CHAPTER 179: BEATDOWN FIRST. THEN PACIFY!

Mel pulled back her fist, squinting as the Princess’s nose was dislocated.

Oh, she didn’t expect the Princess to fail to react.

As Luria gritted her teeth, she soon blinked out again, gusts rallying up with her unspoken rage.

A white rune glowed at where she left; as wind arcs once again conjured and flung at Mel-

Before the Heiress’s palm swiped them off.

"Behind."

At Rosana’s call, Mel’s eyes widened before she turned around and flung her fist blindly-

Smash! The fist landed right at Luria’s tummy, her frame flailing towards Lila’s disgusted look.

Thus, Lila’s stave waved lazily and slapped an ice orb to the Princess’s face, launching her body sideways comically.

Luria’s rapier then stabbed and dragged the ground, pulling herself straight as she landed, yet her feet almost fell with knees buckling.

"Damn it!"

Luria breathed out, blood dripping from her nostrils before she swiped it off along with the frostbites from earlier.

"It didn’t make sense! How did you three adapt so easily?!"

Void Siege was her last weapon. And now, she’s out of tools to trick her opponents with.

Straightening herself, she stomped hard on the ground, her posture unsteady, yet her eyes were full of unwavered ire.

One last strike.

She resolved herself before pulling back the rapier, her other hand gripping the elbow with a firm strength.

Lila’s lips parted. Oh, a Long Cast.

"Lila."

Mel strode up and patted her back. "Your turn."

Winking, she watched as Lila pouted a little.

"What a waste of mana." Lila sighed before holding up her stave. "I would rather save it for practice later."

With the tip of her stave tapping her palm, Lila stared lazily down at the grumpy Princess.

"I sang the Wind’s cry for my own."

"I whisper the Frost’s Will for my own."

Breezes cried out, converging and circling Lila and Luria.

"I carve the sorrow of nature for my strength."

"I invite the joy of snow for our cause."

A long, drawn wind screamed at the rapier’s blade, quivering at the sheer sonic strength contained from within-

Against the frosty tornado peacefully swirling at the tip of Lila’s stave, the size almost reached the ceiling.

Strangely, even as the wind fluttered towards Lila, it bore no sounds.

Mel tapped her chin thoughtfully as she spotted Samantha, the teacher’s hand signaling for Vernon.

"I fight the duties of grudgeful for my radiance."

"I willed the call of the Undying to reach the World’s Edge."

Samantha and Vernon ran to both ends of the arena, and if Mel observed correctly, they ran closer to Lila’s side.

Stretching their palms out, barriers formed at their will, enshrouding the battlefield away from the awe-struck seniors and juniors.

The tornado grew larger, and the Rapier’s shine only glowed brighter.

"Royal Technique: Croven Strike."

"Winter’s Vortex."

And Luria stabbed at the air, shooting out a beam shaped like a javelin; the tinge was polluted with a purple hue, enveloped by a strange, otherworldly power.

Lila, too, let loose the tornado with a wave of her stave; the ground strangely steady as the tornado breezed through; a winter’s mercy, as Lila ordained.

The Javelin crashed into the tornado, seething into the eye of the storm where it refused to budge, but instead spun and hurled with fury.

And the javelin collapsed under the pressure, as the Tornado concentrated the momentum forward.

Mel frowned; behind the thick tornado, she briefly sensed it.

The echo of Luria’s drumming heartbeat, as she should’ve kneeled and accepted her defeat.

It was not there, as Luria had planned.

As she analysed, Rosana tapped her shoulder, before leaning in and whispering into her ear.

"Above."

Mel jolted a little before she watched as Rosana sprang upward.

The Ceiling, peaceful with only the breezes disrupting the silence occasionally, was empty without a hint of a person.

Yet, Mel smirked, confidently uttering.

"Echo Series: Sonic Boost."

A tinge of violet shrouded Rosana’s skin mid-air; an aura much more delicate and gentle than the Void’s.

And Rosana gripped her left knuckles white, before swinging.

No need for a weapon, as her fist plunged right as Luria manifested herself-

With her cheek burrowed right into Rosana’s fist.

"Mm!"

A muffled shriek, Rosana twirled her arm along with Luria’s head, adjusting before throwing Luria’s body back into the tornado.

Mel shuddered a little as the tornado swallowed Luria’s frame. Wow, so cruel, our Rosana.

Her chuckles stuttered as Rosana landed beside her, dusting her palms off like Mel on Monday morning to clean out the trash.

And as the tornado finally dissipated, the flutterings of Mel’s hair died down, as the pink hair locks draped over her neck peacefully.

"Hoof..."

Watching Luria as she huddled herself on the ground, Mel puffed out a sigh of relief.

Frostbite scarred all over the Second Princess’s skin, but no red marks.

Unlike the Princess’s attack, Lila’s chants could adjust their lethality with a few changes of words.

"Alright, you two. Stay there! I’m going to check her."

Echo Series: Pacify.

Mumbling under her breath, Mel strode up towards Luria.

The battle was already over long ago as she stood tall above Luria; her muscles spasming as she coiled under Mel’s stare.

Casting an empty gaze, Luria merely relaxed her head onto the floor.

"What."

A non-questioning tone, as if not to admit her defeat here.

Mel held her chin, examining the gritless princess.

Just a beatdown was not enough; Mel aimed to chip her arrogance down, not for her to bottle up frustrations only to take them out on her dear Selaria later.

So she kneeled, tone gentle before petting Luria’s head.

Despite rarely using the Echo Series to manipulate, Mel didn’t like to risk Selaria being hurt all over again.

So she smiled, her touch smooth and careful as it brushed away the snow on Luria’s hair.

"It’s your defeat, Miss Luria."

The first time Mel called her ’Miss’ was the first sign of respect.

Luria raised a brow; yet Mel’s voice sounded alluring, almost too sincere in its meaning.

Her lips parted with defiance. "That’s not... It’s just this time."

Yet Mel narrowed her eyes, hoping to hide the delight crossing her face.

Luria’s shaky voice and faint blush told Mel everything she needed.