RE: The Extra's Dominance-Chapter 177 - Raven Versus Amaris [1]

"[Vicious Lightning Sword Technique—]"

"[Cruel Slash ]"

Raven muttered that. His voice was low, calm— almost detached, yet sharp enough to slice through the air itself.

"...?"

Amaris tilted her head slightly, confused at the strange chant. Her brows furrowed as her instincts screamed something was wrong. But before she could even move—

SWISH—

Raven’s sword swung down vertically with a clean, merciless motion, slicing through the air like a bolt of fate.

And the next thing she knew...

ZOOOOOOOOM—

BOOOM!!!

A pillar of lightning fell straight from the sky, smashing into her before she could react!

"GAH?!!"

Amaris’ scream echoed as blinding light swallowed her whole. Crackling arcs of lightning danced all around, tearing through the trees and scorching the earth beneath her.

FWOOSH—

With a frantic flap of her wings, she forced herself upward, shooting into the sky to escape the smoking crater below.

"Ugh..."

She gritted her teeth, the smell of ozone and burnt air filling her lungs. Her entire body trembled slightly as she hovered mid-air.

Her skin was covered with light burn wounds, faint trails of smoke rising from them. Even her wings stung whenever she flapped. It wasn’t deep, but it was definitely painful.

And when she looked down—

’So his element is lightning, huh... That’s rare. I should be more careful about that.’

Amaris thought, narrowing her eyes as she watched Raven from above. The ground around him was still sparking faintly with residual electricity, thin wisps of smoke curling from the soil.

Tap-

Amaris landed back down to the ground, being extra observing of her enemy this time.

On the other hand, Raven just stood still, his black eyes focused solely on Amaris.

"..."

He frowned, his breathing calm yet deliberate. His aura flickered faintly with the remnants of his attack.

’I struck her with everything I had, with the intention of finishing it in one hit. And all I did was give her light burns?’

His hand tightened around [Emmeranne], lightning crackling faintly across its blade as frustration mixed with calculation.

’I guess demons are really something else. I need to fight smart about this.’

He flexed his wrist once— then without warning—

PSH!

Raven raised [Nyx] in an instant and fired straight toward Amaris!

TING!

Amaris slashed the bullet mid-air with her claws. Sparks scattered—

Though—

FWIP~

The bullet burst open! Black ropes made of mana suddenly erupted from it, twisting like living shadows, and in an instant—

SHLAAK!

They wrapped tightly around Amaris’ limbs! Raven had used [Bind] on the bullet!

"?!!"

Her eyes widened in shock as her wings jerked to a stop mid-flight, her balance breaking slightly.

BAM!

And before she could even breathe—

Raven was already moving!

He kicked off the ground, his legs bursting with crackling lightning and a gust of wind that blew the dirt away!

He launched forward like a cannon!

Amaris, seeing him rushing at her, widened her eyes and gathered her aura in a desperate push.

"HUP!"

FWOOSH~

A violent wave of energy exploded from her body, shredding the mana ropes restraining her limbs!

Though...

"..."

Raven was already in front of her the moment she broke free— and without hesitation—

SLASH—!!

He swung diagonally, aiming straight for her neck!

"Gugh?!"

Swish—!!

Amaris ducked down just in time! Raven’s blade sliced past above her head— the wind pressure alone nearly tearing through her hair!

ZSSSH—!!

The trail left behind by his sword crackled with lightning and sharp gusts of wind, distorting the air around it. The sight alone made it clear— that slash could have taken her head clean off.

"..."

Amaris frowned, her pride flaring. She knew that kind of power was dangerous, but retreating wasn’t in the demon’s blood.

Her pride as a demon— and as a succubus— refused to let her back down to a man!

SWISH!!!

She retaliated with a feral motion, swinging her claws at Raven, aiming straight for his heart!

But when she looked up—

"Huh?!"

Raven was already a step ahead.

He was looking down at her, eyes cold, expression void of mercy. [Nyx]’s muzzle was already aimed right at her head.

And with that—

PSH—

He pulled the trigger.

"TSK!"

BAM—!!

Amaris clicked her tongue, immediately jumping backward to dodge. The bullet missed by inches, slicing through the air beside her face.

She was forced to retreat! And that hurt her pride!

But Amaris knew— Raven’s bullets weren’t something she could take lightly.

Anyway, while she was still mid-air—

"[MIND MANIPULATION]!!!"

Amaris shouted sharply, both hands glowing crimson as an eerie smoke burst out of her palms—

WHOOSH~

The crimson haze spiraled and flew toward Raven at alarming speed, hungry to engulf his mind.

Raven saw it coming. His instincts screamed danger, but he didn’t hesitate.

BAM!

He propelled himself forward instead of dodging!

And just as the smoke reached him—

FWOOSH~

He unleashed [Emperor’s Aura], coating [Emmeranne]’s blade with a dense, golden-black glow.

SLASH—!!

Then he sliced through the crimson smoke like it was nothing!

The smoke dispersed into harmless particles that evaporated in the air after that!

’[Emperor’s Aura] grants me resistance to any controlling skills and magic... and I can also use it as a weapon aura.’

Raven thought as [Insight], [Understanding], and [Thought Acceleration] activated together. His mind sharpened, every detail crystal clear.

He might look calm on the outside, but his mind is racing at the moment!

Moving on—

"...!"

Amaris frowned— a human just cut through one of her strongest control skills.

And now he was coming right for her!

But instead of fleeing, her lips curved into a defiant grin.

SWISH~!!

Then she flapped her wings hard, rushing at him head-on!

"DIEEE!!!"

C L A N G—!!!

Her long claws clashed against Raven’s sword with a deafening sound!

Sparks and raw mana burst from the impact, forming a small shockwave that blew away the nearby clouds of smoke.

Neither backed away.

PSH—

Raven fired again at point-blank range.

TING!

Amaris blocked it this time with a hasty mana barrier— then countered immediately by kicking out with her right foot!

THUD!!

Raven barely blocked it with his left knee.

"Ugh...!"

He winced. Her strength was heavier than he expected, the force enough to make his leg throb slightly.

BAM— CRACK!!

The impact sent him crashing back down to the ground! He hit the dirt hard, scattering rocks and dust everywhere.

And when he looked up—

Amaris was smirking down at him, her tone playful but sharp.

"What are you looking at? Come fly too if you want to reach me."

She hovered high above, wings fluttering arrogantly. From that position, she could easily dodge his bullets and react to his attacks.

It was a good tactic. Smart, even.

But—

"Okay."

Raven said simply.

Because against him, it wasn’t enough.

SWOOSH~

Two majestic black wings burst out from his back— [Celestria].

"?!!"

Amaris’ eyes widened in disbelief. Her mind froze for a second— a human, with wings like that? They were darker, purer, and far more elegant than her own.

"What the fuck is this guy?"

She spat out, stunned and annoyed all at once.

But before she could even think about it properly—

"[Vicious Lightning Sword Technique—]"

"Huh?"

"[Violent Thrust]"

Raven’s cold voice echoed throughout the area again.

Then—

CRACK- BZZZSSSSHHHHHH—!!!

The ground exploded beneath him as his entire body shot upward like a bolt of lightning!

A streak of black thunder slicing through the sky, straight toward Amaris!

Raven became lightning itself— swift, destructive, and unstoppable!