There was an explosion of powers. Both bodies did not want to give up the advantageous position they had carved for themselves.
But even then, Aurora could feel herself being pushed back by Clove’s force. It should not have been possible for Aurora to bow under that power since their current power levels were similar.
But Aurora was unconsciously avoiding all the killer spots Clove had while Clove was busy with her assault. That difference was a big changer in their battle.
Aurora’s body sustained wounds that healed soon enough. But the blood loss was not something her body could actively take care of. Her power was not a self-healing type.
While Clove on the other hand had always had an affinity for healing magic. Her body didn’t even flinch when the stones and earth dug into her side.
She just braved it all and continued her assault.
And this was another thing that was different from any mock-fight Aurora had with Clove before. Clove was using close-range fighting techniques.
Typically, Aurora battled at close range, while Quince and Clove fought at a distance. Due to the fact that she was unaccustomed to battling someone so close to her body, Aurora’s rhythm was being disrupted.
Because of this, Aurora was unprepared for the strike to her abdomen and felt her link to her abilities being severed.
“Y-You! What did you do Clove?”
A core was an integral part of one’s power and its presence was like life itself. Baring her system, nothing should have been able to cut off Aurora’s with her core.
Especially nothing external.
But something had forced her core to become unresponsive in a matter of minutes. It was no longer a small deal.
If her core could be cut-off, then so could Mei and other goddesses. These people had suddenly become infinitely dangerous to the whole order of this world.
“Surprised? Well, I was as well when I discovered who funded this project. But I am thankful nonetheless for this small miracle. It is allowing us to remove you before things get worse. You are the key to our success Aurora.”
Clove’s face was as impassive as it had been throughout the fight. Her body also calmed down, her flushed face going back to normal.
In this one second of calming down, Aurora felt Clove’s image overlapping with one she had seen long ago in that illusion.
Clove looked just like Clara and the resemblance was uncanny.
“What is wrong? Did I somehow damage your mind as well when I fought you? That was not my intention.”
Aurora knew that already but she was dead tired as well by this point. Her body was protesting against any sudden motion that Aurora tried to move.
Clove cuffed Aurora’s hands behind her back and that was it. Now Aurora was caught up in a trap.
“What do you want from me? Are you looking to finish what you started back then?”
Aurora was hinting about the fact that Clove had tried to kill her off. That was a sensation that was difficult to forget even now.
But Clove likely took it the wrong way because her answer was too immediate.
“Of course, I want to finish what I started back then. And for that, I need you to stay alive and co-operate with us. Now, take a break and sleep. You will be in a new place when you wake up.”
Aurora felt the spell wash over her. It came with the familiar tugging sensation of being pulled into a deep sleep.
Aurora tried to resist but the pull was too much for her magic-less body to endure. In the end, Aurora could not keep herself awake and scumbled to sleep.
Clove picked up her unconscious body with worried eyes. Her hands were gentle on Aurora’s body and her teeth bit her lips until they bled.
She had wanted to spare Aurora this grief in this life but the world had a twisted sense of humor.
Things had changed from how Clove had wanted them to go back then and now Aurora had become an integral part of their plan.
Clove had sacrificed a lot to make sure this didn’t happen but it went down the drain.
“Oh well, at least there is one silver lining in this whole thing. Aurora will live past the end of the abyss and that is all I can ask for.”
Clove hated emotions since they clouded one’s judgment. But when it came to herself, she was biased.
“Now then, I should let someone take Aurora back while I help the other two out. Even 1-vs-2 can become disadvantageous when one party is enraged.”
Not to mention, the 1, in this case, was the goddess of victory. Seraphina was a beast when she got going and something must have set her off to let out such anger.
The scope of her control even extended as far as Clove’s current location so she did not even want to think how thick it would be in the center.
‘Only one way to find out.’
===========================
It was not often that divinity let loose. In fact, it was rare for goddesses to lose control of their emotions and powers.
The number of times their true powers have been released could be counted on two hands throughout history. And no one had survived any of those times.
But even then, this was the first time Mei was seeing Seraphina lose control of her powers. Her magic was covering every nook and canny of this cave they were in.
The sheep’s scope of her power was enough to make the ground shake and then break apart.
“Zoe, take the right wing. I will try and find an opening in her defense-“
“That is cute of you to assume you will be able to.”
Asami’s body instinctively dodged the sword that appeared from the ground. Swords continued to pour out even as Assami’s body broke down into different segments and avoided the attack.
At the same time, Seraphina’s body was blocked by the gigantic blade that stopped Zoe from reaching her.
Zoe felt those dangerous eyes turn toward her and the space on her right ripped itself apart to make another sword appear.
The whole floor was almost filled with swords and even the wall had sharp projectiles lining it up.
The only safe place was where Mei was lying down unconscious.
“No other choice Asami. We are using Plan C.”
“No, you are not.”
Seraphine aimed her powers in such a way that they protected Mei. she had guessed those two’s intentions as soon as they had entered.
But it was still not enough for her to stop Asami’s powers completely.
Mei disappeared into a puddle of darkness and appeared in Zoe’s arms. That was enough to shift her attention toward the outlooker.
“Give her back and no one will get hurt.”
Seraphina demanded but Zoe had no intention of following her through. Zoe kicked a sharp sword and broke it apart before using her magic to keep it afloat.
Seraphine aimed swords at her to get her down but Zoe dodged them all rather effortlessly. She almost looked like an immortal cultivator flying on their sword.
But this was not a cultivation world, it had no immortal people but a bunch of gods and stuck-up people.
“Hey, be careful. If you make me drop then Mei will drop down as well. And she will not survive a fall this great in her current condition.”
Seraphina stopped her assault for just a single second but it was enough to drop Zoe’s guard.
She almost lost her balance but managed to shift her cargo to her partner’s arms in the meantime.
Asami caught Mei’s body rather effortlessly before holding her at the knifepoint.
“Pull something funny and her throat will be slit apart. Now, can you calm down and allow us to talk in peace?”
Asami’s smile was like a snake looking to devour her prey. She was not a good person by any means and it was evident at this moment.
The crazy glint in her eyes snapped Seraphina back and calmed her down.
‘Right, this is not someone I can easily reason with. I need to calm down and look for a way to get Mei out of her grasp.’
“Let her go and then we have a deal. You are here for my core, right? I don’t mind handing it over. But let Mei go first.”
Seraphina was not sure if her words would work or not. It was almost an oath she was giving the other two but they did not necessarily need to make it.
But they should know that they would not get out of Seraphina’s domain without making sacrifices as well.
“Alright then, I will make that promise. We will leave her alone as long as she does not come after us herself. Is that alright with you? Now drop the domain.”
Seraphina did drop the domain but with a reluctant expression on her face. And as soon as she felt it drop, she smelled something sweet in the air which made her feel weak.
And then someone stabbed her and all Seraphina felt was pain.
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