C.S.O - Chapter 40 [Flamia vs Verona II]

Just like regular players, those who are chosen and meet the criteria will acquire special skills. Those special skills are known as Divine Skills or Ultimate Skills.

Divine Skills possess destructive power that cannot be compared to ordinary skills. Of course, it also depends on the player themselves and how they use them. In the hands of the right person, Divine Skills become weapons more dangerous than God Slayers.

Verona is one of the users of Divine Skills who has reached that stage.

The Curse of the 13 Black Star is a skill that grants Verona a special weapon. Each weapon takes the form of a black ball with incredibly strong gravity. It can be considered a small black hole.

However, the destructive power of each black ball is extraordinary. It can even destroy an area as large as one kilometer, but it can also annihilate a small area, to be more precise.

With such power, it's no wonder Verona currently resembles carrying 13 nuclear bombs.

But...

"Verona, why are you using that skill?"

For Flamia, that skill is not only powerful and dangerous for the enemies but also for the user.

The skill consumes a large amount of MP, and what's worse, if the MP is depleted, the user can utilize HP as its energy. In other words, every time Black Star is used, the user gets closer to death.

(Is she planning to stop before her HP runs out?)

No. Verona is not someone afraid of death.

From Verona's eyes, Flamia can see determination and fearlessness toward death.

Although no one knows whether the Valkyrie Maiden will be resurrected or not, Flamia only has one choice.

Looking at the swords in her hands, Flamia contemplates one thing.

"Please help me save my sister."

With a sincere request and determination, she closes her eyes briefly to pray.

Unfortunately, what she receives is an attack filled with the intent to kill.

"Die!"

The black ball shoots directly toward her. Flamia intends to block the ball, which is no larger than a volleyball, but she changes her mind and chooses to dodge.

"Tch?!"

Flamia's decision is correct. The spot she was standing on is now destroyed by the black pillar that splits the sky. After a few seconds, the impact of Verona's attack becomes apparent. The land is left with a hole that reaches an unknown depth.

Flamia breaks into a cold sweat. She didn't expect Verona's attack to be that powerful.

"This is still nothing. Enjoy this."

This time, two black balls fly towards her, and not only that, the balls now form a sword.

Flamia has limited options due to the swift movement. Sensing that the attack is different from before, she chooses to block the attack.

With a metallic sound, the four swords clash. Although the black weapons are being controlled, the sword's movements are so deadly, as if being controlled directly by two hands.

However, all of that is not enough to defeat Flamia. Although it's a bit challenging to counterattack, Flamia has no trouble receiving the sword strikes. The problem lies in the fact that during that opportunity, Verona can attack her with other black balls.

No, Verona doesn't need to do that.

When Flamia blocks her swords, it's already checkmate.

"<Heavy Black>"

Verona activates the skill she had concealed.

"?!"

Flamia suddenly finds her swords immovable. No, it's more accurate to say that Flamia can't move them. She feels that both her swords have become exponentially heavier, weighing tens of tons.

Seeing what is happening, Verona smiles. And that's when Flamia realizes what is truly happening.

Verona's skill makes anything that touches her black sword exponentially heavier. And considering how many times Flamia has blocked Verona's attacks, there's no way she can lift the swords.

Verona's two swords now attack her, and there's no way to defend against them.

"Tch.."

With no other choice, Flamia releases her swords and dodges them.

But Verona doesn't allow Flamia to escape so easily. She launches another attack with the two controlled black swords.

Flamia then creates a fire sword using the skill <Flame Creation>. With that sword, she blocks the incoming attack.

Since the weapon is made of a skill, it is weaker, much weaker, but the sword is incredibly light. With her sword, Flamia finally manages to block and bypass the black swords. Using the skill <Flare Boost>, she increases her speed until she reaches Verona.

And with her sword, she slashes Verona.

"Not bad."

"..."

Certainly, Flamia's attack with a skill-made weapon has little power. But that doesn't mean it should be accepted.

With another black ball, Verona forms a shield. Although Flamia manages to block it, she is not surprised at all. She even seems to anticipate that Verona would do that.

