The Moonlight Swordsman



The fabric of dimensions trembled and then shattered, whisking Aizel back to the stage. 

He reappeared, bringing with him Vanity's charred and lifeless form, a stark testament to the intensity of their battle.

"WAR GOD!!!...

"WAR GOD!!!...

"WAR GOD!!!...

"WAR GOD!!!...

"WAR GOD!!!...

"WAR GOD!!!...

As Aizel returned, the Colosseum was filled with loud cheers and chants, but instead of enjoying the attention, he looked a little annoyed.

"Incredible War God, you didn't even take much time this time," Shoka appeared and said.

Aizel, however, ignored him. He walked off the stage and toward the balcony of his kingdom. 

The cheers and chants reverberated through the air as he reached his destination, the enthusiastic voices following him even as he stepped onto his balcony.

"You knew you were fighting against your own people, and you still went on and killed her when she was begging for her life," Raigun Redmont said. 

Aizel's gaze shifted toward Raigun, but words eluded him. Instead, he moved calmly and sat down on the couch next to Daisy and Hazel without saying a word.

"Elric, explain this matter to me afterward." The king said this, and Elric nodded toward him.

"Next is 2 vs 2, which means it's my and Seraphine's turn. Aizel, you won't act on your own from now on, or you will not get any chance to participate any further," Zareena said while looking towards him.

"Alright," Aizel replied.

Seraphine, Zareena, and two other mages from the Kingsley family group got up from their seats and walked toward the stage with a determined air. 

Zareena stepped onto the stage just as Shoka was about to start. Her voice was steady as she said, "I expect that you both will unleash your full power on us with the intent to kill,"

"Forgot that I am your princess, I don't want anyone to think that the battle is rigged." 

"O-Of course Princess," One of the mages bowed and replied.

"Well, the mages are ready for the battle; are you guys readdyyyy....."

"YEAH!!!

"YEAH!!!

"YEAH!!!

"YEAH!!!

"What type of battlefield do you guys want?" Shoka asked.

"You both can decide; we will accept it," Zareena said, offering the choice to the Kingslye family group.

The two mages exchanged contemplative glances, their minds absorbed in the decision-making process. After a span of five minutes, they arrived at a conclusion.

The two mages conveyed their choice to Shoka. 

Shoka only had to clap his hands once to start the change. A shimmering barrier quickly engulfed the stage, and the very dimension inside of it underwent a profound change. 

As Seraphine and Zareena looked at the changed scenery, they saw a huge volcano in the middle that was spewing molten lava. 

The sky was heavy with darkness, and the land looked like it was covered in shades of obsidian, with jagged mountain peaks hanging over it.

Here and there, pockets of flame burned fiercely, sending forth billowing columns of heated steam.

"They have chosen the battlefield to their advantage, it seems," Zareena said.

With measured steps, Seraphine and Zareena began a deliberate stroll through the altered landscape. 

Seraphine's awareness extended through her mana senses, enveloping the surroundings with her magical perception.

"Did you notice something?" Zareena asked.

"Not yet," Seraphine replied.

As time spread its wings, Zareena's keen eye caught a change in the environment that she and Seraphine hadn't noticed before. 

Amidst the rugged landscape and the restless volcano, minute sparks of fire began to dance through the air. 

At first, Zareena thought it was because of how unstable the environment was, but she soon realized that the number of sparks was increasing, which was a strange thing that needed her attention.

"Seraphine, what do you think about these sparks in the environment?" She asked.

"It seems unusual," Seraphine replied.

Seraphine quickly summoned her spear in her hand, ready to intercept any attack.

In a moment of quick thought, Zareena took the lead. She made a swirl of golden leaves appear around her and Seraphine with a fluid wave of her hand.

It looked like an elegant tornado. 

Gradually, the leaves multiplied, each one joining the dance, and their formation expanded with purpose.

As the golden leaves flew through the air, they brought a powerful force with them that swept away the sparks of fire and anything else in their way, changing the environment around them.

"Were they supposed to sense us from it, or was it a type of attack?"

Seraphine simply shrugged her shoulders in response.

"It's good to finally spend some time with you, even though we are in the middle of the battle," Zareena said.

"Concentrate on the battle first," Seraphine replied.

"Awww, come on, you always ignore me like that."

A sudden shift in the atmosphere drew their attention toward the volcano's vicinity. 

Their heightened mana senses sent ripples of awareness through them, prompting both of them to assume battle-ready postures.

*DHUK* *DHUK* *DHUK* *DHUK*

The sudden movement of the volcano caught their attention. They watched as molten boulders, ablaze with fiery hues, erupted from the volcano's heart and soared high into the sky. 

These fiery missiles flew through the air with deadly intent, their path taking them directly in the direction of Seraphine and Zareena.

Seraphine quickly turned half of her spear into a frozen state, giving it an icy glow. 

The cold essence left streaks in the air that were a sign of how powerful her magic was.

In a graceful twirl, she executed four expert slashes with her frost-kissed spear, each cut aimed precisely at the molten boulders hurtling towards them.

When the four icy slashes hit the hot molten rocks, the sharp edges of the ice cut through the hot mass.

In a fascinating clash of elements, the boulders slashed apart and were instantly frozen solid. 

The icy pieces slowly fell toward the ground, and the immediate danger was gone just as quickly as it had appeared.

*Dhuk* *Dhuk* *Dhuk* *Dhuk*

Again, the volcano spewed out the same set of molten rocks wrapped in flames and soaring toward the sky.

"What are they even planning?" Zareena murmured and asked herself.