BB truly regretted confronting Sukuna, despite having more "blessed" Servants. She should have expected it, considering Sukuna's parameters. The Servant of the "Caster" class—though BB wasn't entirely convinced that was accurate—showed strength in magecraft and physical combat.
And now, not only was Sukuna already a strong Servant in his own right, but he had his own "Dark Servants" that they could summon, but more like Servants were some kind of "Shadow Magic" type thing. Not that I really knew what they were beyond them appearing some sort of "Yokai or Shikigami".
The Divine General Mahoraga, Sukuna had called it. But even after combing through her database, BB couldn't find any useful information about it. What little she did uncover was utterly useless to her plans.
Well, he's not the only one who can summon from the shadows, BB thought arrogantly as she invoked several shadowy tendrils shaped like whips, aiming to overwhelm Sukuna.
Sukuna merely grinned smugly, pointing at the shadows. In an instant, they disintegrated, destroyed with minimal effort. BB tried again, increasing the intensity of her attacks, but every tendril she sent toward Sukuna was obliterated.
This isn't working, BB muttered in frustration.
Her attention turned to the Divine General, who was now charging toward Scáthach. The Queen of the Shadowlands had just finished weaving her runes, which she cast into the air. The glowing inscriptions activated, and their effects were immediate.
Mash, Astolfo, and BB herself felt the surge of energy as their mana reserves spiked, their physical strength increasing to a noticeable degree.
At that same moment, Scáthach barely managed to block Mahoraga's colossal strike. The impact sent her flying several meters backward, slamming into the ground. The Divine General gave her no time to recover, charging after her with the relentless fury of a berserker.
BB intensified her shadow-based assaults against Sukuna, while Scáthach nimbly dodged Mahoraga's predictable attacks. Her counterattacks came swift and sharp, each one inflicting damage on the Divine General. Scáthach's strikes found their mark repeatedly, drawing streams of dark, purplish blood from the beast.
But then...
CLINK.
The Dharma Wheel floating above Mahoraga's head began to spin. Scáthach's eyes widened in surprise as she watched the Divine General. Scáthach didn't know what had happened, nor did BB, but now both were more cautious around the Divine General.
What was that? BB wondered, momentarily splitting her attention between Sukuna and Scáthach's battle. Mahoraga's wounds remained open, blood still flowing, but something had changed.
Before Scáthach could process what was happening, Mahoraga shifted his pattern of attacks. Where before his movements had been heavy and predictable, they now carried an eerie, calculated precision. Scáthach, who had easily avoided his strikes before, suddenly found herself struggling to anticipate his next move.
A single, powerful blow from Mahoraga struck Scáthach's guard. Though she managed to block it, the sheer force of the impact sent her hurtling through the air. She crashed through the walls of the room, breaking them apart like clay, and continued flying until she was completely out of sight.
Did he adapt...? BB watched with growing concern. That monster just learned Scáthach's combat pattern just by taking all that damage.
Mahoraga didn't stop. It barreled through the walls after her, leaving behind a massive crater in its wake.
BB gasped as she finished weaving her next shadow spell. She turned her attention back to Sukuna, whose presence loomed over her like an oppressive shadow. Her heart sank when she realized her earlier attacks had done nothing to him. Sukuna stood there, unscathed, meeting her gaze with his four demonic eyes. His arrogant, smug grin was infuriating, and it filled her with frustration.
"You really are such a troublesome, bad boy, aren't you, Sukuna-chan?" BB sneered, masking her unease with a malevolent smile. "But don't worry—I've still got plenty of tricks up my sleeve."
BB allowed the [Haze] to flood her system, sending a wave of euphoric clarity through her mind. She activated her Domina Coronam ability, altering the nature of her shadow attacks. Instead of corrupting and infecting the soul with her [Master's] blessing, the attacks would now disorient and induce hallucinations.
This adjustment was only possible thanks to her second skill, Aurea Poculum.
Now then. If only she could get more information about Sukuna, then it would be ideal to do a lot of simulations. Unfortunately for her, even if she could do simulations, they would not be entirely accurate and would be more based on her hypotheses. Which, instead of helping her, would only hurt her.
