The battle took an unexpected turn when Elara, in a display of her newfound incredible speed and agility, suddenly appeared right beside Anos. Before he could react to her proximity, she reached out and for some reason cast a series of buffs on him, greatly enhancing his strength and durability.
Anos, taken aback by this unforeseen gesture, backed away from her. He looked at her with a mix of confusion and curiosity. "Empress Elara, why would you strengthen your opponent in the midst of battle? This is not a strategy I expected from you."
Elara responded with a playful yet intense tone. "It's simple, Anos. Fighting you in your current state is... unfulfilling. Your body is too fragile under my touch, disintegrating with the slightest contact. How can I enjoy the thrill of battle if my opponent crumbles so easily? I've buffed you, so you can withstand more of my power. It's more fun for me to beat you at your strongest."
Anos, slightly startled by her honest intentions. He looked at Elara with a mixture of amusement and intrigue. "Empress Elara, while I appreciate the... gesture, it's unnecessary. I am perfectly capable of strengthening my physical strength with magic whenever I choose. I simply prefer not to, unless required."
Elara, dodging a sudden strike from Anos with ease, replied in a teasing yet intense tone, "Oh? And here I thought making you a bit sturdier would add more excitement to our duel. It's not every day I get to face someone who can actually withstand my power. But if you prefer your own methods, by all means."
"..."
After a moment of contemplation, Anos sighed and conceded with a light smirk. "Very well, I'll indulge your requests. I now understand your desire for a more challenging battle. But don't worry, Empress. I assure you, you'll find no lack of excitement in facing me at my full strength. I've simply been... conservative with my power so far."
Before Elara could respond, Anos swiftly raised his hands, weaving an intricate magical circle that surrounded him with a shimmering aura. His body seemed to solidify, becoming more resilient under the influence of his own demonic magic.
The intensity of the duel soared as Anos finally empowered himself with magic. His flesh and tendons, now heavily reinforced and saturated by his unfathomable strength, radiated a terrifying tyrannical power that was both awe-inspiring and daunting. The aura around him pulsated with such force that it almost seemed to warp the very air around him.
The sky above morphed into a deep, ominous red, mirroring the surge of his power. His dark hair cascaded down, elongating until it graced his back, framing a visage of intensified allure. Anos's stature increased, his body expanding and sculpting into a form of incredible muscularity, the epitome of strength and masculine beauty. Across his skin, strange, red demonic symbols emerged, writhing and dancing as if alive, marking him with ancient runes of power. The air around him vibrated, charged with his formidable, tyrannical energy, commanding both fear and admiration in the face of his overwhelming presence.
Empress Elara, watching this incredible transformation, felt a rush of excitement. The sight of Anos's muscles becoming more defined under his clothes, accentuated by the potent magic coursing through him, sparked an unexpected reaction within her. She couldn't help but appreciate the raw, physical manifestation of his power.
With a mischievous glint in her eyes, Elara floated closer to Anos, her voice taking on a flirtatious lilt. "Anos, I must admit, the sight of you at full power is quite... alluring. But it's not just your strength that intrigues me. You're a demon with such a chill and fantastic personality… It's hard to believe a demon like you exists."
Anos raised an eyebrow, the corner of his mouth twitching into a half-smirk. "Flattery in the midst of battle, Empress? Or have you developed a fondness for more than just my strength?"
Elara's laughter resonated through the battlefield, tinged with genuine amusement and a hint of embarrassment. "Perhaps a bit of both, Anos. But don't be mistaken; my admiration for your personality doesn't dull the edge of my blade. Your unique character only adds to the thrill of this duel."
Their exchange, rich with mutual respect and playful banter, signaled a pivotal moment in their duel. Anos, now embracing the intensity of the battle, decided it was time to unveil a surprise of his own. His dark crimson eyes glowed, gleaming with a mixture of anticipation and challenge, fixed on Elara. "Empress, your unique abilities have indeed added a layer of excitement to this confrontation. Allow me to return the favor."
With a deep concentration, Anos began to channel his monstrous magic in a manner unseen before.
"What are you up to?" Elara's curiosity piqued as she observed Anos's right arm beginning to pulsate with a potent crimson energy. The muscles in his arm swelled visibly, a clear indication of the power he was channeling.
