Part 1: The Fall of the Steel Warrior
The explosion resulting from the collision between Acier's "Valkyrie Impact" and Vanica's curse magic, amplified by Megicula, was disastrous. The garden of the Silva mansion shook with the intensity of the shock, and a wave of black energy spread across the place.
Acier, seriously injured by the curse magic, was thrown away like a broken doll. Her body collided with a group of trees before finally falling to the ground, inert. Faint curse marks spread across her skin, and she seemed to be on the verge of unconsciousness.
Vanica remained standing on the battlefield, her maniacal laughter echoing through space as she watched the devastating result of her attack. Her curse aura continued to surround her, pulsing with a dark and sinister power. Her eyes were fixed on Acier, and there was an insatiable thirst for more destruction in them. She wanted to prolong her opponent's suffering.
With an agile movement, Vanica decided to fly to where Acier was semi-conscious. She descended before the fallen warrior, her feet touching the ground with a softness that contrasted with her violent nature.
She looked at Acier, fallen and weakened, with a cruel smile on her lips.
"Is that all you have Acier?" She sneered, her laughter echoing like a dark echo through the devastated garden. "I expected more from someone of your reputation."
With a dismissive kick, Vanica struck Acier, as if she wanted to provoke her to get up and continue the fight. The warrior, however, had no strength to react. Each blow was agony, but she refused to show weakness in the face of her enemy.
Nozel, who had helplessly witnessed his mother's defeat, was filled with anger and despair. He knew he couldn't do anything about her, but her heart was filled with deep sorrow as he watched her suffer.
As Nozel watched, the explosion that occurred during the collision between the spells was so powerful that it sent the nearby bushes, where he was hiding with Noelle, flying into the air.
He was hit by the impact and thrown back, while Noelle cried intensely in fear. Luckily, he managed to protect her from the Impact, but he himself suffered some damage.
However, luck was on their side. Two female magic knights, who were protecting the interior of the Mansion, witnessed the explosion and flew towards the location. They quickly rescued Nozel and Noelle from the wreckage, protecting them with their magic.
One of the knights was an expert in healing magic and began applying her spells to Nozel and Noelle to ensure their safety, while the other maintained a protective barrier around them. Nozel looked at her younger sister with relief as the healing magic took effect, calming Noelle's sobs.
Part 2: Vanica's Cruelty
Acier, despite being in a pitiful state, felt relieved to see that someone had come to save his children. His heart was heavy due to the pain he felt from not being able to protect them, but at least they were safe now.
She was lying on the ground, her body marked by faint signs of Vanica's curse magic, but the determination in her eyes remained firm.
However, Vanica did not intend to give Acier a moment's peace. She continued to kick her and taunt her, as if to provoke her to get up and continue the fight. Each blow was a challenge, an attempt to break the steel warrior's will.
"What happened? Are you so weak you can't even stand up?" Vanica laughed as she threw the kicks. "Come on, show me you still have some fight left in you Acier!"
As Vanica continued to taunt her opponent, her eyes turned to where Acier was looking previously.
She noticed the relief on Acier's face and followed her gaze to the place where the children were who looked a lot like the warrior.
It was obvious to Vanica that these children were important to Acier, probably her children. A psychotic smile spread across her face when she made that connection.
She then came up with a cruel idea to motivate Acier to get up and continue the fight.
With a quick and brutal movement, Vanica quickly advanced towards the two female magic knights who had rescued Nozel and Noelle.
Before the knights could react, Vanica mowed them down with her blood magic, their lives being brutally taken in an instant.
She then picked up Nozel and Noelle, who were stunned by what they just witnessed, and brought them close to Acier, whose gaze was more deadly than painful at that moment.
Vanica was determined to use these children as pawns in her sadistic game.
With a twisted smile, Vanica faced Acier and said in her insanity-filled voice, "See, Acier, I have brought your children to you. Now, you have a choice: do you stand up and continue to fight me, or watch helplessly as I I take their lives right in front of you. What will it be?"
Nozel, who was terrified of Vanica's cruelty and his little sister's life in danger, looked desperately at his fallen mother, hoping for some kind of miracle to happen.
To be continued...
Author's notes: Some details about this fight are different from the manga, the moment when Vanica threatens Acier's children, to put it mildly. But don't get too attached to these details, it's just a fanfic, things don't have to be completely like the main story.