- Heaven's Last Breath -

The Winning Strategy

"Guys, I know it's a lot to ask-"

"We've got it from here Aaron." Ariel spoke up quickly, cutting me off before I could finish what I was saying. There was a stern smile on her face, her attention fixed on the Earth Incarnate ahead of where we were gathered.

The rose haired sorceress didn't hesitate, slipping into a soul mirror. I heard a grunt of pain from my side and as I looked over, Jade was standing to her feet. Blood had soaked through her kimono, visible through her thick winter jacket but I could tell she was doing her best to ignore the pain.

"Jade, you don't have to-"

"Hey Death! Keep up!"

My voice went unheard once again, the midnight haired samurai calling over to the cloaked reaper. He was stood a little ways away, clutching his side tightly as he kept his focus on Cabrakan.

He nodded in response, keeping his eyes glued to the target. Then in a flash, Jade disappeared from my side, closing in on the Earth Incarnate. Death followed suit, the two weapons experts ready to go again.

I could only watch on as the others poured their all into keeping Cabrakan at bay while my mind raced to think of a winning strategy. The Earth Incarnate stood tall, unfazed by their unwavering determination. In fact, his lips had curled into a devilish smile as he taunted the three.

"Double Oni Slash!"

Jade cut through the air with her blade, the shockwaves forming a cross as they broke through the snow. This time Cabrakan was cautious enough to evade, stepping to the side.

But then, a soul mirror opened up beneath his feet, Death reappearing to pull him under before he could react. Even though I had lost sight of them, I could hear the two clashing with each other in the parallel world.

Eventually, Cabrakan forced his way out, gripping Death by the back of his neck, dragging him through the snow. Even for someone who couldn't feel pain, I could see the effects of battle piling onto the cloaked reaper.

Ariel was quick to react, opening another soul mirror, allowing Jade to intervene.

The noirette emerged from the open window, her blade glimmering with a fierce orange glow. At this close distance, Cabrakan was forced make a split second decision.

"Raging Lion Strike!"

As Jade thrusted her blade forward, a cloud of snow was kicked up, hiding the battle from view. The snow settled, revealing what had happened.

A thick bedrock wall had been thrown up between Jade and Cabrakan, the samurai's blade was stopped by the huge stone slab even though she had cut through most of it.

Cabrakan held Death by the scruff of his neck, smashing him into the stone wall with terrible force. The Earth Incarnate backed up, giving himself some room as Jade and Death recovered to their feet.

"Boreas' Glacial Wind!"

Before I knew it, a sweeping icy gale picked up over the snowy plateau. Within seconds, the wind became strong enough to overpower the torrential snowfall, Ariel using this to her advantage.

Cabrakan threw up another stone wall but the rose blonde was quick to react. She shifted the direction of the sweeping gale, attacking from directly overhead. The Earth Incarnate was forced to the floor but he was still stood on his feet, determined not to hit the canvas. Beneath his feet, the snowy floor broke away, a small crater forming underneath, growing in size as Ariel poured her all into the attack.

"You're all nothing but ants to me! Earth Seal: Quake!"

Even as the powerful gale kept Cabrakan pinned down, he somehow managed to raise his right foot, stomping down on the rocky floor with a terrible thud. Shockwaves coursed through the snow, breaking the soft canvas apart.