Ultimate Level 1
Chapter 478: Sister vs Sister

Chapter 478 - Sister vs Sister

Tanila wanted nothing more than to wipe the smug look off her sister's face. The tip of her sword had managed to cut her before her Wizard Step had gotten her to safety.

She’s faster… has to be a skill!

“You’re getting predictable!’ Atheila cried out, grinning from ear to ear.

Frost Nova exploded out from Tanila again, her older sister once again slowing down just slightly as the spell covered fifty yards of the torn-up area they fought on.

Even with all her increased stats from not hiding behind her bracelet, that spell and the space it bought her had been the only thing keeping her safe in this fight.

Precious mana was consumed every second, keeping a monster she had chosen to spare from killing her.

Max’s appearance and the two spells he sent upward told her that Cordellia and the others were safe.

She could see the red tint to her sister’s eyes, no longer a true gold but a testament that she was using the skill their Father had given her.

Whatever she’s done, Atheila has grown stronger. The only thing I can think of is the gear…

Tanila blinked away again, praying it was most likely the above-average gear the tower had granted her that made up for whatever power Atheila now possessed. The other thought was too painful, knowing how many her sister must have killed and consumed physical stats from.

That thought almost cost her more blood as she poured mana into another spell. The smirk on her sister’s face grew as her blade barely missed her.

“I’m going to enjoy killing you and your child!”

The rage Tanila felt boiling inside her wanted to come out, but Max had warned her about it. She knew he was right, but she only now realized how grateful she was to King Dagon for letting them train in his private room.

Going up against Max and the King had shown her how much she held back and now with that limit lifted, Tanila let loose.

Every bit of training Tom had ever put her through came into play as vines rose up exactly where her sister stepped.

They didn’t slow Atheila down much as a sword quickly cut loose the spell that wanted to hold the elf in place.

Her older sister laughed as failed stone prisons and ice spells allowed Tanila the space she needed for this next part.

A spear of air appeared, and she grabbed onto it, sending out a blinding spell from her dark magic she rarely used.

For only two seconds, those golden eyes dimmed; she was airborne at that moment, quickly rising fifty yards above the battle area.

Beneath her were divots they had created in the soil, boulders that had been sent flying, and other spells that had done nothing to stop the elf that wanted her dead.

“You can’t run! I’ll track–”

“I’m not running!” Tanila shouted, cutting off her sister as she sent forth multiple spells simultaneously.

Earth spears and ice ones rained down from the sky as she summoned air ones from behind her sister.

With ease, the older elf dodged the ones she saw, and a fountain of blood came as one she couldn’t see pierced a part of her leg.

Both swords vanished and a bow appeared, arrows leaping from the string in a seemingly never-ending stream of barbed metal tips.

Shields blocked the ones that came as Tanila sped away, now riding on a second ice spear, sending more spells at Atheila who dodged the incoming barrage.

Each of them traded shots, blood-covered sections on each of their bodies.

For a moment, she had considered drinking a potion, but the truth was that she had only lost about a tenth of her total hit points, and her injuries were only a nuisance.

Atheila had already drunk one potion and appeared on the verge of doing it again, the hole in her leg leaving a trail of blood as she moved.

Every spell Tanila sent felt like it wasn’t strong enough to take down her sister in a single attack. The time it took to invest mana into a real spell wasn’t there and her pool was already half gone.

Think… what would Max do?

Arrows continued to track her, and the small spells she sent did not reach Atheila, as the older elf appeared to have already learned not to stay in the same spot for more than a moment.

Movement in the corner of her vision showed him standing there, weapon ready, waiting on the edge of everything.

She saw Atheila glance at Max, a laugh coming from her.

“He’s going to watch me kill you? That’s priceless!”

A kick inside her gut almost made her lose her balance on the air spear she was standing on.

Her child… their child had just kicked.

Tears began to form as she was overwhelmed.

Don’t worry little one! No one is going to take you from us!

Everything inside her felt alive. Her skin's pores started tingling, and she could feel the tiny hair follicles stand.

A peace was ther,e and yet a storm began to brew.

We’re one!

That thought made her consider a few things she had attempted but never succeeded.

Tanila started infusing mana into a cloud above her, sacrificing her ability to send offensive spells and requiring her to focus on dodging and defense.

As her attacks slowed, Atheila pulled out a potion and drank it completely.

Her sister tossed the empty glass bottle toward her, unleashing arrows at her again.

Fire, wind, lightning, ice.

They all mixed together in the cloud above.

It began to expand over the area they were fighting in, darkening out the light that managed to make its way through the trees above her.

A wind began to blow, and Tanila could feel the drain of the spell as her mana pool dipped past a third.

From up here she swore that Atheila frowned for a moment, that smirk vanishing from where it had been almost painted on since their fight started.

“Come and fight me, you bitch!”

None of the taunts reached her.

Stolen novel; please report.

The peace that filled Tanila told her that one of the greatest lessons she had learned was to fight in her own way.

A real mage didn’t go toe to toe with a warrior or rogue.

They didn’t stand still and let some archer use them as a target.

For too long, she had been content to stand there, depending upon others to protect her, to shield her, or to keep her safe in the midst of a battle.

No longer would that happen.

From this moment on, this place was her domain, and she would unleash hell within it.

