Project Mage

"In this world, there are those who dedicate themselves solely to the study of magic," Aliana began, "And then there are those, like me, who choose to focus their magical affinity into their physical abilities, particularly their swords."

She continued. "Someone with Sword Magic style can reach a state where swordsmanship and magic become one. The blade becomes an instrument of unparalleled precision and power, a conduit for our magic to flow through. It allows us to unleash devastating techniques with every strike, making us formidable opponents in both close combat and magic."

She continued, her eyes fixed on her icy blade.

"A Sword God is someone who has mastered this art, the fusion of swordsmanship and magic, to the point where their blade becomes an extension of their body. The title of Sword God is not given lightly; it's only bestowed upon those who have achieved true mastery of the Sword Magic Style. The name you give your sword must become more than just a label. It becomes a symbol of your strength, an embodiment of your magical prowess. When a true Sword God unleashes their blades power, it's a display of the highest level of mastery."

As Aliana finished her explanation, she glanced at her sword, a sense of pride evident in her eyes. The chilling aura around her weapon seemed to pulse with newfound intensity.

Risebelle looked with curiosity, but said, "This will be valuable information for Dr. Kintovar."

Aliana's eyes narrowed at Risebelle's remark, and without warning, she swung her icy blade at the young mage. The strike came dangerously close to Risebelle, the freezing edge of the sword passing inches from her face. Risebelle, unfazed by the near miss, maintained her composure.

Aliana focused her magical energy with her sword in hand. She declared, "I will show you the first level of Sword Magic style. Kori Tengoku, Frostbite."

As she spoke the command, a surge of icy energy enveloped her sword, Kori Tengoku. The blade glistened with an even colder radiance, and the air around it seemed to drop in temperature. Aliana's movements became swifter and more precise as she prepared to unleash the power of Frostbite upon the sisters.

As Aliana's swift and deadly strike approached, time seemed to slow down for Risebelle. The world around her began to lose its color, everything fading into a dull gray as her senses honed in on the oncoming threat. She fixated on the shimmering blade of Kori Tengoku, which loomed very close to her neck.

With a surge of adrenaline and a desperate instinct to survive, Risebelle managed to duck just in the nick of time. However, Aliana's strike was so swift that it still grazed her, and a chilling sensation coursed over her forehead as a cold shiver ran down her spine.

Risebelle's heart raced as she narrowly avoided Aliana's deadly strike. She felt a chilling breeze brush against her forehead as the blade grazed her skin, leaving a cold, stinging sensation in its wake. Her swift reaction had saved her from a potentially fatal blow, but the close call left her shaken.

Aliana began to form a circle of blue energy with her sword. Risebelle quickly rolled backward to create some distance between herself and the relentless Cryomancer. Her heart was still pounding from the close call.

Aliana unleashed the six giant spikes of ice, launching them at Risebelle with deadly precision. In the midst of the chaos, Runebelle acted swiftly, summoning her three pillars to block the incoming projectiles. The ice spikes collided with the fiery pillars, causing a violent clash of elements.

Runebelle turned her attention to her shaken sister, calling out to her with concern. "Risebelle, are you okay?"

Risebelle, still reeling from the earlier close call, found herself momentarily unmoving. She took a deep breath to steady herself and then replied, "I'm fine, Runebelle. Just need a moment to collect myself."

As Risebelle caught her breath and took a moment to collect herself, her mind raced with thoughts of what had just transpired. The near miss with Aliana's blade had left her shaken, and the realization that this was only the first level of Sword Magic Style was a daunting one.

As Risebelle caught her breath and found a momentary respite behind Runebelle's protective pillars, her mind raced with thoughts of the near-miss she had just experienced. She couldn't help but feel a sense of vulnerability and unease.

‘What the hell was that?’ Risebelle asked herself silently, her heart still pounding in her chest. ‘I almost lost my head there... Literally.’

She took a deep breath, attempting to steady her thoughts.

Risebelle, while still on guard, asked Aliana, "How many Sword Gods exist in the world?"

Aliana's momentarily revealed a hint of uncertainty. "I'm… not entirely sure," she admitted. "Before I was stranded on this island with the others from the magic academy, there were only seven of us who had attained the title of Sword God. However, I can't say for certain how many might exist in the broader world."

She paused for a moment before continuing, "But on this island, as far as I know, I am the only one who holds that title."

Aliana, surrounded by a visible blue aura, regarded the sisters with an enigmatic smile. "You two are surprisingly amusing," she remarked, her tone carrying a hint of amusement. "I've decided to share a bit of information with you because, well, I find your presence rather intriguing."

The aura surrounding Aliana seemed to shimmer with power, and the temperature in the vicinity noticeably dropped as her icy magic emanated from her body. The sisters couldn't help but feel a sense of unease as they faced this formidable Cryomancer.

Aliana's , cold as the frozen depths of a winter's night, cut through the air speaking from her concealed position, "But it ends here, creations of the foolish."

As those words hung in the frigid air, Risebelle felt a chilling sense of dread wash over her. Everything went gray once more, and she frantically scanned her surroundings, trying to find Aliana's location.