And this is what Flamia is aiming for.

"!?"

Suddenly, a sword flies towards her from another direction. It's Misteltein, flying on its own as if controlled by someone.

With no choice, Verona jumps back to avoid it. But Flamia doesn't let Verona off the hook.

This time, it's her turn to counterattack.

Once again, Flamia attacks with her fire sword. She accelerates her strikes, making it appear as if multiple hands are attacking simultaneously. This is the sword skill <Flame Chain Rumble>, which remains active and connected during the continuous attack. If executed perfectly, this attack can reach a hundred combos.

"Tch?!"

Facing the attack, Verona can only defend and cannot counterattack. Controlling the black balls requires a significant amount of concentration, and Flamia's attack prevents her from focusing.

(So, this is what she's aiming for, huh...)

Flamia's attack strategy becomes clear. She wants to prevent Verona from using the black balls. Not only does this reduce the number of attacks, but it also disrupts Verona's Curse of the 13 Black skill, which has a limited time to be used.

While contemplating this, Verona notices her HP bar decreasing little by little.

(Not bad...)

Although she acknowledges that Flamia's tactics are quite effective, it seems that Flamia forgets that they are currently in a different world than Earth.

When Verona's HP bar reaches the orange zone, it suddenly replenishes back to full in an instant.

"...."

Flamia is not surprised at all. In this world, there is a skill and an item that can instantly heal someone on the verge of death. What Verona is doing is nothing out of the ordinary.

And from this, Flamia realizes a major flaw in her theory.

How can she defeat Verona without killing her?

Unlike the monsters they fought before, this situation is similar to a player versus player (PVP) scenario without any binding rules. In other words, no matter how many times Verona is defeated, as long as Flamia doesn't kill her, Verona can recover.

Flamia also doesn't know how many potions Verona has. In other words, this is a battle without a time limit.

Unfortunately, Flamia doesn't have that much time.

"Kuh..."

Flamia realizes what will happen if they continue like this. In her heart, she can't bring herself to kill Verona.

While being distracted, Flamia is surprised by the smile on Verona's lips.

That's when she notices a black shadow beneath her. When she looks up at the sky, she is shocked by something unexpected.

A black ball, ten meters in size, is soaring directly toward her. At the same time, Verona's HP and MP bars decrease drastically.

"<Heaven Gravity>"

This black ball is different from the previous ones. Not only does it have a wide destructive range, but it's also immensely powerful. That's because Verona creates this black ball by combining five black balls into one. Of course, in exchange for that power, she loses something.

Flamia intends to dodge, but she abandons that thought. More precisely, she cannot dodge.

She knows that Verona's attack is not only aimed at killing her but also has another purpose.

The power that Verona is displaying is not just a challenge for Flamia to fight back but also a way to prove that she is right. And for this reason, Verona doesn't hesitate to use a power that puts her own life at risk.

In other words, if Flamia dodges, it would be admitting defeat.

"..."

But how can she stop it? Should she use Misteltein to attack from a distance?

She can't. Using long-range control would drastically reduce Misteltein's power. Moreover, Flamia only used that technique as a distraction.

(...)

She is cornered. Does she really have to dodge?

As she looks at Verona's smile, she realizes that Verona is not only attacking with full force but is also betting that she will emerge as the winner and be proven right.

If Flamia fails to stop this attack, she will lose, and no one will be able to stop Kuro and Verona.

That's right. It's not about dodging or not. It's because Verona wants to be stopped, just like Kuro.

That's why Flamia will answer that request.

(Please give me strength...)

With a sincere prayer for strength, she glances at the still-embedded Longinus Light on the ground and Misteltein floating in the air without anyone commanding it.

Those two weapons are the only ones she can rely on, and she believes in them in this situation.

"..!?"

And finally, she receives a response from them.

Misteltein and Longinus emit a radiant light. The light grows brighter over time. Then, in an instant, both of them fly towards Flamia simultaneously, as if they are about to collide. No, something else happens.

In the blink of an eye, Misteltein transforms into a small rapier-like sword, while Longinus Light splits open like a door. Then, the transformed Misteltein enters through the door. After the door closes, a new sword is born from the hopes and determination of its owner.

