Elana’s temper flared at Loop’s arrogant attitude.
Elana lunged for Loop’s throat the instant he stiffened. He twisted his body and slipped away. Immediately, claws shot towards her. These were no cute cat-punches; they were terrifying talons aiming to rip the flesh from her face.
As expected of a general who had dodged so much, Loop was difficult to hit. But Elana continued her wild assault, unconcerned. Like two beasts fighting, they rose on their upper bodies and struck with their forelegs. Loop skillfully deflected her attempts to scratch him. Everyone held their breath, watching their battle. Even I, standing nearby, felt a sense of not needing to intervene.
At that moment, Elana’s foreleg slipped under Loop’s side, as if to lift him. Sensing danger, Loop immediately latched onto her neck. Elana’s desperate resistance even robbed the enemy of his composure. But this was bad; if this continued, he’d tear her neck off. Even if he took her life, this man would likely just laugh and be done with it.
But Elana did not try to escape. Instead, she spread her tattered wings while still locked with him. What on earth was she thinking? Just as I wondered that, she leaned her upper body forward and adjusted the angle of her wings. The next moment, a gale swept across the field from who knew where. My cloak billowed, and I simultaneously covered my face with my arms. Was this an accident? No, it was surely Elana’s wind magic. The gale, as if it had a form of its own, swirled up dust and headed towards them.
Pushed by the wind, Elana’s body was propelled forward like a yacht with its sails set. Loop, unable to withstand it, was also pushed and fell backward. Finally, Elana had Loop pinned. But it wasn’t over. The wind that had suddenly arrived continued to push her body.
Their bodies slid across the ground as they remained locked together. Was she planning to drag him like this? But that wouldn’t do much damage. What’s more, the enemy still had his fangs sunk into her neck. She was still the one with her vital spot exposed. They were being pushed towards the large rock where Loop had been sitting. No, she wasn’t planning to crash into that rock, was she?! The enemy seemed to realize it too and hastily released his bite.
“W-Wait! What are you planning to do! Damn it, let go, someone stop this woman!”
“You lose when you let go.”
Just before hitting the rock, Elana released Loop’s arm, kicked him, and soared into the air. The one who had been kicked, on the other hand, flew in a straight line towards the rock. But this was a man who had survived an explosion, and he quickly regained his posture, using his limbs as cushions to absorb the impact with the rock. His whole body took a beating, but it wasn’t fatal.
However, he, relieved to have avoided a collision, didn’t notice that Elana, who had soared into the air, was still there. Two fireballs released from the sky drew an arc and struck Loop directly in the back.