Aliana had moved with a swiftness that seemed almost unnatural. Risebelle felt a sudden and sharp pressure on her shoulder, but it wasn't her own arm. In a moment of sheer terror, she realized that Aliana's sword had found its mark on Runebelle's shoulder, and the Cryomancer was dangerously close to severing her arm.

Risebelle's heart pounded in her chest as she desperately aimed her cannon in Aliana's direction, firing without a clear target, hoping to disrupt the Cryomancer's deadly intent. Only after the shot did Runebelle become aware of Aliana's presence, her eyes widening in alarm as she felt the blade's chilling proximity.

Runebelle, now aware of the danger, reacted swiftly, pulling away from the lethal strike and stumbling back, clutching her wounded shoulder in pain. The blade had grazed her, leaving a trail of blood in its wake.

The world returned to its vivid colors, and the forest seemed to exhale a collective sigh of relief as the immediate danger passed. Risebelle's heart raced, and her mind raced with thoughts of how close they had come to a devastating loss.

Risebelle, her breath coming in ragged gasps, couldn't help but feel a growing sense of unease.

‘What is this power Aliana possesses?' Risebelle thought, her mind racing. 'It's as if she can move so fast that she slips through the very fabric of reality itself… I can't afford to let my guard down, not even for a moment.'

Risebelle, determined to gain the upper hand, swiftly placed a blue, slippery energy on the ground around herself. This precautionary measure would make it challenging for Aliana to approach her and catch her off guard.

With her defenses in place, Risebelle raised her cannon and fired a series of precise shots at Aliana. Each shot surrounded with water magic, and she aimed with precision, hoping to disrupt Aliana's movements

Aliana gracefully sidestepped the incoming shots. She moved with an otherworldly agility, her form blurring as she evaded the projectiles. Risebelle's attacks missed their mark, leaving Aliana unscathed.

With a wry smile, Aliana remarked, "You'll have to do better than that if you want to land a hit on me, dear."

Aliana formed the ice spikes and sent them hurtling toward Risebelle, the young mage attempted to protect herself. However, her water magic didn't respond quickly enough, and the ice spikes struck her with critical force.

Risebelle let out a pained gasp as the icy projectiles pierced her defenses and inflicted severe damage. She stumbled to her knees, clutching her side where one of the spikes had struck. Her breaths came in ragged gasps, and she fought to maintain her composure despite the intense pain.

Aliana, her demeanor as cold as her magic, observed Risebelle's condition with a hint of satisfaction. "It seems you underestimated me," she remarked, "But worry not, little one. Your suffering will be over soon."

Risebelle, gritting her teeth against the pain, struggled to regain her footing. Risebelle's heart raced as she watched Aliana vanish from her sight, only to reappear within the swirling blue energy she had created.

Aliana, caught off guard by the sudden shift in her surroundings, found herself swept off her feet. She stumbled and fell to the ground, her icy aura briefly flickering as her control over her magic wavered.

With a triumphant gleam in her eyes, Risebelle seized the opportunity she had created. With a quick motion, she fired a shot from her cannon directly at Aliana, who was momentarily vulnerable on the ground.The shot struck Aliana with a burst of water-infused magic, causing her to cry out in pain as she was knocked backward. Her icy aura vanished, and she struggled to regain her footing.

Risebelle, though still in considerable pain herself, managed to rise to her feet.

"It seems you're the one who underestimated us," Risebelle declared. "We're not just foolish creations of Dr. Kintovar. We have a body, we have a mind and we have a soul. We are living beings just like you, but you humans refuse to admit that so you just want to kill off any scientist you please... but it’s always been that way...that's why you are all filthy!”

Risebelle's words rang out, and her mind briefly flashed back to a different time, a different life. She remembered a girl with blue hair, dressed in tattered slave clothes. The memories of her past life, of the pain and cruelty she had endured, fueled her attacks of the present.

Risebelle, her body aching from the battle and her injuries, turned to her sister Runebelle, who was preparing to use her Healing Shot.

"Don't bother trying to heal me right now," Risebelle said.

"But...Risebelle..."

"Runebelle, I'm about to do something, and it might get dangerous. You need to get back, find a safe spot, and be ready to provide support if I need it then. I can't have you getting hurt in the process."

Runebelle nodded, concern etched across her face. With a final, sad but reassuring look, Runebelle stepped back, keeping a watchful eye on her sister as she prepared to take action.

Risebelle began to channel an overwhelming surge of her Water Magic energy, her thoughts raced, and a flood of emotions washed over her.

‘These two... Roselle and Runebelle... they're so different’ she mused silently, her mind racing. ‘Roselle's headstrong, but she still carries some human compassion, and she can sometimes be reckless. And Runebelle... she's calm and thoughtful on the battlefield. I helped Roselle get along with the others, and Runebelle... well, she helped by just being herself."

Risebelle felt a warmth in her heart as she thought about the bond that had formed between them.

‘They bring out the best in me,’ Risebelle admitted to herself. ‘Couldn’t have asked for better sisters…’

Her body trembled with strain, but she was resolved to do whatever it took to protect her sisters.

‘This might be my last moments,’Risebelle thought, ‘But I'll make it count. For Roselle, for Runebelle, and for all the others who've suffered at the hands of humans...’

The energy surges around her and her surroundings seemed to blur, Risebelle's last thought echoed in her mind: "For Roselle and Runebelle, I'll give everything I have!"