Destiny No More

Chapter 76

Beacon hadn't changed in the few day's she'd been gone and she wished that that fact could bring her some comfort. The academy meant so much to her, yet returning didn't feel like anything special, and she couldn't help but think the school's wonder hadn't finally lost its hold on her. It was nice being back, finally having time to relax after several days of travel and a hard fought battle, but Pyrrha had never found comfort in the same things as other people.

Allos cut down quickly towards its target, only to be caught by two swords that hovered in front of her target as eight more moved to strike her; four either side. Pyrrha ducked down, lifting her shield up to the side to stop the four to her left as she pulled back causing two of the swords on her right to miss. The two that struck failed to hit their intended target, rather than scoring a strike on her upper torso they grazed her arms.

Penny followed through quickly, using the momentum of her two swords that flew over Pyrrha's head to spin and launch another attack with the other eight. The former champion smiled as she was forced back, disengaging lest she be overwhelmed by the sheer number of weapons moving to attack her. Dodging and moving between the blades was difficult, but as the first swing missed, the swords split up rather than continue to attack all at once. It gave her the window she needed to parry and doge out of the way but it became a constant onslaught that felt more like fighting five opponents than one.

Breathing heavily, Pyrrha bent backwards under an overhead swipe; placing her hand on the ground as she did and pushing off to launch herself through the small window that would be left open in between the Winter Maiden's attacks. It was a long distance, even had she been at her best as she had been in her past life it would have been a near impossible feat but, with a bit of thrust from the Maiden powers within her, she was launched back and far enough away that Penny couldn't follow up immediately.

Pyrrha used that time to store her shield, transforming it back into a sheath that she attached at her side. Rather than using Allos two handed, she kept her left hand open. Penny recognized the danger and hesitated, despite her strength, she was new to the Maidens and didn't know what they were capable of. That moment of hesitation gave Pyrrha the window she needed to seize the initiative, allowing her to rush forward and drive the android back.

Penny deflected Allos with a blade as she again tried to use the momentum of the other nine to strike, just as she had done the first time Pyrrha had pushed her back. The swords went over her head and moved around to Pyrrha's unprotected side. Allos was still pinned by the final sword, unable to move to intervene or stop the attack from landing. As the nine swords swung however, they impacted a solid pillar of ice before they met their target.

Aura allowed for many near impossible feats, some of which were more easily noticeable than others. While Aura itself didn't increase one's strength, it helped build muscle and strengthen the user as they made their attack. Penny didn't have muscle however, although that wasn't necessarily a weakness. Her swords didn't get stuck in the ice, instead powering through and slicing the sudden obstacle with ease; they did slow down, however, and Pyrrha was finally able to disengage Allos and drop. Her hand had already slipped back to her waist, drawing her shield and holding it above her head.

Slowed as they might have been, the impact of nine swords on metal shook her arms violently as they pinged off. The moment the final blade impacted and moved back around, Pyrrha struck. Placing her sword hand down and kicking out with her legs she managed to trip Penny before she could respond.

Pyrrha was on her feet a half second later, pointing the tip of her blade down at Penny as she heaved for air. Penny appeared unaffected, although whether she felt exhaustion in the same way as regular humans did was a matter for debate. Despite the battle and how exhausted she felt, Pyrrha smiled brightly and Penny returned it without hesitation.