A sky full of stars, galaxies, planets, and other celestial objects hovered above the two cultivators. This expansive terrain was reflected in the luminous water that expanded below them.
Looking from the outside, it felt like gazing into a giant mirror with white spots, reflecting an enchanting cosmos hovering above it.
Of course, the water was not still.
A Dragon woman was flying around a certain point, constantly trying to close the distance with a barrage of powerful attacks. From the middle of the domain, a feathered woman used a myriad of water and light skills to bar her from approaching, slowly damaging her over time.
'...She is really tough. Her defense and regeneration are so high that some of my attacks have already healed.'
Even when Yasenia was kept at a distance, Astarea was not happy. 'This is… frustrating. Why is she so durable?'
The white dress with inlaid pearls was the combination of [Celestial Cosmos Dress] and [Crystalline Moon Dress]. Together, they created a gorgeous piece of clothing with terrifying durability. Over that boost in defense, Yasenia's body itself was more durable than standard shields in her realm. Therefore, to severely damage Yasenia, the power Astarea required was excessive.
Astarea squinted when she noticed Yasenia dodge an attack directed at her stomach. 'Hm? Wouldn't it have been better to tank it with her body? She lost a lot of speed because of that.'
[Aqueous Lightlance] soared and aimed at Yasenia, combining perfectly with the pillars from [Eternal Reflection Sanctuary]. Astarea could see Yasenia's giant sword slicing through everything, while even her tail participated in defending against the barrage.
'At this pace, I will need to retreat soon.'
Astarea had not moved since the battle started. [Mirrored Horizon Seal] deflected and returned long-range attacks, while her domain skill was too powerful to break through forcefully. But Astarea never expected to meet a monster like Yasenia, who could be hit squarely by her abilities and only show annoyance.
While feeling frustrated, she noticed Yasenia retreat and maneuvered quickly, her steps leaving behind the illusory form of a star. 'That's the strange movement technique she uses for acceleration bursts… But this time it is different. What is she planning?'
"[Heavenly Constellation Steps, Second Sky: Ursa's Grasp]!"
A massive bear made out of starlight manifested in the sky, and then, it flowed into Yasenia's body. Astarea's heart jumped as Yasenia's aura violently expanded, the shockwave powerful enough to destroy the pillars she summoned below Yasenia's feet and sink the ocean for a second.
'She still has other strengthening skills? Hasn't she used five of them already?'
Knowing that Yasenia's strength had increased, Astarea didn't dare lower her guard. She instantly summoned two weapons, a one-handed spiked mace and a large shield. "[Luminous Ocean Coat: Weapon Enhancement]."
The aura around her body extended and merged with her two weapons. A blue, thick layer like water surrounded her shield, while light extended from the spikes, creating scorching white fangs for her mace.
It was then that Yasenia planted her foot into the air, and her body bolted ahead with remarkable speed and momentum. Like the first time, Astarea summoned an [Aqueous Lightlance], timing it perfectly with Yasenia's acceleration to make it unavoidable.
'She is smiling?'
Astarea's heart sank, and she felt a bad premonition. Not trusting the lance of light she shot at Yasenia, she readied her weapons and prepared for a clash.
"[Star Pierce], [Fairy Moon Steps], [Pegasus Gallop]."
The same skill Yasenia used for acceleration manifested once more, and then the footwork changed slightly as white light pierced everything and connected both sides.
Outside, the spectators held their breath. They had seen this skill combination before, and they understood how destructive it was.
Lataria noticed everyone's tension and focused on the exchange.
It was at that moment that the air below Yasenia cracked as if it were solid ground. Whitish fissures spread out from Yasenia's stomping point before a giant explosion expanded outward.
BOOM!
Yasenia followed through the white line that connected Astarea, pointing Draheart before her, and charged straight at the Aqueous Lightlance.
Astarea was surprised, but all her muscles tensed as she maneuvered her shield to cover the white line's path. It was then that Astarea felt as if everything had slowed down to the point of stopping.
