A Wolf's Howl, A Fairy's Wing

Before Zohran's second sabre could find purchase in her flesh, Astrid's body lit up with more orange runes. Veins of sunlight were drawn across her body. With a smirk, she suddenly sped up. With a speed and power they hadn't seen of her yet, she twisted her body and smacked the second sabre away.

So far, she'd used her solar ray and her afterimages, but she still had one ability left: solar enhancement. Her first rank skill was essentially a boost to her physical stats, and she used it as a trump card.

Having caught them off-guard with her sudden speed, Astrid didn't hesitate to press the advantage. Her opponents hadn't gone unscathed, after all. At the very least, they were expending a lot of energy.

So, having just deflected their attacks, she reversed her grip on her left-hand sword, and used all her strength to punch the pommel into Nasir's chest. The magma-encased vampire stumbled back, heavy footsteps stomping on the Earth. In the same movement, she used her right-hand sword to smack away Zohran's sabres once more, before suddenly making her left sword disappear into her storage.

Growling in excitement, she used that moment that grab the werejackal's throat with her now-free hand. She'd correctly assumed his phasing ability wouldn't protect him against a grapple. She looked him in the face with a wide grin, her eyes beginning to glow.

Sputtering and struggling, Zohran's eyes widened. He'd seen what that attack was like, and knew it would kill him from this distance. Experienced as he was, he immediately dropped his sabres, knowing he wouldn't be able to achieve the required thrust to harm Astrid from this distance.

Rather, he raised his transformed arms to hammer and claw against her armour. Astrid felt the power of his blows and bloody cuts from his claws… but she didn't flinch. She continued grinning, her eyes becoming brighter and brighter as her ability charged up.

Time in the arena slowed down. Nasir, having recovered from Astrid's blow, finally broke his silence by roaring, "Zohran!" as he charged Astrid.

Next to Erik, Zahra's eyes widened as well. Illusory red light appeared on her hands and she stepped forward… but then Erik's eyes flashed. The sigil activated, her aetherium storage was cut-off, and the light disappeared.

"You—!" she cried out at him, some despair slipping into her voice. "Stop her! This was not the deal!"

Erik glanced at her, a small smirk on his lips. "It's funny you think we'd need a fake duel to start killing you three." He turned back to the duel and watched calmly. "Relax…" he muttered, as the scene came to its conclusion.

Astrid's eyes continued charging up as micro-seconds ticked away. Nasir, still roaring, was on his way, but who knew if he'd arrive on time? Zohran, sputtering and gurgling, still thrashed away at her, defiance and fighting spirit burning in his yellow eyes.

"You know?" Astrid suddenly muttered, some anger and fury having slipped into her voice. "You tried to kill my husband twice, and I really, really, feel like killing you because of it… but you're in luck today."

At the last moment, she averted her gaze as two solar rays burst forth and pierced Zohran's shoulder, straight to the other side. The werejackal howled in pain, his body twitching as pure sunlight burned his body.

"I suggest you remember this, doggy," Astrid growled, her grin widening with sadistic glee. "There's no resisting my husband's rule."

Without another word, and with a casual flick of her wrist, she tossed Zohran halfway across the arena. Like a sack of potatoes, he skidded across the sandstone ground, his blood trailing behind him.

As this happened, Erik was still talking to Zahra. "…We still need you three alive to halt the hunter's advance here. I don't have enough third-rankers available to replace you right now."

Fury flashed in her eyes at his dismissive callousness… but remembering they had tried to kill him twice, she wasn't so dense as to think they were anything but delayed enemies.

Regardless, when she realised Zohran was still alive, she sighed in relief. Yet, the frustration at being unable to interfere remained.

Meanwhile, Astrid turned to face a furious Nasir, just in time to defend herself.

Or so she thought. Just as she wanted to parry his spear, she faltered. A burning pain erupted from her side, and she felt herself weaken. Instantly, she realised this was Zohran's last revenge in the form of his third ability.

She'd seen his clone and his phasing, but it appeared the shadows leaking from his blade were never just for show. Rather, it was a weaker version of the kind of poison that Edda's affinity used as well.

She mobilised her own power and affinity to burn the poison away, but she was too late. Nasir reached her and, with a roar, buried his spear in her other side.

"Gah!" she snarled, spitting blood as she stumbled back. Now both wounded and poisoned, she was unable to resist Nasir's powerful kick that followed, forcing her to stumble back and fall on one knee, clutching her side with her free hand.

Having retrieved his spear, he twirled it, turned it into a polearm again, and breathed loudly as he pressed the edge against Astrid's throat.

Smirking, Astrid looked up at him and cocked an eyebrow. "What now… huh…?" she panted mockingly. "I didn't think… you cared about the doggy… that much…"

She saw anger burning in his usually cold eyes, and a clear desire to cut her throat. Yet… he somehow couldn't move a muscle. Instinctively, he glanced back at Erik. The man still stood there, seemingly calm, yet there was something in his eyes. A shiver went through Nasir's spine, and he somehow realised he'd never be able to draw another drop of this woman's blood.

Nasir gulped, and calm descended on him as he remembered the situation they were in. He turned back to Astrid. "Surrender…" he panted.

Astrid grinned up at him. "I'm willing to… call it a draw…" she said defiantly. As she said that, Nasir felt something poke at his lower body. Looking down, he noticed Astrid's remaining sword, accurately piercing a gap in his magma armour, dangerously close to his genitals.

"Decide quickly…" Astrid chuckled at the fear that crossed his face. "When I've… burned this poison away… you'll join your friend… on the floor."

Silence descended for a moment… but then Nasir nodded curtly.

With that, the duel was over.