[Haze] not being something that can be cut, it impacted squarely against Sukuna destabilizing him, Sukuna's hand went to his head, and he closed his four eyes with a grimace of displeasure on his face.
BB smirked. That should destabilize his perception for at least a few minutes, she mused. Plenty of time for Artoria Lancer to use her Noble Phantasm.
Astolfo, however, acted impulsively, charging toward Sukuna to capitalize on the momentary weakness. It was a fatal mistake.
Sukuna recovered almost instantly as if shaking off a mild inconvenience. His four eyes snapped open, blazing with fury. He evaded Astolfo's spear with ease and placed his palm firmly against the Rider's abdomen.
What followed was a grotesque display.
Astolfo's body erupted in a shower of blood, limbs flying in all directions. BB barely avoided being struck by one of the severed pieces. Astolfo's torso was sent hurtling across the room, crashing near Mash, who stood frozen in horror as blood began to stain the whitish floor.
Astolfo's broken body had multiple cuts (some large and some small) on his body and face. Both legs had been dismembered and his left arm was missing. Blood began to ooze from all the cuts on his body and the dismembered limbs.
BB stared in disbelief, frustration bubbling beneath the surface. Astolfo wouldn't last long before disappearing entirely—not that she cared. She could always summon him again, though the false Astolfo might not be thrilled about returning. Still, it wasn't her fault he was so pathetically weak.
Clearly, this battle was lost. Without additional Servants to support her, she was as good as dead. And while her essence, woven into Chaldea's systems, meant she wouldn't truly die, losing her physical form would be a humiliating setback. She would have to rely on Da Vinci to craft her a new one.
Her gaze flickered to Gudako, still unconscious. It was a pity she'd been the first to fall; had she been awake, she could have summoned more Servants. Then BB looked at Ritsuka, tied to the chair where they'd left him. They hadn't even had time to wipe his memories. She briefly wondered what the cuckolded Master might be thinking.
She couldn't take them with her. Sukuna's overwhelming strength and techniques made that impossible. She would have to retreat, leaving everything behind to start over.
I wonder if I can use Sukuna's body to place Pretender inside it. BB thought it was not known by anyone and some legends portrayed them with "hero" and "demon" at the same time. So eliminating Astolfo and having a Sukuna Pretender would be ideal. And if it is not possible at least a way to convince him using his ability to make simulations. Otherwise, it would be to alter the summoning and have another Servant summoned.
Leaving that aside. She would have to flee if she didn't want her plans to deviate from what she was destined to do. She will fulfill her [Master's] plans even if she has to sacrifice others.
Summoning another set of shadows, BB launched her final attack at Sukuna. But, like before, he destroyed them effortlessly. His four demonic eyes bore into her soul, and for the first time in a long while, BB felt a twinge of unease.
Before Sukuna could speak, an explosion shook the room, drawing everyone's attention.
That must be Scáthach fighting that beast, BB thought. Let's hope she's faring better than we are.
Sukuna's voice cut through the tension like a blade. "You're pathetic. I'll give you that. But I must admit, your disgusting little tricks are… interesting." He cracked his neck and shot BB a furious glare.
"An attack that does not corrupt the soul, but alters various parts of the brain's functioning, such as the occipital lobe, parietal lobe, and prefrontal cortex thus altering its 'reality' and thus leading to an affectation of the limbic system of the brain. Very interesting, but ultimately useless against someone like me." Sukuna smiled as he saw BB's surprised face. "I guess that's what you do with what you can't affect with this [Haze], right?"
BB's smug demeanor faltered as Sukuna pointed at her, his hand forming a gun-like gesture. His evil grin widened.
[Run from there BB and sacrifice the others to save yourself, don't waste time and start again. I order you.]
BB stiffened at the direct order from her [Master]. It didn't take her long to process the order before she looked at Mash. She was the only one left, along with Artoria Lancer, but if she left then she would die. Unless a miracle happened.
But... she can't leave her, can she? After all, she is someone very dear to Ritsuka. And in a way her friend.
[It doesn't matter once you back off she'll be fine.]