Everything but Yasenia.
With a speed that made everything else look still, Yasenia pierced through the lance and arrived in front of Astarea. Yasenia's eyes, barely keeping up with her current acceleration, noticed that she couldn't land a clean hit. So, instead, she carried all her weight in the strike and hit Astarea's shield.
BOOM!!!
Astarea's eyes widened. 'Heavy!' A grunt escaped her mouth as the weight of the attack rammed her shield. The water layer was instantly blown to pieces as the materials that formed the shield screeched when Dreaheart collided.
Unable to absorb the impact, Astarea's feet finally separated from the ground, and she was hurled without any control, her body bouncing on the water. 'Ridiculous child! How has she even trained her body to be able to deliver so much brute strength!?'
Astarea quickly recovered her stance, but her body continued flying back from the sheer inertia. Her ocean-like eyes scanned the surroundings with her spiritual sense and noticed that Yasenia was chasing after her with a wide grin, clearly delighted.
At that moment, she noticed that the Dragon woman's golden eyes began changing, gaining a red tint. 'Berserk?'
"[Pegasus Gallop], [Firmament Shaking Arc]!"
With another acceleration burst, Yasenia lunged forward and swung her sword. Body energies enveloped Draheart like a storm as the energies condensed to the limit into the weapon.
Astarea raised her shield. "[Luminous Ocean's Endless Reflection]!"
Before her shield, a large mirror-like shield appeared right before Yasenia completed her motion.
Then, the Firmament Shaking Arc impacted.
DOONG!
The water shield shattered, with an impact spreading from the contact point, producing a low and humming sound. Backlash from the defense ran through Astarea once more, pushing her back.
'That attack…' Astarea was confused. 'It was a slashing attack that condensed all its energy to create an impact. If that hits someone's body…'
Yasenia's voice reached her from right before her. "To think that you are not injured. Your defense is one of the sturdiest I've ever seen. [Grand Cosmos Martial Art, Second Form: Galaxy Flow]."
Astarea's heart lurched. 'She shortened the distance!'
A barrage of attacks fell like rain on Astarea's shield. The Divine's eyes remained firm, even when each strike made her bones vibrate. Slow and steady, Astarea read Yasenia's rhythm, and they fell into a stalemate.
Sword and shield crashed, giving the Divine no chance to breathe. 'She is incredibly proficient with her giant sword. Nevertheless, she lacks experience. Her attacks, feints, and even tail movements are good. However, I can see through her intentions rather easily.'
BANG!
"Ugh."
Astarea felt her radius crack from the brutal strike. 'She cracked a bone through the defense of my shield…' She smiled wryly in her head. 'I guess it doesn't matter that much being sublime when you have the raw power to overwhelm others.'
Yasenia's barrage of attacks was fast enough to cover her openings, so Astarea could only defend, defend, and continue defending. Still, the hand holding her mace was tightly clenched, and her blue eyes were fixed on each of Yasenia's motions.
It was a tiny mistake, something so minimal that no one would've usually noticed. But Astarea did.
'Her sword path is deviated down by a degree.'
Not losing a single instant, Astarea tilted her shield forward, angling the bottom inward. Yasenia was surprised at the abrupt movement, but it was too late to stop herself.
BANG!
Draheart struck, and instead of bouncing back, it bounced downward. This forced her body to lean down. In that fraction of a second, the sturdy shield finally moved aside, and the mace appeared right before Yasenia's face.
Astarea twisted her torso, her mace ascending in a beautiful arc and aiming for Yasenia's head. Searing light coated each of the terrifying spikes as they approached at an unavoidable speed.
Seeing the mace closing in, Yasenia's pupils shrank to lines, and she shifted one of her wings.
In the spectator room, they saw Astarea suddenly swing the mace up and strike what seemed to be Yasenia's face.
BOOM!!
The dragoness hurled to the sky, spinning backward from the hit without any control whatsoever. Everyone put on a pained expression.
"Ouch… Straight to the face."
