Jezabel watched the chaotic battlefield with an amused smile, observing her two vassals in their desperate clashes. "Interesting," she mused, conjuring a folding chair and a bowl of popcorn from thin air. "Looks like they've both run into opponents with a higher level than them," she remarked, taking a seat as if settling in for a show. Munching on her snack, she seemed unconcerned. "Well, no matter. The maxed-out weapons I gave them should even the odds a bit. Besides, I didn't reincarnate them as genius demons for nothing. Time to sit back and enjoy the show."
Nyra Beleth: The Last Beleth - Lvl 500
Mastema: Former Angel - Lvl 440
Venefica Astaroth: Lady of Lurid Science - Lvl 400
Peon ?: Overlord's Peon - Lvl 360
With a sudden burst of speed, Mastema shot into the air, her wings carrying her above Nyra's reach. But Nyra launched after her, sprouting her own devil wings, closing the gap effortlessly. The wind whipped around them as Mastema summoned a wind barrier to deflect Nyra's incoming strike, pushing her back just enough to gain some distance.
Nyra's eyes narrowed, predatory and unyielding, like a leopard stalking her quarry. "Interesting, you think you can have the upper advantage against me in an aerial battle?" she sneered, tightening her fists. "We Beleths may excel on close ranged ground combat with our clan trait Feline Shift, but don't assume we haven't trained our shortcomings." She flashed forward, a blur to the devils watching below.
Mastema's heart raced as Nyra closed in, fists launching rapid strikes. The sheer speed of her blows sent ripples through the air, forming spheres of demonic energy that homed in on Mastema. She twisted her body, narrowly evading some and deflecting others with quick bursts of wind. The rest were met with a counterattack, flames roaring from magic circles as she launched fireballs toward Nyra.
Nyra dodged effortlessly, weaving through the barrage of flames like a wraith. Mastema grit her teeth, the fiery aura around her intensifying. As she made a slashing motion with her arm through the air. A crescent-shaped blade of condensed wind shot out toward Nyra.
Nyra twisted her body mid-air, narrowly avoiding the Wind Blade, which sailed past her. But Mastema wasn't finished. Secretly she manipulated the wind energy, causing the Wind Blade to curve back. As it raced toward Nyra from behind like a boomerang.
Nyra's eyes widened as she sensed the incoming threat. With her catlike reflexes she turned, catching the Wind Blade in her bare hand. The force of it pushed her back slightly, but she grinned, gripping the wind with raw strength until it dissipated into nothing. "Not a bad idea," she admitted. "But don't expect to hurt me with this level of magic."
Mastema's eyes narrowed. She caught the wind itself with her bare hand? How is that even possible? Without missing a beat, she conjured circles of fire and wind around Nyra. "I just need to get one good hit in, and the spell needs to be at a level that can damage her."
Sweat trickled down Mastema's brow as she launched powerful spells from all angles. Flames and wind surged around Nyra in a full 360-degree assault, but Nyra was relentless, dodging and weaving through each attack before they could fully form. How is she still so fast up here? Mastema thought, a sliver of panic creeping in. What kind of cat can fly?
Nyra's form blurred, appearing in front of Mastema almost instantly. Her speed created afterimages as she attacked from all sides, her fists slamming against Mastema's conjured wind barrier. The barrier rippled under the force of her blows, small cuts appearing on Nyra's arms, but she ignored them entirely. "Pain won't stop me," she snarled, her voice a mixture of fierce determination and savage glee. "I can keep this up all day. But can you?"
Mastema forced herself to remain calm, using all her effort to maintain the powerful wind barrier around herself in an attempt push Nyra back. I can't hold out for much longer. My mana's running low, she is too fast for any small-scale spell to hit and I can't afford to cast another High level AOE spell to strike her, after that Tera Wind from earlier, so I have no choice but to finish this with a small scale high leveled spell. She thought as she felt a series of blows slam into her barrier, one after another in a relentless rhythm with each hit seeming bringing Nyra's fists closer and closers to her. Not good she's to wear me down eventually, Mastema thought with a flash of fear. If only I could slow her down, Wait I have that spell? Her eyes widened with sudden inspiration. Letting her barrier weaken, Mastema feigned exhaustion and fear, her shoulders slumping as she gasped for breath. Nyra grinned, sensing an opening, and broke through the barrier, fist raised to strike.