Right, she would be fine then there's nothing to worry about. BB smiled at Sukuna. "You know you shouldn't talk too much in battle Sukuna-chan, that might come to cost you after all" BB said smugly.
"Rhongomyniad."
Sukuna opened his eyes and saw a massive spiral of divine energy hurtling toward him at incredible speed. Immediately, he stopped pointing at BB and redirected his attention to the sacred light.
"KAI," he uttered, unleashing hundreds of slashes aimed directly at the incoming attack.
A frustrated grimace crossed Sukuna's face as his attacks failed to pierce the holy spear. "This is bad," he muttered, ceasing his strikes. Realizing it was too late to dodge, he planted his feet firmly into the ground, stretching both arms out in an attempt to stop the attack through sheer brute force.
Rhongomyniad struck Sukuna directly. Miraculously, he managed to catch the attack with his bare hands, but the kinetic energy was overwhelming. The force drove him backward, tearing through the floor beneath him as he struggled to stop its momentum. Finally, Sukuna came to a halt.
BB watched as Sukuna, drenched in sweat and gritting his teeth, held the attack back with sheer willpower. Despite his efforts, she couldn't resist mocking him.
"Maybe this wouldn't have happened if you weren't so arrogant, Su-ku-na-chan~," BB taunted, sticking out her tongue and making a dismissive wave. "And as much as I'd love to stay, I've got more important things to do. Enjoy the surprise! See you~." Without waiting for a response, BB turned and bolted from the room.
"Orochi," Sukuna growled, summoning his Shikigami with great effort. A massive serpent emerged, slithering directly toward BB. However, before it could reach her, Mash stepped in its path, blocking its advance with her towering shield.
Angered by the interruption, the serpent opened its massive jaws, attempting to swallow Mash whole. But Mash held firm, bracing her shield against the creature's crushing bite. The ground beneath her cracked and gave way under the sheer force of the serpent's jaws.
BB let out a sigh of relief as she continued to run, putting more distance between herself and the chaotic battle raging behind her.
Sukuna looked at her with an absolutely furious. "Get back here you fucking piece of shit!" he bellowed, his voice dripping with rage. It wasn't the struggle against Rhongomyniad that incensed him—it was the fact that BB was escaping. "You're going to regret running from this fight. When I find you, I'll enjoy killing you," he snarled, his voice echoing with barely restrained fury.
The scream was the last thing Sukuna could do before he could no longer hold back the attack.
An enormous explosion rocked the room. Artoria Lancer, mounted on her magnificent steed, darted away from the blast, carrying both Ritsuka and Gudako to safety. Meanwhile, the serpent's massive tail lashed out, striking Mash squarely in the back and sending her flying just moments before the explosion consumed the area. Mash hit the ground hard, bouncing several times before finally coming to a halt.
As the explosion subsided, the serpent vanished, its form dissipating due to Sukuna's loss of concentration.
With BB now successfully escaped, Artoria Lancer unceremoniously dropped Ritsuka and Gudako onto the floor. Unable to dismount them gently due to her missing leg, she cast a glance toward the chaotic remnants of the battlefield. Her once beautiful face bore a gruesome scar running from her brow to her jaw, and one of her eyes was now gone. Her remaining eye scanned the settling dust from the explosion before shifting to Mash, who lay groaning in pain on the ground.
Artoria tugged at her horse's reins, urging it toward Mash. "Can you stand?"
Mash, struggling, looked up at Artoria. "Yes… Just give me a moment." With great effort, she pushed herself to her knees, glancing toward the haze of smoke. "Did we succeed?"
Artoria Lancer's single eye remained fixed on the devastation. Her voice was cold as she answered, "Yes. There's no way he could have survived my Sacred Spear. His arrogance was his undoing." She spoke with certainty, knowing full well the destructive power of her Noble Phantasm. Few attacks could rival or overcome it.
Mash, still catching her breath, nodded uneasily. "That's… good," she said, exhaling deeply to steady herself.
.
.
.
