Inside the spatial port—
**SHRAAAK!**
Pythia's black vines shot forward.
They twisted through the air, branching into countless smaller tendrils as they spread toward the surrounding mages.
Several mages immediately reacted.
"Fire Storm!"
A wave of flames erupted from one mage's staff.
**FWOOOOOSH!**
Another mage slammed his staff into the ground.
A magic circle appeared beneath his feet.
**BOOOOM!**
A thick wall of earth rose from the floor, forming a barrier between them and the incoming vines.
At the same time—
"Lightning Bolt!"
**KRAAAAK!**
A bolt of lightning shot toward Pythia.
The Specter immediately moved.
Its dark body appeared between them.
**CRACK!**
The lightning struck its chest.
The Specter's entire body trembled violently from the impact.
"SKREEEEEE—!"
Pythia's eyes narrowed.
*...That attack actually worked.*
Her grip tightened.
*I can't keep this up for long.*
*If this continues...*
*I won't last.*
The mages noticed her reaction.
"Lightning works against it!"
"Keep attacking!"
"Don't let that creature get close!"
The Specter snarled as it recovered.
Pythia's vines continued tearing through the battlefield.
But the mages were beginning to coordinate.
Their attacks were becoming more organized.
Then—
**WHOOSH!**
A figure suddenly descended from above.
Kaelira landed directly behind one of the mages.
The mage barely had time to turn.
**SHRAAAAAK!**
Blood sprayed across the floor.
Kaelira's claws tore through his body.
She stepped over him without slowing down.
"You all shouldn't hide behind walls."
Her eyes scanned the remaining mages.
"I'm not done hunting yet."
A mage immediately raised his hand.
A barrier appeared.
**BOOOOM!**
Kaelira slammed into it.
The mage gritted his teeth.
"Got her!"
Kaelira's claws scraped across the barrier.
She smiled.
"Looks like you had enough time to put one up."
Her eyes narrowed.
"Even after my warning."
Mana surged through her arm.
Her claws became coated in dense energy.
She pulled her arm back.
"Let's see..."
"...how long it holds."
She was about to strike—
when suddenly—
**SHRAK!**
Kaelira's body instantly moved backward.
A strand of her hair drifted through the air.
It slowly fell to the ground.
Kaelira's eyes narrowed.
Someone was now standing where she had been.
A man with orange hair.
He wore the uniform of the spatial port guards.
His expression was cold.
Captain Darian Veyr.
The captain of the spatial port guards—
and a Fourth-Star Mana Master.
A sword was raised in his hand.
His gaze remained fixed on Kaelira.
"At a time like this..."
"...you launch an attack on the spatial port?"
His grip tightened around the sword.
"What exactly are you after?"
Kaelira stared at him for a moment.
Then—
a grin slowly appeared on her face.
"Oh?"
Her eyes moved toward his sword.
"Fourth-Star Mana Master..."
Her grin widened.
"So you're the one in charge here."
The man didn't answer.
Kaelira continued.
"Launching an attack from behind..."
She tilted her head.
"If it were someone else..."
"...someone like that dog Ryke..."
"...you might have killed him with that first strike."
Her eyes sharpened.
"But me?"
She stepped forward.
"I've been wanting to fight someone who isn't weak."
Mana began surging through her body.
**WHOOM!**
The air around her trembled.
She lowered herself.
Both hands touched the ground.
Her body crouched like a beast preparing to pounce.
The orange-haired captain tightened his grip on his sword.
Kaelira smiled.
"So..."
"...let's not waste any time."
**BOOOOOOM!**
The floor beneath Kaelira shattered.
Her body launched forward.
The distance between them disappeared instantly.
The captain's eyes sharpened.
His sword rose.
**CLAAAAANG—!!**
Claws collided with steel.
A shockwave exploded through the port.
Several nearby soldiers stumbled backward.
The captain's feet slid across the floor.
Kaelira's grin widened.
"Good."
Her claws pushed harder against his blade.
"You're stronger than you look."
The captain twisted his wrist.
Mana surged through his sword.
**SHIIIIING!**
A crescent-shaped blade of mana erupted from the weapon.
Kaelira immediately jumped backward.
The attack passed beneath her.
**BOOOOM!**
The floor was sliced apart.
Kaelira landed on all fours.
She glanced at the destroyed floor.
Then back at the captain.
Her smile widened.
"Now we're talking."
The captain lowered his stance.
"You won't leave this port alive."
Kaelira's eyes gleamed.
