The Moonlight Swordsman



Hovering mid-air, Aizel's gaze fixed on the rapidly multiplying army of golems emerging from the expanding earth crevice. 

Even though Vanity wasn't in his line of sight, his sharp mana sense knew for sure that she was hiding under the crack, deep in the depths.

"I know how to bring you out of your hiding place," Aizel said.

*VROOM*

Irfrit, the magic armor, changed into a fluid, black material that wrapped around Aizel's body. The obsidian armor stuck to him and fit all of his characteristics perfectly.

The fan-like blades, now activated, spun with ferocious intensity. 

A vibrant azure fire danced within Aizel's eyes, his concentration locked upon the sky above.

What happened next was so unexpected that everyone watching was utterly shocked. 

This was especially true on the balcony of the Felgura Kingdom, where people's eyes grew big and wide in shock. 

Even the Sword Emperor was mesmerized, and he watched with great interest. 

Aquarian had a funny grin on his face, and Zareena's brows moved with a mix of feelings.

A huge burning skeleton face came down from the sky, its two horns on fire with bright blue flames.

It was as if Aizel had summoned the very soul of hell itself. Even though this thing wasn't as big as the lightning-clad face that the Sword Emperor called forth, it was still a very scary sight. 

With the arrival of this demonic cranium, the air grew sweltering, with heat radiating in every direction.

"Burn everything," Aizel ordered.

From the fiery skeletal face's gaping mouth, a flood of ghostly blue flames shot out in quick succession, racing toward the ground like a celestial attack.

It felt like divine punishment had come down from heaven. 

These ghostly flames fell with an endless rage and destroyed the once-calm grassy area. The explosive impact of their infernal touch echoed through the air, rending the ground into a tapestry of craters and ravines.

"Damn it, how powerful is this attack," Vanity said, who was still hiding deep.

Gradually, an increasing number of golems met their demise, helpless against the onslaught. Aizel's mastery over his mana senses allowed him to pinpoint Vanity's concealed position deep within the earth.

The vast skeleton's face turned its burning gaze to this particular point of interest on purpose.

From the burning face came a searing blue beam, a flood of flame that crashed down on the ground with unstoppable force. 

The ground burned and split, making a fiery tunnel that went down into the depths.

From afar, Vanity came out of the broken ground and caught Aizel's careful attention.

The fiery face disintegrated swiftly as Aizel ceased the onslaught. With lightning around him and flames pushing him forward, he cut through the air quickly and headed straight for her.

Their weapons clashed with a resounding clang as Aizel launched a swift assault. 

The force of his strike compelled her to retreat momentarily, yet she swiftly regained her balance. Reacting swiftly, she conjured several earthen spikes from the ground, propelling them towards Aizel.

Aizel moved like a dancer with years of experience. His blade cut through the coming spikes of the earth with ease, and his moves were like a dance of lightning and steel.

All at once, his feet fell into the quickly growing mud, which pulled him down quickly.

"Irfrit,"

*VROOOOOOM*

*BOOOOOOM*

With a resounding boom, an explosion burst forth, shattering the encroaching mud and enveloping the surroundings in a tempest of blue flames and searing heat.

*psssss*

Aizel's instincts tingled, urging him to react swiftly.  He stopped the incoming daggers with a pair of his own. His trusty spirit weapon, Sekki, and the gleaming black dragon fang dagger met the vicious attack.

Aizel and Vanity fought quickly, and the sound of their weapons clashing filled the air. Aizel added a bit of lightning to his attacks, making them move faster and hit harder.

With a sudden surge of lightning, he flicked his wrists, electrifying his movements and delivering a flurry of cuts and slashes that found their mark on Vanity. 

Her defense began to weaken under the constant attack, and the close-quarters fight began to shift in Aizel's favor.

  During the clash of their daggers, Aizel's plan took a shocking turn. His fingers acted as conduits for his power, unleashing a torrent of jet-cutter streams. 

The defenses of Vanity fell apart because of how well and hard these water-powered strikes hit.

Her attempts to summon earth walls and barriers proved futile, as the jet cutter's relentless assault punctured through everything. 

The water jets hit Vanity's legs and shoulders with great accuracy, drilling holes into her body and making her more and more defenseless.

"I surrender," She shouted.

"I.. Before Vanity could plead or cry out, a hard punch to the nose sent her flying through the air like a kite caught in a gust of wind.

Aizel's speed was impressive as he chased her all the way to where she crashed, never giving her a break.

"This is a death battle," Aizel said. 

  Aizel transformed Sekki into a spear in a flurry of lightning-fast, pinpoint movements. He pushed the weapon into Vanity's stomach with a resolute will, aiming for her weakest point.

*Cough*

Vanity's lips parted, releasing a splatter of crimson as she fought to regain her breath. Her fingers twitched, ready to cast a spell, but Aizel moved quickly and stopped her.

In an instant, his sword fell, cutting off her hand.

*ARGHHHHHHH*

"That's right, cry in pain, mother fucker; this is only a start," Aizel said.

Then Aizel moved closer to Vanity's legs. In reaction, Sekki turned into a fiery iron rod that glowed brightly and gave off a searing orange light.

*AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH*

Aizel pressed the glowing iron rod against Vanity's legs. The burning heat made her skin sizzle and burn, filling the air with a pungent odor.

Vanity's agonized cries echoed across the battlefield as she struggled against the excruciating pain.

*CLICK*

With a flick of his fingers, Aizel summoned a large bowl into the air from his storage ring. The bowl seemed almost magical because wisps of steam rose from the top.

[Taste some hot oil, bitch, fufu]

*ARGHHHHHHHHH*

Aizel tipped the bowl, and hot oil poured onto Vanity's body. She cried out in pain as her body shook like a fish out of water. 

The burning oil burned her skin and left a trail of hissing sizzles, thick steam, and rising smoke.