An elementalist's power depends on both the strength of their contracted spirit and their own divine power. The stronger the divine power within an elementalist, the more potent their spirit magic. A stronger spirit raises the ceiling of that magic's potential.

Thus, a formidable elementalist requires both immense divine power and a powerful spirit.

Rinslet was already a strong elementalist with significant divine power. But now, her body held no divine power, only Altair's magic. Their recent kiss had filled her to the brim, overflowing with a satisfaction she'd never felt before.

As a result, the spirit magic she wielded was now fueled entirely by Altair's magic. This amplified her abilities explosively. Her Magic Ice Bolt, once capable of piercing a single target, now unleashed devastation akin to a cruise missile. The ice arrow's impact created a massive ice flower, transforming her single-target attack into a wide-ranging area-of-effect assault.

In simpler terms, the archer had gone from Diona to Ganyu, an incomparable leap in power.

Claire and Kamito gaped at the towering ice flower, stunned. Even Rinslet, who fired the arrow, was shocked.

Was this really her arrow? Was her power this immense?

No, it was Master Altair's power. Her body was filled with his strength, and every attack she unleashed drew from it.

If just the power he transferred could make her attacks this devastating, how terrifying was Master Altair's true strength?

Rinslet's face lit up with a confident smile. This incredible Master Altair belonged to her!

"What's wrong? Just dodging? Weren't you supposed to show me your strength? Don't you want to defeat me, Claire Rouge? Dodging won't get you there."

Rinslet stood with her bow in one hand, taunting Claire with pride.

She'd initially used Altair's power to master Fenrir's spatial abilities, but discovering it could enhance her ice magic made her confidence soar further.

"Rinslet!" Claire gripped her whip, glaring with gritted teeth.

"Don't get cocky! You think new powers make you invincible? I'll beat you soon enough!"

"Claire, don't make bold claims so lightly." Rinslet quipped, channeling her inner provocateur.

"That only reveals your weakness."

"Argh! Kamito!" Claire, enraged by Rinslet's words, barked at him.

"Do something about her! She's infuriating!"

"Claire, even if you say that…" Kamito frowned, eyeing Rinslet's calm smile.

Forget that he had no contracted spirit, how could he counter that untouchable illusion? It seemed like an illusion, yet she could attack. What was it?

"You see, Claire? Even your spirit knows my power is beyond you. To avoid getting hurt, you should surrender now."

Rinslet's taunts continued.

"Don't be too stubborn. After all, stepping over an ant without crushing it is a difficult power to control."

"You blonde mutt! Who're you calling an ant?!" Claire abandoned reason, charging with her whip and lashing at Rinslet.

Rinslet stood still, activating intangibility, letting the attacks pass through her with a mocking smile.

Altair, watching from behind, was momentarily stunned, then nearly laughed.

He'd only taught her to use spatial powers and replenished her magic, but the surge in strength had made Rinslet so confident she'd independently adopted Soul Society's most iconic taunts, delivering them with maximum flair!

Confidence was good, though. With Altair backing her, Rinslet was indeed invincible.

Claire's frenzied whip strikes hit nothing. Watching Kamito's failed attack hadn't prepared her for the sheer futility she now felt.

What was this power? How was she doing it?

After a fruitless assault, Claire retreated.

"Are you done?" Rinslet slowly raised her bow.

"Since your attacks are over, it's my turn."

She fired an arrow, aiming at the ground near Claire to avoid injury. The ice arrow exploded, blooming into a massive ice flower that pushed Claire and Kamito back.

"Claire, are you okay?" Kamito twisted midair, shielding Claire with his body to prevent injury.

"I'm fine! Are you okay, Kamito?"

"I'm fine." He shook his head.

"But we're completely outmatched."

He was at a loss. With a sword spirit, he might have a chance to probe her abilities, but he had nothing now.

"Do we really have to surrender?" Claire clenched her fists, unwilling to admit defeat. Her attacks were useless, and she couldn't even block Rinslet's. And Kamito…

"You're so useless! You can't even beat Rinslet!"

"What? How's this my fault?!" Kamito was dumbfounded. Why was he taking the blame?

