Livia heard the clang of Krey’s sword and shield dropping from his hands, and turned just in time to see him fall first to his knees, then onto his stomach. She spun Veridis in one hand, freeing her other so that she could focus her mana into it, ready for whatever was coming for her. She had no one left to turn to, no room left for panic or anxiety; it was just her and the unseen phantom. It came for her just as it had the others, unfelt, unseen, and in an instant, the world was snatched away from her and replaced with a nightmare.

The moment it happened, Livia didn’t hesitate to throw a conjured petramantic stone forward. She was immediately rewarded for her precaution, as said stone smacked Lu Sen in the face before she could say or do anything.

“Ow! Fuck!” the shrineblade cursed with venom. “You bitch!”

“Ha! Fuck you!” Livia pumped a fist, and ran straight at her now-revealed opponent. She brought Veridis down on her, but was stopped by a phantasmal blade that appeared between them, one she could barely see. “I figured you were playing some sort of sick game! Well, I am not playing!”

“Alright, fine!” Lu Sen hissed. “I’ll just kill you then!” she shoved Livia away and went on the offensive— just the way she liked it. She didn’t hesitate to give Livia her best, rushing her with speed and accuracy that would’ve diced any other opponent in moments… however, no matter what she tried, her strikes were all met head-on by Veridis. Lu Sen had fought fast blades before, but this…

They entered a locked clash, and Lu Sen pressed in as hard as she could, getting close enough to feel Livia’s breath. “Why can I not see through you? What are you, adventurer?”

“Let’s just say I’m not from around here,” Livia teased through gritted teeth.

“Yes, I gathered that much.” They pushed each other back, resuming their duel. “Nevertheless, the eyes of a goddess should be able to pierce your mind.”

“Perhaps the veil of my own goddess’ blessing is superior.”

“It would certainly explain how you’ve been repelling my attacks!”

“Oh, that?” Livia chuckled, sliding inside Lu Sen’s reach and standing on her foot. “That’s all me, bitch.” She pushed up, pressing down on Lu Sen’s foot and headbutting her in the face at the same time, getting a scream out of her as she reeled away. Before Lu Sen could regain her stance and retaliate, Livia knocked her down with another, larger petramantic projectile.

“Y’know…” Livia lamented, “I was really hoping I wouldn’t have to do this. So far, I’ve been doing well enough without having to resort to this… old power of mine, this old power that I’ve come to hate so much. I thought I left it behind in Aubade, along with the bastards who brought it out in me. Looks like I have to lean into it once again, because you’re strong, Lu Sen… very strong. Maybe even as strong as the legionaries of the Onyx Taurus had been. I’m not at all surprised the others couldn’t even come close to beating you.”

Lu Sen kicked up from the floor and landed on her feet, raising Trick of The Light into a new stance. “Just what are you going on about, hmm?”

Livia took a deep breath with her eyes closed… and when she opened them, the tattoos on her face seemed to darken the already-dark space around her. “It’ll be simpler if I just show you. Stop holding back, Lu Sen; give me everything you have.”

Lu Sen’s grin stretched from ear-to-ear now. “Alright… let’s dance! Finally! A worthy adversary!”

Livia grimaced, the power she now brought up from within herself, the pain permeating her entire body. “I hope you enjoy this, Lu Sen… because I won’t.”

In a blink of silence, Lu Sen felt the air rush around her as Livia disappeared. She felt a power appear behind her, a power that sent chills down her spine, and she turned just in time to parry Livia’s attack. That attack sent her katana flying from her hands… and then Livia sheathed Veridis. She balled her hands into fists, spread her feet apart, and struck Lu Sen with a double side-on punch— both to the face and the stomach. Already leaning in that stance, she allowed her body to fall sideways, and spun herself into a reverse roundhouse kick that made Lu Sen spin like a top. The momentum kept building, and with every acrobatic strike Livia landed, she only got faster, her hits getting harder and harder. Effortlessly, as if she were standing still, Livia spoke. “You feel this, Lu Sen? This is the discipline and strength of one who has earned a place among the legionaries of the Onyx Taurus. Ever heard of them?”

“No!” Lu Sen managed to reply, despite the beating she was receiving.

“A legion composed of only the strongest warriors, made even stronger by the magic mark we each bare— the streaks on our faces. To earn those marks, each of us felled a myrewyrm singlehandedly, the strongest beast Aubade had to offer. Armies were normally needed to fell such a beast… but I killed one alone, Lu Sen. You’re strong… you would’ve been a valued member of the legion, I’m sure of it.”

“Damn your legion!”

“I already did.” Livia’s combination came to an end, and Lu Sen - bloodied and battered - went sprawling across the floor. She ended up next to her katana, and despite her injuries, was quick to retrieve it and get up again. Livia leapt over her head, drawing Veridis, and Lu Sen picked her moment. She split herself into five with a pink spell. “Only one of us is real, Livia! You may be powerful, but are your eyes keen?”

Livia responded with the coolness of a mountain lake. “They don’t have to be.” As she descended upon the five Lu Sens, they all struck upward at her… and she blocked them all simultaneously with Veridis’ magic shield.

Lu Sen could only scream. “NO! This is not how it should be! I AM THE CHOSEN!”

Livia’s voice echoed through the mana itself. “So am I.” She landed behind the real Lu Sen, her mirages dispelled, and prepared Veridis. “BEHOLD THE POWER OF AUBADE’S FINEST, AND WEEP AS YOU DIE!”

Lu Sen turned just as Livia brought her blade up, slicing the shrineblade open from left hip to right shoulder. Livia sheathed Veridis and casually stepped around Lu Sen, standing behind her with her back turned. She raised a hand and snapped her fingers, and the shrineblade became a fountain of blood… and finally fell.