Lexa slowly opened her eyes.
"Good... not good, but about ninety-nine percent."
Blinking once more, she suddenly dove downward.
The blood swords circling the battlefield instantly returned to her side.
Gorgon frowned.
Lexa now wielded a total of eight swords.
One sword rested in her hand.
Another hovered beneath her feet, serving as her platform in the sky.
Four massive broadswords floated behind her, while two smaller swords quietly orbited beside her.
High in the air, she calmly watched him.
Far below...
He watched her.
The battlefield had transformed into complete ruin. Towering mountains had collapsed, enormous boulders littered the landscape, and deep craters stretched in every direction.
Without warning...
Two of the massive broadswords shot toward him.
Gorgon's pupils shrank.
"Heavy... and fast."
"What do I even do?"
He lifted his enormous war hammer above his shoulders before beginning to rotate it over his head.
The rotation accelerated.
A violent gust of wind erupted around him, forming a swirling barrier.
Lexa watched with approval.
"A wind barrier... nice adaptation."
A faint smile appeared.
"Unfortunately..."
BOOM!
Both broadswords smashed directly into the spinning hammer.
The impacts landed one after another without slowing.
Gorgon, despite his gigantic physique, was forced several steps backward before immediately charging once more.
His hammer swung left...
Then right...
Meeting both swords head-on.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
Steel-like blood clashed against enchanted metal.
Although they were merely constructs of blood...
Gorgon couldn't help cursing internally.
"Why are these things so damn strong?"
Watching from the sidelines...
Aishwani spoke.
"I see..."
"The more injuries he suffers..."
Jurian nodded.
"The stronger and faster he becomes."
Vexion nodded as well.
"He didn't even have the speed to properly react to those swords before."
Elric frowned thoughtfully.
"So..."
"Lady Lexa was trying to confirm that?"
Aishwani nodded.
"Master Dante wanted to see everything."
"So she intentionally wounded him first to draw out more of his skill."
Dante merely smiled.
"Not sure taking a hit to the ears was part of her plan though."
"She can't hear anything now."
"She'll have to rely entirely on sight... and instinct."
He turned toward Amber.
"Amber."
She immediately straightened.
"Why do you think Lexa hasn't moved?"
"Why is she simply standing above him watching?"
Amber tensed.
"Why is Master testing me now...?"
She quickly forced herself to analyze the battle.
"Lady Lexa could defeat him..."
"She could also simply overwhelm him..."
"No... she's limiting herself."
"Her objective isn't victory."
"It's information."
After several moments she answered.
"The amount of wind his hammer generates is enormous."
"The force behind every swing is also incredible."
"Lady Lexa can't simply create thousands of swords either."
"If she does..."
"The power behind each sword decreases."
"So she's limiting their number to maximize their strength while conserving mana."
She paused before continuing.
"Those two special Blood Knight swords also haven't entered the battle."
"I'm assuming she's preserving them for whatever his strongest move is."
"And..."
"She currently can't hear."
"So her senses are weakened."
"The increase in his speed as he grows stronger probably makes her curious."
"She wants to know..."
"What else can he do?"
Dante chuckled.
His hand casually found Vexion's backside once more, gently squeezing it.
Vexion nodded with approval.
"I'd have cut off one of your arms if you answered that poorly in front of Master."
Dante smiled.
"Good."
"You've learned quite a bit in only two days."
Amber couldn't help smiling brightly.
"To think... I'd one day be able to analyze battles like this."
"Though..."
"I still don't know how I'd fare against someone like Gorgon."
Lexa narrowed her eyes.
Then nodded.
A third broadsword joined the other two.
Finally...
Gorgon began getting pushed backward.
Fresh blood flowed from several wounds.
Naturally...
Those crimson blades absorbed every drop.
"Just because you grow stronger from injuries..."
"Doesn't mean I can't."
She smiled.
Watching calmly...
Gorgon released another deafening War Cry.
The violent shockwave blasted the swords backward.
Lexa simply tilted her head.
The three broadswords returned.
A fourth joined them.
Then...
A fifth.
She condensed all five around herself before adding the sword beneath her feet.
Six massive blood broadswords floated around her.
Taking a single step...
She allowed herself to freefall.
The sword she'd been standing on seamlessly joined the formation.
Now...
All six surrounded Gorgon.
He barely twisted in time.
One blade carved deeply into his left ribs.