112~Take the Lead
“You’ve been running away all this time, turning your back before even getting a good look at what’s in front of you.” Tillysha gazed steadily at Aistride.
“…..Courage?” After a long pause, Aistride’s pointy ears twitched as she lifted her amethyst, moon-like eyes.
In the next instant, the earth shook.
The silver Moonstone erupted from the ground, swirling around Aistride and forming the base of a grand temple.
Tillysha watched this calmly. If her memory served right, Aistride had mentioned having two Divine Authorities, which made the reveal of this trump card less surprising in a seemingly desperate situation.
Aistride closed her eyes slightly, her lips parting as she began the unique incantation of the Moon Elves, enveloping the sky in a hazy lunar glow.
Just before the scene was one of twilight residual clouds at dusk; the instant the temple was completed, it shifted into an endless night.
Stars hung in the vast sky, casting a chilling yet subdued light, draping the desolate mountain range in a silken mantle.
Though devoid of a moon, the Elf Girl on the Silverstone Throne glimmered as the brightest luminescence under the endless night, her form mirroring the silver moon in the empty sky.
The pointed rooftops and the towering bell tower of the fortress were adorned with a lunar crest. In the moonless night, the fortress shimmered with a delicate moonlit sheen, revealing every crevice and contour on its brickwork.
At this moment, Aistride’s Realm underwent a metamorphosis. Her short hemline transformed into a long gown of white lace, her toes peeking from high heels designed for grand dances, her legs wrapped in black silk and her silver locks contrasting vividly with the radiant gown, akin to a piece of inkstone inlaid with moonstones, aesthetically striking yet tantalizingly alluring.
Aistride appeared as a princess celebrated in a grand soiree, the most exquisite gem in the Elf Forest, showcasing a figure so faultless it was akin to an art masterpiece, in the moonless starry skies, extending her beauty atop the towering Silverstone Temple.
Her silver eyes opened and she sat on the throne, her silver hair cascading down like a waterfall, resembling a queen who overviews all.
In front of this fortified city made of silver moonstone, embedded with intricately carved jade and jewels, Tillysha felt like an insignificant speck of dust.
This was Aistride’s second Divine Authority, [Moonlight Crown]. It could be activated only when the [Chosen of the Moon] constellation waned to null, restructuring the heavens and erecting an impenetrable fortress safeguarded by the moonlight.
As long as the enemy doesn’t breach the Lunar Fortress, Aistride would not be a vulnerable target.
In front of screens, an elf boy rubbed his slightly aching temples. Even after a day immersed in books, his comprehensive reading didn’t leave his mind cluttered. But at this moment, he was getting a headache.
In the situation where both sides were exhausted, having expended all their ultimate skills, the towering Lunar Fortress seemed imposing and utterly disheartening.
An insurmountable barrier that blocked Tillysha’s chances of winning.
This match was a true demonstration of Aistride’s best efforts.
But even so, the elf boy’s eyes were on Tillysha. Despite knowing it was improbable, he had this inkling that this golden-haired elf girl wouldn’t simply lose the match.
“Princess Tillysha, if you can do it as you said, then why don’t you give it a try?” Seemingly due to the activation of [Moonlight Crown], Aistride’s tone from the throne emanated a touch of the aloofness of a supreme sovereign.
“Try to cross this unbreakable, unscalable fortress and walls.” From atop the battlements, Aistride stared intensely at Tillysha, seeking a flicker of retreat or evasiveness in her eyes.
But contrary to expectation, Tillysha lifted her gaze, meeting Aistride’s eyes. Her tranquil gaze remained composed, devoid of emotions but oozing with unwavering confidence, akin to her calm tone now.
“How hard could it be?”
What?…..
A flicker of surprise crossed Aistride’s eyes, unable to decipher whether Tillysha was confident or merely bluffing.
“Classmate Aistride, isn’t this your last card, the second Divine Authority?”
“Just coincidentally, I have kept a card too, in preparation for when you play your second Divine Authority.” A smile graced Tillysha’s lips as her hand moved through the air, and immediately, a colossal, annihilating force gathered from all directions into her hand.
“What is this???” The elf boy stared intently at the crystal.
