Spar and Next Region
{AN: 500 powerstones and the promised chapter, the last one of this volume.}
"And this should be your sister Ellen who I listened about. She is certainly a cute one." Ajax greeted with a smile "Nice to meet you!"
"Who is he, brother?" Ellen guided behind Allen, looking warily at Ajax.
"He is Ajax and like me, he is a new Harbinger, Tartagglia" Allen said causing Ellen to tense a little "I meet him in the past and we are friends, you don't need to worry." Allen calmed Ellen "He is not a very reliable man, but he could be trusted, unlike others."
"Hey!" Ajax shouted offended "5 years had passed since that time. For your information, I have grown. I'm no longer that little kid!"
"I can see it" Allen nodded "The same that I can see that you haven't changed at all. Anyway, why did you come? It won't be for a fight, no?"
"We haven't seen each other in a long time and tomorrow I will leave for Inazuma looking for clues. What's wrong with wanting to pass some time with a friend until then?" Ajax answered offended "But, a spar won't be a bad idea." In the end, he showed his true intention, his battle junkie character hadn't changed at all, always in search of strong opponents.
"I knew it" Allen sighed 'But it would be a good opportunity to test my Delusion' Allen looked attentively at Ajax 'He is certainly far stronger than before. He would be a good sparring partner "Okay, let's do it. I want to see how much you have grown."
"Be prepared to lose!" Ajax grinned.
The three of them left the building, going over a training arena inside the garden, made inside a huge hole, making it impossible to see from the outside if not at its edge. There was also an interior training ground, but as Allen wasn't aware of the scale of the fight, he preferred to not damage his new property.
"Let's start!" Ajax invoked two knives of Hydro, preparing for the fight.
"Yes" Allen drew his sword. It was a nimble blue sword with holes and delicate engravings over the blade, the Flute.
Kagome seemed to like collecting pieces of art, but also had a good collection of instruments and swords. The swords while incomparable with Grand Orchestre, they had quite good quality. In the end, Allen choose the Flute to use, thinking it would be the most compatible one.
"Start!" Shouted Ellen from the edge, announcing the combat.
Ajax was the first to move, dashing forward, swinging his daggers at Allen.
'Shield of Revenge' A Cryo sword manifested around Allen, stopping Ajax's slash as Allen thrust his sword.
Ajax twisted his body to the left, avoiding the strike, but Allen was waiting for it, the Cryo sword shining brightly, preparing to explode.
*Swiff!* However, before it could, Ajax focused more power on his daggers, swinging his right one, cutting the Cryo Sword, this one disappearing, and targeting Allen.
Allen leaned his body to the right to avoid it, but was met with Ajax's leg, Ajax having read him and covered his escape.
"Slow!"
'Burst' *Clank* Allen was barely able to block it pushing his sword using his burst and even then he was pushed over 3 meters away.
"RIPTIDE!" Ajax changed his weapon to a bow, firing a Hydro imbued magic arrow.
'Unwavering Armor!' Allen, unable to avoid due to the previous shock, tried to block.
*Boom!* Allen was directly hit, crashing to the ground over 10 meters away, the armor of his 2nd constellation cracking as it took most of the damage that ignored blocking it with his sword.
"You have become weak" Ajax slid while invoking again his daggers, appearing before Allen before he was able to recover "No, I might become too strong for you" Ajax swung his daggers downwards, causing a blast of water, pushing Allen again, this time completely cracking his armor.
Allen quickly recovered, putting a defense posture as he waited for the next attack, however, Ajax stood in the same place, having not moved from the previous attack.
"You know, let's stop here" Ajax withdrew his dagger "It's not fun fighting against you. I don't really understand how the previous Columbina lost against you."
"Yes, I can't also understand it" Allen said sadly 'She was far stronger than me, needing even to force me to kill her." Allen turned towards Ajax with a decided look 'He has really become incredibly strong in these years, becoming a true Harbinger powerhouse unlike me. His strength, speed and even experience and battle senses are better. And all of it without even using his Foul Legacy.'
"But the fight hasn't ended" 'Yes, in the end, this was all to test it' Allen took out a ribbon with his Delusion embedded in it. Allen activated the Delusion that started to shine brighter as he passed it over his hair, this becoming paler and growing longer, tying it into a pigtail with the bow as his body, changed, becoming the Colleen.
"Let's start the second phase." Allen's purple-silver eyes shined with anticipation.
"Let's see how much you have changed!" Ajax invoked his daggers again, dashing and swinging them toward Allen, but he was only able to cut the air as Allen dashed while leaving a water trace behind, appearing next to Ajax.
"Who is the slow now?" Allen grinned devilishly as she draw her sword, imbuing it with Hydro and preparing to thurst.
'Blast!' Hydro exploded from Ajax's daggers, using the force to change his posture, facing Allen while crossing his daggers at him.
'Hydro Counter' Ajax prepared to counter Allen's attack, using her own elemental attack against her own, however, Allen was able to completely read it, her sword stopping just before touching Ajax's dagger, swinging all her body and kicking him to his rips.
Ajax was shot for 5 meters but was able to quickly recover, but was unable to see Allen, only a trail of hydro spouts being in front of him, Allen using them to push herself at great speed, reaching his back.
"Aren't you the weak one?" Allen giggled. 'This is certainly addictive. Not only my body is stronger and faster now, being able to equalize my burst of energy with normal attacks, but even my Elemental Mastery is completely different, being able to unleash attacks as my previous burst as easy to breathe. It's like the difference between heavens and earth.'
