Eleanor vs River part 3 (Thunder Plunge!)

In the silent embrace of trees, where sunlight was shining through the gaps between the towering trees and the air was filled with the chirping of birds, Marthanda and Eleanor were having a walk after her morning practice.

"Those types of moves are called Core Infusion." said Marthanda.

As soon as he said that line, Eleanor recalled a memory from a year ago where she had heard that word from Madam Jaleh.

"Core Infusion...." repeated Eleanor. 

*A year ago, when Sir Rain demonstrated his archer to the students*

"Has something happened to Sir Rain?" asked Eleanor.

"No, why do you ask.?" replied Madam Jaleh.

"Because you asked Sir Rain to rest his arms. Is it because of the archery he used.?"

"Ahh, that," she said. "It's that Core Infusion—the Cosmic Dive. He can only use it one time a day. After that, his arms go completely numb." 

"Hmm, I've seen it once," said Eleanor.

"Ohh, where?" asked Marthanda, walking casually a step ahead of Eleanor.

"In my kingdom. Our sir demonstrated his Infusion weapon, which was an archer," said Eleanor. "Then I got to know that the move he showed us was his Core Infusion."

"I see, so what did you observe there?"

*Tap*

Eleanor stops on her toes, and sensing that, Marthanda also stops and turns towards her.

"What happened? Why did you stop?" asked Marthanda, curiously looking at her.

"It...It...It was awesome!" Said Eleanor, with an excited face and spreading her arms in the air to gesture at the things she saw that day. "First, we were like, Where will he attack, as he was just standing on plain ground? Then, we saw him aiming his bow straight above him, towards the sky. Sir Rain's stance before releasing his arrow was looking so coool."

Eleanor was speaking with so much excitement and speed that it left Marthanda's mouth open in shock.

"And then the ground started vibrating. We were at a much greater distance than him, yet we were still feeling it below our feet, and then the most mesmerising part was when suddenly we saw golden-coloured energy particles seeping out from the ground and getting collected at the tip of his arrow. Then he released it by saying, —COSMIC DIVE!! The golden flash of an arrow went up so fast and showered countless arrows down on the ground."

Huff*

"Yea, so...that's what I saw," said Eleanor, a little out of breath.

....

Marthanda couldn't reply to anything in return. He was too stunned to speak, as he had barely seen this side of Eleanor.

Pfft*

Marthanda's lips curled upward, releasing a soft laugh.

"Why are you laughing?" said Eleanor, a little offended. "I am not lying. I mean it."

"I know," replied Marthanda. "It's nothing. Ignore me."

"Hmph!!" expressed Eleanor, with a pout on her face.

"Yes, that's right," said Marthanda, folding his arms with a serious face. "That's how Core Infusion feels and looks. It's a sure-kill move."

"..."

"The ground starts shaking, the aura starts collecting, and we feel like something is coming," said Marthanda. "Remember that feeling; someday you will be facing it, and the only way to win against an attack like that is to use your own Core Infusion in response."

"Yes, Master."

———————

Eleanor's mind echoed with her master's words as she stood witness to the same scene before her.

River stood tall as he glared at Eleanor. The earth beneath them trembles, and the crow's caws blend with the crackling of lightning that started emerging around River's body.

"River..." expressed Eleanor.

Just then, River shifted his stance, drawing one leg back, stretching, while bending the other knee forward, his right arm extending behind him, clutching his dagger. His left arm remained rigid, aimed directly at Eleanor. The lightning began to gather around his blade with a loud crackling noise. Eleanor couldn't suppress her instincts—surge of fear that made her take a step back.

*Gulps* Eleanor is confused in her mind about whether to run away or use her Infusion, or if that'll even be effective if she uses it right now.

—Just then, with a slow gesture, before Eleanor could even blink, River opened his mouth and said two words,

"THUNDER PLUNGE."

And he propelled himself with a thunderous sound that filled the space with an ominous energy.

"SHIT!!!" said Eleanor as she instinctively raised her knife in a desperate attempt to defend herself. 

"Patukappu"—in that flash of moment, a word echoed in the air that no one paid attention to. 

River's attack was relentless. With a force that seemed beyond human, he overpowered Eleanor's defence, sending her hurtling through the air. They went past the shrine and tore through the forest, the sound of splintering wood and crashing branches. Eleanor took all the hits, struck by trees and sliced by anything that dared cross their path. Finally, with a sudden release, River let go, but the momentum sent Eleanor tumbling backward, blood spilling from her mouth as her body finally collided with a large tree and stopped.

Thud*

Eleanor's Witchcraft falls to the ground beside her, leaving her grasp. Her body isn't moving, and she doesn't seem to be breathing. The long jacket she was wearing is not on her body anymore as it burned away; her black tank top has been torn on the sides, and blood splattered on her chest as she lay there lifeless.

Huff* Huff*

Stands River out of breath in the middle of the trees, looking at Eleanor's body from the distance.

Chuckles*

He lets out a small laugh. Which doesn't seem to be for his victory but a realisation of something.

"You fucking Geezer!" River said, smiling. He slowly turns his face back towards the shrine.

"Saving your student even in that condition? Huhh!?"

*Cough*

Marthanda kneeled halfway, his body in blood, just outside of the shrine.

"Ri-ver...." said Marthanda. "Stop..."

"You used Patukappu on her," replied River. "Just before I landed my attack."

"Stop..."

"Mother fucker!" said River. "Thunder Plunge would've spilled her in half if not for that spell."

He walks towards the shrine, leaving Eleanor's body untouched.

"Is there any point in doing this now?" said River. "You both are going to die anyway." Her body is in no good condition anymore."

Huff*

"Kill me," said Marthanda. "But let her go."

"Hahaha!" River laughed out loud. "Now we are talking."

As Eleanor lay immobile, River walked towards Marthanda to kill him off.