Countess Cavendish Castle, Edinburgh, Scotland
They are already 3 of 5 door fragments to be opened, Hellene, Marianne, Amanda, Jasminka, Constanze, Lotte and Sucy already finished exploring their part of the castle, the same ones stayed at the main hall, where they were resting and ironically they were even taking a tea eating a little bit, since for more than Bernadette is protecting herself, she didn't stop offering food for the castle and food that is edible, what the girls were enjoying the time to give that rest, that already in the waiting time, since the night just started at the castle, still having that long time that the girls were at the castle, the same ones were already at almost one hour and a half at the castle, waiting for the last three girls to come back from their journey.
Diana and Akko arrived at the botanical garden, there they separated at a fork, each one going to a different side of the path, the two even kissed going each one by a different route, the Cavendish one going by a beautiful and flowery route, while Kagari went by a darker and scarier route, as incredible as it may seem.
The Scottish girl was walking through the flowery field, practically without any creature of the night attacking her, which was quite strange, but on the other hand the Japanese girl was having difficulties, with several plants and Cù Siths attacking her, she was trying what she could not to be hit, but nothing worked.
Diana walking through the path was passing by the candles destroying them and filling more hearts, on the way she ended up taking a bottle of holy water, getting a sub item to progress more through the flowery lands of that beautiful field, walking until the end, she comes across a black haired girl, sitting on a bench, she was caressing a Cat Sith, the creature that when seeing the Cavendish presence, ends up running out of there.
The girl stands up, a girl with the same height as Akko, having long hair that reached the waist, straight, with reddish almond eyes, which even leaves the Scot a little scared to see that person like that, so much that was soon want to know what happened.
Diana: Barbara!
Barbara: It's been ten years isn't it Diana, you've grown a lot in that time, you're still the same, the posh girl, who always seems intelligent and confident, you know, I was always slightly jealous of you, I saw you being the example, always such a controlled creature, I'm even impressed, but you've abandoned us.
Diana: Itwasn't quite like that Barb, I didn't have much choice, my mother was going crazy, the loss of my other mother left her out of control, I just followed the path I thought was the right one, I've already had to put up with Hellene saying the same thing, but what about your eyes... Why did you do it, Barb? Don't tell me Hannah did it too.
Barbara: That is what I expected to hear from you, I will not find it bad that you have taken this decision, but you have not come back now because you are on our side, the mistress has already told us that you have come to kill her, I was even shocked to hear that one of my great childhood friends, her own daughter, you are going to kill Madame Bernadette, but I found out the reason, I know that it was a deception and manipulation that you have gone through, so I understand and the mistress herself seems to have wanted to get into it a little bit... Unfortunately I don't want it to be like that, I value our friendship Diana, but I am also faithful to our mistress and I must protect her from her hands.
Diana: The last thing I want is to kill my mother Barbara, I just want to put an end to all this, I want to talk to her and end this contract once and for all, all I want is not to be able to kill her, is to be able to live a life with her and see her again, I don't care if I end up fated to an eternity as a creature of the night, I just want us to be a united family again.
Barbara: Unfortunately fate is above all our wishes, one cannot change what will happen, it is with a misfortune that you and I will have to go out in a fight, I hope that our battle will be worthy, that you will show that you still have an appreciation for me, let's settle this once and for all, may the strongest win.
Barbara takes two swords from her back and starts to stare Diana right in her eyes, who stares back, then she walks slowly around the arena, then she thrusts herself towards Cavendish, who defends herself from Parker's attack with a sword and with that the Scottish girl throws a fireball at the English girl, who does the same.
The two start forcing each other forward, using their strength, but little by little who ends up winning is the dhampir in relation to the vampire who then jumps back and has a smile on her face.
Barbara: You have really improved a lot in this time Diana, I remember when we used to play warriors, you always won, you even fought head on with your mother Laura, good times, I was never a fighter like that, but I ended up learning after the castle welcomed us, when Ursula took care of helping us, and then we were blessed with the awakening of our great master.
Diana: This castle is a creature of chaos, my mother is under Dracula's curse, she has been condemned to a life of torment, I just want to be able to do whatever is in my power and beyond her to get her out of this hell, I would do anything to make our situation better for you, I don't want to be able to have to kill you Barbara, join us.
Barbara: Even if I wanted to I can't, there is a pact we have already sealed for that, where I owe my life to protect the master in exchange for being able to stay alive and also in this powerful body that I ended up gaining from death.
