Steel met shadow.
The moment Alice's sword sliced through the air, a shockwave rippled across the frozen field, scattering snow like shards of glass. Velra didn't dodge—she merely raised a hand, and the attack shattered against her palm with a metallic clang, as if the air itself had turned to iron.
"That's better," Velra purred, her crimson eyes gleaming. "At least now you're not trembling."
Alice's boots sank slightly into the snow as she steadied her stance. "Don't get used to blocking that easily," she said, forcing her breathing into rhythm. "That was just a greeting."
"Oh?" Velra smiled, baring her fangs. "Then allow me to respond in kind."
A pulse of dark mana erupted from her body, the ground trembling as black mist coiled around her like living smoke. The temperature dropped sharply, frost forming even over armor.
The soldiers in the distance struggled to hold formation.
"Damn it—she's releasing her aura!"
"Stand firm! Protect Lady Alice's position!"
