The Eminence in Shadow: The Dark Swordsman

Chapter 60: Final Symphony On The Moon

The fight between Yukime and Delta inside the glimmering Crystal Chalet was a storm of clashing fury and elegance. The hall, once pristine, was now littered with shattered icicles and claw marks etched deep into the crystalline walls.

Yukime, her nine tails swaying with calculated movements, wielded her ornate fans like blades, deflecting Delta's feral slashes with precision. Her snow-white fur glistened with sweat and faint traces of blood from the countless near-misses. Delta, on the other hand, was a whirlwind of primal energy. Her sharp claws tore through the air with savage speed, each strike aimed to end the duel with devastating finality.

Their battle was a dance of opposites: Yukime's graceful strikes and magical flurries of frost against Delta's raw power and unrelenting aggression. Delta's ears twitched as she lunged forward, aiming a clawed swipe at Yukime's midsection. Yukime sidestepped, the icy floor beneath her aiding her glide, and retaliated with a sweeping arc of her fan, sending a flurry of icy shards toward Delta.

Delta snarled and leapt to evade, but the ice was faster. It wrapped around her legs in a sudden burst of frost, locking her in place. She struggled, her claws furiously chipping at the ice, but it held firm.

Yukime staggered back, her breaths coming in ragged gasps. Her once-pristine white kimono was tattered and stained with blood. She clutched her wounded arm, her eyes locked on Delta, who glared back with a mix of fury and frustration.

Rem approached Yukime cautiously, her worried gaze fixed on Yukime. The crystalline floor crunched under her boots as she moved closer, careful not to make sudden movements that might provoke Delta, who still thrashed against the ice binding her.

"Lady Yukime, this isn't good," Rem said, her voice tinged with urgency. She knelt beside Yukime, her hands hovering near the wounds on her arm. "You're badly hurt, and you've already used most of your power. The barrier around the Crystal Chalet-it's taking too much out of you. The only way to end this battle is by removing it."

Yukime, her breathing heavy and uneven, attempted to channel healing magic into her wounds. The soft glow from her hands flickered weakly, evidence of her dwindling strength. She gave Rem a faint, appreciative smile, though her amber eyes held a stubborn resolve.

"Rem," Yukime said softly, her voice firm despite the strain. "I appreciate your concern, but I can't lift the barrier now. Not when I've come this far."

"But, Lady Yukime-" Rem began, her worry intensifying.

"If I lower it, everything we've worked for will be at risk," Yukime interrupted, her gaze never leaving Delta, who was slowly cracking the ice imprisoning her. "This fight... it must end here, within the barrier. I won't let her leave this place with the strength to harm anyone else."

Yukime's words were resolute, but her trembling form betrayed the immense toll the battles and the barrier had taken on her.

The third floor of the Crystal Chalet was eerily quiet, a stark contrast to the chaos echoing below. In a grand chamber adorned with intricate crystalline designs, four men sat in contemplative silence. Each bore the mark of the Cult, their black robes embroidered with crimson sigils, a testament to their status as First Children-elite warriors and fanatical devotees to their cause.

The tension in the room was palpable, yet none spoke until one of them, a lanky figure with sharp features and a perpetually amused expression, broke the silence. Leaning back against a pillar, he smirked. "That woman, Yukime," he said, his tone laced with amusement. "She's really putting her life on the line down there to protect us. It's almost... noble, wouldn't you say?"

"Tch," scoffed another, a burly man with a scar running down his jawline. He cracked his knuckles, his voice a low growl. "I would've killed those Shadow Garden bastards myself if you guys hadn't stopped me. Let me at them, and they'd be nothing but corpses by now."