Scáthach felt the force of Mahoraga's previous blow but managed to land gracefully on the ground. The Divine General wasted no time, charging at her with another colossal strike meant to crush her outright. Scáthach deftly dodged, the General's massive hand slamming into the ground and leaving a massive crater, kicking up a cloud of dust and debris.
The explosion of rubble obscured the air, but Scáthach's senses remained sharp. She spun her Gáe Bolg Alternative in a quick arc, aiming for the monster's side.
The spear struck true, its blade piercing deep into Mahoraga's thick hide. She was the first to draw the first blood.
Big, but slow and uncoordinated, Scáthach thought as she stepped back to reassess. Not much different from the beasts I faced in the Land of Shadows.
The creature growled, staggering slightly from the impact. Seizing the opportunity, Scáthach launched a flurry of rapid strikes, each one sinking into Mahoraga's flesh with precision. Chunks of its body fell to the ground with sickening wet sounds.
Divine General "looked" at her for a few seconds as if studying her before continuing his relentless attack, not relenting despite his wounds. Mahoraga charged towards Scáthach with devastating force, his massive body moving with a speed that belied his size. Scáthach reacted instinctively, spinning on her feet to avoid the downward blow that again shattered the ground where she stood, though this time the Divine General attacked with his white sword glowing with magic.
The impact of the weapon shattered the ground where she had been, but Scáthach gave her no time to recover. Her Gáe Bolg Alternative spear glowed with an intense magical aura as she plunged into a continuous stream of precise attacks.
Each thrust pierced Mahoraga's thick skin, leaving deep gashes that spilled red, viscous blood. Her movements were fluid and calculated, adapting to the Divine General's slow counterattack attempts. Mahoraga threw a horizontal strike, but Scáthach easily dodged it, spinning around him and driving her spear into his back with a clean blow.
Mahoraga grunted in pain, staggering forward, but Scáthach did not stop pressing at him. Her attacks were relentless, and every move demonstrated her superiority as a warrior. More wounds accumulated on Mahoraga's body, blood flowing in rivulets that stained the ground.
For a moment, it seemed her offense was working. Until...
CLINK.
The wheel atop Mahoraga's head spun once more. Scáthach stepped back, raising an eyebrow as the subtle shift in the air around the monster caught her attention. For the second time, the wheel of Dharma had turned. Something had changed.
The General paused, its massive chest heaving as it briefly took in a breath. It then turned its head toward Scáthach, a chilling grin spreading across its face. Though the creature had no eyes, its expression sent a ripple of unease through her.
She spun her spear several times before getting back into the fighting position. So that it would begin once again, between Scáthach the Immortal Warrior of the "Land of Shadows" against The Divine General, Mahoraga.
That wheel is doing something I don't know about, Scáthach thought. Her experience as a millennial warrior made her notice it immediately. She didn't know what it was, but something about the beast she was facing was different.
Determined to seize control of the fight, Scáthach charged forward, resuming the offensive. The battle resumed with Scáthach trying to hit Mahoraga, only the number of successful hits decreased. Several blows that would have hit previously were now blocked by the Divine General's sword.
It is no longer using its sword only to attack, but also to defend itself. Scáthach thought, observing with the sharp eyes of an experienced warrior, she noticed that the creature no longer moved in the same way. Mahoraga's fighting style began to become more methodical, her movements quicker and more calculated.
Scáthach adapted by incorporating feints into her attacks, hoping to catch the creature off guard. The tactic initially worked; several strikes landed, including a particularly deep cut on Mahoraga's right shoulder, drawing a fresh torrent of blood. The General growled in pain, but despite the accumulating injuries, it pressed on.
Then, as Scáthach executed another series of rapid thrusts accompanied by feints, something shifted once again within Mahoraga.
CLINK.
The wheel above his head turned slowly. A feint that was about to tear off one of her arms was blocked by the Divine General, causing Scáthach to be caught off guard again in combat.
She couldn't think long before she was forced to block a vicious attack from Mahoraga's fist, causing her to skid across the ground several meters as cracks formed due to her trying to steady her balance.
Is it adapting to my movements? Scáthach thought, surprised by the agility with which the monster began to block her thrusts and dodge her feints. Every attack she launched was met with an increasingly effective defense.