"You're supposed to be strong, yet you can't even handle Rinslet!"

Claire couldn't say he was the Dark Elf King, but she kept blaming him. Kamito was baffled. How did she know he was strong? Did she know his identity? When had he been exposed? Only Greyworth and Restia should know.

Questions swirled in his mind.

"Let's think of something. If we can't win…" Kamito trailed off, unsure.

Before he could finish, a roar echoed. Everyone looked up as a massive, black-purple, meatball-like creature descended, a grotesque orb with a gaping maw and no other features.

"A demon spirit!" A type of spirit from the Elemental Realm, often aligned with evil.

"Dodge! It's coming for us!" Kamito pulled Claire, sprinting as the demon spirit bit the ground.

"Why's a demon spirit here? This is school territory!" Claire exclaimed.

"No idea, but it's here. We need to evade it."

"Evade? Just take it down!" Claire refused to flee, charging with her whip to confront the demon spirit.

"Idiot! You can't handle a demon spirit of this level!"

"If I can't even beat this, how will I win the Blade Dance festival?"

Claire was disappointed in Kamito. Altair had said his powers were unawakened, but she hadn't expected him to be this useless.

Her parents were suffering in prison. She couldn't wait years for Kamito to awaken.

"I have to defeat it!"

She could accept losing to Rinslet, who'd gained a powerful new spirit, but failing against this demon spirit would mean no hope.

Claire lashed the demon spirit, making it writhe, but caused no real damage. Kamito, without a spirit, was just a human, unable to harm spirits without magic or an Elemental Waffe. He could only watch.

"Roar!" Enraged by Claire's attacks, the demon spirit lunged, aiming to swallow her.

Startled, Claire stumbled back, tripping on a stone and falling.

"Claire!" Kamito rushed forward, but someone was faster. Rinslet's ice arrow struck the demon spirit's maw just as it neared Claire, exploding into an ice flower that froze it solid. The ice shattered, reducing the spirit to fragments.

"Rinslet." Claire stared, shocked, at Rinslet, still holding her bow.

Lowering it, Rinslet looked at Claire with concern. "Are you okay?"

Claire wanted to snap at her for meddling, but seeing Rinslet's worry, she swallowed her retort. "I'm fine. Thanks."

She'd been saved, so she held back.

"Hmph, good to know I saved you." Rinslet said.

Scratch that, she deserved a retort!

Rinslet's words reignited Claire's fury, and they began arguing.

Kamito, initially worried, relaxed seeing Claire return to her usual self, smiling as she bickered with Rinslet, predictably coming up short.

Her smaller stature and lesser strength made it tough.

After twenty minutes of arguing, Claire conceded.

"You win this fight, but don't think you're better! I'll challenge you again and beat you!"

Despite surrendering, Claire's tsundere pride refused to yield.

"Heh, Claire, you'll never see that day." Rinslet maintained her taunting edge.

"By the way, since you lost, there's a price to pay."

"Name it!" Claire gritted her teeth.

"From now on, you, Claire Rouge, and your contracted spirit, Kamito Kazehaya, will join my Laurenfrost team for the Blade Dance festival!"

"You want us on your team?"

"Exactly. A bet's a bet. Are you, Claire Rouge, someone who reneges on a duel's outcome?"

"Besides, you know you're the only one in this school worthy of joining my team."

"Tch…" Claire wanted to snap, but she understood. With Altair, Rinslet was the strongest. Her teammates couldn't be weak, and Claire, with Kamito, was the only one qualified.

"And you know joining my team is your best shot at achieving your dream."

"I get it. I'll join your team."

No matter how fiery her temper, Claire softened when it came to her family. Her wish required the Elemental Lord, who, per Altair, was compromised. Joining Rinslet, with Altair's support, was her best chance. For her family, she set aside her stubbornness.

"Excellent. With you and Kamito, my team is ready for the Blade Dance festival."

Rinslet was pleased with Claire's response. Everything had gone according to Altair's plan, and she'd succeeded!

Truly worthy of my Master Altair!

Rinslet puffed out her chest proudly, waving a hand with dramatic flair.

"Before us, no enemy stands a chance!"

***

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