Angel's Ascension: Strife (Book Ten)

Chapter 32: Mountain of Corpses

"It's been a while since I've had to fight for my life. There is nothing better than feeling every waking moment push me ahead." Lucina rubbed her wrists and faced Verum with a smirk. A vortex emerged beneath her and spun with a low emitting hum. Static surrounded her legs first before covering the rest of her body. Small rocks hovered in the air and spun slowly as if orbiting her.

"What's going on?" Alister asked. "She can't be powering up, we dished out so many attacks!" He yelled. His eyes narrowed and he held both hands out. A sphere of pressurized air blasted from them and struck Lucina.

Verum held a cane to the sky and a barrier formed over them. "This is bad, I don't know how but she is getting stronger." She noticed a slight crack in the barrier. An explosion engulfed the castle and leveled the walls. Ash and smoke filled the vicinity until Verum tapped her cane. The barrier dispersed along with the smoke and ash while Lucina stood in place.

Menternus held a hand to his chin. "This is beyond scary, her mental powers are too much for me to even attempt now."

"Is there no way for us to take her power again without a huge risk?" Visperi asked.

"It doesn't look like there is by this point," Jinta replied with a frown.

The group shielded themselves from a large gust of wind as the clouds swirled above them. Lucina held a hand over her head and the static traveled up to a finger. Her eyes flashed before a bolt shot into the clouds. Dark clouds rolled in with thunder and a spiral slowly caught their attention.

Lucina laughed over the deafening winds. "I may be weak and pathetic compared to my earlier state but rest assured..." A black bolt of lightning struck her body and she winced with a grin. Both wings stretched out and a dark aura seeped out of them. She let out a deep groan and flexed each muscle on both arms and legs.

"We have to try no matter the risk." Verum removed her tophat. "This is no time for playing around. I should've used my powers for this a long time ago!" Her eyes closed tight and she formed a triangle symbol with both hands. A beam of energy flew through the air and pierced the storm. Before them stood a crater with Lucina hovering over a small hole. Wind along with rubble flew into it as gravity weighed down the area

"Master, what are you doing?" Alister asked with widened eyes. "I've only seen you do that once and it-"

Verum smiled back at him. "I'm doing what needs to be done. This attack might be too much even for someone like her." Blood leaked from her forehead while she dug both feet into the battered soil.

Jinta held a hand to her face and groaned. "A black hole this close would be insane! How do we contain it if everything starts getting sucked in!?"

"An attack with this range is quite surprising but I've dealt with black holes before." Lucina held a hand over the hole as matter spaghettified into it. A dark aura exploded from her body and she growled while clenching her teeth.

"Now's my chance!" Visperi dashed to her with a hand raised. "I'm not about to let her get away from this." She leaped into the air and spun like a wheel before landing behind Lucina. Her body stretched out and she scowled before placing a hand on Lucina's back.

Menternus soon reached out for her. "Visperi don't you dare throw yourself into that black hole with her!" He cried out. A flash of light engulfed the area and the two vanished leaving only their shadows behind.

Verum fell to the ground while Alister and Jinta helped her stand. "Lucina tried to destroy it but Visperi stole her power so they both got sent into the unknown regions of space." Her face grew pale before she coughed up blood. A ray of sunlight peeked through the clouds and reached them.