Chapter 29: Gabrielle vs Zariel

Zariel paused in the air and looked at the two visitors, seeing a familiar face from her memory, she looked at the young girl, whose ethereal beauty could only be compared to hers, she then turned to look at the person next to her. Seeing Gabrielle for the first time, she was shocked to the core on how beautiful and elegant the woman is, she's a woman yet she's very tall than the average height, not only that the sizes of this woman dwarves her! What's more worse is that, her overall appearance is something that she can't match!

Zariel's first impression of her is annoyance.

Zariel flicked her sword, returning her gaze at Serana. The original soul of the body left a part of her soul which is filled of Jessica's experience with Serana, the time they'd spent together, but Zariel, who had fused with this part of soul is unable to determine what relationship Jessica and Serana have.

Serana's heart pounded in her chest, her mind reeling. She couldn't believe what she was seeing. Jessica, who she thought had died, was now a demon, poised to kill Skyler her own master!

Heart beating like never been before, Serana asked with her hands tightened, "Jessica, what happened to you?"

Zariel's eyes flickered, stayed quiet for a second before answering with a smirk. "Jessica is dead. I am Zariel. The demon princess that will conquer this mortal world!"

"Zariel… What did you do to Jessica's body!?" Serana's anger flared as she learned that the demon had possessed the body of her best friend. Jessica had already passed on, yet this demon had taken her body for her own use. Unforgivable!

"Save your breath," Zariel laughed. "It's none of your business. Your friend is dead and gone forever. Her body is mine as long as I live."

Before Serana could respond, Zariel's eyes flashed a demonic light, and she raised her sword. "But enough talk. It's time to end this."

Just as Zariel moved to strike, Gabrielle appeared in front of Serana, blocking the attack with her sword. The clash sent shockwaves through the air, the sheer force of their powers colliding causing the ground below to crack.

Gabrielle felt the power behind Zariel's strike, shocking her deeply. Her eyes quickly sharpened, and with a swift turn of her body, she aimed a kick directly at Zariel's stomach, sending her flying further away!

Gabrielle's quick strike surprised Zariel. She grunted and held her stomach, glaring fiercely at Gabrielle.

Gabrielle's eyes met Zariel's, her expression calm. "You will not harm a single hair of my disciple," she said, her voice steady.

Zariel's annoyance turned to fury. "You dare to interfere, human?!" Zariel then sneered, "Very well! All of you will die here!" She roared, demonic qi burst out from her body!

With a swift movement, Zariel launched herself at Gabrielle, their swords clashing in mid-air. The two warriors moved with incredible speed, their strikes creating sparks as metal met metal. Gabrielle's Frozen Star Sword Art contrasted sharply with Zariel's dark, demonic qi, creating a mesmerizing but deadly dance of ice and demonic fire.

Gabrielle executed the Frostbite technique, aiming to immobilize Zariel. However, the icy slash met Zariel's blade, freezing the air around them. Zariel countered with a burst of demonic qi, shattering the ice and forcing Gabrielle back.

Gabrielle quickly switched to the Glacial Sweep the moment she regained her balance, Gabrielle unleashed a horizontal slash, creating a wave of black ice. Zariel dodged with ease, her movements fluid and graceful. She retaliated with a powerful thrust, but Gabrielle blocked it with her Permafrost Defense, summoning a barrier of solid ice midair!

Bang!

Zariel's frustration grew as she realized Gabrielle was a formidable opponent, despite one rank below her. She decided to up the ante, summoning her own full demonic power. Dark energy swirled around her, enhancing her strength and speed.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Gabrielle, not to be outdone, activated Cryoform Armor, enveloping herself in a layer of enchanted black ice, these were the master class techniques of the frozen star sword art! Her defense and offensive capabilities were significantly enhanced, making her a match for Zariel's increased power.

The two clashed again, each strike resonating with immense power. Gabrielle unleashed the Icy Mirage technique, creating multiple illusory clones made of ice to confuse Zariel. The clones attacked, but Zariel, seeing through the ruse, shattered them with a wave of her sword by spinning fast, slicing through each clone with a sharp blade of demonic qi.