Longinus Flame. That is the name of the sword that is reborn from the fusion of the two swords, now possessing its master's power.

"Come forth!"

With a mixture of fiery red and golden colors, it emits not only a holy aura but also immense power. Flamia grips the sword's hilt, feeling its perfect fit in her hand. There is no doubt that this is the best sword Flamia has ever wielded.

With the sword, she strikes Verona and not only shatters her shield made of black balls but also sends her flying. Verona's face shows surprise as she didn't expect her shield to be easily destroyed, but then she smiles upon seeing Flamia leap directly toward the black ball of death.

Using her sword, Flamia cuts through the black ball.

"<Holius Sola>"

The black ball splits into two, then vanishes as if it never existed. Flamia feels relieved as the danger passes, but she must acknowledge that Verona is not someone she can easily defeat.

After successfully destroying the black ball, another black ball suddenly appears in front of her. However, this one is only the size of a marble.

Flamia knows that this black marble is made from the remaining black balls created by Verona. In other words, this is Verona's final attack and the most deadly one in this battle.

"With this, perish!"

Verona smiles like a crescent moon. Although Flamia was able to destroy the first one, it is impossible to dodge the second one, especially at such close range.

There is no doubt that Flamia will lose.

However, Flamia shows no signs of sadness or disappointment from her impending defeat. Instead, she smiles.

Verona doesn't understand what has happened to Flamia. She even thinks that Flamia has gone mad. But she knows that Flamia's unwavering confidence is not the result of relying on others.

"?"

In her confusion, Verona feels a gust of wind. She turns to its source and catches a glimpse of light.

Then, in an instant, the black ball that was about to destroy Flamia disappears from its original position. Shortly after, a powerful explosion erupts in the sky, resembling a nuclear bomb detonating. The shockwave is strong enough to topple trees.

The aftermath of the explosion distorts the dimension with its destructive force. There is no doubt that if Verona's attack had hit Flamia, she would have been instantly killed.

With a wide smile, Flamia lands and immediately lunges toward Verona. The tip of her sword now rests at Verona's throat as a sign for her to surrender.

"I told you I would stop you without killing you. Now surrender."

Indeed, what Flamia has done is strong evidence of her determination.

Seeing this, Verona has no choice but to acknowledge that Flamia is stronger and possesses the necessary strength to achieve her goals.

"...do you think I will surrender after seeing you rely on others to win?"

Verona glances at Chiaki.

Chiaki was the one who used arrows to deflect the black balls away from Flamia. It was no easy task considering the distance and the small target. While Chiaki's archery skill is higher than her swordsmanship, hitting a target like that twice is beyond her capabilities.

There is no doubt that Flamia is truly fortunate.

(No, it's not about luck or fortune. It's about trust. She believes that someone will always come to her aid, no matter how.)

Verona's gaze now turns to Ruko.

There is nothing special that Ruko has done. Although there were signs that Ruko would use a skill, Verona knows that it is not a skill capable of helping Flamia.

(Just as Kuro-niisan said. That girl...)

While pondering on that, Verona's attention returns to Flamia.

"It's not about me asking for help or not. But from the beginning, I never fought alone. It is because I am not alone that I have come this far."

"Is that what you call power? To me, it's nothing more than a swarm of ants trying to defeat an elephant."

Flamia bites her lower lip, creating a complex expression on her face.

"I admit that quality may be better than quantity, but it is because of that we work together to achieve a common goal. It's not about who is stronger or not, but about who has the courage to strive for their goals. That's why I'm not ashamed at all, even if I have to ask for their help to defeat you."

"Hahaha... It's truly amusing. You used to be the one who distanced yourself the most from all of us, and now you claim you can't fight without the help of others? You're truly amusing."

Hearing that, Flamia recalls her past and who she used to be.

Compared to the other Valkyrie Maidens, she was the one who often distanced herself. But at the same time, she was not someone who would readily accept invitations to fight together. Although she did so when she felt it would benefit her or expedite the conquest of the world, like the battle against Akaku.