Suddenly, without warning, Anos's arm erupted in a burst of crimson energy, shattering into a shower of sparks and fragments. Yet, instead of recoiling in pain, Anos's expression remained stoic, almost contemplative. With a determined focus, he channeled his demonic magic and his arm began to regrow back.
This process repeated itself, each time Anos's arm exploded and regrew, as if he were experimenting, refining his technique with each iteration. Despite the apparent chaos of the situation, there was a methodical precision to Anos's actions, a sense of purpose driving his relentless pursuit of success.
And finally, after several cycles of destruction and regeneration, Anos succeeded. His arm regrew, stronger and more resilient than ever before, pulsating with a newfound power that seemed to radiate from every fiber of his being. With a triumphant smile, Anos turned to face Elara, his eyes gleaming with mischief.
"Hmm. Did you call it 'Normal Punch'?" Then, mimicking Elara's own technique, Anos unleashed a casual punch that mirrored her Normal Punch in both form and devastating power. The air around them trembled at the force of Anos's strike, a clear indication of the successful replication of Elara's skill through pure magic.
Elara, taken aback by this unexpected development, barely managed to dodge the blow, her golden eyes wide with surprise. "You copied my Normal Punch?! But that's a system skill, something specific to my… world's mechanics. How did you manage to replicate it with magic?!"
Anos, retracting his fist, allowed himself a small, triumphant smile. "Empress, in the realm of magic, especially for someone of my caliber, there are few limits. Observing your technique, understanding its underlying principle, and then adapting it through magic might be a challenge, but a feasible one."
"Even so, to think the system would actually recognize it as a genuine 'Normal Punch'..." Elara, momentarily taken aback by Anos's display of skill and adaptability, quickly regained her composure. Her expression shifted from surprise to a fierce determination, her eyes glinting with an unspoken challenge. "Impressive, Anos. Truly, you are a demon of many surprises. However, let's see if you can handle this one."
With no further warning, Elara's aura intensified, radiating a deep, golden light that seemed to absorb the very essence of her surroundings. The air around her vibrated with the build-up of her energy, signaling the preparation of a technique far beyond the ordinary.
"Prepare yourself, Anos. This is no ordinary attack," Elara announced, her voice echoing with a power that resonated through the battlefield. "This is the culmination of my maxed STR stat, something I've reserved for those who truly deserve to witness it. Serious Punch."
Without any hesitation, Empress Elara lunged forward, her speed so swift it appeared as though she had teleported directly in front of Anos. With a fierce cry, she unleashed the Serious Punch. This was not merely a strike but a cataclysmic event; the fabric of space-time around her fist shattered, creating a void where not even light could escape, her fist moving at velocities surpassing light itself. The mere air pressure generated by her assault was an apocalyptic force, flattening the surrounding mountains as if they were constructs of sand, demonstrating not just a pinnacle of physical might but an embodiment of her essence's unbridled power.
As her catastrophic fist made its way towards Anos, the energy surrounding it condensed, creating a visual spectacle akin to a meteorite tearing through the planet's atmosphere. The ground beneath them was vaporized, unable to withstand the pressure of the impending impact.
Anos, facing this unprecedented attack, did not show any signs of backing down. Instead, he met Empress Elara's intense gaze with one of his own, a silent acknowledgment of her strength. In the split second before the punch could connect, Anos simply raised his hand, not to block, but to catch.
The impact of their confrontation was staggering, with shockwaves dispersing in every direction, challenging the integrity of reality itself. Elara's formidable Serious Punch, when met with Anos's steady palm, created an immense pressure that seemed to test the bounds of the physical realm.
As the air cleared, revealing the aftermath of their epic encounter, Anos remained unscathed, successfully halting Empress Elara's cataclysmic strike.
With her hand still caught in Anos's unyielding grip, Empress Elara gazed into his eyes, now illuminated by an enigmatic red symbol, her expression a complex tapestry of astonishment and disbelief. "You… how?"
Anos, with his hand firmly gripping Empress Elara's fist, allowed a faint smile to play across his lips, his eyes still locked on hers, the red symbols within them pulsating softly. "It's simple," he began, his voice as calm and steady as the gaze he held. "Your strength is indeed formidable, Empress, but did you think that limitless physical strength alone is enough to overcome me?"