Barbara goes running towards Cavendish, dematerializing into bats, but at the time the Scottish woman dodges, giving a quick cut that grazes the vampire that gets some tears in her clothes, which with this movement she takes the opportunity to also give a cut that doesn't catch in Diana, who dodges quickly. The same one makes the blade of the sword meet and causes an impact.
Parker dematerializes starting to go circling around Cavendish surrounding her that uses a spell that makes her transport herself and throw fireballs, catching the Englishwoman who is even in shock and impressed with her abilities.
Barbara: I thought I would lose easily to such a blow, but by now you must be aware of the power of dematerialisation.
Diana: I'm not that dumb, you should realize that, by the way just to tell you something, this power of yours is already known to me, I learned it when I fought with Elizabeth, unfortunately I'm going to have to finish you off for what destiny has traced, but I'll do it with all the fear, with all the respect and admiration I have for you Barbara Parker.
Diana turns into a bat, Barbara starts to dematerialise going all out towards Cavendish, the two meet with the blades causing an impact, raising the biggest spark, already showing that this fight of theirs is still going to take a long time, even more so as the two looked a bit evenly matched, being that the Scottish woman was with a blessed silver sword that she always used to use.
Meanwhile Akko was walking along the path in the garden, being able to already hear the sounds of swords clashing, at the same time she was facing some creatures that appeared, such as plants, Cù Siths and Shellycoats, the same ones were going as in the pattern of creatures to top Kagari who was cutting with the silver sword forged by Diana with an ease, even a little getting to be clumsy as she walked through those labyrinthine corridors of the botanical garden.
[Akko's Thought: Diana must already be fighting someone, apparently a person with two blades, you can hear the sound from here, I know well what kind of sword just by hearing, but anyway, this castle is a real labyrinth, to think that we are doing all this to find the whereabouts of Chariot Belmont].
Akko kept walking through the maze that was that part of the castle, hitting the creatures of the night that are getting without much to escape the swords of Kagari that as usual can understand the movements of the same, arriving at a point where it ends up being surrounded right in front of three werewolves, at that time the same swallows her saliva, to also be surrounded from behind, Akko tries to use the dagger, then jumps on the werewolf in the middle giving a cut in the chest of it, the other two almost bite the arm of Kagari, but behind Cù Siths jump leaving the Japanese woman on the ground, the same turns around and is barely bitten in the face by the beasts, she gets a little desperate and with that makes a movement of throwing daggers that are multiple catching the creatures ahead.
Akko: Shit! It seems that the more I kill, the more they appear, damn creatures!
Akko was slowly being surrounded, she was walking backwards, trying her best, she was getting into attack position and risking herself with a jump at once, managing to open the way passing by the Cù Siths, then she threw smoke bombs, started to run, throwing another one, running more than she could trying to escape as she could through the labyrinth's corridors, until she found in another corridor through which she took a hiding place and arrives already throwing another smoke bomb to deceive the creatures.
Back at the battle arena, there were Barbara and Diana, running around the arena until they met on impact, starting to clash swords, the two keep scraping each other, raising sparks everywhere, then Parker dematerializes, but the Cavendish does not leave the place, hitting a cut that catches well in the belly of the vampire that ends up rolling on the floor with a cut as it went bleeding and feeling the roasted body, she got up feeling pain and quickly went regenerating.
Barbara: Your sword is silver, I was wondering about that.
Diana agreed with her head, waiting for Barbara to regenerate and with that she gives a slap with her neck, then goes up with everything dematerializing, what Cavendish defends with the blade, but Parker splits in two in this dematerialization, attacking the Scot from behind, who ends up falling, then she materializes again and almost hits a slash with both swords.
The dhampir hits a kick on her stomach and she ends up taking a few steps back, giving Diana time to get up and the swords collide. With the two faces staring at each other.
The Cavendish takes advantage of the moment, throws a punch that catches Parker's face that is caught in the distraction, she goes taking a few steps back, half stunned the Scot is starting to try to hit some cut, but even so she can defend herself from the attacks of Diana who stops using the sword, starting to use magic, throwing fireballs that Barbara is defending herself and spinning the blades as a kind of shield repelled, the same one decides to give a little more action, starting to dematerialize again, but the dhampir ends up changing into a bat, falling back towards the ground with a downward slash where it almost catches the vampire herself that turns and the blades end up meeting again, the two face each other closely, making force.
Barbara: Not bad Diana, really not bad, you can fight as well as Elizabeth, I just thought you wouldn't go so dirty like that, appeal for normal blows around a sword fight.
