Nagini Deflects Mariana's Strike
Meanwhile, Nagini moved swiftly toward the rear post.
After passing the ruined swimming pool and the wrecked helicopter, she spotted Mariana relentlessly attacking the helpless Giono, Ngatmo, Karsiyah, Rani, and Rina.
Nagini: "Rani and Rina are in grave danger!"
While running, Nagini drew four of her deadliest weapons—Level Three Poisoned Needles.
Her hands began to glow with a blue aura. The four needles gleamed with an intense azure light.
She unleashed them with her full power toward Mariana's paper fan strike and long-range attack.
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
The four needles shot forward, trailed by a roaring gust of frigid wind, the sound of rushing air whipping through the trees.
Boom!!
A huge explosion shook the ground as Nagini's strike met Mariana's blazing fan attack.
Sparks burst and scattered from the violent clash of energies.
Nagini's four needles fell to the floor—glowing red-hot, as if they had been forged in a furnace.
Giono, Ngatmo, Karsiyah, Rani, and Rina turned pale, feeling as though their souls had nearly left their bodies.
Mariana's strike had stopped just a hand's breadth away from hitting them.
Mariana staggered four steps back, her hands tingling. Her face showed a rare expression—shock.
Standing before her was a woman in a red jacket, also forced four steps back, hands stiff, grimacing as she endured the pain in her palms.
Realizing who had intercepted her attack—
Mariana: "Nagini!"
Her voice was a furious roar.
Without hesitation, Mariana lunged straight at her.
But Nagini was no Giono—her inner strength surpassed his.
Without fear, Nagini surged forward to meet Mariana's charge head-on.
***
Red and Black Shadows
The two clashed fiercely.
Mariana attacked Nagini with full force.
Mariana: "Today, I'll deliver you to the Grim Reaper, Nagini!"
Nagini gave no reply, focused entirely on blocking and evading Mariana's onslaught.
From the repeated clashes of their hands, it became clear—their inner strengths were evenly matched.
The battle grew faster and more intense.
They moved like shadows, red and black blurs overlapping and colliding again and again.
Giono: "Weladalah! Now this… this is a real fight."
Ngatmo: "Top-tier martial arts."
Karsiyah: "Mbelgedes! Still two levels below my great-grandmother's style, though!"
Rani and Rina exchanged glances.
Rani: "Big Sis Nagini's the red blur!"
Rina: "Then the black blur must be that cunning woman."
In a hidden spot at the rear guard post, Broto, Tugimin, and Zakiran also watched the fight.
Tugimin: "My head's spinning watching the red and black shadows darting everywhere."
Zakiran: "I can't tell which one's red and which one's black anymore."
Broto gave them both a light smack on the head.
Smack!
Smack!
Broto: "Idiots! The black one's Madam Mariana."
Tugimin and Zakiran grinned sheepishly.
And they weren't the only ones watching—Tina was following the fight between Nagini and Mariana in real time via drone feed.
Both women were equally strong and fast.
Tina: "Nagini… if you hadn't stepped in, this mission might have ended in complete failure."
To be Continued