The deep black substance and pure white essence, representing the Forces of Destruction and Creation, converged in Tillysha’s hands.
A streak of black lightning suddenly crossed, accompanied by flashes of thunder. In her hand, a long shaft took form, followed by the convergence of black lighting and white electricity at both ends, forming a blade with black flames licking it and a tail spike burning with silver fire.
The First Divine Authority, [Holy Oblivion], and the Ability Derived from it: [Simulacrum Creation of the Holy Oblivion].
This was Tillysha’s long-held trump card – the true use of her First Divine Authority [Holy Oblivion], which involves simulating one of the legendary Five Divine Blades, the [Holy Oblivion] – capable of existing for one minute.
The simulacrum of [Holy Oblivion] consumes no divine abilities and so can be employed anytime. However, upon conclusion, it undergoes a cooldown period of five days. During this time, Tillysha would be unable to form any divine blades with her First Divine Authority, inevitably weakening her significantly.
With significant side effects impacting subsequent battles, this was the reason Tillysha had hesitated to use this skill until now. But as this was the final showdown, with the ultimate blow imminent, she didn’t care anymore.
After summoning the simulacrum [Holy Oblivion], Tillysha underwent some transformations. The golden cupids on her head turned to stark black and white colors, with two wings ablaze with black and white flames adorning her sides. Two fiery orbs of black and white flames coiled around her ankles.
Your Divine Authority should have been exhausted, shouldn’t it?
But despite having her ace up her sleeve, she couldn’t breach her own fortress……….
“Miss Aistride, have you ever thought that the reason you obtained this Second Divine Authority might be because of your personality and behavior?” Tillysha swung the long spear in her hand burning brightly.
“When faced with choices, unable to balance both, you chose to escape. This fortress suits you well. Once activated, you can ‘escape’ from making decisions once more.”
“Locking yourself inside a strong fortress, hiding your heart in a box buried with clutter, pretending not to know your feelings, fearing any decisions, shutting oneself within, and constantly avoiding.”
“But can you keep hiding forever?” The destructive light of dawn swept through with her weapon, as Tillysha, long spear in one hand, her forearm gripping the shaft, black flames and white fire burning more fiercely with each of her footsteps.
The ground beneath her feet surged as if she were walking on waves, carrying an irresistible momentum towards the towering castle for an all-out charge.
“You will always need to……….,” Tillysha, one foot grounded, the other knee bent in the air, raised her long spear high.
“HAVE TO MAKE A CHOICE!”
“BOOM BOOM BOOM!!!” The spear blade slashed down, splitting the city gate into halves that were instantly consumed by black flames.
“How…. How is this possible? How could any blade cleave through the city gates forged by the Moonlight Authority?…….”
“This isn’t just a blade.” Tillysha positioned her spear behind her back, stepping gracefully inside. “This is the blade-shaped [Destruction].”
“BOOM BOOM!” The spear blade cut straight through and shattered the inner city gate.
“Are you still planning to hide in your fortress and escape, Miss Aistride? You have no way to retreat anymore, you know.” Tillysha tilted her head, her terrifying weapon in hand, yet maintaining polite smiles and an elegant tone.
After cutting through the inner gate and entering the city, Tillysha leapt onto the wall, heading straight for Aistride sitting on the throne.
Aistride looked at Tillysha intently.
Though her attack was unstoppable, the fact remained she was still frail.
As long as the attacks reach her.
This fortress wasn’t just for protection.
Aistride secretly adjusted the direction of the fortress’ crossbows, pointing them inward toward Tillysha.
“BOOM BOOM!” The roaring crossbows struck Tillysha from behind.
Being caught off-guard without any defensive measures, Tillysha was hurled down, spiraling downward into unconsciousness, instinctively loosening her grip on the black-flame spear.
Her fingers slipped, her vision started to darken. Was she going to lose?
No, it couldn’t be! How could she lose?!!
Especially, to a Moon Elf like that…….
How could she ever lose?!
She had no reason to lose to such a lost, evasive Moon Elf!
Tillysha bit her tongue, the pain rousing her dazed brain, granting her a brief moment of clarity.