Her first instinct was to continue pressing the offensive, confident that her speed and skill would remain superior. But Mahoraga responded with a series of rapid, precise attacks. Strikes that were once easy to evade now came perilously close, forcing Scáthach to dodge with greater effort. She wasn't just defending now; she was losing ground.
It's learning... every hit I give it only makes it stronger, she thought, clicking her tongue in frustration as the realization hit. With each exchange, the Divine General seemed more calculating, more lethal.
Suddenly, Mahoraga began incorporating feints into his attacks, movements designed to throw her off balance. Scáthach tried to anticipate them, but her opponent, with his rapidly adapting style, moved unpredictably. The beast no longer attacked linearly. Its movements shifted with every blow, leaving Scáthach little time to react. What had been a fluid dance where she held the upper hand had now devolved into a desperate game of survival and control.
I can't keep using the same tactics. I need to change my approach, Scáthach thought. This beast was smarter than she had anticipated. She realized she couldn't prolong the battle any further—doing so would only allow the Divine General to adapt even more to her fighting style. Every passing second made Mahoraga stronger, more precise, and far deadlier.
Summoning her second spear into her hand, she prepared to end the fight as quickly as possible. Changing her combat style and reinforcing her body, Scáthach moved faster than the Divine General could anticipate.
With agility befitting the Warrior Queen, she dodged Mahoraga's attack and, with a fierce cry, charged at him, channeling all her magical energy into both Gáe Bolg spears. The weapons glowed brightly, illuminating the room as they pierced the air with blinding speed.
The first spear disrupted any defense the Divine General might attempt, while the second spear tore through his head, shattering Mahoraga's skull with a sickening crunch. The weapon exited through the back, destroying the wheel atop his head. The Shikigami's body collapsed to the ground with a resounding thud.
Scáthach took a deep breath, gazing at the motionless monster before her, convinced that the battle was finally over and that she had won.
But then, the wheel regenerated, and...
CLINK.
"What?..." Scáthach murmured in disbelief as the wheel began spinning once more. Before her stunned eyes, Mahoraga's wounds vanished with astonishing speed.
The blood that had poured from his cuts ceased, and his broken flesh reknitted itself as though it had never been torn. The gaping hole in his head was sealed shut, and his posture straightened. He wasn't just healed—his sword had changed.
And then, he stood. As if nothing had happened, as if the injuries had never existed.
"This can't be..." Scáthach muttered, her voice tinged with shock at the sight before her. She had faced many powerful enemies, but none with such an overwhelming ability to regenerate. Scáthach no longer thought of Mahoraga as a mere savage beast. Now, he was something far more dangerous—a foe capable of adapting and recovering from any wound she inflicted.
As Scáthach regained her composure, Mahoraga brandished a new sword. The blade, which had once been white, was now a deep black, as though forged from pure darkness. It radiated a malevolent energy, sending a shiver down her spine.
What is this? That sword... there's something wrong with it, she thought, watching as the metal seemed to glow with an ominous purple light. Without a second thought, Mahoraga lunged with the weapon, its speed far surpassing anything he had displayed before.
Mahoraga's grin grew, twisting into a mocking sneer.
Scáthach prepared to block the blow, but the speed of the sword was overwhelming. The blade cut deep into part of her forearm, and Scáthach felt a sharp, stabbing pain. But it was something else that caught his attention. As the pain spread through her body, her veins around the cut darkened, turning blackish.
A burning sensation came over her, and she watched as the affected part of her skin began to break down. "What the hell...? This... this isn't normal magic." She said incredulously, her gaze fixed on the Divine General before her.
Scáthach's eyes shifted to the sword in Mahoraga's hands, her mind racing. The blade hadn't just changed color—it now seemed infused with corrosive power. The energy emanating from it felt disturbingly familiar, and then the realization struck her.
Is this... the power of a corrupted Grail? No. It's similar, but there's something different about it, Scáthach thought nervously as she worked to suppress the spreading corruption with her own magic.
Scáthach came to a grim understanding. The Divine General wasn't merely learning from her strikes or adapting throughout the battle due to its intelligence. This was something far worse, and Mahoraga's regeneration only confirmed her suspicions.