The continues attack of immortal grade offensive attacks made Zariel feel the exhaustion increasing as she tried to defend against them all. The strength that Gabrielle kept releasing is something she can't ignore. The unique property of her black ice is something she can't deal with properly. After dealing her ice clones, Zariel huffed.

Seeing an opening, Gabrielle launched the Absolute Zero Thrust, a powerful concentration of ice qi aimed at Zariel. The thrust penetrated Zariel's defenses, freezing her momentarily. She was extremely stunned by the unique attack, she bit her lips, and with a surge of demonic energy, Zariel broke free.

"Damn it all!" Zariel snarled, her eyes glowing with an intense, demonic light. She swung her sword, sending a wave of dark energy toward Gabrielle, who swiftly summoned a barrier of solid ice to block the attack.

Bang!

The ice wall cracked from the attack and fell apart, before it could be destroyed completely the energy her demonic sword strikes vanished.

The force of that clash sent shockwaves through the air, causing the ground beneath them to crack and tremble. Gabrielle pushed back against the dark energy, her eyes cold. "Is this all what can you do, demon princess?"

The two had fought mid-air both have been long gone in the Grey Mountain Sect vicinity.

With a powerful leap, Gabrielle closed the distance between them as she started with the offense, her sword a blur of icy precision. She executed a series of rapid slashes, each one infused with her Black Ice qi. Zariel struggled to keep up, her movements growing more frantic as the freezing energy began to take its toll.

Realizing she was being pushed back, Zariel unleashed a burst of demonic energy once more, creating a shockwave that sent Gabrielle flying back. But Gabrielle quickly regained her footing, her expression unyielding. She countered with a Cryo Wave, a powerful blast of icy energy that radiated outward, freezing everything in its path!

The wave hit Zariel squarely, forcing her to retreat further. Enraged, Zariel unleashed a series of dark energy blasts, each one aimed with deadly precision. Gabrielle dodged and deflected them with graceful ease, her movements fluid and calculated.

"You can't win, demon," Gabrielle said, her voice calm and steady. "Your power is formidable, but it's no match for my Frozen Star Sword Art." Her smile crept, feeling confident as she taunted.

"Silence!" Zariel screamed, her voice filled with fury. She launched herself at Gabrielle with renewed vigor, their swords clashing in a deadly dance. Gabrielle's ice-infused strikes met Zariel's dark energy, the impact of their blows creating a dazzling display of black light and shadow.

As they fought, Gabrielle gradually pushed Zariel back, their battle moving northward, away from the sect. The landscape around them grew colder and more desolate, the air filled with the biting chill of Gabrielle's Black Ice qi. Zariel's movements grew more erratic, her frustration evident!

"Die already! Die! Die!" Zariel spat, her eyes burning with hatred.

Gabrielle responded with a fierce slash, sending Zariel reeling. "Your repeated tricks are useless," she declared, her voice filled with resolve. "I will protect my disciple from the likes of you, demon."

With a powerful thrust, Gabrielle sent Zariel flying back once more, the demon princess crashing into the wall of the heavy fortifications of the Frostfall Forest. Zariel snarled, her demonic aura flaring as she struggled to her feet, she gripped her fist and smashed them hard on the walls. Making it shake hard.

The demons within the fortifications screamed as the sudden shock of the battle surprised them, after all this is the stronghold of the demons in this mortal world! It should be the safest place for them demons and yet, they've been actually injured and lost lives here!

The two continued their fierce battle within the area, the icy landscape becoming their battleground. Gabrielle's attacks were relentless, each one pushing Zariel further back. The demon princess, for all her power, found herself on the defensive, her anger growing with each passing moment.

"You're nothing but a nuisance!" Zariel screamed, her voice echoing through the forest.

Gabrielle's eyes narrowed, her expression cold and determined. "And you're nothing but a threat that needs to be eliminated."

With a powerful strike, Gabrielle sent Zariel crashing into the ground, the force of the impact creating a crater in the frozen earth. Zariel struggled to rise, her body battered and her energy waning.

Gabrielle stood over her, her sword poised for the final blow. "This ends now, demon."

