Miki stood firm, dagger in hand shielding Iroh with every ounce of her remaining resolve.
Miki "Seig,Aturia—don't lose to a guy like that!" (her voice echoed through the bridge despite fear)
Baka glanced with a calm realization at the orb domain "The tables have drastically turned, Even if there's a way to break his technique… those two don't stand a chance against him."
Phoenix laughed darkly "Exactly. A kingdom addicted to peace can't produce real magic knights… because they're never forced to learn the only thing that matters—killing."
Miki was feeling agitated "Then what are we going to do, Captain?!"
Baka sighs "This is gonna be a real pain in the ass having to deal with you again (he glances at Phoenix)
He slowly unsheathed his katana—dark mana already whispering along the blade.
Baka "So…I'm going to have to finish this in an instant."
Phoenix "You're planning to use Dark Magic again? You're really Such an unimaginative guy."
"Phoenix unleashed a straight lightning attack. Baka absorbed it with a wave of dark magic as it got sucked into his katana, In an instant, Phoenix used a substitution technique and appeared behind him. He threw a dagger toward Baka, but Baka blocked in time with his palm. The blade pierced through—blood dripping steadily from the wound."
Baka "You may call me unimaginative… but you're just afraid of the Dark magic, aren't you,Phoenix?" he said grinning through the pain
Phoenix "The secret technique of a magic knight isn't something you show your opponents many times."
Baka grins "Be appreciative—you're the only one who's had the chance to taste its power twice, And there will be no third time.
Phoenix "Even if you defeat me… you can't defeat my little bro. Since I found him on the streets as a kid, I've painstakingly taught him battle techniques. No matter how unbelievable the difficulty, he's always extremely successful. He's a child with no heart and has abandoned the notion of life. In other words… he's a sophisticated tool Unlike the scrap of brats you carry around."
In the Raijin orb domain—Seig spat blood, rising again after hearing Az's speech.
Seig "I'm not someone who gets afraid just because I failed once. I'll do it as many times as it takes. If you have a dream too… then let's see which is stronger—yours or mine. "Fire Magic: FlashFire Fist, his fist engulfed in flames as he ran towards the orbs hoping to destroy it but it was futile as Az blurred from one orb to the next and instantly overwhelmed him with a burst wind magic sending Sieg flying to tumble on the floor.
Aturia who was weak, battered, bruised, and almost out of Mana struggled to her knees.
Aturia "It was brief… but I could see trails of his movements. Seig—try to use your magic again."
Seig "Okay—one more time!
He took a deep breath and spat out multi medium sized fireballs but it still had the same results.
"Aturia focused. 'I knew it… just because I can see the trail doesn't mean I can keep up with his speed. Alright—the next one is my last shot,' she muttered, as her eyes slowly began to take the shape of something new under the intense pressure.
Meanwhile—
Phoenix gently rests his blade on his shoulders "Just because a bunch of weak brats got together doesn't mean they can defeat Az.
Baka let's out a sigh "All this talk is making me thirsty. There's nothing more boring than a stranger bragging. At least if you're going to make it interesting—bring some booze."
Dark mana oozed from his body as he channeled it into his katana blade
Phoenix screamed infuriated "Shut the hell up—Cloud Magic: Hidden Cloud!" He raised his hand as the whole bridge vanished under impenetrable fog—visibility zero.
Iroh "This is bad… the visibility is close to zero."
Baka "Miki—stay close to Iroh."
Miki (to herself) That's right… I have to trust Aturia, Sieg, and Captain right now. And I should do what I can do.
She gripped her dagger firmly.
Miki "Mr. Iroh—stay close to me."
Baka scanned the area with his eyes "He's used this magic ability before when we first fought… but this time the fog is way too thick."
Four daggers flew from the mist—aiming at him. Baka quickly reacted as he deflected them with his katana.
Phoenix "Good job blocking it…But you overrate your abilities and you depend on that katana too much.
Baka thought, 'I could absorb all this fog like last time, but it'll put a strain on my body. Phoenix is probably betting on me overusing my dark magic so I'll be left defenseless… he must've learned the side effects from our last fight and is trying to use them against me.
Phoenix "You must have already figured out my plan well Since i can't use magic against you I'll shut off your ability to use absorption in a close-distance meele battle."
Baka took his stance "well if you think you can?!
Phoenix voice cackles "Have you forgotten? I am a genius in silent killing—in this conditions i have the slight advantage.
Back in the battle scene with Az
Aturia breathed heavily, cuts and bruises covering.
Aturia "This is good… bit by bit, I'm figuring out the timing as he transports quickly from one orb to another.
Sieg breathed heavily "Really that's great he said but he was more concerned with Aturia eyes they were looking different than usual.
Az thought "She's reading my movements… No way she can do that?
Aturia "Seig—can you still move?"
Seig "Of course—I'm totally fine!"
Athuria thought "He's pretty much spent… no wonder. Fire magic is a destructive type and it uses a lot of mana. But thanks to him… I've found a way to breakthrough.
Az "No—impossible That was just a coincidence I'm probably just imagining things.
The lightning Orbs sparked again.
Aturia "Seig—run."
Seig "What?"
Aturia "Run out of here and attack from the outside!"
Seig "All right!"
He bolted as quick as he can immediately Az zapped out of the orb to stop him.
Aturia "I've just barely restored my mana… I can see Az movements more clearly it's like my perception has suddenly improved though my reaction time is still normal but I'm sure i can predict his movement before it happens and i know where he's going to be before he reaches. I hope this is enough—Ice Magic: Ice Arrow.
She aimed and shot at where Az is going to be after he materialized
But Az dodged the arrow zapped behind her and grabbed her by the neck briefly electrocuting her with a shock of lighting— az zapped in front of Seig to stop him from escaping grabbing by the neck as well and electrocuting him with lightning then used wind magic to shove Seig back inside the dome.
Aturia coughed out blood "It didn't work how is this guy always a step ahead of us! And Seig mana has already been drained so he can't use his fire magic for a while, I'm not sure how long i would last before mine is finished or how long i can keep this my eye ability.
Meanwhile;
Baka "Damn… it's been a while since I fought in such bad conditions. And I'm worried about my students too. The silence paused "My instincts are telling me something too why hasn't Phoenix attacked I'm not sensing even a bit of malicious intent around me unless—Oh no—Miki and Iroh!"
Phoenix "Too late."
He appeared silently behind Miki and Iroh as they stood outside where the mist didn't reach. Phoenix raised his giant blade above them and swung down ready to kill both of them at once.
The air went eerie silent as blood sprayed in the air—as Miki and Iroh turned their backs and saw as Baka stood and took the damage of the slash as blood was gushing out the cut across his chest and his white singlet stained with red.
Baka grunts in pain as his tone turns into rage" Phoenix you bastard I'm your opponent leave them out of it.
Phoenix's face expression turned ecstatic as he smiled "ahh the sight and scent of blood is enough to make me go crazy.
Miki screamed as she rushed to help baka Sensei stand steadily "Captain baka you're bleeding what happened? how did they get behind us i didn't even sense them until i saw blood in the air she said confused trying to grasp the situation that just happened.