109 The Queen of Blood (1/2)

Claire suddenly stands up from within Milia's arms. Noticing her violet eyes, Milia lets out a soft gasp.

”Claire, the color of your eyes...”

The change is not limited to the color of her eyes. Her aura seems more mature, and even the quality of her magic seems different somehow.

But above all else, the most conspicuous thing... is that all her wounds have closed up.

Her abdomen is stained with the blood from the large wound just now, but that blood begins to wriggle before clumping together and floating in midair.

It is exactly what the Queen of Blood is doing.

”Well then, I wonder how long — can last...”

So murmurs Claire. That voice is quiet and composed. Even the way she speaks seems to have become that of an entirely different person.

”Are you really Claire...?”

But right after Milia voices her question, the Queen of Blood's clump of blood explodes.

The sprays of blood once again turn into arrowheads, then fall upon everyone with unavoidable speed and density.

All of them merely stand in place, capable only of watching in despair.

That is... with her being the sole exception.

”Unfortunately for you, I am the original...”

So muttering, Claire sets off her own clump of blood.

That clump of blood splits into tiny, tiny drops that disperse. It almost becomes a mist of blood.

The drops adhere to the arrowheads upon making contact.

”Eh?”

Milia is the only person who voices her astonishment. But everyone else present is equally shocked.

The blood arrowheads suddenly lose momentum, falling to the ground as if drained of energy.

”It is not difficult to steal away control over blood that has left the body. It seems that I wasn't able to completely wrest control, but...”

Claire smiles bewitchingly while looking at the Queen of Blood, who is currently pierced by several blood arrowheads.

Claire had used the mist to hijack control over the arrowheads, then even sent them back. However, it was only with a limited number that she was able to go so far. The others she could only drop.

However, the ability to do such a thing is clearly beyond the realm of a human.

Everyone is left dumbfounded at the sight of what seems to have developed into a fight between two Queens of Blood.

”You cannot hope to defeat me with projectiles. In other words, there is only one thing that you can do.”

Claire runs her tongue over her lips, causing them to be dyed blood red.

The Queen of Blood moves.

She regenerates the areas wounded by arrowheads, and changes the shape of her dress.

From her dress of blood emerges...tentacles of blood.

Within the blink of an eye, she adds to their numbers.

”Yes, that is the right answer...”

So Claire murmurs, before extending tentacles of blood from her own body. It is exactly what the Queen of Blood is doing.

Red tentacles spread out from both of them, seemingly trying to intimidate the tentacles of the other.

Then both sides initiate battle simultaneously.

Sharp tips like the point of a spear stabs straight towards the other.

Some tentacles dive underground, some thrust through the ceiling to go overhead, and the rest almost paint the entire space blood red in their attempts to attack the other from all directions.

While tentacles crush tentacles, it takes but a brief while to reach their respective targets.

Looking at the incoming tentacles, Claire lifts a giant red scythe in readiness, while the Queen of Blood extends her red claws.

Then they both begin slashing at each other.

Tentacles dance, are crushed, are ripped apart, and dye the air with fresh red. The light from the Red Moon shines in through the holes punched into the ceiling, illuminating the two ladies in breathtaking beauty.

The fight being played out is too fast for eyes, too incredible for belief, and so utterly beyond human boundaries.

No one can take their eyes off this ferocious yet entrancing fight.

”How incredible...”

”What a fight this is...”

Are the two perhaps of equal strength?

Observers would not be able to determine who is holding the advantage.

All that can be determined is that not a single decisive hit has landed yet.

After the maddened dance of the tentacles continues for a while, Claire heaves a sigh.

”This isn't getting us anywhere... But is it already enough?”

Then a roguish smile comes over her face.

”Have you already... breathed in enough of the blood mist?”

The next instant, the Queen of Blood falls to her knees.

She vomits blood, then blood pours out from her eyes. Then blood spurts out from every single orifice on her body.

”Goho...”

For the first time, the Queen of Blood groans in pain.

”If you're going to breathe it, you have to properly steal back control over it.”

Claire's tentacles rush towards the kneeling Queen of Blood.