Tanila fought back her fatigue, knowing she was down to only a fifth of her total mana.

As their gazes locked upon each other, she pointed her staff at Atheila and watched as the cloud that had now surrounded the entire compound unleashed the fury that was contained within it.

Lighting, flaming ice, and wind spikes all fell like rain, pouring down upon the space beneath her.

For a brief moment, her sister’s eyes widened and then two shields appeared in her hands, held above as the spell struck.

A stone prison began to form around Atheila as she couldn’t avoid the onslaught from above and dodge simultaneously. The wind swirled like a tornado, focused around the older elf and sending damaging spells past her defenses.

Tanila allowed herself to descend, knowing she eventually had to face her sister head-on.

She saw Max standing there on the edge of the field that was being obliterated by her rage.

Every building was in the process of being destroyed, none able to withstand the spell she would name Tempest.

He smiled, nodding as he stood there, a shield above him.

Occasionally, a part of her storm would strike him, and he would simply shrug it off, his eyes fixed upon her.

She could read his lips.

“End this.”

Each step she took closer to her sister caused the storm to grow. The wind was tearing up massive chunks of earth, pelting Atheila from all around.

And then, as she drew close enough, she saw the notification appear.

[ Target Acquired for Mind Devour ]

[ Draining ]

With effort, she held back the moan that wanted to escape her throat.

Like someone desperate for water who finally feels the cool relief wash down their throat, Tanila experienced one of the greatest pleasures she tried to avoid.

Only Max could make her feel better than this, yet right now, using this on her sister awoke the feeling she remembered as a child.

There had been a moment when she had almost given in to the hunger and lust of this ability.

Her mind exploded, tingling, and she felt recharged. More mana flowed into her as the spell drained Atheila of her intelligence and wisdom.

Glimpses of memories started to appear ,and gone was the part she hungered for.

This was the moment she hated.

Thousands of faces flashed before her as a scream cried out over the noise of the wind.

So many faces, each one drawing close as Tanila saw them from her sister’s own eyes.

At that moment, she could smell and taste the people Atheila had pressed her lips against and drained their life.

At least half of those she saw looked utterly afraid, yet many also looked ecstatic.

Caught in that moment, her mind fought to maintain the focus needed to keep her Tempest spell going while allowing Mind Devour to do its job.

Seconds passed, and the scream from her sister never subsided as a pair of eyes stared at her from under the shields, red blood trickling down her eye sockets.

Blood flowed from all over Atheila’s body, the once glistening silver armor now turning red.

“I’ll… kill… you…”

Those words were spoken in defiance, and Tanila shook her head.

Grinding her teeth, she dug deep, summoning walls of stone and air, reinforcing the prison that held her sister’s feet.

“Father… will…” As Atheila spoke, her body trembled and flashed a myriad of colors. “Kill you all!”

[ Mind Devour - Blocked ]

Her shout made Tanila step back, knowing whatever trump skills her sister had been saving were now in play.

Earth and stone flew out as her sister slammed a shield into the wall and the prison.

Atheila glared at her, taking slow steps in her direction.

The howl of the wind didn't subside, yet a barrier had appeared between her and her sister’s mind.

She has learned something to stop me!

Each moment her sister approached her. Atheila pressed against the storm, ignoring the shards of ice, lightning bolts, flames, and wind buffeting her battered body.

A glint of metal caught her attention as Atheila’s shield vanished, her arm coming forward, and a dagger flew at her.

She moved to the side, but she wasn’t fast enough. The distance was too close, and it plunged into her shoulder, missing its original target.

Pain radiated through her body as the blade struck and the storm's fury began to subside.

Once again, that smirk appeared on Atheila’s lips, and with the Tanila’s Tempest spell beginning to diminish, the older elf pulled her sword out.

“Like I said, you’re going to—”

Her words stopped as her body flashed a few colors.

Glancing down, Atheila saw a hole in her abdomen, a solid eight inches wide.

“I…”

Shock and surprise were present, and Tanila stood, the dregs of her mana pool empty, but the spell she had been holding and building, knowing this moment would come, had done its job.

“You stood still. You lose.”

Atheila blinked repeatedly, the sword gone as her hand reached down, finding an air spear still inside her.

“How…”

“Practice. Not depending upon others and doing things myself,” Tanila said between tired breaths.

A chuckle came from Atheila, and she winced, coughing blood. She shook her head.

“No… not today.”

Confused, Tanila saw a look on her sister’s face and tried to draw mana to send another spell but knew she was drained completely.

In her sister’s hand was the bracelet that matched hers.

“He’s going to come… you’re going to die.”

“NO!”

Her shout didn’t matter as Atheila crushed her bracelet.

Light erupted in that dark space as the cloud above dissipated, finally allowing light through.

“What? Where is she?!”

Max shouted as he caught her as she sagged to her feet.

Glancing up, Tanila frowned, feeling his finger against her cheek.

“What did she use?”

“The bracelet,” she got out, taking a few more breaths and finally able to stand alone. “I… I forgot, as I had sworn I’d never use it. It took her home… to Father. We… we need to go.”

Rakonath!

I’m on my way!

He could sense the direction his dragon was coming from.

“Quick, get inside and help with Cordellia and get healed. I’ll get us out of here.”

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