"Hey!"
Alise's voice cut through the storm.
"This magic tornado of yours is getting annoying. Mind if I get rid of it?"
Despite the fresh wounds painting her body, she smiled.
The blood didn't even have time to linger, swept away by the intense wind surrounding her.
'I'm glad... you're still strong.'
At the start of their duel, after realizing Judas had been weakened, she thought victory would come easily.
Instead, a Level 2 had pushed her this far.
Which is why...
She let go of her restraints.
"Since you used magic, you won't mind if I use mine, right?"
Flickers of flame ignited around her.
Then, with a loud burst—
"Agaris Alvesynth!"
With her shout, roaring fire engulfed her arms and legs, dancing wildly with power.
If Ais Wallenstein was known for her wind that could cut through anything like butter,
then Alise Lovell was known for her flames that could burn through anything they touched.
Her flames were so majestic and powerful that even Hogni... a Level 6 and a Freya Familia executive... was not only amazed but openly admired them.
In the next instant, she unleashed a torrent of flames that collided with Judas' tornado.
"Woah!"
"Cool!"
For a brief moment, it became something else—
A swirling inferno, a tornado of fire.
The heat was suffocating.
Even from behind the protective barrier, the spectators broke into heavy sweat.
"Haaa!"
With a battle cry, Alise pushed forward, her flames surging.
Then—
"Arvelia!"
The tornado shattered.
A violent shockwave erupted as the raging winds dispersed, scattering debris across the training grounds.
Chunks of stone and shattered earth crashed into the surroundings.
When the dust settled—
Alise stood in the center, breathing hard, her tattered clothing revealing far too much skin.
But no one paid it any mind.
All eyes were locked on the battle.
Judas remained still, meeting her gaze.
"What's wrong, Judas? Scared stiff?"
Alise smirked, the hidden innuendo in her words leaving much to the imagination.
"Such a cheap provocation won't work on me, Miss Alise."
Judas replied evenly.
"Oh well."
She cracked her knuckles.
"How about we finish this? One last attack... what do you say?"
Judas narrowed his eyes.
He felt it... the movement of magic power concentrated around Alise's arm.
A crackle of fire surged around her fist.
It swirled and danced across her body, her aura shifting, heat radiating off her in waves.
Judas' breath hitched.
That magic... it felt familiar.
"What...?"
His mind reeled in astonishment.
The form the flames around her fist had taken—
'Is that what I think it is?'
With the head of a flaming giant beast behind her, Alise had managed to replicate her own version of one of his magic spells.
"Wrath of the Scarlet Beast."
A magic she obtained after ranking up to Level 5.
"Hehe, that face you're making... I'll burn it into my memory."
Alise grinned, satisfied at his stunned expression, as she shifted into a stance.
Judas exhaled deeply, a small smile forming as he met her gaze.
Without hesitation, he mirrored her stance.
Then—
In a heartbeat, they charged.
To Judas, time seemed to slow.
His mind raced, analyzing countermeasures, cycling through his arsenal of spells.
'Is it a trap? There's no way she would leave herself so open like that.'
Alise was rushing recklessly, without defenses... an opening too perfect to ignore.
But looking at her smiling face now, Judas knew that wasn't the case.
Knowing her, it could only mean one thing—
'She's trusting me to meet her head-on.'
Her optimism and courage to trust him without reason.
Judas finally understood what kind of person Alise Lovell was.
He quickly calculated in his mind... if he took advantage of this, his chances of victory would rise significantly.
However, such a cheap way to win… he refused to accept it.
'Screw it. Just ride the wave.'
His prepared spell was abandoned, discarded without a second thought.
Instinct took over.
Electricity surged around him as he matched her fighting spirit.
A blinding blue glow enveloped his right fist as sparks crackled violently in the air.
Then—
『Wrath of the Celestial Titan!』
The air around them distorted, lightning forming the shape of a celestial beast.
Two voices roared in unison.
Their fists collided.
BOOM—!
A deafening shockwave erupted, shattering the ground beneath them, sending debris flying in every direction.
Bolts of lightning and trails of flame lashed out violently, striking the walls, the training ground, and even the protective barrier shielding the spectators.
The magic barrier cracked.
Some onlookers recoiled in fear.
Kaguya's sharp eyes locked onto the fracture before immediately shifting back to the fight.
Her gaze caught a blur launched out of the thick cloud of smoke.
A body was sent flying.
A thunderous crash followed.
"Hey, I can't see anything!"
"Who won?!"
The girls' eyes never left the dust cloud, anticipation thick in the air.
Then—
"She did it!"
"Go, Captain! I knew she would win!"
As the dust settled, Alise stood alone, looking worse for wear but victorious.
The Astraea Familia erupted into cheers.
"Healers! Check up on them!"
Kaguya's firm command silenced the celebration.
All eyes turned toward the distance—where Judas lay motionless.
The healers rushed over.
"Don't worry about me."
Alise waved them off.
"Tend to Judas first."
"Hey... our house!"
A panicked voice rang out.
Heads turned.
Their home—
Windows shattered. Walls cracked.
"The Goddess is going to be furious when she gets back."
Kaguya sighed, rubbing her temples as a headache began to form.
"I heard there was an attack on the Astraea Familia. The Ganesha Familia is here to assist."
Shakti and several of her familia members rushed onto the scene.
But the moment her eyes took in the destruction... the shattered windows, the cracked walls, the massive hole exposing the women's bath... her steps froze.
Her gaze then shifted to the unconscious young man being tended by multiple healers.
"What in the gods' name happened here?"
As if on cue, another voice cut through the tense air.
"Yes, like she said... can anyone explain this to me?"
The members of the Astraea Familia flinched as their goddess approached with slow, steady steps.
Her usual gentle expression was replaced by a sharp, unreadable smile.
Alise stiffly turned her head like a machine that hadn't been oiled in years, only to meet Astraea's piercing gaze.
"Umm... it's a long story."
She forced a nervous smile as beads of sweat rolled down her face.
----
+15 chapters at patreon.com/drdedot