The Gaun Grand Arena match stage.
A furious sweep capable of reaching the entire battle field. Obstacles such as rubble were absorbed upon contact, and the remnants of the stage vanished without a trace. The objects swallowed by the tail of water were placed under the control of “Blood Dye,” eagerly awaiting their master’s command. The maintenance crew for the stage couldn’t help but smile at the surprise of the freshly cleaned surface. Unintentionally, Sera’s popularity among them had soared, a ridiculously good fortune that was also evident here. However, the price was great, and a tail that had grown even more gruesome was born.
“Shall I name it the ‘Reap Blood Tail’? It turned out well for a spur-of-the-moment idea! That’s me!”
As Sera praised herself, Gordiana, who had evaded the tail’s attack by leaping, landed on the ground.
“It was a spur-of-the-moment thing, wasn’t it? Your guts are just like you, Sera-chan.”
“Of course! After all, I’m putting into practice Gordiana’s special technique— wait, what are you making me say!”
Sera’s face shifted from smug satisfaction to a beet-red expression as she swung the Reap Blood Tail wildly. While it was unclear if her tail expressed emotions, she was clearly flustered.
(Oh my, how adorably fierce!)
Gordiana’s kindness was in not voicing her thoughts. Sera, having regained her composure, cleared her throat.
“A-Anyway! From our previous exchange, I think I have a rough idea of how to break through. Prepare yourself!”
“Then show me. A good woman should prove herself through action (She always has a vague idea…).”
“I won’t be told twice!”
The Reap Blood Tail extended a blade of blood from its tip and charged.
(What a grand way to hide her embarrassment!)
Gordiana’s backfist struck the tip of the approaching tail with explosive force. Scarlet water instantly scattered, and a large portion of the tail was lost in a single blow. However, the Reap Blood Tail did not stop. Another ruby, which had been discreetly absorbed during its sweep of the ground, formed a new blade from its broken surface and continued its assault.
(Getting close would be a bad move, wouldn’t it?)
Even Gordiana, a formidable monster, found it dangerous to stay close to the Reap Blood Tail. Her opponent was a formless fluid. Even if she herself was unaffected by “Blood Dye,” being surrounded by water of overwhelming mass and sinking into it would halve her power, putting her at a disadvantage. Gordiana didn’t miss the fragments of water she had just crushed inching across the ground to rejoin the main tail.
(Fighting this giant tail seems endless. I should aim for Sera instead…!)
As Gordiana tried to locate Sera, who she assumed was at the base of the tail, the midsection of the tail rose like a wall, blocking her gaze. Then—
—GWON!
Multiple remnants, high-hardness fragments of the stage waiting underwater, were fired in rapid succession like cannonballs.
Although Sera had merely imitated Baal’s technique from the previous match, throwing the stage’s cubes, she somehow succeeded. Faced with battleship-like bombardment, Gordiana countered with her Queen Bee Stinger, shooting down the projectiles one by one. Meanwhile, the regenerated tail tip was closing in.
“Wrathful Pink Ogre Fierce Fist!”
Aura gathered in her right arm. Her strongest blow, the one that had destroyed the stage, collided with the tail’s tip. From its heavily indented surface, the Reap Blood Tail collapsed, scattering water splashes in ripples.
“You concentrated your power, didn’t you?”
“Hmph!?”
Sera, who should have been at the tail’s base, was now behind Gordiana. This was in the opposite direction of the collapsing Reap Blood Tail.
(The tail was a feint to make me think Sera was there…!?)
As Gordiana had deduced, Sera had detached herself from the tail and moved independently from the moment the bombardment began. Sera, thinking that providing a large amount of information would deceive Gordiana’s “Sixth Sense,” which approached precognition, had the Reap Blood Tail rampage to draw her attention. The opportunity arose when Gordiana focused the compassionate Heavenly Bull onto a single point. Sera used the watery tail to charge, using it as a blind spot, and moved at full speed from its shadow. She reached Gordiana’s back. Now, sharp claws plunged into Gordiana’s back, where her aura had thinned.
“…Guh!?”
“You seem strong against blunt attacks, but aren’t you weak against sharp attacks like slashes? Like these claws of Demon Fist Crimson Battle Rage!”
The claws, burrowing through the aura, slightly pierced Gordiana’s body. This meant the conditions for “Blood Dye” were met.
“Make that aura disappear!”
Sera’s command became reality, and the compassionate Heavenly Bull that had protected Gordiana’s whole body vanished. She had succeeded in breaking through Gordiana’s aura. However, she couldn’t afford to rejoice. Sera’s “Blood Dye” was most effective with simple commands; complex ones, such as issuing multiple instructions simultaneously, required a large amount of blood. Sera sensed that her control, with just a slight touch, was the limit for such a command and had not instructed Gordiana’s body to be completely immobilized.
“Heh heh, you’re quite observant. But you see—”
The exposed Pink Ogre flesh where Sera’s claws had pierced swelled up.
(—Nngh! The claws won’t budge!?)
No matter how much Sera strained, the claws wouldn’t move. She couldn’t move them. Gordiana’s tensed back muscles prevented the blade from penetrating further, nor would they allow her to retract. However, even if Sera changed her command to immobilize her body, a pale pink aura would deploy on her back and repel it. She was in a state of being unable to advance or retreat, for two reasons.
“I caught you!”
“Hngh… Haa…!”
A powerful elbow strike hit Sera. It struck her abdomen, peeling off the armor of Demon Fist Crimson Battle Rage and inflicting considerable damage.
“Kuh… Fuu… It touched me, didn’t it?”
“This is unavoidable…”
The elbow that had damaged Sera became bloodstained and fell under Sera’s control. Simultaneously, Gordiana felt the sensation of losing feeling from her right elbow onward and defended against Sera’s next thrust with her left hand. It was more of an interception than a defense. She crushed the other claw, aimed at her head, in an instant. With her left hand immobilized, she delivered an elbow strike with her left elbow. Sera’s left arm armor was destroyed, further limiting Gordiana’s freedom.
“Haa… Haa…”
The impact of the two elbow strikes broke the claws that had been hardened by her back muscles. The claws’ tips remained embedded in Gordiana’s back, their effect continuing. Fortunately or unfortunately, Sera was able to separate from Gordiana.
“You’re like a candle in the wind. Well, with Sera-chan’s recovery power, it shouldn’t be a problem, right?”
“I-I don’t want to hurt… Kuh…”
Gordiana, with both arms controlled and her ultimate technique sealed, and Sera, with her Demon Fist Crimson Battle Rage armor peeled off and close to being deactivated. Comparing the extent of damage, the difference was overwhelming. However, at this point, the outcome of the match was all but decided.
“Gordi-ana… For your coffee, do you… haa… add sugar… how many spoons?”
“…Maybe three. I like it black, but today I feel like three. When I’m sad because my dreams haven’t come true, I want something sweet.”
“I see…”
The water from the collapsed Reap Blood Tail surged onto the ground, covering it. Sera dropped the third and final ruby into the water and used her skill. Gordiana’s feet, having lost their aura protection, were fixed in place by the water, which had increased its blood content. Furthermore, the red water gradually began to crawl up Gordiana’s body. Before her stood Sera, tattered and bloodied, but still holding her fist. However, Sera’s victory was imminent. All that remained was to touch Gordiana’s head with her own blood, or to watch as the crawling water engulfed Gordiana entirely.
“Fuu… I have to speak the finishing words myself, don’t I? I lose. *sniff*…!”
With large tears welling up, Gordiana declared her defeat.
