Bloodline Evolution: I Can Choose Opposing Paths-Chapter 128: Military Prowess

With another flick of the man’s fingers, another serpent tore through the air, snapping down with blazing pressure that made it hard for Luna to even breathe.

Emily twisted out of the way, while Luna literally threw herself to the ground to avoid the attack. The serpent flew right by them, colliding against the wall and turning it into a pile of melted tar.

"Damn it—this guy just doesn’t stop!" the senior said between breaths.

But on the floor, Luna caught a glimpse of something—the ceiling.

Fragments of stone still hung loose from where her earlier deflection had torn through. Cracks spread across the surface, unnoticeable at a glance, but Luna noticed it.

The fractures...they’re just wide enough. If I apply even just a little force...

It’ll all crumble down, that’s the win condition!

She was snapped out of her thoughts as the man fired another attack. A barrage of flaming arrows rained down on her. Luna’s eyes widened as she rolled on her side as fast as she could, arrows landing right where she was just a moment ago.

At the end of the roll, Luna spun herself up acrobatically, managing to get on her feet.

Problem was...how to make it not obvious.

Her gaze flicked toward Emily, who was already back on her feet. Realizing she can’t use her Plant element, she switched tactics almost immediately.

Lightning crackled around her palms as she searched for an opening. The Defiler sadly gave her none.

This time, with both hands, he conjured two different Arts at the same time. From his right came the serpent, and from his left, the blazing rain of arrows.

He has Dual Arts! This guy’s probably on the same level as Marcus and even Daniel!

Both Arts launched themselves at the duo. Emily, with her increased speed from the Lightning Element, narrowly managed to avoid the rain...but that was when the serpent came through.

Her eyes widened before she rose both arms, trying to brace against the attack. Luna immediately threw herself at the senior, holding on tightly before immediately casting her Art.

"Entomb!"

The moment the word left her lips, frost surged outward from Luna’s arms as ice manifested around them instantly. The shell formed around them, just fast enough for the serpent to slam directly into the outside.

PSSSHHHH!

Steam burst violently as fire melted the ice, the outer layer cracking and melting under the sheer heat before the entire attack dissipated.

Inside the ice, both Luna and Emily remained still, trying to catch their breath.

"...Listen," Luna whispered quickly, her voice barely audible above the sounds of the two other battles going on.

"He thinks we’re weak," she continued. "He’ll lower his guard if he thinks we’re out."

"Can you see the fault within those rocks above his head?" Luna asked, glancing at the space. "I need you to drop it while I distract him."

"...You want me to—"

"Collapse," Luna finished. "Pull your ether in. Make it look real before going for it."

Emily hesitated for half a second before nodding.

"Got it."

Luna dismissed her Art, ice shattering as both of them stumbled out, looking weak. Emily took two uneven steps backward before her body gave out.

She dropped to one knee, lightning flickering weakly around her hands before fading completely as she withdrew her ether.

"...Tch..." she muttered, forcing her breathing to turn ragged. "...I’m...out..."

Luna sighed softly as she witnessed the act.

Aren seems to have competition for the Escar Awards.

But it was enough to fool the Defiler. The man watched the entire thing unfold, a small smirk forming on his face. "...Figures."

"One down," he muttered. "...One to go."

He used the exact same Art, the Flame Arrows, thinking it’d just be easy pickings.

But instead, Luna sprinted forward. Her body dipped low as she ran into the storm. She wove in and out of the rain with precise body movements, dodging most of the attacks.

One arrow managed to graze her shoulder while another struck just centimeters away from her foot, but she kept going anyway.

The Defiler flinched, clearly not expecting such a bold change in game plan. "What the hell? You’re running at me?"

But with that small pause, Luna managed to get right up to his face. Her hands clenched into a fist before she drove it straight into his face.

CRACK!

The punch landed clean against his guard, a thin layer of flame dispersing on impact as the force pushed him backwards.

"You—you dare!"

He swung back immediately, but it was clear that he wasn’t trained in close-quarters combat the way she was. Luna ducked under it, her body moving on instinct as she stepped inside his range before—

PAP!

A strike landed straight against his jaw from her left hook. The man staggered backward, but Luna followed up with a kick to the shin, dropping him to his knees. Then, with a loaded fist, she delivered a straight punch right at his core.

The blow landed hard. For a split second, the Defiler’s body folded around the impact, air forced from his lungs as the flames around him flickered violently.

An opening!

Cold gathered at her fingertips before settling within her grip. An icicle...yet sharp like a knife. She thrust forward, but something caught her hand. The Flaming Serpent had coiled itself around her hand, scorching it entirely.

"—Gghhakk!" Luna dropped the knife as she winced in pain.

"ENOUGH WITH THIS, TIME TO DIE!"

What looked almost like a hundred fire arrows formed at once behind him, layering over each other until one gigantic flaming sphere had formed.

"You fought well, but it’s over."

"..."

"...Gotcha."

"Storm Cloud!"

Three lightning bolts struck the collapsing fault above their head. The already fractured ceiling gave way instantly, jagged lines splitting outward as the structure trembled under the sudden impact.

The Defiler’s eyes flicked upward for just a fraction of a second.

"...What—?"

Luna ignored the pain in her hand, just barely managing to place one onto the man’s feet. Instantly, cold ran up his legs before ice formed, sticking him to the ground.

"...You—!" he started.

But it was already too late.

"See you."

Vines snapped forward before wrapping themselves around Luna’s legs, yanking her out of the blast radius.

Stone and crystal came crashing down, swallowing him whole as the cavern shook from the impact.

BOOM!

Luna herself was pulled backward, knees scraping against the sharp stone before finally stopping right next to Emily.

"Hey! Are you good?!" the senior asked frantically.

Luna replied hoarsely, coughing as dust got into her lungs. "Just...barely..."

But her eyes were fixed on the cloud of dust that started to fade slowly. Where the Defiler once stood...

Only a pile of rubble remained.