"Then..."
She vanished.
"...try to stop me."
**BOOOOM!**
The spot where she had been standing exploded beneath her feet.
Captain Darian's eyes sharpened.
*Fast.*
He immediately turned.
**CLANG—!!**
Kaelira's claws slammed against his sword.
The captain barely managed to block the attack.
Kaelira twisted her body in midair.
Her second claw came from the opposite side.
**SHRAK!**
Darian raised his arm.
The claws scraped across his forearm.
The captain was pushed sideways.
His boots dragged across the floor.
Kaelira landed.
But she didn't stop.
She immediately lunged again.
**BOOM!**
Her claws came down.
Darian stepped aside.
**SLASH!**
The claws tore through the floor.
Stone fragments exploded into the air.
Darian's sword flashed.
**SHING!**
He swung horizontally.
Kaelira ducked beneath the blade.
The sword passed over her head.
She grinned.
"Too slow."
She drove her fist toward his stomach.
**BOOOM!**
Darian crossed his arm just in time.
The impact sent him sliding backward.
His eyes narrowed.
*Her physical strength is absurd.*
*That's to be expected from a Demi-Kin.*
Kaelira didn't give him a moment to recover.
She rushed forward.
**BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!**
Her body flickered across the battlefield.
Left.
Right.
Above.
Below.
Her claws came from every direction.
Darian's sword moved continuously.
**CLANG!**
**CLANG!**
**CLAAAAANG!**
Steel and claws collided again and again.
Sparks flew through the air.
The surrounding soldiers stared in shock.
"Captain!"
"He's being pushed back!"
"Don't interfere!"
Another soldier raised his weapon.
But the captain immediately shouted.
"Stay back!"
He blocked another strike.
**CLANG!**
Kaelira's claws were only inches from his face.
Darian gritted his teeth.
"This isn't a fight you can win."
Kaelira laughed.
"Then why are you backing away?"
Her knee slammed into his chest.
**BOOOOM!**
Darian was thrown backward.
He twisted in the air.
His boots touched the ground.
**SKRRRRRRT!**
He slid several meters before finally stopping.
Kaelira stood in the middle of the shattered floor.
She slowly raised her claws.
Her smile had grown wider.
"Come on."
Darian's expression darkened.
Mana erupted from his body.
**WHOOM!**
The pressure filling the port suddenly changed.
His orange hair whipped violently in the released energy.
The sword in his hand began glowing with dense mana.
Kaelira's eyes gleamed.
"There it is."
Darian lowered his sword.
"I was holding back because this is a spatial port."
His gaze became cold.
"But you've already destroyed that restraint."
Kaelira crouched.
"So?"
Mana surged through her claws.
"Stop talking."
Her body disappeared.
Darian moved at the same time.
**BOOOOOOM!**
The two collided in the center of the port.
**CLAAAAANG—!!**
Claws met sword.
The shockwave exploded outward.
Several soldiers were thrown off their feet.
Pythia's vines were blown aside.
Even the nearby mages struggled to remain standing.
Kaelira pushed forward.
Darian pushed back.
Neither gave an inch.
Then—
Kaelira suddenly twisted her wrist.
Her claws slid along the sword.
**SHRAK!**
She redirected the blade.
Darian's eyes widened.
Kaelira's other claw immediately swung toward his shoulder.
He leaned backward.
**SHIIIIK!**
The claws tore across his uniform.
Blood appeared along his shoulder.
Darian's expression changed.
Kaelira smiled.
"Got you."
Darian stepped forward instead of retreating.
His sword reversed direction.
**SHING!**
The blade came upward.
Kaelira jumped backward.
The tip of the sword sliced across her abdomen.
A thin line of blood appeared.
She landed.
Her hand touched the wound.
She looked at the blood on her fingers.
Then—
she smiled.
"Heh."
Her eyes became even more excited.
"You're actually fun."
Darian tightened his grip.
"You're insane."
Kaelira's claws slowly lowered.
"Maybe."
She crouched again.
"But you're the first person here who hasn't bored me."
Darian raised his sword.
The two stared at each other.
For a brief moment—
neither moved.
Then—
**BOOOOOOM!**
They charged again.
**CLANG!**
**SHRAK!**
**BOOM!**
**CLAAAAANG!**
Their figures blurred across the spatial port.
Sword against claws.
Mana against physical strength.
Attack after attack.
Neither was willing to retreat.
And with every collision—
the floor beneath them cracked deeper.