Frostfire Legacy

Thinking about how she could manipulate the blood shed by her opponent, one might assume Vanessa would use a slashing weapon to cause multiple shallow cuts, encouraging bleeding. However, the weapon she conjured was not intended for a drawn-out battle but rather for a precise, technique-driven short exchange.

A rapier is designed for delivering decisive hits to an opponent's vital points with swift thrusts, straight to their body, which are much harder to parry compared to slashing attacks. In essence, Vanessa was aiming for a quick resolution rather than a prolonged fight.

Considering her current state, along with Aster's, Faeloria's, and Cassy's, ending the fight swiftly was in everyone's best interest.

*SWISH!*

Vanessa adopted a classic fencing stance, raising her rapier near her chest, the tip pointing upward in a gesture that resembled a salute to her enemy. A confident smile spread across her face, as if she already knew the outcome of this battle.

"Not to brag," Vanessa began, her tone light yet assured, "but I'm quite skilled at fencing. You should be careful, little darling."

Lorelai scrutinized her opponent, a frown tugging at her lips. Though she wasn't an expert in swordsmanship, she could tell Vanessa wasn't lying. There wasn't an opening in her stance, despite its relaxed appearance!

Still, Lorelai had no intention of backing down. With a firm grip, she spun her staff once before tapping its base against the dark ground. The resounding click echoed through the area.

"I don't know why you're warning me, your enemy, but I'll take it to heart," Lorelai replied, her voice steady. "No matter the outcome, no hard feelings."

Vanessa scoffed, clearly amused. "The only outcome here is my victory."

A tense silence fell between them as they locked eyes, each one waiting for the other to make a move. Finally, Lorelai broke the stalemate. "Dark hands, ensnare mine enemy!"

At her command, the ever-present shadowy hands that lurked around them surged forward in unison, like a massive net cast wide to ensure Vanessa couldn't escape.

"Nice try."

Vanessa didn't flinch. She casually stepped forward, her hand rising as if to greet the approaching attack head-on.

"Watch out! Those hands can drain your energy!" Aster shouted, his voice filled with urgency. But his warning was ignored.

In the blink of an eye, Vanessa's right hand flashed, moving so fast it seemed to vanish for a moment. With surgical precision, she unleashed multiple stabs, each one striking a Dark Hand and dispelling it instantly.

She turned to Aster, a smug smile playing on her lips. "As the saying goes, it's not a threat if it doesn't land."

"..."

Aster was left speechless. He knew Vanessa was powerful, but he hadn't realized just how formidable she truly was. Lorelai, too, was taken aback, her brow twitching as she tried to reanimate the dark hands for another attempt.

"What...?"

But something was wrong. The hands, which should have instantly regenerated, remained in their destroyed state, lifeless and unmoving.

Seeing Lorelai's confusion, Vanessa's grin widened. "Blood Rose Poison. Familiar with it?"

"... A poison that disrupts mana flow, right?"

Lorelai responded quickly. Of course, she knew about it. It was one of the few "security measures" the military of Juviel City had once used against her. The poison interfered with mana flow, hindering her ability to activate her magical eyes.

"Correct." Vanessa nodded approvingly. "This sword? It's essentially one solid piece of Blood Rose Poison. That's why your hands won't regenerate."

Lorelai was speechless. Vanessa had countered her magic without even knowing its intricacies, simply by employing a weapon designed to block mana. Lorelai's assault ground to a halt, while Vanessa tilted her head mockingly.

"What's the matter? Out of tricks already?" Vanessa sighed, feigning disappointment. "Well then, I guess it's my turn. En garde!"

"...!"

Vanessa vanished, reappearing directly in front of Lorelai within the span of a heartbeat. She closed the distance of ten meters in an instant, her rapier poised for a precise thrust aimed straight at Lorelai's heart. If she didn't react quickly, death would be inevitable!

Lorelai twisted her body at the last moment, but the speed of the attack made it nearly impossible to avoid completely.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

*STAB!*

The rapier pierced through Lorelai's chest, creating a clean wound from front to back.

"Oh...?" Vanessa's expression shifted. Her strike had missed its intended mark.

Lorelai had managed to shift the target from her heart to her lung, sparing herself from immediate death. To make matters worse for Vanessa, Lorelai grabbed the rapier's blade with one hand, holding it in place and preventing her from withdrawing the weapon.

"Gah...!"

Blood sputtered from Lorelai's mouth, but a fierce grin spread across her face. "I've got you now...!"

Without hesitation, she unleashed an enfeebling curse at point-blank range, the same one that had incapacitated Aster earlier.

A pulse of red energy erupted from Lorelai, engulfing Vanessa and even reaching Aster, who stood some distance away.

"Haap!"

At the same moment, Lorelai thrust her staff like a spear, aiming for Vanessa's face. Reflexively, Vanessa tried to retreat, but with her rapier trapped, her movement was hindered.

Left with no choice, Vanessa released her grip on the rapier and leaped backward, narrowly dodging the strike aimed at her head. She retreated several paces, coming to a stop with a relaxed stance, her smile still intact as she watched Lorelai struggle to catch her breath, clearly weakened by a combination of pain and the curse's effects.

"... Damn it," Lorelai muttered under her breath, understanding now why Vanessa had so willingly let go of her weapon.

As Vanessa had explained earlier, the rapier was made of Blood Rose Poison. With it lodged inside her body, the poison was quickly spreading through Lorelai's system, further disrupting her ability to channel mana.

Not only did it render her magical eyes useless, but the poison also made casting spells nearly impossible, requiring ten times the usual effort just to gather enough mana for a simple incantation.

"Checkmate, wouldn't you say?" Vanessa taunted, her voice dripping with satisfaction. "You see, Aster? I told you I'd win."