233 Crossbow Mage Vs. Demon Goddess (1/2)

They were staring at Evlin as she stood in front of a pile of wreckage that used to be the front doors of the building.

”What's happening?? Who did this!!??” Leona shouted with immense rage in her eyes while Marcus stood behind her in an absolute loss.

”Evlin?? What's going on??” the silver-haired lad asked.

Evlin wanted to turn around to look at him before answering, but she didn't want to let Hana out of her sight.

”Take Ellie and Dia out of here...” she whispered.

”What...?” Ellie asked while being carried by Claire in her back with Dia and Joseph on their side, ”Why...?”

”Miss Evlin!! What's the meaning of this??” Leona shouted again while noticing Evlin aiming her crossbow at Hana, ”Why are you being hostile towards our goddess!!?? Is this an act of betrayal??”

”Leona, that's not a goddess, that's Hana, the demon queen!” Evlin replied.

”W- What!!??” the fire mage mumbled, ”what are you talking about??”

Hana herself started to glare at Evlin, she hated when people would put labels on her. Ever since she was a kid people would label her as a dead person walking due to her disease, and now, Evlin was doing the same thing by giving her a name due to her being the originator of red energy, ”Why do you keep calling me that?? Who was it that named my faction with the word demon??”

”Lady East!! Is that true?? Are you really Hana??” Leona asked in disbelief.

”Are you starting to doubt me??” the goddess wondered while gazing at her champion, ”Do not forget that you swore loyalty to me!”

”B- But...”

”Leona! Take Ellie, Dia, and Marcus out of here!!” Evlin yelled again.

”Leona!! You better not disobey me!!” Hana screamed next.

The blond fire mage began to shiver, ”Wh- What should I do...??”

Marcus noticed the confusion on her eyes and started to feel he needed to do something as well, so he turned to Evlin again, ”Evlin, please!! Tell us what's going on!!”

”I told you!! This woman is Hana, the demon queen!! And she wants to use you three to kill a dragon!”

”What!!??” all three replied.

Hana was starting to lose her patience, she raised her hand and pointed her index at the crossbow mage ”Call me demon queen, one more time...”

Evlin noticed a small spark of energy glowing on her finger and realized that she was about to attack, ”Sphinx!!”

The golden griffin woke up from his sleep on top of the temple and jumped to go to his master's aid. Evlin changed her crossbow into gauntlets and as soon as her pet approached, unleashed a wave of transformation magic that fused the two into one being.

As she was now taller, stronger, and with a body covered in golden fur with a tail and two wings on her back, she glared at the goddess once again.

”Wraaghhh!!!” Hana screamed as she started to shoot Evlin with a beam of silver energy, but the mage just applied healing magic to her legs which greatly increased her speed, and leaped out of the way.

As she gazed at where she was standing, Evlin noticed the floor exploding from being hit by Hana's attack, making the temple shake once again.

”This was my warning shot...” Hana declared, ”cease this foolishness before I get angry...”

”Sure...” Evlin replied while landing on the ground, ”just give me your word that you will leave me and the kids alone...”

”I can't do that...”

Evlin then smirked and changed her gauntlets to take the shape of small cannons and aimed at Hana, ”Typical... You gods are all the same... Always thinking you have to answer to no one...”

The mage then unleashed a barrage of diamond bullets charged with raw magic energy at Hana, who just repelled each of them with her open palms.

”We have to help her!!” Gustav shouted as he rushed over the staircase and jumped into the fight.

Daren wanted to help as well and approached Marcus to ask for support, ”Marcus, come on!! She needs us!!”

”R- Right!!” Marcus replied. He was about to change into a weapon for Daren to use but Leona grabbed his shoulder to stop him.

”Wait! Don't! If you make her mad, things could get even worse!”

”Leona! I...” Marcus stuttered.

”Marcus!! What are you waiting for!!??” Daren shouted.

Marcus then gritted his teeth and looked right into the fire mage's eyes, ”I'm sorry Leona...”

The woman watched as the lad turned into a pair of metal claws for Daren and both of them joined Gustav in coming to Evlin's aid.

The crossbow mage was about to blast Hana with a display of her beastly howl, but the goddess just instantly approached her and grabbed her face, followed by smacking her against the ground.

”You're making a fool out of yourself!! Cease this, now!!” Hana stated.

”I'm a fool for protecting those who need me??” Evlin yelled while trying to free herself, but Hana was strong for someone with such thin arms.

”You are a fool for going up against the will of a god...”

”You are not a god!! You're just another brat that thinks just because you have a big, fancy toy, you get to decide how the game should be played! Just another bully full of yourself!”

”Grrr!!! You're so stubborn!!” Hana yelled while raising Evlin with one arm and throwing her at the mansion.

The woman continued to fly and was about to crash against the wall, but Gustav jumped to catch her.

”Evlin!! I got your back!”

”Ah!! Thanks, Gus!! Now throw me at her!!”

”What? Ah! Understood!!”

Gustav did just as he was told and using the boosted strength granted by his armor, he launched Evlin back at Hana.

The mage then began to raise her arms and spin around while covering herself with diamonds until she took the shape of a giant green drill.