Zariel's eyes flared with a dark, menacing energy as she raised her sword just in time to block Gabrielle's strike. The collision of their weapons sent a resounding shockwave through the air, rattling the frozen trees surrounding them. The two combatants glared at each other, their auras clashing with immense intensity.

"You underestimate me, human!" Zariel snarled, pushing Gabrielle back with a sudden surge of strength. She leaped to her feet, her majestic demonic aura blazing. "I am the daughter of the Demon Emperor! I will not be defeated so easily!"

Gabrielle's eyes narrowed, her grip tightening on her sword as she silently stared at the increasing strength of Zariel.

The battle erupted once more, their swords a blur of motion. Gabrielle's strikes were precise and calculated, each infused with the chilling power of her Black Ice qi. She moved with the grace and precision like a seasoned warrior, all thanks to her walkthrough of the skill, her every attack aimed at exploiting Zariel's weaknesses. The ground beneath her feet frosted over with each step, creating a frozen battlefield killing weaker demons nearby.

Most of the powerful demons have been dispatched to destroy other areas to expand the territory of these demons. Thus, they were unable to help their princess.

Meanwhile, Zariel countered with raw, unbridled fury. Her sword slashes were wild but powerful, driven by a deep well of demonic energy. She spun and twisted with a savage elegance, her movements unpredictable and chaotic. Her demonic aura flared around her, forming dark tendrils that lashed out at Gabrielle like serpents.

Gabrielle parried a particularly vicious strike, using the momentum to spin around and deliver a quick slash aimed at Zariel's side all thanks to the new movement technique she learned. Zariel deflected the blow with a grunt, countering with a powerful upward strike that Gabrielle narrowly avoided by leaping back. Ice shards flew from the impact, glittering in the cold air.

Seizing the opportunity, Zariel charged forward, her blade arcing toward Gabrielle's neck. Gabrielle ducked and rolled to the side, her sword slicing through the air in a wide arc to catch Zariel off guard. The blade connected with Zariel's side, cutting through her armor and drawing black blood. Zariel hissed in pain but retaliated with a fierce kick that sent Gabrielle staggering back.

Gabrielle seeing her bleeding wound, chuckled lightly, she didn't expect the first time she fight would be this intense and yet she's still winning. Wiping a trickle of blood from her smile. It also didn't mean she didn't took damage from the exchange, she gathered her black Ice qi once more, channeling it into her next attack. The air around her grew colder, frost creeping across the ground.

"you're a fool if you think I'll fall so easily," Zariel eyes stared at Gabrielle, her eyes burning with determination. She summoned her demonic energy, dark flames flickering along her blade. "I've conquered countries. I've crushed armies. I will not fall!"

The two clashed again, their auras creating a tempest of icy wind and dark fire. Gabrielle unleashed a series of rapid strikes, each one accompanied by a burst of cold that slowed Zariel's movements. Zariel countered with heavy, devastating blows, each strike leaving cracks in the frozen ground.

Gabrielle's sword glowed with a frosty blue light as she activated one of her advanced techniques, Cryo Wave. She slashed the air, sending a powerful wave of icy energy toward Zariel. The wave crashed into Zariel, freezing her in place for a brief moment. Gabrielle followed up with a quick thrust, aiming to pierce Zariel's heart.

But Zariel roared in defiance, shattering the ice with a burst of demonic energy. She swung her sword in a wide arc, forcing Gabrielle to leap back to avoid being cleaved in two. Zariel's eyes were filled with a mixture of fury and respect. "You've pushed me far enough, human. Now, take this!"

With a guttural scream, Zariel's demonic aura intensified, dark flames erupting from her body. She charged at Gabrielle with renewed ferocity, her strikes faster and more powerful!

Gabrielle found herself on the defensive, parrying and dodging as best as she could. She gritted her teeth as the clash between them made the ground shake with each clash of their swords, the very air crackling with energy.

Gabrielle gritted her teeth, knowing she had to end this quickly. She activated another technique, Permafrost Defense, summoning a barrier of solid ice to block one of Zariel's powerful strikes. The barrier held for a moment before shattering, but it gave Gabrielle the opening she needed. She leaped forward, her sword glowing with an intense icy black light as she aimed for Zariel's chest.

