As Anos' enigmatic challenger stepped onto the stage, a silence enveloped the entire Academy arena, with students looking on in a mix of confusion and surprise at the opponent's distinctive appearance.
"What?"
"What's going on?"
"Is this some kind of illusion?"
As these uncertain whispers danced through the air, Anos considered the figure before him. She was short, her head reaching just to his chest, yet she carried an air of indomitable strength. Her arms were crossed, and her eyes—golden and piercing—studied him intently. Her black hair hung long and straight, framing a face that was both youthful and timeless.
Her attire was a sleek, form-fitting battle outfit that blended fantasy elements with a modern twist that felt out of place for Anos since this was the first time he saw modern aesthetics. The ensemble was primarily black, adorned with accents of gold and silver, giving her a regal yet formidable appearance. Her high-tech armor was lightweight, intricately designed to offer protection while allowing for maximum agility. The futuristic design of the armor was highlighted by silver runes that glowed subtly, hinting at a hidden power.
Encircling her neck, a choker bore a tiny dark gem that pulsed with a soft light, a potent and enigmatic relic that appeared to somehow disrupt Anos's formidable sensory powers. The bracelets adorning her wrists were not only fashionable but also seemed to conceal a purpose that eluded even Anos's keen perception, faintly resonating with the energies of a hidden dimension. Her combat-ready boots, crafted with crystalline reinforcements at the toes and soles, cast prismatic hues with each step she took, enhancing the aura of mystery that surrounded her.
"Interesting, upon closer inspection, you are quite the intriguing monster, demon," she remarked, her voice steady and calm as she locked eyes with Anos.
Anos smiled in response, amused by her boldness and intrigued by her unique aura.
"Oh? You can discern my true nature? Fascinating. You're no ordinary being yourself, Rivide," he replied, his interest piqued. Then without giving the girl a chance to respond, Anos nonchalantly unleashed Rivide across the entire capital city. Time froze, painting the world in shades of gray, but to his slight astonishment, the unknown girl remained unaffected, merely tilting her head in bewilderment.
"Trying to bind me, demon? Ha, you're just squandering your mana. It's futile, I possess numerous conceptual immunity passive skills. Time itself is a concept I am unbound by, your world's laws do not constrain me."
"...Forgive my abruptness, young lady. My intent was merely to create a private space for our dialogue."
"Private? You mean these ordinary humans caught in your magic spell?"
Her gaze swept the arena, as if noticing the frozen students for the first time, then she glared back at Anos.
"I don't see why a monster of your caliber would even bother with these weaklings."
"..."
"Oh, I got it now. So you just figured out I'm a real threat and now you're backpedaling with some lame excuse? Tsk, I've annihilated countless smartass Archdemons like you before, your petty mind tricks are ineffective against me. Hmph."
Anos faced her stern look with a serene expression, his smile steady. "Ah, you see, young lady, in this world, even those who appear inconsequential can have critical roles. My actions, though sudden, are not aimless."
The girl, still scowling, appeared to contemplate his statement. "Roles? Inconsequential? Your words are cryptic, my guy. Just what value could you, a monster, possibly see in these innocent humans?"
"It's not about their worth, but the potential they hold. Each person here is a thread in the intricate tapestry of this world's destiny. As for you, you're an anomaly, a thread that doesn't quite belong. That's what interests me…"
The girl's golden eyes narrowed slightly. "An anomaly? A thread out of place? Flattering, really, but I'm not some puzzle for you to solve, jerk. And seriously, cut it out with the sneaky clairvoyance spells. It's annoying."
She then added, with a pointed look, "You don't even have manners, do you? Always poking around where you can't see through? Here's a free tip: stop doing that. One day, you'll tick off someone you really shouldn't mess with."
Anos, maintaining his smile, responded, "Your annoyance is noted, and while I appreciate your advice, the spells I've used are as beneficial for you as they are for me. It's rare to meet someone who not only stands outside the laws of this world but also carries items of such unique essence."
As Anos offered his explanation with an unwavering smile, the girl in front of him seemed to ponder his words. Then, with an air of nonchalance, she reached into a swirling void that materialized out of thin air beside her. Her hand emerged clutching a pack of cigarettes, which seemed to be drawn from the depths of an unseen dimension. The void snapped shut with a whisper, vanishing as quickly as it had appeared.
With a deft movement, she pulled a cigarette from the pack, placed it between her lips, and with a casual flick of her fingers, a flame sprung to life, lighting the cigarette in an instant. She inhaled deeply, the end glowing a fierce orange, before sending the pack back into the void with a flick of her wrist, where it disappeared once more.
Exhaling a stream of smoke, she finally addressed Anos, her tone more even now, the edge of her scowl giving way to a look of calculated curiosity. "So, what's the plan, demon? You going to throw down with me, try to snuff out the unknown wrench in your little 'world domination plan'?" The words hung in the air, laced with smoke and sarcasm, a playful sneer dancing on her lips as she awaited his response, the ember of her cigarette burning like a tiny star against the dim of the arena.
