As Corlissa was steadily making her way through the army, creating a path of death in her trail, the students of every magic academy were sent towards the battlefield.
“We must accept this, the younger generation has evolved. Perhaps they have already surpassed us, they will be the ones to save this world from the chaos named Corlissa Veronique,” Duke Eston Veronique commented as they watched the fight.
“We may have to admit our defeat if Corlissa has already lost her humanity and doesn’t hold back against her fellow peers,” spoke King Merillis.
“Isn’t she holding back right now?” the Grand Mage rhetorically questioned.
“What do you mean?” replied the King.
“We all know by now. Corlissa Veronique possesses 4 different magic attributes, isn’t the fact that she has yet to use any of them a testament to how she’s holding back?” retorted the Grand Mage.
“She could’ve lost her magic,” spoke Marquess Lancelot’s doppelganger.
“That’s not possible, it’s only been 2 weeks at most since we last saw her use her magic. What could’ve happened in such a small time that she would lose all of her magic?” responded Marquess Orvon Geraint.
“There are also no prior instances of people losing their magic,” explained Marquess Lancelot’s doppelganger.
“So it is inevitable, if the younger generation’s combined strength can’t stop her then no one can. Even we will have to submit to her wishes,” concluded the Grand Mage.
“We can only let fate take the reins,” Duke Veronique solemnly stated.
Corlissa glanced up, tilting her head towards the sky where she saw the people she had once been on friendly terms with, looking down at her, strategising to kill her.
The sound of clattering and galloping was gradually growing louder.
‘I suppose it’s time. I wonder if I will still be able to wake up tomorrow. Haa, such bothersome thoughts aren’t needed, it’s time to let the hero shine.’
“By the Blessing of God, I summon thee, answer my call, Lux!”
‘Haha, there’s only one person with lines as extravagant as hers. Be a good hero please.’
On the barren land painted with unmoving bodies, a giant soldier made of light was summoned. Their bow was already loaded, a scale was in front of it. The instant the scale became level, an arrow, destroying everything in its path, was fired at Corlissa.
No casualties again?
Corlissa was repositioned closer towards Evie Luxiere who was now floating in the air, her blade was drawn as her head faced the ground. The arrow that was meant to bring justice was ironically destructive, it brought chaos that the villain was the one to save lives.
‘You’re really not helping me look like much of a villain right now…’
The arrow that was previously going to actually kill everyone that was on the ‘good’ side was split by a single blade. When Corlissa glanced up to make eye contact with the blonde-haired girl, the usual playfulness in her gaze was no longer lingering there.
Every time they would spar together or be in a fight together, Corlissa’s eyes always held mockery or humour, yet this time, she was serious. Such a divergence from what Evie usually saw, was off-putting, she cowered away out of reflex.
“In the name of the Blessed Child of God, heed my call, Judgment of Life: Cupid’s Arsenal!”
A beautiful arrangement of thousands of arrows was erected from behind the Luxiere, the condensed light making Corlissa close her eyes to shield herself from damage.
Evie giggled under her breath seeing Corlissa blinded by her power, a malicious smirk unbefitting of her image of an innocent pure blessed child adorned her face.
‘This is revenge for all the suffering you put me through,’ Evie thought.
The Blessed Child raised her hand as if beckoning a person to fight, she directed the arrows at Corlissa.
Those arrows moved at the speed of light, no human reflexes would be able to save her from that, Corlissa was completely in her grasp. Not to mention the fact that her eyes were still closed, there would be no possible way to prevent the arrows from hitting her.
“How naive. Have you ever been pushed to the very limits of your sanity? I guess not, there are some things only crazy people can do and that is to control mana,” Corlissa taunted with little emotion in her voice.
A boundary, a domain of negation. Every type of magic is negated within a certain distance, this is strength.
“True Mana, this is what is giving me the upper hand.”
“HOW!? I’VE WANTED TO KNOW FOR SO LONG!! YOU DIDN’T TELL ME, NO ONE DID! HOW AM I MEANT TO CONTROL MANA? WHY CAN YOU OF ALL PEOPLE CONTROL MANA? YOU HAVE EVERYTHING I DON’T!!” Evie’s jealousy had finally shown in its pure form.
Corlissa merely replied with a pitiful gaze. She felt sorry for the fact that Evie was still under the influence of the lingering embers of the ‘demons’’ brainwashing but she hardened her gaze.
‘A villain feels no pain.’
“The truth to controlling mana is to be able to control your emotions no matter what situation. It does not mean to mask your emotions or hide them but to embrace them and be able to rise back from sinking into the depths of the human heart. To do so, you need to be on the brink of death countless times, until you understand what it means to die.”
A perplexed expression was easily visible on Evie’s face, she was confused, anyone would. There was never any news about Miss Veronique being close to death or even in a situation that harmed her. She was always at the top, beating everything, there was nothing that could rival her.
“How shameless, you dare to utter such lies as a traitor?” spoke the Crown Prince’s closest friend, Leonard Lancelot, who is also the son of the Commander of the 1st Knight Squadron, Marquis Rendall Lancelot.
‘Oof, I forgot that he would get salty if I kidnapped his best friend…’ the Veronique thought to herself.
Corlissa chuckled under her breath.
“Let’s not bother with unnecessary things now, I wonder why you were all sent here. I thought their pride was too large to send in children,” the blue-haired girl mocked.
Visible anger was plastered across Evie’s face as she let rage control her actions.
“In the name of the Blessed Child of God, heed my call! I summon thee, saviour of humanity, purveyor of justice, protector of integrity, Osmond!”
The Luxiere immediately became tired, she had drained most of her limited supply of mana. It was a foolish move, all because she was driven by anger.
A roar boomed from the sky as the clouds parted, a giant of light descended from the sky. A figure armed with a sword and a bow, dressed in a robe made of light, a being only known in folklore. No one was expecting a figure like that to actually be real nor to be summoned by Evie.
‘You say it’s for justice when you’re actually manipulating them to act according to your will, what righteousness is this?’ Corlissa said to Evie in her mind.
“In God’s place deliver justice!” Evie screamed.
The giant made of light raised their blade, with both hands holding it they slammed the blade down onto the Veronique which seemed quite unfair because it was a small figure against a towering giant that reached the clouds.
Corlissa only had a single blade, her only defence was a flimsy blade in comparison to the enormous blade made of light. When the large blade made contact with her sword she had a single thought.
‘What if I die?’
While Evie Luxiere held a smirk on her face, she looked as if she had already secured victory as she watched Corlissa’s tiny figure become covered by a being of light.
She enveloped her blade with mana as a preventative measure which unbeknownst to everyone else, was the extent of what she could do.
They were at a stalemate, Corlissa was surprisingly holding her ground despite her relatively minuscule weapon. Yet a crimson liquid began dripping out of her mouth before she overwhelmed the being of light and made it step backwards.
With blood in her mouth, her teeth dripping red, “HAHAHAHA, DID YOU REALLY THINK THAT WAS ENOUGH TO STOP ME?” Corlissa yelled, her face crazed.