157 Gambit of the fallen goddess (1/2)

Detra stared at Mia while praying that her plan would work. It was the only card she had left by that point.

”This girl...” Detra said as she pointed at the fallen Ellie on the ground, ”She can beat you!”

Mia took a deep breath and closed her eyes while processing that information with her arms crossed, very similar to how Evlin would often do, and tried to ponder about East's statement for a bit before looking at her like she was crazy.

”So Evlin was right... You did suffer brain damage...”

Detra felt really annoyed by that comment but she couldn't afford to be led by her emotions right now. She needed to focus on making sure her strategy worked out.

”I know what it looks like... But I've seen what she can do... If there is anyone who can stand a chance to finally giving you the end you desire so much, it's definitely her...” Detra explained.

Mia gave another look at Ellie and once again, felt no faith in Detra's words.

”I find that very, very hard to believe...” Mia admitted.

”Just hear me out...” Detra asked, ”This child can use magic without a staff just like you! She inhaled the crossbow girl's staff after it was turned into ashes from the fire... Her whole body is basically a living staff! Which means she can access any spell she wants anytime she wants! ”

”...” Mia didn't seem convinced.

”And not only that... She has the ability to copy the spells from the people around her! You saw how she used the diamond spells from the crossbow girl? Or how she could change her body into blessed metal like Marcus? She's probably the world's most powerful master of mirror magic, which surely can prove to be a great challenge even to you!”

”...” Mia still didn't seem impressed. Detra was starting to become nervous. The woman needed to find a way to sell the idea of Ellie being a worthy opponent or Mia would go after Hana instead.

”And... !!” the former goddess stated while raising her finger while dripping sweat from her face, ”She even managed to copy your blessing as well!! She can also absorb magic with her bare hands, thanks to the ability she mirrored from you!!”

”...” Mia still didn't look all that amazed, but she did raise an eyebrow and began to rest her chin on her hand, ”Is that so...?”

”Yes!! It is that so!!” Detra wanted to kill herself on the inside for using Evlin's favorite stupid line but quickly returned to the problem at hand, ”So? What do you say? A girl that can use several different magic spells, all without the need of a mage staff, and, with the ability to absorb energy, making her able to keep fighting for long periods of time!! Sounds like a fun time??”

Mia just looked at Detra with very unimpressed eyes and shifted her gaze to Ellie. She then began to walk towards her direction and created a pair of claws made of diamonds with her hands.

”Wha- What are you doing...?” Detra asked.

”Waaaaiittt!!!” Detra realized that Mia was about to slash Ellie into pieces and jumped in front of her to stop the girl from being eviscerated.

”What...? You just said she would be a worthy challenge...”

”Can't you see that she's not ready yet?? She's not even awake right now!!” Detra shouted as she grabbed Ellie and shook her in front of Mia like a ragdoll while being careful not to drop Lance.

”Then what exactly do you propose...?”

This was it, the moment Detra was hoping for and the one she was placing all her bets on. If she could get time to prepare herself and turn Ellie into a weapon that could defeat Mia, they might just solve this whole problem once and for all.

”Let's make a deal!”

”... A deal...?”

”How about you give us... Two years...? Maybe three?” Detra suggested.

”Three years...?”

”Three years to train this girl... To make her into a real proper mage... She has the foundation inside of her but she still needs to be properly polished... Just give me a little bit of time... And I'll give you the opponent that can finally end you...”

Mia glared at Detra, ”You want me to just sit around and wait for three years while you train this girl... All on the very, VERY, faint hope that she might be a challenge one day?”

”Well...” Detra started to become nervous.

”I'm tired of waiting and placing my hopes on others... I'm not wasting years of my life anymore just to be disappointed again...” Mia stated as she raised her fist and prepared to stab Ellie.

Detra began to panic, ”Ah!! Ah!! What about your game!!??”

Mia froze on her attack and stared at Detra, ”My game...??”

”Yes!! You gave Evlin two weeks to win your game!! The two weeks are not over yet!! We still have time to get at full power and find you!!” the blond woman said while shaking her whole body and trying to hide Ellie behind her.

”...” Mia stared at the two.

”Just give us two weeks... It's all I ask!!”

”...”

At that moment, Mia began to hear voices speaking inside her head.

[She's just wasting our time!! She knows nothing can stop you now and want to use this chance to run away!! Just kill her now!!] said Drya.

[Indeed!! We deserve only the greatest of opponents to face us!! A frail small child like this will hardly be a problem against our might!!] added North.