Angel's Ascension: Strife (Book Ten)

Chapter 17: Severed Connection

Lucy flickered through the air and kneed Lucina in the stomach. She used the momentum and flipped higher in the air before kicking at Lucina's head. Her aura increased before she landed on the ground and swung a foot forward. Red energy blasted the area and created a shock wave. Pockets of air pulled up the grass and mounds of dirt formed. The armor over Lucy's body grew sharp with jagged edges on the shoulders.

"This valkyrie armor is something else. It makes me feel light on my feet and agile, too!" Lucy exclaimed.

Lucina soon rubbed her face and noticed blood. "Heh, I think it's time to experiment more with all these powers. You're about to see what my dark form can do!" Shadows swirled under her feet and creatures formed. Dark energy flooded the crater and set the grass on fire with hellfire. With a flick of a finger, several dark energy beams pelted Lucy. Her armor deflected a few while others chipped it.

It has enough defense, too. I can only tank so much so I have to keep her and these creatures away. Lucy created an energy lance and twirled it in her hand. She held it steady and faced the shadow creatures. They charged at her while the lance impaled the closest one through the head. Her eyes glanced over to the right before she decapitated a couple with ease.

"There will be plenty more waiting to strike at you. Just keep at it!" Lucina crossed her arms and grinned.

"That's fine, I can deal with whatever comes my way." Lucy back-flipped and swung wildly at the shadow creatures. Streams of energy whipped across the air like tentacles and constricted each creature until they popped. Soon she punched one into Lucina and lunged at her with the lance.

Lucina caught the tip with her fingers. "Why don't we change the scenery a little? I'm getting bored with the ocean and my hellfire has ruined the grass." She thumped Lucy on the forehead and a massive blast sent her over the field. A city caught her eyes before she crashed into a skyscraper.

Lucy lay on her side and winced. A piece of armor fell off from her chest and she held a hand to her sides. She struggled to push herself up and stumbled to a window. "This place looks like a nightmare. I haven't seen anything this horrid since Domixious took over that one time."

"You like the new backdrop? It was a city I wiped out long ago." Lucina said, she hovered in the sky and pointed to her. "All the men, women, and children who begged went first. The runners were next and fighters while foolish lasted until the very end."

"Stop it! Quit acting like this is all a game! Those were innocent lives and you had no right to end them." Lucy teared up as she scowled. "They didn't know what your life was and what troubles you endured! Fight me as you mean it and to the death!"

Lucina's eyes lit up and she nodded. "Okay, I won't talk about the past then. I'll just focus on the future and what I'll do to your world." She laughed.

Lucy suddenly slammed a fist into her mouth and fell onto a ledge. "Bitch, I'll knock you down if I have to shut you up. Don't laugh like that again!" Her fist shook before she punched the skyscraper and it crumbled. Dust clouds formed as shadow creatures pounced on her. She fought them off and lost her armor during the scuffle.

"You know when to hit and how to make it count. I'll give you that, Lucy. Now for this!" Lucina swooped down and smacked her in the face. This sent Lucy flying through several buildings until she struck a cement wall.

"Come on, Lucy. This isn't where you lose, my baby." Karina descended from the ceiling. She clasped her hands and a slight smile emerged. "You've faced worse than this."

Lucy stared up at her and huffed. "M-Mom? Am I daydreaming or is this really you?" She sniffled while the red aura over her dispersed.

Karina soon nodded. "I'm really here and I know you're in trouble. This version of you will go to great lengths to ensure the others suffer." Her wings extended and light covered the room. Particles of light reached Lucy and healed her wounds. "Here, I can only offer this to give you time. Prepare yourself because she is-"