“Language. I can’t stand those who pretend to be royal and still use it,” said Izuma, a hint of rebuke in her voice. Emboldened, she began taking strides to her prey. The Blood Reina laughed a blood curdling laugh, and held her hands out. “They disarmed a queen, how rude. But you wouldn’t strike down an unarmed opponent, even if they were a demon or undead!” Izuma turned to Wolyn, ignoring the jab. “Got anything?” asked Izuma. “She has all your weaknesses and a few more. Durendal, guess what.” Izu’s sword answered with an old and genderless voice that inspired courage. “Do tell, my good lady Wolyn.” “She’s part demon now. With that much Hellfire, you’re free to chop ‘em up. Have at it, I’ll stand by as needed.” Both swordswoman and sword laughed, and prepared for battle. Wolyn took a few steps back, and watched the villain’s movements for more knowledge. “D?” “Ready when you are, ma’am.” “Hey buddy! What’s your name?!” asked Izuma, a smile spreading across her face. “Izuma Lunae, daughter of Despair and the Storm Samurai. Queen of Everything, and Blood Reina of a million systems. You can call me… Blaze’s Beloved, or Hellspawn’s Tamer, or Bane of the Butterfly.” The Blood Reina laughed, and her hands crackled with energy. Lightning, Elemental Fire, Hellfire and Blood Magic coursed through her veins, and the heat melted the ice around her. Izuma furrowed her eyebrows in return, and took a defensive stance. Sharp air began to flow around her from her blade, while lightning and fire began to course through her veins. A softer glow was shed around her. “Before I kill you, I want to ask you a question,” asked Izuma. “Ask away, Little One. And please, do approach me. I can’t beat the shit out of you if you don’t.” “Where… where was… He… in your reality?” “I do not talk of the -blam!- steed. Your time, oh little ashtray, has come.” With that, a wave of hell infused fire washed towards Izu. Cutting downwards with Durendal, his sharp winds negated the blast. Sending lightning through her arm and into her blade, Izuma cut again, launching a bolt of air and arc at the Blood Reina. Believing the blast to merely be electrical in nature, the manifestation took the blunt of the attack, and was taken aback by the additional wind element. Angered, she blasted back with a beam of blood magic. Shaking under the power, Izuma barely deflected the blast, and was pushed back. Blue energy flowed down her legs, and she took an offensive stance. “You do know you can’t win, right? You need to hit me, but I know your every move,” said the Blood Reina as she took the same exact stance. A blade of blood magic formed in her hand, and she laughed a sick laugh as Izuma realized how futile this was. Dashing forward, the two met blades. Izuma tried to outpace her opponent, but on every attack she found herself already predicted and deflected with ease. The Blood Reina smiled as she effortlessly parried and blocked, then struck with a blast of hellfire to knock Izuma away. Barely keeping her footing by steadying with her wings, Izuma reassessed her situation. Unfortunately, her opponent took advantage of this time and began a barrage of her own. The Blood Reina’s strikes were true, and time and again Izuma found her moves too slow. On every front she was outmatched and hopelessly outdone. But then, an idea. Instead of slowing down to think, Izuma amplified the sword-skill within Durendal. He had fought for hundreds if not thousands of years, and knew how to help his wielders. By amplifying this, Izuma began blocking the Blood Reina’s strikes. Her parries hit their mark, and she infused more of her lightning to increase pressure. Slowly but surely, the Blood Reina began to be pushed back. “No, no, no! This-augh-shouldn’t-ah!-be possible! I outdo you! I am more! I AM A QUEEN!” With desperation, the Blood Reina increased her assault. For the briefest moment, she broke Izuma’s guard, landing a deep slice across her chest before kicking her back. Izuma landed hard, and for the first time spat blood out of her mouth. Looking out into the snow, she saw Wolyn with worried eyes. “My lady, if ye can’t do it for yourself, do it for ye friend. She can nay defend herself out here. But you, you can stop her. Break your limits. Amplify, and you can send this demon back to the consciousness of Poly forever. You’re the only one who can, I’m afraid,” said Durendal. “I… hate… shields… but I can be one, for my friends.” Planting the tip into the soil, Izuma brought herself to her feet. The Blood Reina had drawn closer to finish the fight, and erupted in Hellfire. “Oh, not done yet? I’ll make it quick, you little -blam!-.” Raising her blade high, the Blood Reina screamed her victory cry. She swung a rapid downstroke followed by an upswing, and the sound of two perfect parries rang across the desolate clearing. Faster than the blink of an eye, it was over. Looking down at herself, the Blood Reina saw a deep gash at her side. Falling to her knees, she clutched the wound. It had already begun to spread, her skin flaking off as the disintegration began its work. “How… did you… get past… my guard…?” “My weaknesses… are yours too,” answered Izuma. “We both know the Sword Swallow technique, and Durendal, with my affinity to amplify, could finally take advantage of it. A tiny, tiny window of opportunity before the uppercut was when I struck.” “The.. sword… ehh? If… I was to die, I always said… by a… noble… weapon… ha… haha… ha…” The Blood Reina laughed, but not her usual sick one. A happy, content laugh. As her mortal coil turned to dust, she winked at Izuma. The hellfire attire disappeared, and the Blood Reina was no more. A loud boom erupted behind Izuma, and a signature green portal opened. Evelyn-3 stepped out, one hand clenched tightly. Her eyes shifted to yellow, and she embraced a tired Izuma. “Did I.. make.. Are... you proud?” Izuma asked with a silly smile. “Yes, yes you did. I’m the proudest mother I know, and all because of you.”