CHAPTER 308: TEMPO VS. TALONS

Quavira Harnex flared her wings wide.

"Let’s make this fun," she said, grinning.

She activated [Hawkzone Pressure].

The area around Nyxa lit up faintly with shifting wind patterns.

Quavira marked it as her airspace, her personal flight zone.

Inside, her speed increased, her vision sharpened, and enemy movements became sluggish and clumsy.

Seraine felt the change instantly.

"She’s faster now," Seraine said, holding her sword tighter. "And I’m slower."

Quavira vanished in a gust.

[Feather Flash Step] triggered.

She blinked through the air, moving rapidly from one wind point to another.

She was trying to match Seraine’s teleportation with her [Phantom Step].

Each movement left behind a thin trail of invisible wind.

It wasn’t just for show.

[Windline Trap] had activated.

The trails were hidden blades with sharp wind jets that could slice anyone who passed through them.

"You’ll be shredded if you follow too fast," Quavira warned with a smile.

But Seraine stayed calm.

She closed her eyes for a moment.

[Time-Split Reflex] activated.

The battlefield shifted in her mind.

She saw multiple paths, different futures, and outcomes.

In an instant, she picked the best one.

She reappeared just behind one of her own afterimages.

[Afterimage Warp] created a fake copy of her with every teleportation.

Each one was confusing, each one dangerous.

Quavira tried to strike, but hit only a phantom.

"Tch. Tricky blade dancer."

Seraine didn’t answer. She raised her hand slightly and pointed at Quavira.

[Tempo Lock] snapped into place.

Quavira felt a sudden drag on her speed, just a slight delay in motion.

"Now," Seraine whispered.

She stepped in and slashed with a bright strike.

[Chrono Slash] landed.

The first hit cut clean across Quavira’s shoulder.

Then, after a delay, the second hit struck.

It followed the same path but from a different angle, like time had doubled the wound.

Quavira gritted her teeth and flapped her wings hard, pushing herself back.

"You’re faster than I expected," Seraine said.

Quavira smirked. "So are you. But I’m not done."

Her eyes glowed faintly, and her muscles tightened.

She activated [Wing Focus].

A wave of wind wrapped around her.

As long as her wings were open, her reaction speed and physical movement jumped even higher.

Her body felt lighter. Her thoughts were sharper.

She shot forward again, breaking through one afterimage and slamming into Seraine’s guard.

The shockwave made both sides slide back.

Seraine steadied herself. "You’re pushing through time control...?"

Quavira twirled once in the air, feathers spinning around her.

"I told you," she said, smiling. "It’s always a game to me."

They circled each other again.

But down below, the fight had already shifted.

Malka Ingris moved quickly between scattered rocks and broken walls.

Her eyes locked onto a target.

She was low, fast, and silent, like a hunting wolf.

She activated [Predator Focus].

Once she marked someone, she could track them for a short time, even through walls or smoke.

Her senses sharpened. Her muscles tensed.

She had chosen her prey.

"I see you, light singer," Malka whispered.

Her target was Hiera Solmere, standing calmly at the back.

Hiera wasn’t attacking, but she was dangerous in her own way.

Her voice echoed gently across the battlefield, reaching her allies through the noise.

She had activated [Voice of Authority], allowing her allies to hear her clearly no matter where they were.

"Stay strong," Hiera spoke calmly.

With that, she used multiple support skills in rhythm:

[Heartsong Flow] glowed around her team, helping them recover faster and ignore minor pain.

[Chanted Echo] followed next, letting her buffs continue for a few seconds even if her voice stopped.

Malka narrowed her eyes.

"She’s keeping them going. That makes her priority."

She moved fast.

When she was close enough, she burst out from behind a wall with a low growl and leaped forward.

[Ripline Kick] was launched.

Malka spun through the air with a powerful, twisting kick aimed at Hiera’s side.

But Hiera did not panic.

She calmly lifted her hand.

[Chorus Barrier] activated.

A glowing light shield surrounded her, absorbing the impact and sending out a shockwave that pushed Malka back a few steps.

"Predictable," Hiera said softly.

Malka smirked. "Not quite."

She slammed her palm into the ground.

[Territory Lock]

spread out from her feet like a wave, crawling along the ground in all directions.

She stood up slowly and cracked her knuckles.

"You’re not running anywhere now."

Hiera gasped as the pressure slammed into her. Her feet felt heavier.

The space around her seemed harder to move through, like invisible chains were weighing her down.

She tried to activate a movement skill and... nothing.

"Damn it," she muttered.

Her light aura flickered for a second.

She looked around quickly, realizing the field had changed.

It wasn’t just slower.

Her connection to her ether was being bent, as if the ground itself was rejecting quick escape.

Malka started walking forward, claws ready.

"This is my hunting zone now," she growled.

"And prey doesn’t leave once it’s marked."

Malka lunged forward again with a sharp claw swipe.

[Jawbreak Slash], a precise, savage attack aimed straight at Hiera’s chest.

At the same time, she chained another [Ripline Kick], aiming to strike high and low in one fluid motion.

Hiera raised her arms as the barrier tried to hold.

The first slash landed with force, shaking the shield.

The second kick followed, cracking through with raw strength.

The impact sent Hiera sliding back, her breath short.

But her voice did not stop.

"Hold the line," she said through the strain.

Her barrier flickered, then reformed.

Malka snarled. "Tougher than I thought."

Hiera took a steady step back.

Light gathered around her again, soft but growing.

She spoke calmly. "You think I only have one shield?"

A new [Chorus Barrier] formed.

This one was even wider, brighter, stronger than before.

The dome of light expanded, pulsing with steady energy.

Malka’s smirk faded. Her claws twitched.

"Tch... So it’s like that," she muttered.

She stepped back slightly, crouched, and studied the barrier.

"I’ll just have to hit harder."

The hunter in her eyes returned. The challenge only made her more eager.