Flashes of red and blue light split the air as Delta robots marched through the streets, their laser cannons screaming through stone and smoke.
Naggi dashed between them, bronze sword in hand. The robots fired in unison, a dozen beams cutting through the haze.
She raised her blade, deflecting the light in a burst of sparks, and then moved, fierce, fast, furious.
Each swing carved through steel, each strike ending in an explosion that painted the ruined sky orange.
Her fury was precise, not rage, but purpose sharpened into motion.
Elsewhere, Lanni and her knights spread through the chaos.
"Disperse!" she shouted.
Her command echoed through the collapsing streets as her knights split into squads, rescuing civilians, cutting down Deltas one by one.
Some knights fell, vaporized under concentrated fire.
Euly sprinted through another street, his sparks burning through the machines like lightning on dry earth.
And still, the tide didn't end.
Then —
a flash of blue light.
A massive electric hand tore through the smoke and slammed into Naggi, launching her across the street and through the wall of a crumbling courtyard.
She hit the ground hard, dust swirling.
When she lifted her head, two figures stood across from her, both wearing long, dark robes etched with glowing sigils.
Noboragu, tall and sharp-eyed, and beside him, a round figure with twitching hands and a hungry grin, Fifimo.
NOBORAGU
FIFIMO
Naggi narrowed her eyes. "I know who you are."
Noboragu smirked. "And I know who you are too... the ex-wife of Levin."
Fifimo snickered. "Since she's no longer Levin's... does that mean I get to keep her?"
Noboragu's tone snapped cold. "Calm yourself, Fifimo. Our orders were clear we have to delete them."
Naggi pushed herself up, sword at her side. "Then you're wasting your time. I'm a artists of the Knight class. Your Artimancer abilities Noboragu do not compare."
Noboragu laughed. "Oh, how proud you've become. You think one 'art' makes you something greater than us? There was a time when all you were good for was house chores."
He tilted his head, grin stretching. "The future belongs to the royals and the Artimancers, not to you."
Fifimo jumped up, clapping his hands. "Oh! But she doesn't know!"
He pulled out a small parchment glowing with royal ink.
"This right here, a contract written by the King himself! Once the knights are gone and the Selection's complete, the Artimancers will officially become one-third royal!"
Naggi exhaled slowly. "One-third., haha you're delusional. You'll sell your souls just to stand near a throne."
"That's called survival," Noboragu said, raising his staff. "Those who wish to live must serve power."
Fifimo's grin stretched wider. "That's practical!"
The courtyard trembled.
Fifimo's staff crackled as a glowing arm burst from a magic seal, lunging straight for Naggi.
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She dodged, sliding low across the ground, her eyes locked on Noboragu. She swung her sword, releasing orange Abi.
Noboragu "You claim to be stronger, Naggi, but you know there are four Artimancers who stand above the rest, Levin... myself... Pita... and Asteroid."
His smirk sharpened. "And Asteroid was killed because of your knights, more than likely you all ambushed him."
Fifimo slammed his staff down. "Chaos Grave Hands!"
A massive spectral hand erupted from the ground, slamming Naggi into the wall.
She growled, thrusting her sword forward, Abi energy exploded from the blade, clashing with the ghostly hand.
Sparks tore the air apart.
But the Grave Hand pushed through, pressing harder.
Naggi leaped over the spectural orange hand watchingb as it crashed into the ground.
Noboragu lifted his staff. " Grave Hands!"
A second, more smoke-like arm burst forth, punching her clean into the wall again. Stone shattered, and Naggi vanished beneath the rubble.
The hands dissolved instantly.
Noboragu chuckled. "Unlike the others, my Grave Hands are designed purely for attack. They fade quickly, but they hit harder than anything that crawls from the ground."
He stepped closer, and froze.
The rubble shifted.
Naggi stood, brushing dust from her cloak. Her eyes were calm, her stance unshaken.
Fifimo grunted "She doesn't seem much bothered by our attacks."
"I think she's bluffing" Noboragu stammered.
Fifimo hissed. "It must be a womans trick!"
Naggi cracked her neck. "No tricks. I told you. I'm an Artist, a knight of the Artist Class. My body is fortified by Abi. My mind is centered. Your Artimancery can't measure up." Naggi smirks, it's a shame I haven't even used my Bronze armor and even in your Grand Macer form you still can't hurt me.
The courtyard wall suddenly collapsed behind her.
Both Artimancers turned.
Lanni stepped through the haze, her silver armor glinting beneath the smoke.
Naggi exhaled in relief. "Lanni."
Lanni nodded. "I felt your Abi flaring. Two other signatures. Thought I'd lend a hand."
Noboragu smirked. "A two-for-one special? Excellent. Now we get to kill two Zoner Knights."
Fifimo squealed, "Yeah! Let's kill them!"
Lanni drew her Moon Sword, its glow soft and lethal. "It's been a while since we had a teacher-and-student moment, hasn't it?"
Naggi smiled faintly. "You taught me well, but I know your skill still surpasses mine."
Lanni's expression softened. "Maybe in technique, but in raw strength, you're the stronger one now."
Noboragu slammed his staff down. "Enough chatter ladiees. Time to get hands-on."
The ground split open, light pouring from the cracks.
To be continued...