"Lady Astarea can hit such a pretty visage without any remorse? Ruthless."
"Is she even alive? Perhaps her head was blown off."
"No, look! Yasenia actually managed to block!"
In the sky, Yasenia stopped her body. Her wing had barely made it in between the mace and her face. Still, the result was not pleasant to look at.
Her nose was broken, and several spikes had pierced through her armored wing, leaving bloody holes. Yasenia frowned, feeling the burning pain. 'Ugh… My face is deformed…'
Soluna spoke in her mind. 'Yasenia, Astarea is coming!'
The Divine, who had been on the defensive, was flying towards her, her expression calm and collected. The only difference from the start to now was the light sheen of sweat and hints of tiredness between her eyebrows.
Yasenia didn't flinch, looking at the approaching Divine while holding Draheart. When Astarea reached in front of her, Yasenia swung her sword as well and clashed with Astarea.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Sword, shield, and mace exchanged blows together one after another, their bodies moving across the sky as they fought. 'How do I win?'
Yasenia became thoughtful as she exchanged blows with Astarea. That hit to the face had woken her up from her excited state. 'While I don't lose my ability to think when I am excited, I do fight more recklessly. I was cornering her better back then, though.'
Now that she was exchanging blows in a calmer manner, Astarea's chances to attack her were becoming increasingly frequent. Each time the mace shot at her, Yasenia couldn't help but change into a defensive position. 'That mace is dangerous.'
Right as she focused on the mace, Yasenia's senses tingled with danger. Draheart parried the mace, both weapons bouncing back. Then, before Yasenia reacted, Astarea stepped close and swung her shield.
"Huh?"
BANG!
The pointy lower edge of the shield crashed between her breasts, cracking her ribs. The force behind it pushed Yasenia back several steps. 'How did she hide her movement so well? I didn't even register the shield until it struck my chest.'
Astarea's barrage of attacks pushed Yasenia back, cornering her step by step. Astarea looked at Yasenia's bloody face with a solemn expression. 'Her reflexes and instincts are ridiculous. First, the wing block, and now, she actually jumped back right before my shield made contact to cushion the impact. If not, it wouldn't have ended with something as light as three cracked ribs.'
As she chased and gained an advantage, Astarea became increasingly tense. 'Why?'
Her mace and shield worked in perfect coordination, blocking and attacking while leaving Yasenia helpless.
'Why do I feel so threatened?'
Astarea blocked a tail strike with her shield, pushing Draheart back with her mace. Then, she raised her leg and kicked Yasenia's stomach. Before her kick landed, Yasenia lowered her body, and the kick landed on her sternum instead.
BANG!
"Gah!"
'Huh?' Astarea noticed the strangeness again. 'Why did she do that? Her stomach is sturdier than her sternum. Is she reluctant to be hit in her stomach?'
The Divine rushed ahead again, using her skills while being countered by Yasenia. The strange feeling of threat appeared again. 'Again? I am winning, so why am I so nervous?'
Looking at Yasenia's eyes, Astarea's spine chilled as her skin was filled with goosebumps.
The pair of red-colored dragon eyes was locked onto her, widely opened as if to take in each micromovement greedily. 'What is wrong?'
It was then that Astarea's mace suddenly missed. 'Huh?' Her eyes quickly searched for the reason, and she noticed Yasenia had released her hold on Draheart. 'Ha? I missed because she released her weapon!? Is she crazy?'
Yasenia's bleeding lips arched as she stepped in and forcefully pushed the shield aside with her left hand. "[Stellar Burst]."
Her clenched fist, wrapped in celestial light, shot upward like a comet and punched Astarea's stomach with the strength of a descending meteor.
BOOM!!
"OOMPH!" Astarea's eyes bulged as her air was forcefully expelled from her body. The energy then detonated, and she flew to the sky.
Yasenia laughed. "Hahaha! Fighting with you is so fun, Astarea! [Pegasus Gallop]!"
The dragon shot up, chasing after her while Draheart flew back into her grasp.