Mistress Of The Evil Forest

Case 102: Advent – Overbearing.

Indestructible.

This is what anyone who has seen the Backrooms will have to say about it. Its seemingly fragile walls have withstood every sort of destruction applied to them so far—with no exception.

For what is supposed to be a simple base for her team, Aurora has gradually realized its potential as a weapon. Not only can she trap her enemies inside it indefinitely, but she can also use the dimension as a dumpster for nullifying attacks.

BOOM—!!

As soon as she senses the massive fire blast coming her way, a mosaic portal the size of a whole building emerges, absorbing the otherwise devastating strike like it is nothing.

Portal combat. 

This term naturally occurred to her some time ago, and she has been experimenting with it for a while. Realistically, she can use the portal to cut something into halves, like what she did to the guardian dragon in Neveah. Or, she can use it to send things into the Backrooms, which is a guaranteed win.

However, the act of opening a portal is easily noticeable and avoidable by powerful opponents, and since the portal itself can't move through space, this method is not reliable.

Thus, her normal portal combat style typically includes cutting things and nullifying attacks. Even then, it is extremely broken by every standard. One can imagine just how ridiculous it is to have a portable, adjustable shield capable of taking virtually any hit.

Snow gently falls in the capital of the empire.

In the distance, deafening impacts can be heard, accompanied by powerful quakes in the air itself. Two monsters of the grandmaster realm are fighting there.

''Principal!''

''On it!''

A strong gust of wind blows, causing Aurora's robe to flutter. In the sky, a colossal dragon whose flesh has fused with strange metallic components is roaring through the air, ripping apart a fire phoenix as multiple spells are trailing behind it.

In another corner, an intense blizzard runs rampant, barely covering the body of a massive deer golem whose red eyes sparkle like that of gemstones. Inside it, gleams of blue crystals and red rubies collide.

Facing the Black Dragon of the East, Aurora can sense more and more presences coming her way, likely Valstein's effort to surely eliminate her existence.

Gripping her golden-white clad sword even tighter, she springs forward, cutting through the air with immense momentum. Her blade soon reaches Genji's neck, only to be repelled by an invisible barrier. At that moment, the deceased hero plunges forward with his hand outstretched, intending to grab the girl's neck.

''Tch.''

A mosaic black portal is manifested between the two, promising an inevitable defeat for the man should he dare to cross the dimension. However, even as Aurora retreats and takes a cautious stance, the Backrooms welcomes no guest. Instead, a wave of heat belatedly hits her through the mask, and the next second, a deafening explosion erupts behind the portal.

''!!''

Before she can react, three blazing pillars of fire shoot toward her, their silhouettes akin to that of mighty dragons. Immediately, she cancels the portal to regain sight of her opponent and blinks into the sky, barely avoiding the attack.

As soon as she feels her vision changes, another wave of heat is felt. Gazing calmly at her figure with dull eyes, Genji once again sends three more pillars her way. Clumsily, Aurora manifests another portal, this time bigger than the last, right in front of her.

Even as the fire is consumed, she can never feel her heart calm.

'...There's no gap.'

Even with such absolute properties, portal combat is never perfect. After all, it isn't designed for combat in the first place. She can only have one portal up at a time, not to mention its incapability to allow the user to see through the substance. Moreover, creating a portal of massive size takes time to process, so it is sometimes quite inconvenient to use.

If Aurora could snap her finger and manifest a portal of infinite size, the last boss would've been dead a long time ago—no, maybe he could break the Backrooms. It's the last boss, after all.

Nevertheless, it has been a long time since she has fought such an overwhelming opponent. When Valstein releases Genji's trigger, the deceased hero's prowess rises by many folds, putting strains on Aurora's senses as she tries to keep up with him.

It's almost overbearing.

''Ah—!!''

Sensing a sudden disturbance in the space, Aurora hurriedly stabs toward a direction, unfortunately missing the assailant—Genji—by a strand of hair. No, he dodges it.

BOOM—!!

Too sudden.

The next thing she knows, she is lying squarely on the ruined ground, and an intense pain burns across her stomach. Aurora struggles up, still holding onto her sword. 

She feels like throwing out blood. 

'I guess I'm already doing that...'

Ignoring the blood ruining the inside of her mask, Aurora instinctively rolls to the side, letting Genji's fist pulverize the ground where she was lying a moment ago.

Ignoring the paralyzing pain, ignoring the shaking of her legs, Aurora once again shoots herself forward, her arm swinging a densely imbued blade, leaving a clear trail of cold light behind.

Genji's head turns right at her as if promised, and his sturdy forearm is raised in front of him, blocking Aurora's sword as his other hand casts another spell.

Aurora feels as though she is hitting a lump of diamond. Yet, that doesn't matter.

''Gauntlet of Severance, one meter.'' She mutters.

A viscous light bomb is then transferred from her left hand into Genji's body—right into between his lungs. Even if the Black Dragon doesn't show an iota of emotion outwardly, one can easily tell the man is shaken by the sudden imbalance in his posture. Seizing this chance, Aurora strains her muscle and forces her blade through Genji's forearm, successfully inflicting a deep cut on his flesh before falling back to evade his clumsily shot spell.

For a moment, she feels as though her opponent is hesitating.

Genji, who has his guts badly damaged, staggers. Even then, he shows no sign of resignation, and no one will dare to doubt his majesty.

'Even after death...'

Aurora sighs. So this is what a monarch should be—overwhelming, dignified even after leaving the world.

With all the respect she has for him and with all the rage he has toward Valstein to disturb this man's slumber, Aurora plunges forward, pointing her sword forward as if to stab him. Genji raises his flame, ready to retaliate.

''!!''

At that moment, Aurora abruptly stops in her tracks and ducks down, barely avoiding the knife aiming at her head. With no time to react, she blinks into the sky, letting Genji's flame chase her afterimage. She raises her sword in front of her chest and creates a simple ice barrier, heeding her instinct. Right then, a blast of air hits her from absolute nowhere, sending her to the ground, her feet planted into the broken concrete. 

From nearby buildings, dark-robed, masked figures emerge, each holding a certain hostility toward herself.

''...''

'I suppose... it's time to use those remaining points.'

Strangely, Aurora feels excited.