“Okay, so to keep things fair, we’ll all be allowed to have one strike each,” Serah said, her arms folded as the last embers of her crimson strike danced in the air.

“Nothing more, nothing less.”

Currenly, all three women were discussing something super important. It was their strategy—if it could even be called that—for attacking.

In order to make all things ‘fair’, Serah proposed that they all give the monster one hit respectively until it perished.

“Haa… count me out of it. Just ensure there’s a sample left for me to study later. This one piques my interest a little.” Ana sighed, basically backing out of the agreement.

As such, only Serah and Maria were left.

“Well, what do you say?” Serah grinned at the girl.

Maria didn’t know how to respond to this question. Serah Crimson was her master, both in Magic and also in Love.

She had taught her too many things for her to begin disregarding her words now. However, Maria also felt more inclined to sit this one out.

It wasn’t because the monster was threatening or overly powerful. No, rather it was the opposite.

It was toow weak.

‘At this point, isn’t like beating up a dead horse?’ One of them would be enough to finish it off once and for all.

Ana had probably seen the futility of taking this fight seriously, so she backed down and settled for observing the creature more. Maria also preferred the more efficient approach, so she would have preferred it if just one person finished the creature off.

But… Serah Crimson was her respected master.

As such, there was only one answer to give.

“Understood, Master Serah!” Maria bobbed her head while keeping her face emotionless.

“That’s the spirit. I’ll go first!” Serah’s grin widened even more as she clasped her hands together and cracked her fingers in what could only be interpreted as excitement.

“Don’t worry, I’ll hold back enough to let you have your go.”

‘No, it’s okay if you just end it on your own. You can kill it in one hit. I don’t mind.’ These were the thoughts in Maria’s head, but she dared not voice them out.

She could only nod her head one more time to play along.

“Let’s do this!”

~WHOOOOOOSSSSHHH!~

In a brilliant spark of crimson light, Serah vanished from her position, completely escaping the sights of her allies and foe alike.

‘Ah… there she is!’ Maria finally spotted her behind the Nether Beast—at its base for that matter.

Serah was floating right behind its enormous legs, so the onlookers could only guess she was going after the Nether Beast’s legs.

Strategically wise, that wasn’t a bad plan.

‘What should I do after?’ Maria found herself wondering.

“ROOOOOOAAAAAARRRRR!!!”

The creature they faced seemed to have had enough of their bull** because it sent seveal spikes launched at Serah, all massive projectiles converging on her position.𝞸𝒱𝐋𝒩xt.𝓬𝐎𝗆

However, it was all pointless.

All the projectiles melted the moment they got into close proximity with her, and so the Nether Beast only had one other option left.

~SWISH!~

It swung its tail, whipping through the air as it approached Serah’s tiny self.

“Hehe!” Rather than fearing for her life that the humongous thing lashing in her direction would do her in, Serah Crimson’s excitement only seemed to rise.

She didn’t try to strengthen her defense, or even counter with offense.

No. Instead, she stretched both hands out, as if expecting an embrace from the black and meaty whip that lunged at her.

And then…

~WHOOOSHHH!~

… She caught it.

The long and massive tail of the Nether Beast got stuck in her grasp, unable to budge an inch despite the hard struggle of the already terrified creature.

“My turn.”

In a single huff, she effortlessly pulled the Nether Beast from its standing position, forcing to crash upon the earth, shattering the environs.

Debris scattered around like the ruptured innards of an exploded person, but this was only the beginning.

Serah Crimson tightened her grip so the tail wouldn’t slip from her hand, and she began to spin.

~WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSHHHHHH!!!~

A tornado inadvetedly formed with her at the center, as she kept twisting and turning, sending the poor creature in her grasp flying around in a daze.

It was too helpless to stop the flow, and the current was certainly too strong for him to fight against. Most importantly, Serah’s overwhelming energy rendered the creature immobile, to the point where it had become nothing more than a ragdoll.

“Up you go!” She smiled, thrusting the Nether Beast into the air in one glorious throw.

~WHUUUUSSSSHHHH!!!~

Like an inverted comet, the black creature charged into the sky without being able to control any part of the process.

Not even its own body!

“GUUUUUUUUUAAAAARGGHHHH!!!”

It could feel the aftereffects of Serah Criimson’s energy, and the damage it had done on its body and every portion of its defenses. At this point, it was a living corpse, a step away frm death.

More and more Aether attacked it, and it didn’t have long for the world anyway.

Perhaps Maria had noticed all of this when she saw the Nether Beast and gave a tired sigh. Her emotionless blue eyes were locked on the suspended Nether Beast, who had just reached terminal velocity, and would soon begin crashing down.

“It’s your tuen, Maria. Remember, one attack.”

Maria nodded at her master, and then she contemplated what move to use.

Her specialty was Wind Magic, but she could also use Ice and Lightning Magic considerably well. Combined, she could utilize Blizzard Magic, which was more effective as an Area Of Effect type of Spell.

Maria felt that even that was wasted on this half-dead thing that was now having a free fall.

‘If I overdo it, I might not be able to get the sample Ana wants.’

And so, after thinking and deciding for a while, Maria finally found the best alternative.

“True Ice Magic: Blade Of Judgement”

*

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A

/N

Concerned about Jared and the mystery built up in last Arc’s finale? Well, be a bit more patient.

Also, I hope you are enjoying the read.

Thank you, and cheers.