"Checkmate," Nyra snarled, her voice thick with contempt.
"Slow... Giga Fire!" Mastema's voice rang out as she cast two spells in quick succession. Nyra's eyes widened as her movements became sluggish, her body suddenly feeling like it was moving through syrup. A massive ball of fire erupted in front of her, engulfing her in searing flames.
"Ahhhh!" Nyra's scream echoed across the battlefield as the fireball plummeted her to the ground. The intense heat turned the earth to glass, smoke billowing into the sky.
"Lady Nyra!" the devils below cried out, horror etched on their faces as their hope wavered.
Mastema exhaled in relief, watching the smoke rise. "It's finally over…" she muttered, the tension draining from her shoulders.
But before she could catch her breath, a golden shadow shot out from the smoke. In a flash, Nyra closed the distance, her face twisted with a fierce, wild grin. Before Mastema could react, Nyra tore one of her wings clean off, and with a powerful kick, sent her crashing down to the ground in a burst of dust and debris.
Mastema staggered to her feet, clutching her bleeding back in pain, her eyes widen with disbelief as she looked towards Nyra, who is standing a little distance in front of her, her clothes scorched and tattered but her body is just as sharp and unbroken as ever.
"How… how are you still alive? I hit you dead on!" she gasped, ignoring the pain.
Nyra smirked, wiping away a streak of soot from her cheek. "A cat has nine lives," she said coldly, locking eyes with Mastema. "Lucky for you, I've only got four left." She stepped forward, her aura radiating raw, predatory energy. "You may try to take them if you can."
Mastema's eyes widened in fear, her remaining wing trembling. Nyra dropped into a low combat stance, her fists clenched tight. "But this time, we fight on the ground," she growled, "where I have the advantage." Without waiting for a response, she lunged forward, ready to finish the fight, as the devils watched on cheering with renewed hope.
"Yaaaaaaa" Peon screamed out as he struggled against the magical blast with his rusty sword. "Don't you think you can stop me with just this." he shouted as he fully swings down his sword cutting the magical blast and the ground itself apart sending an air blade that is headed for Venefica.
Venefica Astaroth darted through the air with a manic grin, her silver hair whipping around her like a wild flame. "Oh, hohoho!" she cackled, evading an air slash from Peon. Her eyes gleamed with a mad scientist's glee. "Wonderful! My little lab rat has some fight in him! I love it when my test subjects can handle a bit of experimental stress."
Peon, teeth gritted, shot after her, the ground a blur beneath his feet as he sprinted to keep up. "Stop running, you Lunatic!" he bellowed, swinging his sword. "Dark Night Slash!" With a powerful swing, arcs of purple energy cleaved through the air, slicing toward Venefica with blinding speed.
Venefica's smirk widened as she effortlessly dodged as she has the range advantage in the skies, her lithe form twisting mid-air. "Oh, please," she taunted, spinning out of reach and increasing the distance between them. "If you want to catch me, you'll need to be a bit faster! That's it work those legs! Let me collect all this lovely data on your abilities." Her voice dripped with condescension as she unleashed a barrage of magical projectiles, each one crackling with unstable energy.
Peon growled, deflecting the incoming spells with swift, precise swings of his sword, each parry sending sparks flying. "Damn it! She's toying with me" he spat, chasing her across the battlefield. This entire situation felt like a familiar game of cat and mouse.
"Stay still!" he shouted, launching more air slashes, but Venefica was already weaving through the air like a wraith, cackling as she went.
"You think I'm going to make it easy for you?" she teased, launching another series of magical blasts. "Let's see how well you handle this!"
Peon slashed at an oncoming blast, expecting it to dissipate as before, but this time it exploded upon contact. His eyes widened in shock as a blast of force sent him hurtling into the sky, smoke trailing from his scorched body.