'I can't keep with her' Ajax realized as he touched a purple gemstone 'Electro Delusion!'
Feeling his change, Allen stepped back as Ajax blasted Electro energy, his daggers changing from water to lightning and he put his usual mask over his face.
"Now let's see if you can keep with me." Ajax lowered his body and flashed, appearing behind Allen with a lance in his hands.
Allen had been barely able to react, a light cut appearing over her clothes "I see, so your Delusion increases your speed."
"I can't control it yet, but I know about your eyes, you won't be able to follow me" Ajax continued dashing all over at an incredible speed.
Thanks to his lack of control, Allen could avoid grievous wounds, but being unable to read him, her wounds were slowly increasing.
'My eyes weren't able to change at the Abyss, so the change of the Delusion is minimal over their performance. However, that's not a problem anymore.' Allen closed her eyes and swung her sword.
*♪* The Flute was known to be capable of musical sound, but after being buried for more than a thousand years, it seemed to have lost that property. Today, Allen showed that it was wrong, it wasn't that it couldn't make any sound, it was that no one was good enough to make it sound, and she was good enough to unleash its sound.
The air vibrated with the sound and the particles of water started joining, forming floating drops of water all around Allen.
*Pam* Ajax found himself completely blocked by Allen who had completely read his movements, gripping his clothes and using his speed against him as she slammed him to the ground.
"H-how?" Ajax was shocked. Even he couldn't control himself at such speed, how has she been able to take control?
"You are easy to take control, Ajax" Allen smiled 'As expected of someone who was blind.'
Kagome mostly fought without using her eyes, so her style was based on it, using her superior hearing. Allen hadn't reached her point of being able to feel the heart, blood and elemental flow of its enemies, but using the water field, he could sense Ajax as he broke them down, being able to read each of his movements.
"It seems that I really can't win like that. You have surpassed me in using Delusions" Allen let Ajax stand up as he scratches his head. "But let's see our full power!" Ajax grinned.
"FOUL LEGACY!" Black-purple energy exploded all around Ajax, taking a grip, especially over his Vision and Delusions, forming a full-body armor around him.
Actively using both a Vision and Delusion was impossible unless you reach the level of the Delusion being part of you, something that neither Allen nor Ajax had reached yet. However, Ajax's Foul Legacy was a shortcut to it, using his Abyss Element made him able to absorb and use the power of both.
"You were able to master it completely" Allen said amazed as she felt his immense power. It wasn't comparable with Skirk, but it was certainly strong.
"Take this!" Ajax started floating, Hydro and Electro forming a spear between his hand.
"I'm looking forward!" Allen grinned as she lifted her sword in front of her, Hydro accumulating on it, vibrating and swirling all around.
'Dark Leap!' Ajax shot towards Allen as Allen thrust her sword forward, shooting a torrent of water. 'Whirlpool!'
*BOOOOM* Both attacks clashed, exploding and covering everything with smoke.
"Are you okay?!" Ellen jumped over the arena, worried about her sibling being injured by the immense attack.
Once the smoke dispersed, Ajax's spear was pointing at Allen's neck while Allen's sword was over his stomach.
"I lost" Allen declared. If they had gone forward, she would have instantly died and while she would have been able to mortal wound him, he would have been able to last some time and maybe survive.
"It was a good combat" Ajax's helmet broke down, showing a bright smile.
"But I can't consider this my win" *CR* All his armor broke down, his weapon dispersing and he slammed over the ground.
"You are only able to last this much?" Allen laughed "I knew that it won't be able to last much but I did not expect it to be so short."
"It was my first time..." He panted exhaustedly "using my Delusion at the same time that the Foul Legacy... It's too exhausting." He explained "I only won because you faced me head on, if you tried to defend and avoid... I couldn't have followed."
"It doesn't change my lost" Ajax's burst power was stronger now, but he forced his limits, not lasting much. On the other hand, Allen burst was a little weaker but she was completely fine, being able to easily continue fighting.
Allen took her ribbon, returning to his normal self 'This certainly is a game changer' "Next time I'll win in every aspect."
"That's my words. Wait until a dominate my strength." Ajax grinned.
"Let's have some drinks. I'm thirsty" Allen said turning towards Ellen and patting her head "Sorry to worry you but I'm perfectly fine."
"Hm!" Ellen nodded at took Allen's hand as they walked away towards the building.
"Some help will be good" Ajax asked for her as he was unable to move at all, Allen and Ellen quickly returning and helping him inside.
...
After some rest, some drinks and food, a talk and a promise of a meeting between both families, Ajax left Allen's palace still sore, but at least able to move with his own feet, leaving both siblings alone until the bell sounded again.
"Your next mission has been assigned" Pantalone declared as he entered the building "You will be following another Harbinger for some time."
"Where is it?" Allen asked incredibly seriously as it would really affect his early future decisions.
"Mondstadt."
...
"Your Highness" At the throne room, Dottore lowered his head before the Tsaritsa.
"He has finally stopped at Modstadt" The Tsaritsa declared.
"Again, eh?" Dottore smiled "Could I use any means?"
"You are free to do as you please, but bring Columbina with you. Let prepare him for his purpose."
"Two with one stone" Dottore grinned "I'll make sure to force him out while preparing the terrain." He lowered his head before leaving the throne room.
"Now that I go there, I should use my time efficiently" Dottore laughed "Let's take some new materials."