Diana: In my time here from France, I have learned a few things in fighting, one of them is that sometimes you are fighting for your life and you have to give it your all, the important thing is to win every now and then.
Diana headbutts Barbara who is taking some steps backwards dazed, with that she then gives a cut that pulls out one of the hands of Parker who is screaming in pain, then gives a strong kick in the stomach that ends up throwing her backwards, giving some screams of pain with the arm cut, she gets up feeling pain in the arm and faces Cavendish herself with another look, a look of assasin and anger, the own is giving a look of superiority to the former friend.
Diana: Barbara if we are to make it to the end, if we are to fight to the death, at least give it your all Barbara, I'm sorry to have to reach for the dirt, but I don't want this to end up being just a silly fight, I don't want your death to be in vain, so pull as hard as you can.
Furious Barbara: I will make you pay for this Diana Cavendish, I asked that we fight cleanly, but you just show me a style that is not yours at all, it even looks like Elizabeth.
Diana turning around and with a tear falling: Then let take my base for Elizabeth, for I will defeat you and then defeat that wretch, I hold you in esteem, so I want your death to be a battle that pulls you to the edge.
Diana soon sees Barbara's hand coming back and going through the middle of Cavendish's feathers and then she jumps, dodging a cut upwards and then another one that Parker herself would give backwards, almost hitting the back of the Scottish woman who throws a fireball that catches her on the back of the head of the English woman who takes a few steps backwards, followed by a tetra spirit and then to finish the dhampir turns into a bat and gives a wing smash that makes the vampire fall on her knees on the floor, getting up with the hand that she just put.
Barbara: You are fast Diana.
At that moment Diana suddenly appears, giving a blow that catches Parker's belly, then pushes her backwards, she is vomiting some blood trying to get up, even though she is very hurt, she was regenerating from that hole that was opened by the Scot who was looking at the blade of the sword with the greatest tranquility of the world.
Diana: Elizabeth is also fast, she would do exactly this same thing I did now, she is not one to waste time, you have to detach from fighting in a clean way, come with everything, I am willing to stay in an intense fight.
Barbara heals herself, she stares at Diana with anger, she goes with everything dematerialized towards Cavendish, she opens the cape, throws fireballs, which go flying towards Parker who dodges, but she didn't wait for Cavendish who arrives jumping over her, with a neutral expression, she simply dives with the sword, With a neutral expression, she simply dives with the sword, which grazes the blade of the Englishwoman that is even fallen backwards sitting on the floor while the dhampir observes her with such beauty with her foot over the blade and with that she starts to make some moves towards her that with her feet kicks the blade up to defend herself, turns her body in a dance with the sword, hitting the vampire's blade and the two of them stare at each other's eyes.
Diana: It seems that desperation is knocking.
Barbara: I can't believe you're still beating us with ease and class, even though I'm a vampire, how can you still maintain all this elegance?
Diana: Desperation is taking over you, the art of using the sword has to be soft and gentle, the worse the situation, the more delicate you have to be, staying aggressive opens your guard to your opponent, so you can't display a form when it comes to fighting your enemy.
The two then jump back, staring at each other, observing each other's eyes from afar, with the swords in hands, Cavendish was more calm and tranquil, Parker with some bleeding on her clothes, it was remarkable the despair together with a bit of anger when she saw she was close to defeat, but this whole pose of Diana was just a repressed feeling that she was feeling a bit bad to be in such a situation.
On the other hand in the labyrinth, Akko finally after so much walking could reach an exit, the same was panting and tired, with some wounds, due to bites from Cù Siths, the same could see that the labyrinth reached the end, starting a corridor, where buers were going from one side to the other rolling, leaving the way practically more impossible to pass, Kagari quickly had to protect herself by standing behind a small wall separating the place, while some plants also began to move, and she could see that they were close to where she was hiding, and with that she jumped a little frightened.
Akko: Shit! More of those things!
Akko is grabbed by the leg by the root of a tree and is trying to cut that root with the Katana, but she was already thrown towards the corridor full of skeletons and Buers, luckily she ended up falling and being protected by a buer that passed right in front of her, with that Kagari uses the dagger sub item, throwing it at the skeletons armed with arrows, that are little by little dying, but they still keep shooting, and some arrows just graze the Japanese girl body.
She opens the way, walks on the corridor, killing easily the buers that keep going from one side to the other, where she arrives on another gate, facing what was just another labyrinth, what was already leaving her a little bit frustrated.