Anos' laughter rippled through the tense atmosphere, a sound that seemed to hold the echoes of countless ages. "World domination? That's a trifle, hardly worth the effort," he replied, his hand cutting through the air with a dismissive gesture, brushing aside her sarcasm as effortlessly as scattering mist. "Your provocation, though... it's not the clash itself that interests me—it's the rhythm, the potential for a workout that you 'might' present. It's fortuitous, really. I've been searching for something... stimulating. I trust you'll provide at least that much, won't you?" His words, steeped in both amusement and challenge, hung between them, an invitation to the dance of power that lay ahead.
The silence of the arena was broken only by the crisp sound of her inhaling from the cigarette, a stark contrast to the frozen tableau around them. She exhaled, the smoke twisting and turning like the thoughts in her mind.
"A workout, you say?" she quipped, the smoke framing her smirk. "Well, isn't that an interesting way to phrase a battle of cataclysmic powers. I must say, demon, your methods of exercise are quite unconventional."
Her eyes, golden and unyielding, held a glint of amusement as she appraised him, a predator assessing another. "But let's cut to the chase, shall we? I'm not one for idle chit-chat. So let's see if your little 'workout' can satisfy my appetite for excitement."
She dropped the cigarette to the ground, snuffing it out with a twist of her boot, the prismatic light flickering out with the dying ember. The air seemed to hum with anticipation, and even the stillness of the time-locked arena couldn't dampen the electric charge of the moment.
Anos nodded, the smile never leaving his face, but his eyes sharpened, a clear recognition of her hidden power and the thrill of the unknown. "Very well," he began, "I suppose introductions are in order. I am An—"
But before he could continue, she interjected while cracking her knuckles, "Anos Voldigoad, huh? The Demon King of Tyranny. How… cliche."
Anos paused, a rare flicker of surprise crossing his features. She had stolen the words from his mouth, her knowledge of him apparent, and with it, a certain audacity that few had ever dared to show.
With the cigarette extinguished and the silence once again enveloping them, she took a step forward, her boots glowing faintly as the distance between them closed. "And I," she began, her voice now carrying the weight of her own legend, "am known as Empress Elara. Once a mere human of Earth and now the Cosmic Archmage Blade Master, the gamer who dances through realities, the whisper in the multiverse."
Empress Elara's declaration resonated in the still air of the arena, her words carrying the weight of innumerable worlds. The students, suspended in time, were oblivious to the monumental confrontation unfolding before them.
Anos, undeterred by her revelation, raised an eyebrow, his intrigue deepening. "Elara, the Cosmic Archmage Blade Master. A title as grandiose as it is unique. It seems we're both far from ordinary."
Elara smirked, her golden eyes gleaming with an unspoken challenge. "Far from ordinary? That's an understatement. I've traversed galaxies, faced beings you can't even fathom, and mastered arts unknown to your world. To be honest, I was only intending to spend a few days here in this fantasy world to unwind a bit before moving on. Yet, here I am, in this charming little academy, somehow crossing paths with a damn skull-level apocalypse-tier monster."
Anos's smile widened, his eyes shimmering with anticipation solely from her words. It was evident to him that the enigmatic girl standing before him held the potential to unlock the mysteries surrounding his mysterious mother and might even have the answers to the countless questions in his mind. "Then let's not waste this extraordinary encounter. Show me the extent of your powers, Elara. Let's see if the Cosmic Archmage Blade Master lives up to her name."
With a fluid motion, Elara drew a slender, gleaming white blade from the 'void', its edge shimmering with a light that seemed to tear at the very fabric of reality. "As you wish, Demon King," she said, her voice steady, her stance poised for battle.
The air around them crackled with energy, a tangible tension building as they prepared to unleash their might. Anos, however, surprised Elara by not summoning a weapon. He stood relaxed, an air of absolute confidence radiating from him.
Elara's golden eyes narrowed, her grip tightening on her glowing blade. "What? Summon your weapon, demon. I know that you can also use a sword. Don't insult me by holding back!"
But Anos simply shook his head, his smile unwavering. "I assure you, Elara, I am not underestimating you. But I won't be needing a weapon for this encounter."
This refusal seemed to strike a chord in Elara, igniting a spark of anger in her. "Insolent demon!" she spat out, and with a swift, casual step, she disappeared.
Elara suddenly materialized before Anos with a swiftness that startled even him, whose reflexes were unmatched in this era. His eyes widened, not so much in fear but in surprise at her ability to close the gap between them with such velocity, her movements a blur that even his monstrous keen vision struggled to track.
Then in a moment that defied belief, Anos' body was sliced into countless pieces, scattering in the air like dust caught in the wind. The students, still frozen in time, remained unaware of the dramatic turn of events.
But before the body parts could even reach the floor, the pieces of Anos began to swirl and converge in the air, instantly reforming his body as if nothing had happened. He stood there, unscathed, his smile now tinged with a hint of admiration for her power.
"Not bad, Elara. But it'll take more than that," Anos remarked, brushing off his clothes as if clearing away mere dust.
Elara, her anger now mixed with a sense of challenge, decided to escalate her attack. "Normal Punch!" she exclaimed, her delicate left fist rocketing forward with a horrible explosive force.