He released her fist gently, stepping back to create some distance between them, his eyes never leaving hers. "The power to stop your 'Serious Punch' doesn't come from brute force alone. It comes from understanding and adapting to the energy behind it. My Magic Eyes allows me to perceive and counteract the very essence of your attack, nullifying its impact entirely. No matter how powerful or omnipotent your physical strike is, it is simply nothing but a harmless tap in front of my Magic Eyes."
Elara, stepping back as well, flexed her fingers, looking at them as if seeing them for the first time. The realization of Anos's words hit her with the weight of the punch she had just thrown. Her eyes, reflecting a mix of contemplation and admiration, met his once more. "I see. Your ability to adapt and counter is beyond what I've encountered before. It's not just your strength but it's your insight into magic and efficiency that truly sets you apart…"
The air around them, still vibrating from the clash, began to calm as the two powerful beings assessed each other anew. The duel had transformed from a mere test of physical might to a profound exchange of abilities and philosophies.
Anos, having regained a bit of his original powers during the course of their battle and realizing the dangers and consequences of further conflict, observed the change in Elara's attitude. Seizing the moment, he proposed a new path forward. "Empress Elara, this duel has indeed shed light on many aspects for both of us. Given that I've now recovered some of my strength, and seeing the small benefit in continuing our skirmish, why don't we consider a different approach? Joining forces could lead to outcomes far beyond what we've experienced as foes."
"No, I refuse." The atmosphere tensed as Elara, in the midst of Anos's proposal for an alliance, suddenly shifted her stance, her expression hardening with resolve. With a swift motion, she lifted the dangerous sword she had kept at her side the whole time, its glowing blade gleaming ominously under the dim light of the battlefield. "Anos Voldigoad," she said coldly, her voice carrying a mix of defiance and determination, "you seem to have forgotten something crucial. My title isn't just for show. I am the Cosmic Archmage Blade Master, and up until now, I haven't even begun to unveil my sword arts."
Anos, caught off guard by her refusal and the abrupt transformation in her demeanor, observed with heightened caution as Elara's aura underwent a startling metamorphosis. The air surrounding her enigmatic sword began to quiver with a newfound ferocity, unmistakably signaling that the full scope of her powers remained veiled. But it was the sword's temperature that captured Anos's immediate attention—the blade started to radiate an intense heat that escalated rapidly, creating an oppressive atmosphere around them.
This wasn't merely a display of visual prowess; the heat emanating from the sword became so extreme that Anos could feel his skin beginning to burn, despite maintaining a safe distance from Elara. The air around them vibrated with the intensity of a furnace, signaling not just her command over magic but a profound mastery of a technique capable of altering the essence of its composition. Anos witnessed the horrifying consequences of her sword on the environment: all vegetation and living entities in the vicinity were incinerated to ash, and even the rocks began to soften and dissolve under the unbearable heat.
The sky itself was also affected, the clouds above seemed to recoil from the scorching heat. Their fluffy forms began to dissipate, evaporating into wisps of vapor under the relentless assault of the furnace-like atmosphere. Anos watched as the once billowing clouds transformed into nothingness, their water droplets surrendering to the intense heat and vanishing into thin air. The sky above, once adorned with fluffy white cumuli, now bore only the harsh glare of the sun, unobscured by any hint of cloud cover.
The sword, now glowing with an almost unbearable luminosity, seemed to draw in the surrounding energy, concentrating it into an ever-intensifying inferno. The temperature rise was not just a physical threat but also a psychological one, showcasing the depth of Elara's power and her readiness to escalate the duel to realms of combat Anos had yet to anticipate. This development added a new layer of complexity to their confrontation, pushing him to adapt to the unforeseen capabilities of the Cosmic Archmage Blade Master.
Elara noticed the frown on Anos's face, a rare sign of concern from the formidable demon. She paused, the fiery aura of her sword casting flickering shadows across their battleground. "You seem perplexed, Anos. Allow me to enlighten you," she said, her voice calm yet laced with pride. "This sword is not of ordinary make. Its core is forged from the heart of a neutron star."