This monster was adapting to everything, Scáthach thought, unease creeping into her resolve.
And the frightening thing for her. Mahoraga was not only adapting to her fighting style, but Mahoraga was also learning the ways to counter her fighting style. Moreover, Mahoraga was not only adapting to her fighting style, but he was also adapting to find her other weaknesses, such as the way she was trying to corrode her body. Not to mention that his skin was becoming more durable and harder to penetrate, not to mention that he was getting faster and stronger.
The Grail's corruption—or whatever this was—shouldn't have affected her body, not in the way it would a Servant. After all, she was still alive because of her immortality. She couldn't die through ordinary means. So why?
Why did her hair stand on end when she saw the demon-like smile on the monster's face? Why did her battle-hardened instincts, honed over millennia, scream at her to flee, to run? That if she continued fighting, all she would find was death's cold embrace.
I won't lose to an insignificant beast, Scáthach thought through gritted teeth.
The battle raged on, an unstoppable and ferocious clash. Scáthach's fury burned as the corruption advanced through her body. The pain of her injuries no longer mattered; the adrenaline of the fight consumed everything else. The Divine General, Mahoraga, continued to demonstrate that its power of adaptation was far more terrifying than she could have imagined.
Scáthach activated her Noble Phantasm and cleaved the monster in half. Blood spilled forth, but instead of dying...
CLINK.
Its face twisted into a mocking grin as the Dharma Wheel atop its head spun once more as if taunting her determination and efforts.
Then its lower half reappeared, regenerating in an instant, and Mahoraga used it to launch a surprise attack.
What kind of monster is this? Scáthach thought, narrowly dodging the attack aimed to crush her. Her face was tense, but her will remained unbroken. Mahoraga wasn't just regenerating at an astonishing speed—it was also learning from her every move, adapting each time she shifted her combat style or strategy in an attempt to catch it off guard.
Even so, Scáthach refused to be intimidated. All her training in the Land of Shadows and her countless battles against divine beings had taught her that despair had no place in a fight like this.
With a swift gesture, she invoked her Primordial Rune, a set of powerful magical runes that spread across the floor beneath her feet. Her eyes shone with determination as the runes activated, working to counter the corrosion spreading through her arm. The runes interwove, creating protective barriers and enhancing her magical energy. The magic coursed through her, renewing her strength and providing the focus she needed to continue the fight.
Additional runes swirled around her before launching directly at the Divine General. A massive explosion rocked the room, filling the area with thick smoke. Scáthach watched tensely, hoping it had been enough.
Unfortunately for her, Mahoraga emerged from the smoke. His body was scorched and burned, glowing an intense red, and one of his arms had been completely obliterated.
CLINK.
You've got to be kidding me, Scáthach thought, sweat running down her forehead from exertion and fatigue, as she watched helplessly while all his injuries disappeared in an instant, the damned wheel turning once more.
Scáthach had always desired an exhilarating battle, one where she was utterly outmatched, one that might even lead to her death.
But that was before forming bonds in Chaldea, Scáthach reflected in frustration. Not to mention, her [Master] still needed her for his plans. If she died here, she would no longer be able to manage the club, nor spend more time indulging in fun and pleasure. Worst of all, it would mean she had failed him. She couldn't die, not when her [Master] still had great plans for her.
She was going to fulfill them, no matter the cost.
Seeing that the Warrior Queen was beginning to wear down, Mahoraga pressed the attack, moving quickly to confront her directly. The beast unleashed a flurry of faster, deadlier strikes, its massive sword glowing with dark magic. Scáthach, using her agility, dodged and parried a lethal blow before countering with one of her Gáe Bolg Alternative, piercing Mahoraga's side once again. She tore open a massive wound and pulverized his arm, causing blood to gush in torrents.
The once pristine white floor was now stained a sickly red.
But the monster didn't falter. The wheel atop his head spun again, and as if mocking her...
CLINK.
...and so once his wounds were healed in the blink of an eye.
It's adapting faster and faster, Scáthach realized with mounting irritation.
