Tidalia fight with the fake bain

Though Prince Khane and Arnin were far away, still riding in the dark, they could hear the sound of the burst of energy, like a distant thunderclap reverberating through the night, sending shivers down their spines.

Prince Khane turned his head, his eyes filled with worry, and Arnin observed him closely, sensing the turmoil within.

"You saw it. She's not just any demon; she can take care of herself," Arnin reassured him, his voice firm yet gentle, trying to ease the prince's anxiety as they continued to ride away, their horses' hooves pounding against the forest floor with a sense of urgency.

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Back where the eunuch stood, the burst of energy sent the rest of his men flying back from the impact. The shockwave hit not only the men but also the surroundings, causing trees to sway and leaves to scatter.

Driven by the instinct to survive, the eunuch paid no mind to the people he brought with him. His focus was solely on himself.

Tidalia stood unflinching on the road, her hair billowing from the breeze created by the energy burst. Her hands were casually clasped behind her back, as if the powerful blast was nothing more than a gentle wind to her.

The eunuch lowered his head, his eyes returning to normal.

"Why do you mortals like doing that? Do you feel a sense of greatness after that? It's not even much compared to demons I have fought with," Tidalia said, dusting her hair with a casual hand before extracting a small object from it.

She opened her palm, revealing the object as a small mirror. Gazing at her reflection, she assessed her disheveled hair with an annoyed expression.

Closing her eyes in frustration, she made the object small again and placed it back in her hair. "This old mortal ruined my hair. You shall pay!" she yelled, her eyes blazing with anger as she slapped the air.

"Bain!" the eunuch yelled, a protective force blocking Tidalia's attack just in time.

Tidalia chuckled, her eyes narrowing. "You've timed the fake to show up. I'll see who you are today," she said, a hint of amusement in her voice.

The eunuch immediately retreated on his horse, hiding behind a nearby building while still watching the scene unfold.

A figure materialized before them, clad in black robes. His face was obscured by a black fabric, revealing only his piercing eyes, and his hood was drawn low.

"That's a subject of mine. You shall not harm him any further," the man declared, his voice cold and authoritative.

Tidalia scoffed, her lips curling in disdain. "Subject? The fake really thinks highly of himself. Who do you think you are? How dare you, undeserving, steal the great lord's name. Do you even know who I am?" she said, her voice carrying an authoritative tone.

"I am Lord Bain. Who is the lowly one that thinks she is worthy to talk to me?" he said, pacing to the left, his eyes fixed on Tidalia.

"I feel your power. Work for me, instead of being proud of the little power you have, aquatic demon," the man said, his voice dripping with disdain.

Listening to the mysterious man, Tidalia felt disgusted and pissed off.

"Is it the necklace?" she said, holding the pearl necklace on her neck. "I feel a rage within me," she added, trying to cut it off from her neck.

Then she stopped, a thoughtful expression crossing her face. "Even when I was completely poor, I didn't sell it. I got it 200 years ago. I shouldn't waste something like this," she said, removing her hand from the necklace and glaring at the fake Bain.

Her eyes darkened, a dangerous glint appearing. "How bold. Your boldness is something else. Since the lord is not here, I shall teach you a lesson. You said you are Bain. Show me," she challenged, her voice low and threatening.

Tidalia then turned to water and disappeared into the ground.

The man raised his hand, and a red saber formed in his grasp. He pointed it to the ground, his eyes closed as he tried to sense where she would come from, his ears also alert.

Then she leapt from the ground in front of him, her eyes glaring. He immediately raised his sword and struck her. But as his sword struck, no blood came out, and she grinned slowly, her form unaffected.

Suddenly, a massive watery hand grabbed his neck and threw him to the ground with tremendous force, creating a crater from the impact. The hand, made entirely of water, continued to strangle him, tightening its grip.

The man struggled to remove the hand, gasping for breath.

Tidalia stood on a nearby roof, her hands folded across her chest, the ends of her gown billowing in the wind. She looked down at him with a triumphant expression.

"Look at that," she said, her voice filled with satisfaction.

The fake Bain looked up, his eyes blazing red with anger and frustration.

"Don't you know? For many years, no demon or immortal has been able to even touch his hair, let alone grab his neck. How dare you give yourself that name when you don't even have half of his power, you undeserving bold fox!" Tidalia yelled, her voice echoing through the night.

"I can't leave you like this," she said, shaking her head in disdain.

She extended her hand in front of her and walked along the roof. As she moved, the watery hand around the man's neck dragged him along the ground, leaving a trail of destruction.

Tidalia turned to look at the man, raising her hand, and the man was lifted into the air. "Don't even try to use your power. You'll end up killing yourself because it will only backfire with the hand of the deep ocean on your neck," she warned, dropping him to the ground again with a loud thud, creating another hole.

She flew down to the ground, her eyes filled with disgust as she looked at the man in the hole. Raising her hand, the watery hand mimicked her motion, lifting him and then slamming him back down.

Tidalia walked over to him and crouched, her face close to his bloody one. "Next time, if there will be a next time, you should steal the name of someone who is no joke. I won't be the one to end you. The lord is here in Essed, and he is aware of your lies and presence. Keep Essed sealed, maybe he will forgive you then," she said with a smile.

"I should see that ugly face of yours," she said, removing the hood from his head and the fabric that covered his mouth.

Her eyes widened in shock. "What?" she exclaimed.