, seizing the opportunity, charges at Isadora with a fierce grin. As Mira closes in, Isadora decides to block by simply grabbing her arm. However, Orion reappears behind her, sword raised for a strike. Reacting swiftly, Isadora coats her sword in a hardened layer of aura and, with impeccable timing, hurls it at Elara. Elara screams and dodges, severing her control over the water binding Isadora.

Isadora, now freed, dodges at a 45-degree angle, creating massive waves on the water's surface as she attempts to gain distance. But her escape is cut short by Zara, who appears in front of her, launching a series of sword strikes. Isadora uses the strikes as stepping stones, leaping away with incredible agility.

In mid-air, her leg is suddenly struck by an arrow, sending a jolt of lightning through her body. The shock is intense, momentarily paralyzing her.

As Isadora is mid-air, coughing up blood, the intensity of the battle reaches a new peak. She grimaces in pain, forcefully ripping the arrow out of her foot. Her situation is dire – surrounded by Eamon, Zara, Orion, Quinn, Gareth, Calder, Mira, Axl, and Tara, who close in on her from all directions. In the distance, Elara, Rami, Remy, Ariadne, and Cassia stand ready, their magic circles glowing ominously, poised for a coordinated assault. The rest of the combatants watch with bated breath, anticipating the outcome of this critical moment.

Despite the desperate circumstances, Isadora looks around and, for the first time, lets out a heavy sigh. Her situation is bleak – she's weaponless, her left arm is broken, and more than 70% of her aura has been depleted. The odds are overwhelmingly against her, with no apparent avenue for escape or retaliation.

However, in a sudden, unexpected twist, a massive gust of wind, powerful enough to be felt across the entire battlefield, sweeps through the area. This colossal burst of wind sends everyone flying, scattering the attackers and disrupting their formation. The sheer force of the wind is enough to throw even the most steadfast combatants off balance, creating a moment of chaos and confusion.

In the midst of this turmoil, as Isadora struggles to gather her bearings while lying on the ground, a figure descends from above and lands directly on her. The impact of the landing adds to Isadora's exhaustion and injuries, leaving her even more vulnerable.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Isabella's POV

Clicking my tongue in frustration, I survey the situation from my elevated vantage point on the ice cylinder. "Tsk, so they're the reason we can't move from here," I mutter, my gaze shifting to the forest. A group of four is making their way towards us, inadvertently driving the monsters in our direction. Their approach is steady, yet it brings chaos in its wake.

I sit comfortably on the ice, turning my attention back to Isadora. A light chuckle escapes me. "Haha, how pathetic. To think they are all working together to fight her," I muse, amused by the scene unfolding before me. "It goes to show the lack of experience they have. Using their strength at random without organizing is stupid, but what can I expect from stupid people? At this point, Isadora will lose. And even if we want to help her..." My voice trails off as I glance downward, noting the constant stream of monsters fleeing from the forest towards us.

I ponder over what action to take next. "Hmm... what should I do..." As I contemplate, my attention is suddenly drawn to my MST. I pull it out, puzzled, and see a message from an unknown code.

[This is V, I can feel the vibrations from underground. If Isadora is struggling, just throw Biana at her, those two fight well together.]

I frown, wondering how V obtained my contact. "Huh? When did this guy get my contact? No, how?" I type back, [How did you get my contact?], but receive no response.

Growing more curious and slightly annoyed, I send another message, [I asked you a question.], only to be met with silence again. "What is he doing underground?" I murmur, my eyes returning to Isadora. She's on the brink of defeat, and it's clear we're at a disadvantage.

Looking down, I see Biana sleeping soundly, oblivious to the chaos around her. "Tsk, this annoying girl..." With a sigh, I cast a magic circle, lifting Biana into the air. She groans, waking up in confusion. "What the hell is going on?" she mumbles, disoriented.

Without a word, I start casting a series of magic circles, stacking six in total. The fierce winds they summon whip around us, creating a vortex of energy. With precise control, I send Biana flying straight towards Isadora, her trajectory so fast it takes less than a second.

Now, with Biana on her way to aid Isadora, I turn my focus back to the approaching group from the forest. "Now to deal with the ones approaching..."

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Yawning and stretching, I mumble to myself, "Where did that bitch send me?" as I rub my eyes, trying to adjust to my new surroundings. Glancing down, I find myself perched on top of Isadora. "Ugh? What the hell is she doing here?" I blink a couple more times, and our eyes meet. I try to stifle a laugh, but it's no use.

Bursting into laughter, I roll off her and onto the ground. "Hahahahahahaha! Look at you!" I can't help but find the situation hilariously ironic. The great Isadora, usually so composed and formidable, now lies bruised and bleeding beneath me.

I whip out my MST and snap a few pictures, still chuckling. "This is great! The great Isadora on the ground, all bruised up and bleeding," I comment, amused by the rare sight. It's not every day you get to see someone like Isadora in such a state.

As I'm reveling in the moment, I overhear someone(Cassia) asking, "Who the hell is that?" I pause and glance around, starting to count the number of people surrounding us. "1... 4... 7... 12... 14..." The realization of how outnumbered we are only makes me laugh harder. "Hahahahaha! Oh shit, this is funny. Fuck, this shit really made my day," I say, stretching out comfortably.

(Orion) One of the combatants recognizes me and remarks, "The infamous lazy girl Biana who sleeps all day. Your reputation precedes you since you decided to wear pajamas and hold a pillow. Hey, can you just move aside? We just need to take her crown."

Tilting my head, I look at him quizzically. "Who the fuck are you?" Like, seriously, who does he think he is? I can't help but grin at the absurdity of it all. Deciding to have a bit of fun, I sit down on Isadora, making myself comfortable. "I have the high ground, bitches. I dare you to attack me," I challenge them playfully.

Sitting atop Isadora, I think to myself, I'm going to help you out, Isadora, since you made my day. This whole situation is too amusing to pass up, and besides, it's not like I have anything better to do.