Zariel twisted her body, avoiding the lethal strike, but Gabrielle's blade grazed her royal robes. Zariel saw it with her eyes, her demonic energy flaring even brighter. "You'll pay for that-"

Gabrielle didn't give her a chance to recover. She launched a powerful kick right to her face!

Bang!

Zariel almost face planted into the ground with that kick, she staggered back and held her face, a shoe mark appeared on her exquisite face. She was so shocked that she didn't think this woman would actually kick the face of the same gender! Where's your mutual respect between ladies!?

With a roar, Zariel summoned a massive wave of dark fire, engulfing the area in flames. Gabrielle was forced to retreat, shielding herself with her ice qi. The flames clashed with the ice, creating a mist of steam that obscured their vision. But Gabrielle's eyes were sharp, and she saw her opening.

She gathered all her remaining Black Ice qi, channeling it into her final attack. Her sword glowed with an intense black light, frost spreading along its length. "This ends now, demon!" she shouted, lunging forward with all her strength.

Zariel saw the attack coming and summoned her demonic energy for a final defense. Their swords clashed with a thunderous impact, the force of their collision sending shockwaves through the forest, throwing the demons like ragdolls. Gabrielle's ice qi battled with Zariel's dark flames.

As the two clash raged on, back at the Grey Mountain Sect, Serana's heart was pounding. She had watched in horror as Gabrielle and Zariel, now revealed as her best friend Jessica, had fought with a ferocity she had never witnessed. With Gabrielle and Zariel now fighting far from the sect, she seized the moment to check on the wounded Skyler, Jessica's master.

Rushing over to the injured elder, Serana found Skyler lying on the cold ground, her breaths shallow and labored. Blood stained her robes, and her severed arm lay nearby, a grim reminder of the ferocity of the battle she had with the demon princess.

"Cough cough." Skyler faintly coughed as blood kept leaking from all of her crevices. She looked to the side and saw Victor had already passed out or died; her vision was hazy.

"Elder Skyler!" Serana cried out, dropping to her knees beside her. "Please, hold on!"

Skyler's eyes fluttered, a weak smile playing on her lips as she saw Serana. "Serana," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "You must be strong."

Tears formed on her eyes as a single tear dripped down Serana's cold face as she tried to staunch the flow of blood from Skyler's wounds. "Elder, I'm sorry we're not able to arrive in time."

"Right, I have pills that master gave me. Please eat this, it's an earth grade healing pills." Realizing she had more pills as Gabrielle gave her more before coming down the mountain, when she was about to push the pill into her mouth, Skyler shook her head weakly.

Her gaze intense despite her weakening state. "It'll not work… I've burned my blood essence to use sword energy… Don't blame yourself, It's not your fault, Serana. Listen to me. You must save Jessica. She's still in there, I know, I saw it with my own eyes.."

Serana's heart ached at the mention of Jessica. The revelation that Zariel was her best friend, thought lost, now a demon princess, was almost too much to bear, she promised to eradicate all the demons, but her best friend became a demon herself. Serana believes Skyler wasn't lying about Jessica still there within the demon princess, "But how, Skyler? How can I save her?"

Skyler's hand reached up, trembling, to grasp Serana's. "Believe in her, Serana. Fight for her. She's been consumed by darkness, but she can still be saved. Promise me you'll try, my only wish is for her to live happy…"

"I promise, Skyler," Serana choked out, clutching Skyler's hand tightly. "I'll save her, no matter what."

Skyler's eyes softened, a hint of peace settling over her features. "Good... she's my youngest and the only person that loved me… take this." Her hand trembled as she took something in her pocket, she gave it to Serana.

Serana took it, when she saw it. It was a wooden comb…

As Skyler's eyes began to close, her grip on Serana's hand loosened. "Elder, no! Please don't leave." Serana sobbed, but she knew the end was near.

With her final breath, Skyler whispered, "Save Jessica... she… deserve to live..."

Skyler's hand fell limply to the ground, and her body grew still. Serana's heart shattered as she realized Skyler was gone. She closed her eyes, letting her tears fall freely as she grieved.

…