Arc 4 Chapter 48 : Princess Elena Vs Prince Vlad

[Siena PoV]

We were deceived...

For the past several days, it turned out that the Empire had not only been attacking relentlessly from the front. They had also been constructing underground tunnels and emerging in the middle of the city while their other forces continued breaking through the city's outer defenses.

Now, tens of thousands of Imperial soldiers were emerging from several points within the Inner City, forcing our forces to fight the enemy from both outside and within the city itself.

And where the hell had that Foolish Prince gone!?

Hadn't I ordered him to remain in the Inner City so that he would have protection if the enemy targeted him? He was the key to countering Princess Elena's ability.

"Reporting, Major Siena! Our forces are beginning to struggle against the enemies emerging within the Inner City! The Imperial forces are currently establishing defensive perimeters at four different emergence points!"

"Reporting! Enemy forces are beginning to take control of the southern area of the Outer City! Prince Vlad has also been spotted fighting there!"

Several Heralds approached me, delivering reports on the current state of the battle.

So that fool couldn't control his urge to fight and had gone to the front lines.

Even so, I suppose he could hold back the momentum of the Imperial forces attacking the Outer City for the time being.

At present, we had stationed 30,000 soldiers in the Outer City and 60,000 in the Inner City. On the other hand, we had received reports that the Imperial forces attacking the Outer City numbered no fewer than 30,000.

There were four points where Imperial forces had emerged in the Inner City thanks to the tunnels they had constructed. I assumed they had sent 20,000 soldiers through each tunnel, meaning that a total of 80,000 Imperial soldiers would emerge within the Inner City.

"Major Siena, what response should we take given the current development of the battle?" one of the Heralds asked me.

The Empire's maneuver—which I had to admit was an excellent one—had deceived us. We had no choice but to focus the Alliance forces on defending the Inner City. If we forcibly moved troops to assist the battle in the Outer City, we could end up being surrounded by them.

Furthermore, they had emerged from four different locations, making it impossible for us to concentrate our forces and quickly drive them back.

"We'll deal with the enemy forces that have appeared in the Inner City first," I ordered the two Heralds. "Once we've resolved the situation here, then we can send reinforcements to the forces fighting in the Outer City!"

"Yes, Major!"

"Yes, Major!"

The two of them immediately left to deliver my orders.

I then walked toward the window of the building that had been turned into the Alliance forces' command center. From afar, I could see the entire city burning, with battles taking place everywhere.

To be honest, I wanted to go down there and help everyone.

However, I had to remain here alongside the other military officers to oversee the battle and issue orders according to how the situation developed.

Still, if we found a good opportunity—or if circumstances forced us to act—I would move as quickly as possible and join the fight against the enemy.

---

[Vlad PoV]

Our battle had just begun.

The blonde woman before me continued attacking me relentlessly. Her sword strikes were incredibly fast—far faster than those of any opponent I had fought before, including that bastard named Raul.

Tang! Tang! Tang!

I perfectly blocked several of Elena's sword strikes before immediately launching a counterattack with the blood sword in my hand.

Slash!

However, her figure suddenly disappeared, leaving my sword to cut through nothing but air. Traces of yellow lightning could be seen where Elena had just been standing.

"Thunder Kick!"

BAAAMMM!!!

Something suddenly struck my right ribs. My body was sent flying backward before crashing into a street lamp.

"Ughhhh..." I groaned in pain while clutching the part of my body that had been struck.

I quickly got back to my feet and saw Elena slowly walking toward me. Her expression was serious, nothing like the cheerful expression she used when she talked to me back at the academy.

I knew she was fast, but fighting her and experiencing that speed firsthand made me realize just how much of a monster this woman was.

Then how the hell had that bastard managed to keep up with this monster of a woman during the tournament?

When I watched their fight back then, Elena hadn't seemed anywhere near this strong or fast.

Damn...

I had to get serious now if I didn't want to remain on the defensive.

"Blood Form..."

My blood began floating around my body. It then condensed and formed six four-sided blades that began spinning like propellers.

