The Author's POV

"Begin!"

The referee's voice boomed throughout the arena as mana simultaneously burst from both Amanda and her opponent.

With both of her hands on the handle of the sub-machine gun like artifact, a subtle red glow suddenly enshrouded the artifact as the tip slowly started to rotate. With each rotation, the faster the barrel moved.

Tat.

Eventually, after the first rotation, a small energy beam suddenly shot out from the barrel of the weapon as slowly but surely more and more energy beams started to shoot out.

Tat. Tat. Tat.

It wasn't before long that three more energy beams shot out.

Amanda wasn't standing still while this was happening. With her back arched a little bit, she taunted the string of her bow back as three translucent blue arrows materialized on her bow.

The moment the first energy beam shot out, Amanda calmly stood still.

Her decision proved to be the correct one as the projectile quickly missed her, resulting in her hair to fluttered wildly.

Following the first beam, more and more beams started to shoot out from her opponent's artifact.

Even then, Amanda refused to release her arrows the mana around her started to twist.

Whenever a beam would come hurtling towards her, she would either take a step to the side or move a small part of the body. Her movements were minimal, however, each time she moved she was able to miraculously dodge the energy beam that was hurtling towards her at incredible speed.

Amanda's actions caused almost everyone that was watching to look at her in awe as her mesmerizing figure stood in the middle of the arena like an unbeatable war goddess.

Her nimble and yet minimal movements that helped her dodge the beams caused everyone to be at a loss for breath.

'So skillful'

Everyone thought as they watched her dance around her spot, like a beautiful butterfly.

The reason why Amanda was able to do all of this was because of her skill.

[[C] Mana sense]

A skill that essentially allowed her to sense the mana as well as see the disturbances around it. Not only did the skill help her determine the direction of her arrows when she shot them, but she was also able to sense the direction of where the attack of her opponent would go.

It was thanks to this skill that she was able to do what she was doing. However, this only worked for a short period of time. From a certain point, the projectiles would become way too fast to dodge even if she knew where they were coming from.

But fortunately, Amanda was ready.

Tat. Tat. Tat.

Barely dodging three more energy beams, the mana around Amanda's body burst out like a raging storm. Then, eyeing her opponent, she released two of the three arrows.

Xiu! Xiu!

The moment she released the two arrows, the air tore apart and the two arrows disappeared from the spot.

They were so fast that by the time Amanda's opponent could retaliate they were already upon her.

Letting out a low cry, a transparent shield suddenly materialized around the dwarven girl. However, what happened next was completely out of her expectations.

Right as the arrows reached her, instead of hitting her shield as she expected them to, they suddenly expanded and formed two thin blue barriers. Trapping her from above.

In the distance, pursing her lips, Amanda softly muttered.

"Contract."

Instantly the two thin shields started to contract. And slowly but surely, they reached the dwarven girl's shield, applying heavy pressure on it.

Crack. Crack. Crack.

It wasn't long before cracks started to appear on the shield of Amanda's opponent as a helpless look appeared on her face.

Raising her bow towards the air, Amanda finally let go of the final arrow. Once again, it disappeared from her bow, tearing through the air like a comet.

Crash!

her bow, the barrier around Amanda's opponent finally

a powerful mana fluctuation coming from above. Lifting her head up, she watched as a

that she was

Booooom!

ensued a couple of seconds after as Amanda's arrow came crashing down on her opponent, sending dust flying

of meters in front of Amanda's opponent with his hand raised. Behind him was the

Thud.

is Amanda Stern,

***

"How strong..."

I said I wasn't impressed by her performance, that would've been

wasn't exactly the strongest, for Amanda to one-sidedly beat her like that, was a testament

With her head cocked to

when I

way, did you really come here because you were

alone, given her resources and the fact that she wasn't

Perhaps I was overthinking.

behind her ear, Angelica slowly raised her head and looked at me.

"No."

"…oh?"

else that she wanted to talk about. Now

I could say anything else, turning her attention back

planning on consolidating his strength before

inside of my head as I started recalling all of the plans that I had set up

of Immorra so that I

"I see…that's great news."

I didn't

of the things that I had

loyalties were, but I also

on interfering in the war between two individuals whose strength

surprise, and even with that, I knew that his chances

not high at

say anything about the time he will

"No."

her head. Pausing for a second,

think he will attack any time soon. He is trying to find the

"I see."

nodded her

that Silug was not rushing into the big fight as soon as his strength broke through,

put Angelica in

on my chin and taking a small glance in Angelica's direction,

probably turn

knit when she heard my

"Why?"

because people will come to visit me soon. I'm

my words could even fade, we suddenly heard the sound of

eyes, throwing me a glare, a black shadow cast over Angelica before her figure shrunk and she turned

her transformation, she jumped up on the bed before resting on the top of the small ledge

Clank—

full-fledged count-ranked demon, it only took a brief moment

sat on the ledge, the door swung open and Kevin

"Hey."

"Mhm."

with a nod. Looking around the place, Kevin's feet suddenly came to a halt as he pointed in the direction of where Angelica

jumped

"Is that…?"

"Yes, it's her."

already briefed him about Angelica so it was

my head,

you just come

"Yeah."

replied as he sat down on the chair where Octavious and

still in a

"I've heard."