Akko: Oh really, it's going to stay that way anyway, I can't believe I have to deal with these mazes all the time, but what a boring castle.
Akko passes through the labyrinth gate and can already hear the sounds of the paws of animals walking, coming towards her, with that she throws a smoke bomb, runs and some Cù Siths come out of the bushes, starting to run after Kagari that notices the canine creatures following her with all speed, but the Japanese didn't let herself so defeated, she was leaving some bombs on the ground that were hitting the creatures from behind, which spread and a few died.
But that ended when she found a closed corridor with no exit, looking back she saw that the creatures were still following her, so she decided to throw one more bomb, some jumped towards the brunette that was trying to use her skills.
Akko: It's all or nothing, I'm not going to stand here being surrounded by these things.
The Kagari is trying what she can, defending herself of the creatures' attacks, with the katana and also using from time to time the sub items, getting a little trapped in this labyrinth, she didn't have much to go to, the creatures kept appearing, the Japanese woman little by little was getting tired of being so much in that repetition of movements, but soon the amount of creatures was lowering and with that Akko was managing to have a moment where she could breathe a little more.
Back to the arena where Barbara and Diana were fighting one against the other, the two were still in a fight where the Cavendish was starting to have a little more advantage in relation to Parker, the same one kept the pose and the tranquility, while the Englishwoman was furious, the same one was attacking the Scottish girl uncontrollably, and she even hit a graze cut that catches the dhampir cheek and then throws fireballs, which the vampire gives a dematerialized back, passing through the middle of it and going up to her friend.
Barbara hits Diana this time, who didn't have so much time to defend herself, what ends up making her give a slight jump back, with that she takes the sword, prepares herself for an attack, and when she gets up with everything the cut is dodged by the vampire that even shows her face.
Barbara: Now I'm the one who's getting the upper hand.
Diana: You're wrong, Barbara.
Cavendish uses her sub item of holy water, starting to throw it around Parker who is taking steps backwards, she comes back to materialize due to the Scottish girl's cutting attempts that end up making her step on top of where she had a holy water still burning and with that she ends up dissolving a little and screaming in pain.
After that, Diana gives a slash followed by a cut that she herself is carrying upwards, cutting from the belly to the shoulder, spurting a lot of blood and making Barbara kneel on the ground screaming and releasing the swords.
Diana: I'm sorry it has to be this way Barbara. Standing here I realize you're just like me.
Quickly Barbara regenerates, she even takes the swords, goes up to Diana dematerialized, hitting her in the belly and with that she starts scratching her in the chest with big nails, as a desperate movement, in that Cavendish gives another blow that gets in the vampire's chest that stops moving and she releases the sword, leaving it stuck in Parker's chest that keeps walking with a Claymore in the body.
Diana: If I pull out this sword, your heart will explode and you will die, I know well your weak point, if you pull out this sword your heart will explode, now there is no escape from here Barbara.
Barbara: Diana... I... You never really changed, you're the same girl as always, so precise in what you say, so methodical, I'll always be in awe of the control you have and your calmness.
Diana: And I will never forget the friendship I had with you and Hannah, goodbye Barbara, your death will not be in vain.
Barbara laughing: And it won't be, as soon as I'm out of here, I'll leave you an improvement for your powers, you'll be able to dematerialize, so you can finish with Elizabeth once and for all, that meddlesome girl was always bossing us around and she even interfered with my affair with Hannah, trying to hit on both of us... Goodbye Diana.
Cavendish takes the blade of the sword, then pulls the Claymore, coming out of Parker's chest that starts to bleed gushing a fountain of blood, to the point that she ends up falling, then her body starts to burn, due to her heart having exploded and the silver sword having made a contact with her body, that would end up dying in a matter of time.
Barbara's whole body falls apart, all that can be seen afterwards was her soul leaving, waving to Cavendish saying goodbye and going wandering to another corner of the castle, then an orb was left floating in front of Diana who touches it, feeling a glow when touching it, starting to emanate in her body. She takes the power to dematerialize and is even left crying, dripping a few tears at the sight of her friend leaving.
Diana crying: Her death will not be in vain Barbara, you can be sure that I will succeed in finishing Elizabeth off once and for all, now that we are on equal footing, I want to see her think she is superior.