"Got you now, my little test subject!" Venefica shrieked in delight, her eyes alight with manic glee. With Peon suspended in mid-air and unable to dodge, she unleashed a barrage of high-powered energy blasts, each one aiming to finish him off.
Peon's heart pounded in his chest as he looked up, seeing the deadly projectiles coming toward him. Not good! If I get hit by all of those, I'm finished! He thought, panic seizing him for a moment. If only I still had my wings... Wait! I have an idea!
With a fierce determination, Peon swung his arm in a rapid circular motion, creating a miniature vortex of air. The force generated was enough to propel him sideways, his body tilting as he spun out of the path of the incoming blasts.
"What?!" Venefica's gloating halted, her jaw dropping in disbelief. "How are you... This isn't scientifically possible!"
Peon grinned as he steadied himself mid-air. "Science doesn't have all the answers, you crazy bitch!" he taunted. "Dark Night Slash!" He slashed at the air again, sending a volley of purple energy blades hurtling toward her.
"EEEP!" Venefica shrieked, flailing as she narrowly evaded most of the strikes, but one caught her side. Blood sprayed into the air as a deep gash opened along her ribs, staining her white lab coat red.
Peon's face split into a confident grin, the thrill of the fight surging through him. "How do you like that?" he crowed, still spinning his arm to maintain his airborne position. "Now that I can fly too, you've lost your only advantage!"
Venefica's expression shifted, a flicker of panic crossed her face. Her confident smirk faltered as she backed away, her mind racing for a way out.
"This is it!" Peon roared, raising his sword high as dark energy coiled around the blade. "I'm done playing your games! Witness the moment of Peon's triumph!" He swung his sword down, aiming to cleave her in two.
But just as he moved, a strange sensation washed over him. His muscles seized up, his swing halting mid-motion. His eyes widened in confusion as he felt his body go numb, his arm dropping limply to his side. He lost control of his flight, plummeting back to the ground with a heavy thud.
"What... What is this?!" Peon grunted, struggling to push himself up. His limbs felt like lead, barely responding as he forced himself to his knees. "My body... I can barely move!"
Above him, Venefica hovered with a smug smile, clutching her bleeding side. "Oh, did I forget to mention?" she said sweetly, pulling a vial of glimmering liquid from her pocket. She uncorked it and downed it in one gulp. The wound on her side sizzled and closed instantly, the Phoenix Tears healing her injuries. "The reason I'm not on the ground is not just due to range." she remarked as she wipes the residue off her mouth. "I also have no intention of getting caught up in the chemical weapon that I used."
Peon's eyes widen in shock upon hearing that he was poisoned.
"I'm impress that it took this long to affect you, but seems like formula #3434 was a success after all," Venefica purred, her grin widening as she looked down at Peon struggling below. "Oh, how delightful! The invisible, odorless gas I released earlier is a paralyzing agent, specifically designed for capturing powerful subjects like you for my research."
Peon glared up at her, his teeth clenched. "You... You!"
Venefica's eyes gleamed with triumph, and she threw her head back, laughing. "Oh, hohohoho! Did you really think you could best me, you insignificant little peon?" as she looked at him with a manic glint in her eyes. "Now, I get to study every inch of your body," she said in a singsong voice, her hands tracing over her now red cheeks in an expression of ecstasy. "I wonder what makes you tick? Your muscle fibers? Your bones? Oh, this will be such fun! I can hardly wait to start dissecting uh, I mean, experimenting!"
Peon's heart pounded with a mix of rage and fear. His limbs were heavy and unresponsive, but his mind raced. This can't be the end. I refuse to be her plaything!
Venefica's eyes sparkled with glee as she raising her hands to the sky. "First, I'll see how much pain you can endure before passing out," she mused, her voice dripping with sinister delight. "Then, I'll extract your mana reserves and see just how much energy I can drain from you before you become a husk. Oh, this is going to be a long, fun night!"
Peon watched her, panic boiling into a cold fury as he struggled against the paralysis, his mind racing for a way out. This isn't over yet... I just need one chance.
But for now, all he could do was glare up at her, trapped in her twisted game, as the mad scientist's laughter filled the battlefield.