Next, she tightened her grip on the spear.
The token on her waist was as broken as her condition.
At this moment, Tillysha’s tattoo of the Golden Sun and Harp on her hand lit up brilliantly.
On the sunlit land, within the Golden Wood Palace atop towering trees,
Inside the dim sanctuary, the stunning golden-haired girl wearing a laurel wreath opened her olive green eyes, her calm face flickering with ripples.
“……….Tillysha?”
“CRACK CRACK!” Tillysha’s feet planted firmly on the fortress wall, resisting gravity and impact, her feet carving grotesque cracks into the wall.
Exhausted beyond limit, her vision blurred and nearly darkened.
But she hadn’t lost yet, and she wouldn’t lose!
Holding the spear blade, burning fiercely, Tillysha climbed up the wall!
Assuming everything was over, Aistride didn’t have a chance to breathe before she sensed something amiss.
Why hasn’t the announcer declared the winner yet?
The next moment answered her question.
Tillysha who was hit by several moonlight crossbows without any Realm protection, ascended the wall.
Aistride looked up and right then and there saw that golden figure dancing across the night sky, stunned speechless.
She immediately ordered the crossbows to fire, but due to the angle, they couldn’t reach the throne, and Tillysha was already on the throne platform at this moment.
How could this be? Her Realm had already been shattered, yet she hadn’t fallen despite the many attacks!
Could this be the effect of her Realm?
When Tillysha knocked the curved blade from Aistride’s hand and their faces were inches apart, showing undeniable fatigue and weakness yet fierce rebellion, Aistride finally realized there was no such effect of a Realm.
Tillysha’s Realm had indeed been shattered, and she had withstood all the attacks without a Realm.
Only now did Aistride understand that she’d overlooked things beyond just data.
For instance, perseverance, desire for victory, and the determination to win.
Looking at Tillysha who fought to the d*ath to secure the victory, Aistride felt a momentary daze. She realized her attitude towards this match was completely different from Tillysha’s.
She thought she would naturally win, thus required no great effort to secure her success, a mindset that was rare but absolutely present.
But Tillysha wasn’t like that. She wanted to win from the outset, and must win. Thus, she fought to the end at all costs, fully prepared.
So, Tillysha succeeded.
Just like she firmly promised earlier, she didn’t choose to escape, and even in the face of final despair, she still faced it head-on.
Her pride wouldn’t allow her to fall, and her persistence brought her the final victory.
“Would you ignore your family’s opposition, discard the sacred family rules, violate morals, and estrange everyone else just to pursue ‘love’?”
“Of course!”
The former answer and the current situation overlapped perfectly. She was truly forging ahead without looking back.
“I’ve lost. Victory belongs to you.” Aistride gracefully bowed to Tillysha, feeling a sense of relief upon saying those words. “Thank you, Princess Tillysha, for teaching me through your words and actions.”
Aistride willingly handed over her token, realizing that moments ago Tillysha could’ve slashed down, but refrained possibly due to……
Feeling the destructive aura off the spear, Aistride got her answer.
Perhaps if the spear had been used, the token couldn’t have guaranteed her safety.
The token shattered, and the Silver City crumbled.
Witnessing this, Litte felt an indescribable sensation.
Her constraint was lifted moments ago when Tillysha’s Divine Authority expended.
Witnessing the once-unbeatable Princess Aistride was defeated, she had an indescribable feeling in her heart.
Seeing the Golden-haired Elf Miss enveloped in black flames, lying unconscious amidst the ruins, Litte picked up her sword and approached Tillysha.
Looking at the disabled Golden-haired Elf, for some unknown reason, her sword refused to rise.
Not only because it felt like taking advantage of someone’s weakness, but also due to a deep-rooted unwillingness instinctively present……
“Alright then, since the princess said it………,” Litte muttered and stabbed her own token.
“Team 77 eliminated.”
“Detecting a stop in the Secret Realm. The Crown Cup champion is determined, and the winner is Team 30!”
“Captain Dilin, members: Ranger-tier goddess Tillysha.”
“Thank you all for witnessing the champion birth of this year’s Coleman. Let’s congratulate the team cutting through all obstacles to take first place!”