Anos's eyes widened slightly at her revelation. "A neutron… star?" he inquired, his interest piqued.
"Neutron stars are the remnants of massive stars that have undergone a supernova explosion. What remains is incredibly dense and compact, so much so that a single teaspoon of its matter would weigh billions of tons," Elara explained, her majestic golden gaze fixed on the glowing blade. "The core of this sword is forged from such material, granting it properties and a mass that defy conventional understanding."
She then shifted her grip on the sword, drawing attention to the hilt. "The handle, however, is what truly binds this cosmic force into a wieldable form. It's a Word-class item, capable of containing and shaping the neutron star's core into this sword. Without it, controlling such material would be... unmanageable."
Elara's eyes met Anos's, a hint of challenge within them. "And so, the mass of my sword is hundreds of billions of tons, making its strikes unstoppable by ordinary means. Its temperature, as you've noticed, can be manipulated to burn as hot as the star from which it was born."
The explanation turned the tide of Anos's understanding of his opponent, illuminating the depth of the being before him. Empress Elara's weapon was not just a testament to her title as Cosmic Archmage Blade Master but a bridge between the arcane and the cosmic, between magic and the mysteries of the universe itself.
Anos, now fully grasping the gravity of Elara's power and the uniqueness of her sword, nodded in acknowledgment. "I see. Your mastery over such a weapon is indeed befitting of your title, Empress Elara. It seems I must approach this duel with even greater care."
Empress Elara, noting Anos's composed demeanor even after unveiling the secrets of her prided sword, felt a surge of irritation. She couldn't fathom how he remained so unruffled, so utterly calm, in the face of the cosmic enormity she wielded. Was it confidence, arrogance, or simply ignorance of the danger he was in? Whichever it was, Elara decided it was time to shatter that composure, to show him the true terror of facing the Cosmic Archmage Blade Master at her full might.
Without a word, her frustration manifesting as a fierce determination in her eyes, Empress Elara raised her sword high. The air around them charged with energy, the atmosphere thickening as if in anticipation of the imminent catastrophe. Then, with a precise, fluid motion that seemed to slice the very fabric of reality, she swung her sword down, unleashing the first sword art ability directly at Anos.
"First form, Stellar Flare Slash."
The air ignited, a blinding arc of incandescent plasma barreling towards him, its appearance akin to the surface of a star being torn from its celestial home and hurled across the cosmos. The ground beneath the slash's path melted into glass, the air itself disintegrated into a vacuum seeming to scream in agony as the wave of destructive cosmic energy approached Anos at an unfathomable speed.
This was not merely a display of raw power; it was a declaration of Elara's mastery over the forces that govern the universe, a testament to her title and a direct challenge to Anos's unshakeable calm. The Stellar Flare Slash, embodying the wrath of a star gone supernova, was her way of demanding recognition, of forcing Anos to acknowledge the depth of the peril before him.
As the massive fiery wave closed in, Empress Elara's calm golden eyes were focused on Anos, waiting to see how he would respond to this cosmic onslaught. Would he finally show a hint of doubt, a crack in his stoic facade, or would he rise to the challenge with a power that matched or surpassed Elara's own?
This moment… more than any before it, would define the true nature of their duel.
—--------------------------------------------
From the vast expanse of space, the planet was a radiant blue orb, suspended in the silent ballet of the cosmos. Its atmosphere shimmered like a thin veil, delicate and serene against the backdrop of eternal night. Yet, this tranquility was shattered by a phenomenon both breathtaking and terrifying—an energy slash of unimaginable magnitude ripped through the tiny blue dot, emanating from the planet's surface. It hurled across space at the speed of light, a blade of pure force, slicing through the void toward a neighboring planet. In an instant, that unfortunate planet was cleaved in half, its two pieces drifting apart, a testament to the unfathomable power unleashed.
This cataclysmic event marked the escalation of a duel between two beings whose might transcended the bounds of their world, Anos Voldigoad, the Demon King of Tyranny, and Empress Elara, the Cosmic Archmage Blade Master. Their conflict, once confined to the surface of their planet, now extended its reach into the cosmos, reshaping the very structure of reality around them.