The sword princess' tale

Volume 4 Chapter 17 - I Finally Did Something Good

"You... you are... Iris...?" I stared, my eyes turned as round as saucers at the half-transparent figure.

-Indeed I am. Can't you see me?-

Well... I do see you. But your... your appearance is hard to see. Not in the way where I have to squint, but because I have to look away. Feeling embarrassed and shy for knowing she flashed such a beautiful smile at me.

Heck, her charm is undoubtedly beyond women I have met. She's on a whole different league that even I almost let myself swept by it. Even though she's me...

Huh? Wait, that's not it. She's a fellow Fragment like me... then we are only leftovers of who we were. Since our original self died and had her soul separated into pieces, they became new existences bearing heavy resemblance to her...

Uh... does that mean... she's my twin then?

-Before all that, please look out!-

"Huh-uwhoaa...!?" I dove down to escape from the slash aiming for my neck! I recovered and attacked at Vladimir from behind but he vanished again!

"Damn it...! Are you a chameleon ...!?"

I grounded my teeth as I looked around frantically. Yet, accompanied by mad laughter, Vladimir attacked from unexpected spot and carved slight wounds over and over while I can't do anything but defending myself!

-Please calm down, Charlotte! Although he's a Demon General, Vladimir himself does not possess much power when using a Vessel!!-

Ve-vessel...? Iris pointed at the man in front of me. I deflected the attack and this time, for some reasons, he stood there like a stone. Of course he still had the same nasty smile and he even licked his lips now. That alone was enough to send cold sweats behind my back.

-He relies on magic fully. He could even be considered as the greatest in terms of magic knowledge and all sorts of things related to it. Despite that, his main body is truly fragile.-

"Huh? Is that true...? But most I've met are all tough-skinned bastards..."

-Because they are coated with mana, of course. Although his mana is too malevolent in terms of amount as well as type, causing him to transfer only a little into the Vessel he possessed.-

I raised my brows, confused but knitted them together. So I'm having trouble against a Boss who doesn't even able to exert his true power? This will be a pain for sure...

-Incoming!-

I parried the jade green sword with the katana, twisted the handle a bit to redirect the blow and countered with a slash! Vladimir laughed as his body blurred and I struck at empty air.

"This... damn snake...!!" I cursed as I parried another blow at the blindspot.

Kh...! He's aiming for sure kill and his aura only appear once he swung his sword!!

-Wrong..! He is not a Warrior!! He's a mage stronger than the Court Mage of Serilia!!-

Say what!? That's too overpowered!! How the hell am I supposed to kill him?!!

-Avoid!- Iris warned and I lowered my posture. The sword missed my head only for a few milimeters and I launched an uppercut!

"Ha ha! Where are you looking?" Vladimir insulted with a loud laugh which echoed throughout the area.

He slipped away again!!

-Calm down, Charlotte. Fighting against Mage is different compared to fighting another Warrior!-

But he didn't give me a chance to think clearly-*swish*-"Gah!?" I staggered seeing blood spurted from my left shoulder. D-damn... if this goes on, I will die regardless of any action I take!!