Blood Form was one of my Profound Codex abilities. It allowed me to condense my blood and shape it into virtually anything I wanted.

If I could get even a single drop of her blood, this battle would be mine!

I extended my hand toward Elena. The six blood blades I had just created immediately shot toward the blonde-haired woman.

Seeing my attack, Elena's body became enveloped in yellow lightning. She then blocked all six of my blood blades before rushing toward me at incredible speed.

"Tch! Damn woman!" I cursed as I activated Acceleration and moved away from Elena's pursuit.

I glanced behind me and saw her getting closer and closer.

I was hopelessly slower than her. Even the blood blades that should have been following Elena were falling far behind.

"Lightning Blade!"

Elena's sword was now covered in roaring yellow lightning.

She reached me and immediately unleashed a diagonal slash.

Crack!

I blocked it with the blood sword in my hand.

However, the lightning-coated sword strike shattered my weapon instantly.

"Haaaaa!"

Seeing my defenses completely exposed, the woman launched another attack with her lightning sword.

I hurriedly activated Unreality Field and Repel to minimize the impact of the attack I was about to receive.

SLAASSSHHH!!!

My body was sent flying again as I took the attack head-on.

This time, I even smashed through several buildings along the way because of the sheer force behind Elena's slash.

My body rolled across the ground several times before finally coming to a stop.

"Ugh! Ugh!" Blood spilled from my mouth.

Although I had managed to avoid death by activating my defensive mechanism at the right moment, her attack had still left me with a serious injury.

"Damn! Damn! Damn! Damn!" I shouted as I rose to my feet, clutching my stomach with one hand.

I looked up at the sky.

A massive spherical mass of blood was still floating there, sucking the blood from everyone around us. It was the result of one of the Profound Codex abilities I had activated earlier to counter Elena's Profound Codex, which could strengthen her soldiers.

I extended my hand toward the blood mass.

Not long afterward, I absorbed some of the blood that had accumulated there.

The wounds on my body began disappearing, and the Mana within me felt as though it had returned to the level it had been at before the battle began.

"Hahaha! This is why our family is so special!" I shouted excitedly as I gained additional strength from the blood I had collected.

"Hm? So you have quite a troublesome ability as well."

Suddenly, I heard a woman's voice.

Elena emerged from the cloud of dust caused by the ruins of the buildings I had crashed through after being sent flying by her attack.

"You won't defeat me as long as this ability remains active, Elena!" I said confidently. "I'll defeat you, make you my slave, and force you to watch as I destroy your country with my own hands!"

Hearing my threat, she slowly walked toward me.

Her body and sword were once again enveloped in yellow lightning. Her hair rose into the air, carried by the wind generated from her powerful Mana aura.

"I won't let that happen!"

Elena shot toward me at incredible speed.

In an instant, she was right in front of me and unleashed a horizontal slash toward the right side of my abdomen.

However...

Tang!

Her sword struck something protecting my body.

"Blood Form: Bloody Armor!"

A layer of blood armor enveloping my body blocked Elena's sword.

She looked surprised, and I gave her a wide grin.

"HAHAHAHA! THE REAL BATTLE HAS ONLY JUST BEGUN, ELENA DE ARAGOOONNN!!!"

I created four blood tentacles from my back and used them to attack Elena.

"Aaahhhh!"

The woman's body was sent flying after taking my attack head-on.

She rolled across the ground before raising her head and glaring at me.

Blood flowed from her mouth, and her eyes stared at me with deadly seriousness.

"This is going to be even more fun..." I licked my lips as I muttered those words.

Elena rose to her feet and once again covered her body with yellow lightning.

We both rushed toward one another and exchanged attacks, continuing our battle.

***

[Raul PoV]

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

The battle had reached its climax.

Both armies were beginning to grow exhausted.

On the other hand, the bodies of both the soldiers and myself were beginning to dry out and weaken. This was because our blood was slowly being drawn out and absorbed by Vlad through his ability, Blood Frenzy.

"Die, bastard!"

Three enemy soldiers ran toward me and began attacking with their swords.

