Paradox: Distorted Reality

Chapter 9: A fight with the cold princess

The three of us stood there, anticipation in the air as we awaited the opening move of the battle. The outcome hinged on this crucial moment. While Layla appeared distracted, it was clear she was silently weaving a spell, likely intending to conjure an icy terrain to increase her chances of victory. I needed to think of a plan, recognizing that relying on long-range combat was futile given her magic prowess. Short-range combat wasn't without risks, and we lacked magic of our own, leaving me with the option to catch her off guard when she had me cornered.

Suddenly, Layla completed her incantation, uttering the spell's name, "Cryogenic Tundra!" In an instant, the room transformed into a frozen wasteland. It was a hazardous environment for both sides, but Layla seemed accustomed to it, which explained her choice. Swiftly, I pulled out a card and transformed it into a shield, preparing to block any incoming ice shards.

Afterward, a tense minute passed before Layla charged toward us, her sword slicing through the air. With each swing, the blade unleashed a barrage of icy shards, which I deflected with my shield while Aki did her best to evade them. With each swing, Layla closed the distance between us, a risky maneuver that we could only delay for so long. Recognizing that long-range combat was futile, I braced myself to confront her head-on.

In no time, Layla closed the distance between us, leaving my shield covered in ice shards and the walls and floor adorned with even more. Her relentless sword strikes continued, but as we came within her blade's reach, she unleashed a spell she had been crafting while charging. It was an impressive display. With a clear incantation, she completed the spell, declaring, "Cryodraconis conjure!" Suddenly, an ice dragon materialized from the ground, lunging to swallow both Aki and me. Reacting swiftly, we leaped into the air to avoid its impending grasp, though it seemed futile. Just before disaster struck, I grabbed a card and transformed it into a bomb, swiftly dismantling the icy menace.

The resulting explosion inflicted minor injuries and staining our clothing, but no major harm. Layla, now visibly frustrated, resumed her sword attacks. My shield was nearly reduced to a pile of ice shards, and it was evident that it wouldn't endure much longer. I realized I had to act swiftly to stop her. She remained in close proximity, and Aki struggled to counterattack, preoccupied with her own defense. Layla stood a few feet away, so I seized an ice shard from the ground and hurled it towards her, hoping to divert her focus.

The shard sped toward her head, but she swiftly obliterated it, redirecting her attention to me. It seemed my plan was working, but now the stakes were higher. Layla concentrated her fierce attacks on me, relentlessly driving me back until my shield finally shattered. With a barrage of ice shards homing in on me, I was left with no choice but to dodge. Getting close to her was impossible amidst the onslaught, yet I couldn't help but wonder if her magical reserves were dwindling; there had to be a limit to her spellcasting.

Nevertheless, Layla persisted in hurling spells my way, all while charging and swinging her sword relentlessly. I retreated with each of her attacks, sidestepping to evade. But then, an unexpected turn of events: Layla began to grunt, her foot trapped in the ground, immobilized. I had pulled out the ice shard embedded in the ground earlier, creating a small hole that ensnared her foot. Deliberately leading her charge toward me had worked in my favor.

With Layla distracted and stuck, I seized the opportunity to charge directly at her, confident I could land an attack. As I sprinted towards her, ready to strike, Layla once again chanted her spell, "Cryodraconis conjure." Caught off guard, I found myself in a vulnerable position, with the ice dragon positioned to engulf me. However, Layla had been too fixated on me, allowing Aki to sneak up behind her and disarm her, sending her sword clattering to the ground.

Distracted and unable to complete her spell, Layla's ice dragon vanished abruptly, leaving me unharmed. Now, I pressed on, closing the distance toward Layla. Without her weapon, summoning ice shards rapidly became more challenging for her. She resorted to casting ice spikes to deter us from reaching her directly, but we skillfully dodged them. Curiously, it occurred to me that Sibyl, who was usually quite alert, hadn't heard any of this commotion. Perhaps the room was soundproof, a precaution for situations such as this.