- Heaven's Last Breath -

Springtime of Her Youth

- Raya -

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"Circe, on your left!"

At the very last moment, the cinammon brunette evaded a surge of thick tree roots. As the battle progressed, I was starting to get a better understanding of our opponent's powers and how they worked.

Yum Kaax had an affinity with nature and forestry and this was shaped his fighting style. Adept at both close quarters and long range combat, his wide variety of skills meant he was not vulnerable in that sense.

I looked to Circe who had kept her eyes trained on our opponent the entire time. As an Olympian, she was blessed with supernatural strength and speed but she was also an expert in magic, more specifically alchemy and the sorts.

Both her and Yum Kaax were evenly matched overall but even with me at her side, Circe was unable to find a breakthrough.

Naturally, I questioned if I was even useful to her, remembering everyone's protests when I proclaimed that I wanted to come with them to fight against the Celestials. As this fight drew out, I began to see what I lacked.

"Hey, Raya, you better not be thinking anything depressing. I need you to think of a plan as soon as-"

Circe quickly turned away as a storm of razor sharp leaves and with the weave of her hands, she instantly recreated them into cotton wool as they bounced off her body softly.

"Where's that resolve from before? Don't tell me it was all for nothing!"

Yum Kaax was relentless with his attacks, not giving Circe any time to breathe. His lips curled into a slight smile as he turned to me, "Yeah kid! Let's see what you've got!"

Even if those words were meant to be a taunt, hearing my opponent beckoning me forth stirred something within me. I felt my stomach churn as I stepped onto the battlefield, feeling a rush of air blowing through my hair.

I looked over to Yum Kaax who let out a slight sigh as if to say 'finally' but I shook the thought, focusing on the battle ahead.

"Circe, I'll flank right, you take the left."

Satisfied that I was finally taking the lead, the Olympian woman nodded shortly before the two of us turned to face our opponent. He appeared unfazed, in fact I could have sworn that I had seen a smile creep onto his lips.

"Nature Seal: Field of Roses!"

"Zephyr's Royal Gale!"

In an instant, the two of us split up as I surfed along the newly blooming rose field, Circe skating over the clouds with the help of a swift supporting wind.

Then with all of our might, we attacked Yum Kaax who had remained still the entire time. At the last second, he raised his arms to catch us but I was ready. Just before he could grab hold of me, I pushed both of my palms forward, letting loose a barrage of thick tree roots.

The sudden attack hit its target but as the smoke settled, Yum Kaax emerged completely unfazed. However, Circe was ready to follow up my initial attack, blasting a strong wind in our opponent's direction, knocking him off balance.