However, I easily dodged their attacks and defeated all three of them in an instant.

"Their sword strikes are incredibly weak."

It was only natural.

If this continued for too long, all of us would eventually collapse from blood loss because of that Psychopathic Prince's magic.

The Grand Espadas were each fighting the strongest knights of the Alliance forces, while many of our own knights had also been deployed in the Outer City.

That meant we could only rely on Elena to stop Vlad.

"Can't anyone do something about this magic!?"

"I can't move anymore! My body is so weak because the blood keeps being drained from me!"

Our soldiers were nearly reaching their limits.

My estimate was that if this magic wasn't stopped within five minutes, casualties on both sides would begin to rise rapidly.

CETAAARRR! CETAARRR! BOOMMMBBB!!

Suddenly, I heard thunder and explosions coming from the west.

That must be where the Princess and the Prince were fighting.

I activated Acceleration and hurried to see Elena's condition.

If she couldn't defeat Vlad, then I would have no choice but to eliminate that psychopathic man myself.

I climbed onto the buildings and leaped from one rooftop to another, avoiding the enemies that were everywhere so I could reach my destination as quickly as possible.

"Die, Imperial dogs!"

"You're the ones who will die, you weak Venetians!"

Two hours had already passed since the battle began.

Yet the situation remained evenly matched.

Neither side seemed willing to yield, as every soldier wanted to return home safely and see the people they loved.

When I finally arrived at the location, I saw the two of them fighting.

Vlad appeared to have activated one of his Profound Codex abilities, Blood Form.

His body was covered in blood armor, while four red tentacles protruded from his back.

"Hahaha! With this armor, none of your attacks will have any effect on me, Elena!" Vlad laughed as Elena's lightning sword only managed to scratch the armor covering his body.

The psychopathic Prince then attacked Elena with his four tentacles, but fortunately, Elena managed to block them with her sword.

However, because Vlad's attacks were so powerful, Elena's body was sent flying a considerable distance backward.

The lightning surrounding her body and sword disappeared.

The Princess was visibly gasping for breath, indicating that she was already extremely exhausted and that her Mana was nearly depleted.

"See, Elena? Your efforts to fight me are pointless!" Vlad said excitedly. "While your Mana is gradually running out, I can replenish mine rapidly and heal the wounds I receive from our battle! It's only a matter of time before your defeat!"

Vlad spoke as though he were invincible.

Of course, that was far from the truth.

Although he could replenish his Mana at will and heal his wounds using the blood he had collected, that didn't make him invincible.

I could think of two ways Elena could defeat Vlad.

The first was by using the second stage of her Profound Codex, Thunder Emperor, and combining it with Lightning Blade.

That was assuming she had already unlocked it.

The second was to win the Spell Clashing against Vlad's magic.

However, I wasn't one hundred percent certain that doing so would kill Vlad outright.

If Elena's attack failed to kill him instantly, he could simply absorb the blood he had collected and restore his body from the injuries he had suffered.

Even so, I had to be prepared in case Elena truly lost this battle.

---

[Elena PoV]

My Lightning Blade couldn't penetrate the blood armor covering Vlad's body.

Think carefully...

Raul had been able to penetrate it and defeat Vlad during the tournament.

Why could he destroy Vlad's armor back then while my attack couldn't penetrate it now?

Was it because Vlad's Mana had already been running low at the time, preventing him from maximizing the power of his magic?

I also felt that the blood armor he was wearing now was stronger than the one he had used against Raul during the tournament.

With the Mana I had left, I only had enough for one more Profound Codex.

To be honest, I could still use two more Profound Codex abilities, but doing so would cause me to suffer Mana Exhaustion.

However, I couldn't continue analyzing the situation because Vlad was already extending both hands toward me.

"Bloody Burst!"

Blood erupted from both of his palms and shot toward me.

I activated Accel and managed to dodge his attack by the narrowest margin.

Grrruhhhh!!!

Both attacks tore through several buildings, causing them to collapse to the ground.

"This isn't over! Haaaa!"

Vlad moved his hands, causing his blood magic to slowly track toward me.

