*
"We won't survive if we don't put our all into it at the start. Main terminal connected, using full capacity privilege induced limit breach. " (Lastia)
A dark scarlet light swallows Lastia and shoots into a sky without hesitation, it looked like the gods have granted divine punishment as the light tore through the world and rended the earth asunder. Dark scarlet motes of light rise into the air, popping into existence and vanishing all the same, like a dream of never ending bubbles.
"... I... I will defeat you, cursed fate of all destinies." (Remnant)
"...!?" (Lastia)
She can talk... Her ability for speech has vastly improved to the point that she could communicate. This is bad, if Traces can coordinate their attacks, humanity will face an unprecedented level of threats. A feeling of cold sweat slithers down her back, dampening her dress from behind. The cloth sticks to her skin as her breathing stabilises.
She was already in a fighting posture, and the energy inside her body was only rapidly accumulating. A rank, this was the fruit of her technique, the simulation of a mythical tree that contained worlds. Her technique itself has vastly improved even if she didn't remember training or fighting. Her memories were as full of holes as always, like a perforated sponge.
But muscle memory never lies, she could feel it through the air and her skin. The magic of The Remnant was only ever familiar to her body that it instinctively sent shivers down her spine. Her wrist felt cold and clammy, and the discomfort spread to her hips. All the more reason for her to power up from the start and send her blood surging through her body with heat.
Their figures vanish, gaining a head start while ignoring the other two. Sariel and Arin watched from the side as the fight unfurled, clash after clash, they exchanged attacks rapidly to the point that there was no meaning in keeping track the number of attacks.
Lastia's right leg slips forward, entering The Remnant's range. A blade of scarlet materialised in her palms, her grip brought overwhelming strength to its edge as it inched closer to its target. She passed through her target, her toes land on the perceived tomorrow. She flicks her blade into the air, throwing the grime off its surface.
The Remnant stand unharmed, not a lick of hair was touched. Her own blade glares at reality in a black light, threatening to tear the world apart.
"How... It was supposed to have torn right through..." (Lastia)
Even when her physicality was finally able to match up against The Remnant's, it doesn't seem like her own improvement was much helpful...
"... {Anxiety}, frequency existence conversion. " (Remnant)
At the last moment, she converted the part of her body that would be sliced through into vibrations of a different frequency, sending herself partially into another dimension... She had achieved the ability to evade present reality. If they can't do a single bit of damage against her, the whole party is doomed...
A hand presses against Lastia's arm, for a moment she jolted from surprise. Her breath stopped as she craned her head towards her back. Sariel was there.
"... Calm down, we're still here. We can't just do nothing. Yggdrasil's derivative, panta rhei. Simulation failed.....
Collapsed prototype utilised. {Swap} " (Sariel)
Trusting her words, Lastia shot forward once more. In a single step she swung at least 3 times. The number of attacks only increase as time moved on. Ending it with a thrust, the attacks collapse onto her target in one space.
"Luke warm. Your tricks will not work, no matter how many of you there are." (Remnant)
Her classic brown cloak reappears, covering up her body. Though her head wasn't covered by her hood, allowing two conspicuous horns to poke out. Their sheen was unimaginable, it looked to be keratin like the shell of an insect, yet it also seemed mysterious in the nature of its composition. Every little flicker of light, every tiny ember could be reflected over its surface with ease.
Lastia's attacks finally land on her body, drawing blood at last. When she changed the vibration frequency of her body and sent parts of herself into another dimension... Sariel used {Swap} to bring it right back. Reversing her reality evasion allowed Lastia's attacks to land, blood splurted all over the air, but... Nothing changed.
The Remnant stood on the spot, unharmed. She raised her arm, as if observing the cuts in her flesh... Instantly gone. Even the tears in her clothes and robe were no longer there... Monstrous regeneration, even if her body had a similar hardness to A rank magical girls, her healing was incomprehensible...
"... I can't reverse her regeneration, she's not substituting her damaged body with a healed one stored in another space. But that level of regeneration isn't natural either..." (Sariel)
"... You can't understand it? Well, that's not my problem. " (Remnant)
Her figure vanishes, Lastia springs into action in order to intercept. The Remnant slams her blade into Lastia's, finally shattering it. With a single swift moment, she decapitated Lastia...
"... Wha-" (Sariel)
Lastia shifts her body half forward, piercing The Remnant's heart before jumping back and summoning her lodged sword.
"... I survived... It's because of yggdrasil, it copied your magic quantity and forced an equivalent amount from the earth's veins into my body." (Lastia)
"... I can see that. Don't worry, I'll deal with it sooner or later." (Remnant)
" Not if I have anything to say. " (Arin)
A gun points to the back of her head. Before she could refute, a soft click could be heard behind her. A thunderous roar crosses the sky. Lastia's arbitrary ranking system could never contain the opponent before her, the magic bullet should have done substantial damage, but The Remnant was unscathed.
"Surviving Decapitation, you went from B grade to A grade." (Arin)
"... Grade?" (Lastia)
"...!?" (Remnant)
Her hair shifted violently as she twisted her neck and dodged the next bullet, before stepping far back. This was the first time she showed excessive caution, in other words Arin had instilled a sufficient level of threat against The Remnant.
"Your ranks are based on your most initial level of power, correct?
Then your scaling would be too small. Grades account for that, each step up is exponential compared to the previous grade. If we try to make it corresponding, rank C to A matched grade E to D.
The Remnant is 2 grades above rank A, the observer that invaded the sky was S grade. A heavenly king is still more powerful than her, we still have a chance. " (Arin)
" Tch! Don't get cocky, so what if you know a little extra information? Anyone could get reincarnated and cause a little mayhem, but it wouldn't matter in the grand scheme. " (Remnant)
Lastia tightens her fist.