Diana soon makes a point to test her new powers, starting to notice how that is much more efficient, how it serves to move with great speed from one side to the other, managing with great tranquility to give a surprise attack, besides dodging in different ways, noticing this the Cavendish stops in the middle of the arena and takes a deep breath, motivated, she goes following the way to the exit of the arena, to continue exploring the castle in a bigger mission that the girls are still doing.
Back to the labyrinth, Akko was starting to walk around it trying to find exits, the own plants of the place were getting in the way, as usual trying to catch the Japanese girl and wanting to devour her, but Kagari always fought back, besides many Cù Siths that appeared from the bushes trying to get a hold of the brunette that was already a little tired of being so busy in the labyrinth.
Akko: And to think I still have to go out in hand with some creature and all by myself.
Akko went on through the labyrinth, trying to find an exit to the place, walking there she only stopped in a more isolated corner again, without an exit, only a chest where she ends up seeing a sword, when she touches it the effect goes to Kagari's sword that ends up reading a note containing a description "Have faster and multiple cuts with this blade, with just a single movement, you can give up to 10 simultaneous cuts without spending your sword" Soon some creatures jump in front of the Japanese, who opens a smile on her face.
Akko: Let's see if that's true.
Kagari gives a cut and notices that they make several multiple cutting movements towards the creatures, being real, even being possible to see the movement of the wind cut that the blade gives, catching the creatures ahead, helping the Japanese to continue on the path through the labyrinth, she even was getting more animated, walking for the corridors, was getting less tired, until having fun in as the sword practically swept the way ahead, the same one was soon tracing a route trying to find a way, soon she comes across a gate, opening the same, passing for there she ends arriving at a corridor.
On the other hand Diana was walking through the flowery corridor that reached the end, coming across the fork where Akko and her had parted, only this time being on the other side, the two forks end up meeting, she walks a little further and comes across a stool, and also a sign written on a gate "Only two people together may pass through this gate", with that the Cavendish sits on the stool, waiting for the Japanese woman.
[Diana's Thought: I hope everything turns out well for Akko, my path has already been a bit tortuous for the fight with my childhood friend, at least for Hannah, it won't hold as much weight for Akko, she doesn't know her, so it can be a much easier battle without resentment, on the other hand it will be a fight full of resentment for my friend who will end up getting angry to know that I allied myself with a slayer].
Diana at that moment kept breathing deeply, looking at the garden's ceiling, which was a stained glass window full of colours, very much so that it did not kill the creatures of the night at dusk, but it had begun to open at that moment due to the dusk, revealing that the sky was already beginning to darken, it was already night.
Back to the labyrinth, Akko was reaching the end of it, crossing a corridor, where it was filled with some creatures, having to deal with a Venus weed that came out of the ground and kept throwing some thorny roses at the Japanese woman that was trying to dodge and at the same time threw some bombs towards the creature that soon began to scream with the explosion of the bomb, giving more space for the Japanese woman to have somewhere to walk, but soon things ended, having another gate to where Kagari would have to pass.
Akko: Finally the maze is over.
Akko touches the gate, it begins to open, giving passage to the Japanese girl, she ended up facing a sign saying that it was the end of the labyrinth, but little by little she was walking and facing more signs, with more intimidating sayings, signs with written things like "Brave you", "You can still go back", "Did you really choose death?"Careful", "I will love to devour the flesh of a slayer", "Come to me, my meal", she was getting a little scared, but kept her confidence, with her chest full she continued in that corridor, but before she got to cross to the arena where Hannah was waiting, one more obstacle came in the way.
A Venus grass suddenly sprang up and started throwing thorny roses towards the Japanese woman, who took advantage of the new conditions of the sword, to defend herself with the cuts of it, even creating a shield.
Akko: I knew there was going to be another one of those creatures here, and what's more it's been waiting for me all this time, but let's see if it will hold against it.
The Kagari arrived close and gave cuts with the sword, catching multiple in the petal of the plant that was hiding, but it was not enough, crossing the shield of petals, it was possible to notice the plant screaming, some bushes full of thorns even rose up hitting the Japanese, but it was grazing, the same managed to kill the plant and with that to progress more, with some light cuts by the body.
Diana defeated Barbara Parker, after a fight through which was emotionally tight for the Scottish, the fights will still tighten even more, since Akko will still meet with her girlfriend, who is a little less pious and even has a more acid personality, Hannah England, Hannah England, who is said to have a style as cruel as Elizabeth's, followed much more closely to the vampire's style, focused on wanting to kill anyone who risked fighting against her, which will be a complicated battle for the Japanese who must win if she wants the door fragment.
See you, childhood friends witches...