With practiced agility, Scáthach leaped backward to create some distance. She took a deep breath, centering her mind for her next move. Physical combat alone wasn't enough anymore. She needed to destabilize Mahoraga to buy herself time. Her rune magic might provide the key to ending this desperate situation.
Mahoraga immediately pursued her.
Using her magic runes, Scáthach worked to slow the General's movements. She shifted to a defensive strategy, evading his strikes. Some narrowly missed her, while others grazed her skin, leaving stinging cuts as she continued weaving her runes.
She scattered the runes across the room, and the effects were immediate. Mahoraga began to slow, allowing Scáthach a brief reprieve as she created some distance between herself and the beast.
It's now or never, Scáthach thought, activating her Noble Phantasms in both spears. Both Gáe Bolg Alternative glowed intensely, channeling a significant portion of her mana.
She hurled the first spear, followed quickly by the second. Moving with breathtaking speed, the first spear obliterated Mahoraga's upper body, pulverizing it instantly. His lower body, still intact, was quickly annihilated by the second spear, erasing the Divine General completely from existence.
It's over, Scáthach thought with a brief moment of joy as her spears returned to her hands. She was about to sigh in relief when...
She should go help BB, and then they could...
CLINK.
Scáthach's eyes widened in alarm and panic. Her gaze snapped to where the obliterated General had once stood. She watched in stunned disbelief as the damned monster regenerated, using its own blood to fully restore its body as though she had never annihilated it just moments ago.
No way!!! Scáthach gritted her teeth in frustration, reactivating her Noble Phantasms, this time determined to erase him from existence entirely, down to the last atom.
Mahoraga didn't move to attack her.
She seized the opportunity, hurling both spears with ancient strength to eliminate the anomaly once and for all.
Mahoraga dodged the lightning-fast projectiles, which should have erased him from existence. The spears, which always homed in on their marked targets without fail, did something entirely unexpected.
They ignored the Divine General as if he didn't exist and returned to Scáthach's hands.
"Ehh?" Scáthach murmured in disbelief. She had no time to process what had happened before Mahoraga advanced, readying his corrupted sword to strike her down. Acting on instinct, she raised one of her spears to block the attack. What she thought was a successful parry turned into something far worse.
Her spear, Gáe Bolg Alternative blocked Mahoraga's attack and broke in two. She was unable to dodge the attack and the sword pierced her hand, dismembering it, along with a cut on her chest, causing blood to pour out of her body in both of her wounds. It was fortunate that the attack was not enough to kill her.
A distant explosion echoed through the area.
Scáthach screamed in agony, her body pushed backward. She looked up to see Mahoraga looming over her again, and for the first time in millennia, fear began to take hold of her. She tried to wield her remaining spear, but Mahoraga struck it from her grasp with a calculated move.
Time seemed too slow for Scáthach.
Mahoraga "looked" at her with a completely sadistic, mocking grin. His blackened sword descended slowly, poised to split her in half and end her life. Even as she called her Gáe Bolg Alternative back to her hand, it would not return in time.
So, this is how I die, Scáthach thought, staring at her inevitable fate. Is this the end for an immortal warrior like me, slain by a beast? The irony didn't escape her. After slaying countless monsters, she was about to be killed by one.
Scáthach didn't want to die, but she was powerless against the attack, forced to accept her fate. And just before Mahoraga could strike her down and end her...
The Divine General vanished, dissolving into smoke and disappearing from the room. Scáthach, startled by the sudden turn of events, stumbled and fell back, catching her spear in her remaining hand.
She stared at the spot where Mahoraga had disappeared, a mix of relief, sorrow, and disbelief swirling within her. Her heart pounded so hard that Scáthach thought it might burst from her chest.
This time, she had survived, but she wasn't sure there would be another chance. She dismissed her weapon, gazing at her trembling hand. Suddenly, the adrenaline drained from her immortal body, and the exhaustion from the corrosion overwhelmed her.
She tried to stand but couldn't. Her vision blurred, dizziness overcame her, and the last thing she saw before everything went black was the sight of people running toward her—faces she couldn't recognize.