CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR: THE FINAL BATTLE PART ONE

Before, both Cecil and Cilia had transformed into their awakened forms. Both Gabriela and Mikaela were needed to control them from attacking the rebels. However, with Mikaela's death and Merissa's betrayal, Galatea and Pearlyn lost control of Cilia, who reverted back to human form. Looking interested in the developments, Cecil returned to human form too.

Can it be… those twins were brought up in different places, and never met each other until time for battle? Miria thought.

"I am the organization's number 1, Cecil," the black clad warrior holding her sword spoke first. Although they were twins, she had a more serious countenance, while the other had a smiling expression, arms relaxed with her sword sheathed. The serious one continued, "Your face… it is the same as mine."

The other smiled. "I am the organization's number 2, Cilia."

"Cilia… my younger sister's name…" Cecil said softly.

"This time, we must fight each other," Cilia said.

"Sorry." Cecil ran towards her twin. Let's settle this in human form… For I will win because I am number 1!"

To her shock, Cilia managed to dodge her attacks easily, and with her eyes closed, still smiled serenely.

"What?" Cecil, having missed her target, ran to a halt. "Impossible… your speed is not less than mine… But I'm the stronger one, I'm number 1!"

"You and me… we are the same. You are number 1 just because you're older, that's all," Cilia smiled.

"You…" the twins started to fight. The rebels could only watch helplessly. Even in human forms, those two are far faster, stronger and agile than any of the warriors.

"Gabriela… can you control one of them, on your own?" Miria asked.

"There's no need. Although I've stopped giving orders to Cilia, she's still fighting according to my orders. So we just watch and see. However, both of them are well-matched. It is likely they'll both die or both survive. Curse the organization for taking this precaution! All we can wait for is for either of them to succumb to sibling emotion," Gabriela said.

"Look, I know we're rather tired after sustaining their awakened forms for so long, but with my help, I know we can make Cilia awaken. No matter how powerful Cecil is, it is still no match for Cilia's awakened form. I've done this before—establishing a soul link with another persona without training, like with Clare. Although you and Mikaela trained for years with Cecil and Cilia, I believe I can act as Mikaela's substitute. Are you up for it?" Galatea asked.

Gabriela nodded and both of them closed their eyes.

Meanwhile, Cilia strained as she began to awaken. Shit… I can deal with Cecil in my human form!

"Hey, it's not fair, if one of us change, is it?" Celia complained.

"You know, with you concentrating, it's so very easy to kill you." Merissa had crept up on Galatea and Gabriela. They gasped, and stiffened. Momentarily, Cilia's straining decreased.

"You!" Serafiel ran to the place where Merissa was, but she's long gone. Although individually Serafiel's speed is faster than Merissa, but Merissa's acute sense could tell her incoming from the wind and atmosphere around her. Besides, Merissa's talent is at her quick reflexes too.

"You two will have your hands full just catching me—Ah!" Merissa clutched at her head. Serafiel looked at her in confusion, suspecting a trap, but Miria charged. Merissa nearly did not notice it, and Miria managed to cut off some strands of her hair.

Merissa responded by leaping backwards while swiping her claymore at Miria, opening a reddish wound at Miria's stomach. Miria collapsed promptly.

It was Erica. Helpless, watching from the sidelines, she did the only thing she could—intefere Merissa's thinking by bombarding the current warriors' heads with noisy messages to incapacitate her. However, it had backfired. Merissa had anticipated this. Although young, Merissa had an uncanny ability to think in one direction full steam, kinda like Priscilla. She won't hear any objections now.

"You think you pathetic little trick would work?" Merissa sneered.

"Miria!" Serafiel held her.

Miria pushed her away. "Go. Don't worry about me. Forget me. Use all your strength to take her head."

"Felicia, take care of Miria!" Serafiel shouted.

Felicia rushed to her side, but there was nothing she could do as she is only useful at attaching wounds or big injuries. Miria's injury, although wasn't deep, was wide. If she got up and fight, it would worsen. Her whole stomach could be torn and her guts might fall out.

"Sorry, but I'm too busy to help you," Galatea said through gritted teeth. "It all depends on your own strength now. Although you are an offensive type, but you've half-awakened, so you should be alright."

Why… what's wrong with me? Why doesn't she react to my noisy messages? Galatea, Felicia and Gabriela are busy, Miria is injured, and Serafiel can't deal with Merissa on her own. I must do something… why is my feet rooted to the ground? I'm scared… I'm so scared. Faced with a monstrous power weaker only than Teresa and Priscilla, there is no way I can do anything. Now I'm neither offensive nor defensive, and my only unique ability doesn't work. What can I do?

"You know, numbers 2 to 5 could not scratch Teresa. So what makes you, a mere number 3, so confident? I'm really sick and disgusted of your childish stupid acts," Merissa ranted on.

"What? What have I done?" Serafiel asked.

Merissa continued her soliloquy. "You killed Jamie! You killed Ylene! And now I will kill you!"

"What? No wait, I didn't…" Serafiel did not have time to finish her sentence before Merissa ran and chopped off her right arm!

"Aaargh!" Her sword clattered to the floor as she used her left arm to stop the blood. Merissa casually destroyed her right arm.

"You're evil… I will kill you…"

"Not good, she's losing her mind…" Miria punched the ground. I can't do anything, not in this state. Can't move, can't run.

Felicia ran forwards and chopped off her own right arm, and immediately attached it to Serafiel. Serafiel relaxed and released her youki to reattach her arm. "You know it won't work, I have many limbs to spare," Felicia said.

"Serafiel, to your left!" Erica suddenly shouted. Serafiel opened her eyes and "teleported" instantly, clutching Felicia. Merissa had been aiming for her left arm. Thanks to Erica, who sensed it.

Even though she's about the strongest non-Awakened Being right now, she's not as strong as Priscilla or Teresa. However, her vast amounts of youki also means that it's really easy to predict her moves. In fact, the more agitated she gets, and the more youki she releases, the easier it is to predict. However, there is one catch. If she awakens, then there's nearly no one in the world now who could stop her. She'd be like another Priscilla, going on the rampage and what not.

"Impossible… how can you sense me!" Merissa raged. She was not thinking

clearly. Instead of reducing her youki level, she increased them. Her eyes turned golden and catlike as her face and body contorts. Her muscles on legs and arms grew bigger, and her face more youma-like. Her teeth sharpened and lengthened, veins popping out of her skin.

"Galatea, is she—" Miria choked.

"Not yet, she is just at fifty percent," Galatea replied.

Fiifty percent is enough. Great blast of wind blew across the ground, blowing the men in black a few metres backwards. Cecil and Cilia, both in human forms were straining against it.

"I will kill you, all of you! And the pretty dolls in black! I will kill everyone! Mua ha ha ha ha!" Merissa laughed.

"I won't let you…" Miria painstakingly dragged herself up. "After all we've done, our fight for freedom… from oppression… I won't let you destroy everything just for your own gains!"

Well, if she destroys everything, then the war will stop. At any rate, I won't interfere. The Dragon Princess remained behind.