Without using Almario del Relampago, I wouldn't be able to throw him off using speed alone.

So I continued running in circles around Vlad while he also rotated, trying to make his magic hit me.

It seemed that controlling this magic required tremendous concentration.

His hands had already begun trembling from maintaining the spell without pause.

As the distance between my path and his body grew closer, I used Charging and shot forward, launching a thrust toward the man's neck.

However, he merely smiled sadistically before directing his four blood tentacles toward me.

Tang!

I tried to cut through them.

However, even after using Avilar to sharpen my sword, not even a scratch appeared on the blood tentacles.

"Eat this!"

Vlad attacked me with his tentacles again, sending my body flying high into the air before I landed on the roof of a tall building.

"Ugh! Ugh!" I coughed up blood.

The attack to my chest had hurt terribly.

I stood up again and walked toward the edge of the rooftop.

Far below, Vlad was laughing while holding his head.

"Hahahaha! You know, Elena, the longer I use the power of Blood Frenzy, the more people here will die from blood loss!" Vlad shouted before looking up at me. "Let's end this battle! I don't want them to die such an easy death as simply bleeding out! I want to torture your soldiers and make myself even stronger than I am now!"

Is that the theme of his Codex?

Torturing people or making them suffer?

Was that what had twisted his personality into something so rotten?

However, what he said was true.

If I didn't stop Vlad's magic immediately, countless lives would be lost in this battle.

I'll use it now.

"Lightning My Might... Bring Thunder Cloud Close to Me..."

I raised my sword with both hands.

The thunderous roar of lightning began echoing above me.

The sky grew completely dark as black clouds capable of generating lightning gathered overhead.

"Hahaha! You're finally bringing out that trump card of yours! Let's end this with a bang!"

Vlad extended one hand toward me.

Blood began gathering in front of his palm, spinning wildly and uncontrollably in every direction.

"Shines Through The Dark... Bring Hope to The World!"

The lightning roaring within the black clouds now struck my sword.

I then tried to control the lightning, preventing it from spreading and keeping it concentrated.

My sword and both arms trembled violently, barely able to contain this tremendous amount of energy.

This is my last Mana...

After this, if I force myself to use any more magic, I won't be able to move my body at all.

"Bloody Burst: Death Sentence!"

Prince Vlad fired an even larger blast of blood toward me, this time surrounded by a pitch-black magical aura.

"Thunder Emperor... Dragon Thunder Damnation!"

I swung my sword forward.

The mass of yellow lightning gathered around my sword formed a golden lightning dragon and shot toward Vlad.

DUUUAARRRR!!! BOOOMMM!!! BOOMMMM!!!

Our spells collided—the lightning dragon against Vlad's blood blast.

The two forces clashed against each other, neither able to overcome the other.

My Lightning Dragon moved backward, then forward again.

I wasn't going to stand still and watch.

I raised my sword with both hands once more.

"Come Again... My Thunder!"

DUUAAARRR!!!

Lightning struck my sword again.

My body was already at its limit...

This attack wouldn't be as powerful as the first one.

But it would certainly be enough to win this Spell Clashing!

"Roaring Lion Blast!"

I swung my sword again.

The lightning I had gathered then shot toward the two spells that were still clashing, allowing my Lightning Dragon to push back Vlad's blood blast and strike him directly.

DUUUAARRRR!!!!

An enormous explosion of lightning erupted as my spell struck the man.

Yellow lightning spread in every direction, destroying everything in its path.

Dust filled the air, obscuring my vision and preventing me from seeing Vlad's condition after being hit by my final attack.

I hope he falls this time...

I've used all of my Mana...

If I go beyond this...

I dropped to one knee, breathing heavily as my vision began to blur.

Aside from my battle with Raul, this was the first time I had ever been this exhausted.

I raised my head and focused my gaze on where Vlad had been standing.

The dust was beginning to clear, but...

"No way..."

The man I had fought was still standing.

His left arm, along with part of his face and body, was covered in burns.

Smoke rose from Vlad's body like meat that had just been roasted.

