Chapter 28: Desperation
Unknowing of Zanna's truly sinister plans, Ranmyaku was walking right into her trap. None of the ice girl's spells were anything close to enough to strong enough to defeat the lightning demon in a fair fight, which was--unfortunately--the only way she COULD fight if she wanted to defeat the other girl. Zanna lifted her hand and excited tendril of lightning bounced from finger to finger.
"Zakeru!" Dianna shouted with actual feeling, and the lightning attack that bounded forth was one the likes that the group had never seen for an attack so week. Asuru attempted to throw up their ice wall, but even though the shield was there, it was shattered as like a rock being thrown against glass, throwing her into her bookkeeper.
The French-born boy rolled his demon off his body, groaning at the ripples of pain that tickled his form in the most unpleasant of ways. "M... Masugana Gikoru!"
Ranmyaku wasted no time in making her giant ice ball. Unimpressed, Zanna merely held out her hand and felt herself being pushed back a little by the force of the raging ice ball. With a scooping motion she lifted it over her head before hurling it back, spinning sickeningly fast. Ranmyaku dropped to the ground to avoid being hurt fatally buy her own attack, and the color drained from her face as the ice shattered and fell like powder on her head. Fear harassed her as something became painfully apparent.
'I... I'm going to die...! She's... Zanna is going to kill me!'
Of course, Zanna had no plans to kill Ranmyaku, not yet anyway--not until she got what she wanted. From what she could gather from the royal libraries, the beast within her DNA would only ruse if its she was in true-blue, life threatening danger. Of course, she didn't want to use all her strength in the beginning, especially since she was keeping Baou hidden as one of her trump cards.
So she'd wear her down, and if the Nikumosuta did not rear its inky black head, then she'd pull out the Baou as a last resort. No one would leave this castle alive unless she had what she wanted.
Dianna gave her attack some strength and read their weakest spell out, and it danced out towards her. Asuru shifted his book so it was under his body, and Ranmyaku jumped out of the way. Zanna gave a sinister smile, and was gone, just like that. Before she could register this, she was kicked clear across the room, beginning to cough and hack uncontrollably. Zanna's eyes were alight with excitement, like a child that was getting what they wanted for Christmas.
"Come on... the representative from the Aisu clan couldn't possibly be this weak!" Ranmyaku tried to stand and found herself slightly uncoordinated. Sensing this her human read out Ma Gikoru and attempted to smash the staff into the smaller girl, caught in her hand. Holding it firmly, she flipped the blue haired girl onto her back, earning herself another powerful kick.
Coughing loudly, she attempted to push herself up and found her limbs to be quiet weak. She was taking a beating and her body refused to fight back. This was a completely one-sided fight, and although the silver haired Princess was disappointed with the outcome, the quicker she got the monster the better off everyone else would be. Her sharp, shark-like teeth had to hold back a cackle. 'Better off'? She would destroy everyone who stood against her once she had that power.
Ai gasped and opened her book. She wanted desperately to help the young demon, but Zanna held up a pale hand. She stated that if Ai cast the spell it would be interfering, and everyone would die, as according to the deal between the two female fighters. Angry, Ai closed her book reluctantly.
Tsuine was mentally cursing Ranmyaku for being so foolish. He watched as she managed to get on her feet, her human called out spells desperately, wanting to help. In Asuru's mind he was also cursing Ranmyaku's naive, trusting nature. Zanna was evil didn't she understand that? and evil people were not ones to hold up their side of the bargain on anything. Even if there was a small glimmer of hope that they won, she would stand and use the last of her strength to destroy them. This, he knew and feared, was a lose-lose.
Still, he couldn't give Zanna the satisfaction of knowing he was backing out. "Gigano Gikoru!" Ranmyaku opened her mouth as thinner, sharper versions of Gikoru spewed forth, a barrage. Zanna's cloak rose to protect her, repelling the needles right back at the ice demon. Impaled by her own ice spires, she fell to her knees, angry and outmatched.
She hated to admit that Tsuine had been right. She should not have challenged Zeon's daughter (little did she know it was for a totally other reason) but she had, and now they were all going to die.
A frown graced her pale lightly pink lips as she watched her prey fall to the ground. This wasn't working. She had held back a lot, but the Nikumosuta had yet to show its face. Turning to her bookkeeper, with a snap of her fingers, she said "Do it," in her most commanding voice. Dianna turned to the very last pages of the book, and felt it light up.
"BAOU ZAKERUGA!"
The roaring dragon beast grew from her pale hand, perfectly white thanks to the nature of her strong lightning. Everyone could only watch in awe as King Gash's most powerful spell was being sent towards them, fueled by an overpowering need. Jaws spread wide as the lightning beast screamed, large sharp looking teeth occupied that mouth.
Ranmyaku's book glowed black.
Pulling it from under him, he flipped to a page where the spell was written in black instead of a shade of blue. Confused, he stared at the spell and wasted no time deciding, especially since the options were not at all confusing.
"Mosuta Nikuma!"
A smirk claimed Zanna's features.
She had won.
Dun dun dunnnn~ Cliff hanger, hanging from a cliff... AND THAT'S WHY HE'S CALLED CLIFF HANGER.
Asuru and Ranmyaku both have poor judgement. I wonder if they are infecting each other...