Anos, caught completely off guard by the sheer speed and power of her slender fist, was sent flying. The force of the punch was so immense that he found himself embedded in a mountain several kilometers away from the capital city. The impact created a massive crater, sending debris flying and echoing a thunderous roar across the landscape.
As Anos extricated himself from the mountain, he couldn't help but laugh. The thrill of facing such an unusual and unexpected opponent was exhilarating. "Empress Elara, you indeed live up to your title," he said, his voice augmented through magic echoing across the distance to where she stood.
Elara, watching from afar with sharp golden eyes, her chest heaving a bit with exertion, couldn't suppress a smirk. "Glad to see you're enjoying yourself, demon. But don't think for a moment that this is over."
In a sudden blur of motion, she practically teleported above him, swiftly transferring her sword to her left hand. Her face was expressionless, almost serene, as she began to rain down a series of rapid, powerful punches with her right hand. "Consecutive Normal Punches x 1,000,000" she muttered, her voice calm yet carrying an ominous undertone.
The punches, though seemingly ordinary, were anything but. Each strike moved with terrifying speed, approaching the speed of light, and the force behind them was monumental. Anos, caught in the storm of her assault, struggled to defend himself. The power of her punches created a shockwave so intense that it transformed the mountain below them into a molten pool of lava, the sheer friction and energy release melting stone and earth alike.
Anos, within this inferno of force and light, was pummeled relentlessly. The spectacle was awe-inspiring, a display of raw, unbridled power that few had ever witnessed. Even in his long life, Anos had rarely faced such a formidable and relentless opponent.
Despite the horrific intensity of her assault, Anos continually resurrected and reconstructed his body, harnessing his unfathomable powers to endure a barrage that would have annihilated any lesser entity. Yet, the relentless cycle of revival, occurring thousands of times each second, began to slightly deplete his vast magical reserves, even for a being of his extraordinary might.
As the vicious barrage from Elara continued unabated for a few minutes, a new realization dawned on Anos. This fierce battle, with its extreme demands, could potentially serve as a catalyst for him to recover his original, long-dormant powers.
The air around them was supercharged, the landscape forever altered by Empress Elara's endless strikes.
Eventually, Elara halted her relentless attack, hovering elegantly above the charred remains of what once was, her breaths deep yet controlled. She looked down at Anos, her expression shifting from emotionless to one of faint respect. "Wow, you're really as tough as the system said, Demon King Anos Voldigoad. Makes sense why your stats are that ridiculous… definitely in the league of skull-level monsters, huh?."
Anos, rising from the lava, his clothes singed but his demeanor unbroken, met her golden gaze. "And you, Empress Elara, are as formidable as any adversary I've encountered. Your physical power is truly extraordinary."
Just then, Elara reached into the swirling void beside her once more, her movements swift and precise. She pulled out a small sparkling crystal bottle filled with a glowing yellow liquid. Without hesitation, she uncorked the bottle and drank its contents in one swift gulp. As the last drop disappeared, the bottle itself dissolved into motes of light, vanishing as if it had never been.
Anos observed closely, noting the immediate effect the liquid had on Elara. Her heavy breathing, a sign of her exertion from the relentless assault, ceased almost instantly. It was as if her stamina had been fully replenished, her energy reserves restored to their peak. The transformation was remarkable, a testament to the mysterious powers she wielded.
Elara's majestic golden eyes, now re-energized, locked onto Anos with renewed intensity. "Feeling better now?" Anos asked, his voice laced with curiosity.
"Yes, much better. That was a stamina recovery potion from my… world. It's quite effective, as you can see," Elara replied, her tone confident and ready for another round.
Anos nodded, impressed by the resourcefulness and preparedness of his opponent. "Indeed, it's a fascinating item. But now that you're rejuvenated, shall we continue?"
Elara smiled, a dangerous glint in her eyes. "Of course, Demon King. I'm just getting started."
With a surge of energy, she launched herself towards Anos once again.
As Elara hurtled towards him with renewed vigor, Anos prepared to counter. "My turn," he announced, his voice resonating with an ominous power. In an instant, he invoked a spell of immense magnitude, "Jio Graze."
The air around them seemed to shudder as Anos unleashed the highest grade of fire magic within the demons' magic system. A miniature jet-black sun materialized, its dark radiance contrasting starkly against the bright backdrop of their battlefield. This was no ordinary spell; it was a powerful projectile, capable of annihilation on a massive scale, traditionally requiring the combined magic of multiple users. Yet, Anos single-handedly conjured it, his mastery over magic evident in his effortless control.
The jet-black sun, like a comet, surged towards Elara with devastating speed and precision.
Elara, facing the gigantic oncoming spell, realized the gravity of the situation. The approaching comet-like sun threatened to engulf her with its hellish flames. Her golden eyes, reflecting the black sun's eerie glow, showed a flicker of surprise, quickly replaced by determination.
With the Jio Graze spell barreling towards her, Elara's next move would determine the course of this epic battle—a clash of powers so immense it had already altered the landscape and would undoubtedly leave a mark in the annals of their respective histories.