"HAHAHA!!! You almost killed me, bastard!" Vlad shouted.

He then extended his right hand toward the mass of blood floating above the city.

The blood mass was absorbed into Vlad's body.

His wounds slowly began regenerating.

Not long afterward, Vlad's body returned to its original state, as though he had never fought a battle at all.

"That was close. If I had lost consciousness back then, I would've been the one to lose," Vlad said before activating his magic again.

His body was once again covered in Blood Armor, while four red tentacles emerged from his back.

This is bad...

I have no Mana left to fight him.

"This time, I'm going to play with you, Elena~" Vlad licked his lips.

The blood tentacles he had just created transformed into a pair of red wings.

"I'm coming for you!"

The man flew toward me at incredible speed, like a vampire.

"Arrrghhh!"

He grabbed me by the neck and lifted me into the air.

"Time to have some fun," Vlad said with a crazed grin.

I struggled to break free.

However, my body was far too weak and exhausted now.

"Don't worry. I won't use Assimilate on you," he added, tightening his grip around my neck. "I enjoy watching your body squirm in my hands as you struggle to escape, even though your efforts are completely futile!"

BAAAMM!!! BAAMMM!!! BAMMM!!!

He punched me in the stomach and chest before kicking me hard in the head, sending my body flying.

Fresh blood poured from my mouth because of Vlad's assault.

Am I going to lose and die here?

However, just as my body was about to crash into the ground, Vlad caught me again and grabbed me by the neck.

I... can barely breathe...

"Yes... That's right... I love that expression of pain on your face! Show it to me again! Show me that alluring expression of yours, Elena!"

BAAAMM!!! BAMM!!! BAMMM!!!

Vlad battered me repeatedly.

My body was sent flying again, crashing through several buildings before finally hitting the ground.

Several of my bones were probably broken...

I couldn't move my body anymore...

On top of that, my internal organs were probably bleeding...

I had lost this battle.

"Attack them!"

"Hold the line! We will win!"

I heard the voices of countless people fighting.

I opened my eyes and saw myself lying in the middle of Imperial and Alliance soldiers who were fighting one another.

"Isn't that Princess Elena!?"

"Princess Elena! Are you all right? Why is your body covered in so many wounds!?"

Two Imperial soldiers rushed toward me, intending to help.

CRASSSHHH!!!

But suddenly, their bodies were crushed by someone who landed on top of them.

"Hahaha! Look at how easily their bodies break, just like stepping on ants!" Vlad laughed excitedly.

"You bastard! Stay away from Princess Elena!"

"Everyone, protect Princess Elena and attack that Mad Monster!"

The Imperial soldiers around me began attacking Vlad.

But what happened next made my heart sink.

That madman slaughtered my soldiers with ease, tearing their bodies apart.

Stop...

Get away from here!

Don't approach him!

He's not an opponent you can defeat!

I wanted to scream and order my soldiers to retreat.

But my body couldn't move at all because of the injuries I had suffered.

All I could do was lie there in silence and watch Vlad slaughter the Imperial soldiers.

"HAHAHAHA!!! LOOK, ELENA! LOOK AT ME SLAUGHTERING YOUR WEAK PEOPLE LIKE INSECTS! HAHAHAHA!!"

"Protect Her Highness!"

"We will risk our lives for Princess Elena!"

Not long after those words were spoken, screams of death filled the air.

Blood spilled everywhere.

As their lord, witnessing this sight was heartbreaking.

I have to get up...

They're all risking their lives for me...

I can't give up either.

I have to sacrifice my entire soul and body for them!

"Well, well, well... You can still stand after all, Elena," Vlad said, his attention now shifting toward me.

To be honest, even standing required every ounce of strength I had left.

My legs trembled, but I had to remain strong and endure.

I only needed one chance.

One final, life-or-death attack.

If I died, the morale of our soldiers would collapse after seeing their Princess die at the hands of the enemy.

After that, our forces here would surely lose, and the consequences would have a major impact on the entire war.

I gripped my sword tightly with both hands and began reciting another spell.

"Come... My Thunder!"

