*
She felt a little frustrated, not completely, but it still stung her conscious. Even if it was arbitrary, pathetic, a mere crawl in the dark... It was the first step that 'Lastia' took towards this world. Someone who would shatter such fickle dreams... Even if deserving of destruction, Lastia would never forgive.
Her resolve renewed, it felt like a new fresh start. In reality, she simply took a deep breath and only just came to internalise the new information. She mistakes that self acknowledgement for rejuvenation. One could say it was all a game of the mind.
She approached The Remnant, spinning her sword a couple rounds as her footsteps clapped against the ground. With one step she leaps and increases her momentum, a flurry of strength rushes into her limbs and her joints fight against the resistance of air. With another step, she closed the distance in an instant. Three distinct slashes arrived and collided at a single point, The Remnant holds her blade still and blocks all 3 with massive strength. Since she held her ground, Lastia was the one who would be pushed back by the recoil of her own attacks.
The Remnant wasn't using any cheats or techniques like Yggdrasil's simulation, this was her genuine strength while she hasn't been enhanced by anything. 'A' grade, each punch packed an entire city's worth of destruction, an unbelievable being by modern standards. They matched present S grades, otherwise known as the sentinels that reside in the 26 super regions.
No one was sure if there were any other S grade magical girls other than the sentinels, who weren't exactly well known as they kept their activities confidential. Even then, not all 26 positions of sentinel were occupied, it wasn't uncommon that there were a sizable amount of empty seats, betrayal and conspiracy within the members.
Yet, right now even if temporarily... Lastia was matching her power. Even if she was simply borrowing magic from a figure of legend...
"Do not let up!" (Sariel)
The Remnant shifts positions, her movement was abrupt and unexpected. {Swap} had been used on her, and it left her confused for a moment before understanding seeped through. A large caliber rifle with a pastel finish and matt texture busted up the air with fiery explosions, Arin didn't hesitate to press the trigger at The Remnant's new location. That's right... Lastia had allies. The battle was supposed to be advantageous, but their opponent was too highly skilled and powerful.
As Lastia swung her scarlet blade once more, sparks spontaneously flew from its edges. Vibrations, The Remnant shot them from a distance and they were able to collide against the strength of her arm, stopping her swing in its tracks. A fine line of magical vibration persisted in the air and successfully halted her movements with sheer force.
"... Indiscriminate destruction, no 'Event'... We've been inside her subspace the whole time.
She's evaded the law of correction, if any of us die, we won't be brought back even if the remaining two defeat her..." (Arin)
"Annoying... You know too much and you observe too much, perhaps I'll eliminate you first to make things smoother." (Remnant)
Lastia shuddered, there wasn't any room for error. It was difficult to accept such a thing on the fly, but Arin was right. No 'Event' had been triggered, and the environment didn't look like it had changed at all while they fought with full strength. The shock waves should have at least caused destruction to the nearby buildings and created ravines in the roads.
True to her words, the Remnant began heading towards Arin. Her legs sliced through the air, her black hair lagged behind like a sail blown by a storm, revealing two large crimson eyes and a pair of glistening horns. With both hands, she swung down her black blade with all of her strength. Aiming a downwards slash at Arin's neck, the blade turned white and the attack expanded in range beyond the initial trajectory of her sword. The blade wave was about to strike more than just her neck.
A simple sword swing increased in volume and encapsulated the entire town. Arin reached out with her left hand, and... All of that expectation fizzled out. The attack vanished, not that it was visible under normal conditions. But there was no sign of The Remnant having ever thrown it out.
"..." (Remnant)
She froze for a moment before jumping back. Fortunately for her, Lastia and Sariel had the same reaction and didn't follow up with their own attacks. Regaining their composure, the two attacked at once, leaving little room for flexibility. Lastia's scarlet blade clashed against The Remnant's for a moment, before throwing her further behind. Sariel teleported behind The Remnant and swung a few punches.
Her fist collided with her back a few times before she swung her leg and slammed a kick from the side, sending the Remnant flying into another direction. Lastia arrived the next point intercepting The Remnant's new trajectory with a drawn blade. The Remnant swung down her blade and parried, sending Lastia staggering mid air. She swung again, and The Remnant followed up. The momentum carried the two throughout the air, like a never ending dance. Clash after clash, their blades collided and sent sparks out.
The environment was withstanding the shock waves for an unknown reason, it was likely a special rule in this dimensional sub space created by The Remnant. It looked exactly the same as the outside, only difference being that it wasn't destructible. Lastia took a half step forward, her blade caught a swing as she threw her fist. The Remnant reached her arm in and blocked it by hitting Lastia's underarm, before thrusting her sword straight.
Lastia turned her sword and used the flat of her scarlet blade to slide and deflect the thrust, her leg busted through the air and sliced up, causing a cut in The Remnant's feminine face as she took half a step back, avoiding the kick in time. Arin changed to a sniper model and fired another shot. The two took a back step and separated a far distance, an explosion erupts at where Arin had aimed. Lastia would have been caught in that friendly fire...
But she leaves that at the back of her mind and continue. She reaches closer and swings her blade a few more times, each one was blocked with a similar swing from The Remnant. She thrusts her blade into a forward skewering motion, and {Swap} takes effect to prevent dodging. Lastia's sword cuts into The Remnant's heart.