Therefore, Flamia couldn't deny Verona's words.

"I know that, but that's how I learned that fighting alone is not the right path. It doesn't mean that I fight because I want to achieve my goals easily, but because I realize that the power born from the bonds with others cannot be easily defeated. Anyway, I will debate with you some other time. The most important thing now is whether you will surrender or not."

Verona remained silent and glanced at Kiri, who was still motionless in her place. Even so, that was enough to indicate that she was no longer needed in the battle.

"I won't surrender, but I also won't interfere in your affairs anymore. This is a matter that you all have to resolve on your own, in your own way. It's interesting—I joined the fight, but being a spectator is not bad either."

With a wide smile, Verona stepped back. Then a magic circle appeared beneath her, indicating the activation of her skill.

In the blink of an eye, Verona vanished from that spot.

Flamia didn't say anything more, but she knew one thing.

(Damn it. She never took this fight seriously from the beginning.)

She didn't know what Verona was planning, but she knew that Verona's thoughts were a fact.

The skill Verona had just used was a teleportation skill, which could be considered cheating. Normally, teleportation requires the use of magical objects, but Verona didn't use any at all.

Flamia couldn't imagine what would happen if Verona used that skill in combat.

But she also realized it was pointless to dwell on that now. She had to solve the problem and achieve their goals.

Flamia locked eyes with Kuro. At the same time, Ruko and Chiaki stood beside her, their gazes fixed in the same direction.

"We will stop you and take you back!"

Their words were not only united but also filled with determination. Right now, the three of them were like heroes facing the final boss.

In response to the three of them, Kuro finally stood up.

His bored expression vanished, replaced by a wide smile on his face.

Without any warning, Flamia, Ruko, and Chiaki leaped forward with their swords drawn toward Kuro. They didn't intend to kill him, but if they weren't serious, Kuro wouldn't listen to their words.

Moreover, it was the fastest way to end the fight.

However...

"Kyahh!!!"

"Gah!"

"Kuh!!"

As they advanced together, they were simultaneously thrown backward like bullets. All three of them stood up, but they had no choice but to be surprised. With a simple counterattack, Kuro was able to restrain all three of them and throw them away. Furthermore, the impact depleted half of their HP instantly.

"Truly formidable power."

"Well... But how?"

"Seems like this won't be easy."

Then they used potions to restore their greatly diminished HP and MP.

Once again, the three of them launched an attack.

The worst marital dispute in history had just begun.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Meanwhile, in another location, Verona appeared after leaving the battle scene.

She sat on a fallen tree and took a cup of tea from her storage.

"Phew... This battle is exhausting."

She felt tired not only because she fought with powers that shouldn't have been used but for more complicated reasons.

In a normal battle, Verona could easily defeat Flamia, but this time her goal was not to defeat the three of them.

"Well, I agree. Do you mind us joining?"

Verona glanced at the five Valkyrie Maidens who showed the same expression as her. They were all tired from the complex battle.

"Please."

They all sat down and drank the warm and soothing tea.

"Will this work?"

Anastasia initiated the conversation. It was a topic they were all aware of.

"I don't know. Our role is done. We don't have the right to interfere in their marital affairs beyond this," Horizon replied.

"Hey... What you mean is my marital affair. After all, I am one of Kuro-niisan's wives."

Verona displayed the ring on her finger as evidence of their marriage.

"I can't believe you would marry that playboy. What is it that's so appealing about him?" Angela asked.

"Sorry, it's not a topic that I should explain to someone who's still a virgin."

"Vi-virgin? What do you mean by that? Only you and Flamia-neesama here are married. It's only natural for you to have done it."

Angela's face turned as red as a tomato.

Seeing that, the other Valkyrie Maidens burst into stifled laughter.

"I think this is not the time to discuss this. After everything is over, there will be plenty of time to talk about it. The problem right now is to prepare for the worst-case scenario."

Although no one replied, they all understood what they had to do.

Perhaps this was not a battle of great significance, but it was the first step toward achieving their future goals.

There were only three people who were unaware of this.

And that's what made all six Valkyrie Maidens feel sorry for them.

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