My sword was once again covered in yellow lightning.

I'll use the technique I haven't fully perfected yet.

It requires an extremely high level of Mana Control, but I've grown accustomed to it, and this will be the first time I've used it in a real battle.

After my draw against Raul, I trained with Uncle Raymond every day to perfect this technique.

A combination of Lightning Blade and Thunder Emperor...

"My fun with you is over, Elena," Vlad said as he transformed his blood wings back into four tentacles. "I'll kill you in front of your soldiers! My name will become famous throughout the world for killing an Imperial Princess in battle!"

Vlad then attacked me with his four tentacles.

My hands trembled violently as I struggled to contain the lightning energy gathered within the sword I held.

But I wouldn't stop until I had given everything I had.

I forced my legs to run toward where Vlad stood.

His four tentacles were directly in front of me now.

Slash! Slash! Slash! Slash!

I cut through all of them.

This time, my sword was able to slice through the incredibly powerful blood tentacles.

Vlad looked shocked, but I wouldn't stop there.

I shot forward toward him once again.

"Where did you get that kind of power!?" Vlad shouted in shock.

He then created a blood sword.

"Lightning Blade... Lion Song of Death!"

I unleashed a horizontal slash toward Vlad.

He tried to block my attack with his blood sword, but his weapon shattered instantly upon contact with my newly empowered Lightning Sword.

My attack didn't stop.

This time, my sword began cutting through his armor as well.

"Impossible! Get away from me!" Vlad shouted in panic, reaching out to crush my head with his hand.

But I wouldn't stop.

I would keep fighting.

I would keep resisting until the enemy standing before me was defeated!

"I will win and lead everyone toward glory!" I shouted, pouring every ounce of strength I had left into the attack.

Crack!

My sword pierced through Vlad's armor.

Then it cleaved his body into two.

"AARRRGGHHHHHHH!"

Vlad's death scream rang in my ears.

His upper body was sent flying backward.

Before me, only the lower half of Vlad's body remained standing.

Blood began pouring and splattering everywhere, staining my armor with the blood of the enemy I had just slain.

I looked around.

Suddenly, the entire area fell silent.

The battle that had just been raging came to a halt.

Every soldier—both Imperial and Alliance—stood frozen, staring at me in disbelief.

"PRINCESS ELENA HAS KILLED THE ENEMY LEADER!!!"

One of the Imperial soldiers shouted.

The battle resumed.

After Vlad's death, the morale of our soldiers rose once again.

Vlad's blood-draining magic had also disappeared, allowing us to attack without worrying about collapsing from blood loss within a few minutes.

I raised my sword into the air to draw the soldiers' attention.

"SOLDIERS OF ARAGON, FIGHT!!! AS LONG AS I LEAD YOU, OUR NATION WILL CONTINUE TO WIN! SO KEEP MOVING FORWARD! DO NOT FEAR! AND BRING GLORY TO OUR NATION!!!"

"GLORY TO THE EMPIREEEE!"

Hearing my words, everyone joined in the roar.

Their fighting spirit increased several times over, while the enemy's morale began to collapse after losing one of their leaders.

However...

My body was incredibly exhausted...

I began staggering forward, and my vision once again grew blurry.

I had forced myself to use a Profound Codex even though my Mana had already been depleted.

My body then collapsed forward.

But instead of the cold ground, I felt a familiar warmth.

"Good job, Elena."

I heard someone's voice.

Through my fading vision, I saw a black-haired man holding my body.

"Raul...?" I murmured. "I did it, Raul... I won."

I rested my head against his shoulder.

As always, being near him felt incredibly comforting...

My consciousness began fading as I basked in that warmth.

"You were incredible, Elena."

I could faintly hear his voice.

"Just as expected from the Princess I'm so proud of..."

I was so happy to hear his sincere praise.

Everything meant so much to me.

The wounds I had suffered.

Every obstacle I had overcome...

Everything had been worth it, knowing that I had managed to live up to the expectations he had placed upon me.

"Yes... I will never give up. I will continue fighting if it's for my beloved country..."