Project Mage

Roselle stood her ground. “No. You’re wrong,” she declared, “You are vulnerable, just like anyone else, and I’ll prove it, by beating you with my next move!”

Roselle launched a barrage and continued to assault Aliana’s weakening ice barrier. Aliana’s anger flared up “You... you think you can defeat me just because you have fire power now?! Don’t get cocky!” She raised her sword defiantly, attempting to counter Roselle’s attacks. However, the fire-infused cannon shots proved too overwhelming for her, causing her to stagger backward.

Suddenly, a wicked smile twisted across Aliana’s lips. She chuckled, a chilling sound that cut through the fiery chaos.

“Myyyyy, my,” she taunted with a false sweetness. “Impressive, so far, creation of the foolish…however…”

Without warning, Aliana vanished in a blur of speed, leaving an afterimage in her wake. She reappeared behind Roselle, her sword raised for a decisive strike.

“This is where it ends!”

But as she swung her blade downward with deadly intent, her confident face quickly twisted into one of horror.

Roselle had anticipated Aliana’s movement. She had coated the ground around her with a slippery, energy-infused substance. Just as Aliana rushed to attack, her incredible speed proved her downfall.

'Uh ohhh...'

Unable to stop herself, she slid uncontrollably on the slippery surface, her attack missing its mark by a wide margin. She found herself unable to stop as she stepped onto the slippery substance. With a yelp, she lost her balance and tumbled headlong onto the ground. Her sword went flying, and she landed with a loud thud.

Roselle stood over her, her cannon at the ready, as she looked down at the fallen Aliana. “It worked.. Just like I thought it would,” Roselle declared “I knew you were faster than me, so I had to get a little creative. Turns out, slippery magic is just the thing to take you down a peg or two.”

Aliana, still trying to shake off the effects of her unexpected tumble, glared up at Roselle "You... you little trickster," she grumbled.

Roselle began to channel her lightning affinity magic within her body. She focused on infusing it with her newfound fire energy, the two elements blending seamlessly.

The result was a spectacular display of power. Roselle’s lightning, now imbued with fiery energy, radiated a dazzling, golden-yellow glow. Sparks danced around her, forming a dazzling aura of fire and electricity.

“Aliana, your ice is about to melt away permanently,” Roselle declared, her eyes locked onto her fallen opponent. “You underestimated us, but we’re more than just creations. We adapt, we grow, and we’ll overcome any obstacle in our path! We are more than just machines, we are living beings!”

Roselle channeled her combined lightning and fire energy, the ground beneath Aliana began to crackle and sizzle. The slippery surface she had created earlier now transformed into a superheated inferno. The ice around Aliana’s body began to melt rapidly under the intense heat.

Aliana screamed in agony as the searing heat engulfed her. Her seemingly invincible Sword God Form was powerless against the combined might of Roselle’s elements. The ice armor that had once protected her shattered and melted away, leaving her vulnerable and defenseless.

As the searing blast of Roselle’s combined lightning and fire energy engulfed her, Aliana’s consciousness began to drift back to the distant memories of her former years.

She found herself standing in the midst of a grand arena, the cheers of the crowd echoing around her. Her younger self, with vibrant blue hair cascading down her back, was a formidable presence on the tournament grounds. She held her sword, Tengoku and walked with pride and grace.

Aliana’s past self, with her mastery over the magic arts to summon ice crystals, was a sight to behold. As the final round of the tournament reached its climax, she unleashed Sword Magic level 3, a technique she had learned over years of training. Tengoku gleamed with a radiant blue aura as she struck down her opponent with breathtaking precision.

The arena erupted in applause, and the announcer started to speak. “Ladies and gentlemen, we have witnessed an extraordinary display of swordsmanship today. Aliana, with her mesmerizing combination of swordsmanship and magical power, has emerged victorious in the final round! She is on the path to becoming a Sword God!”

Aliana’s youthful self took in the cheers of the crowd, a triumphant smirk gracing her lips. She reveled in the attention, believing herself to be unrivaled in her power.

After the tournament, as she stood by herself in the arena’s shadows, a group of six figures hidden in the shadows approached her.

Aliana addressed them, a smile coming to her face as she puts one hand on her side “Well, what do we have here? More admirers, I presume?” she said, her icy blue eyes locking onto the newcomers.

A figure with silver hair dressed like royalty, stepped forward. “No. We are not admirers, young one,” he said. “We are the current 6 Sword Gods. We see the potential within you, the potential to become something greater than you can imagine.”

’Three years of grueling training. Three years of mastering my Sword Magic. Three years of learning the secrets of the Sword God,’Aliana thought, her mind drifting deeper into her memories.

She vividly recalled one of the most intense training sessions she had ever experienced. She stood in a spacious dojo, surrounded by the grandeur of a hidden mountain sanctuary. Her mentors, the very Sword Gods who had recognized her potential that fateful day in the arena, watched with keen interest.

’I thought I was invincible after proving myself in that tournament,’Aliana mused as she reminisced about her younger self.

In that training session, she faced off against a silver-haired woman, one of her mentors, whose mastery of the sword was renowned even among Sword Gods. The air was charged with anticipation as Aliana raised Tengoku, her sword, and summoned her ice crystals. With a graceful arc of her blade, she sent a barrage of shimmering ice crystals hurtling towards the silver-haired woman.

The dojo seemed to freeze in time as the ice crystals approached their target. But in an instant, the silver-haired woman moved with unparalleled speed. With a single swing of her own blade, she shattered all of Aliana’s ice crystals with astonishing precision and finesse.

Aliana’s eyes widened in disbelief as she watched her well-crafted attack crumble before her. The silver-haired woman remained composed, her sword glowing with an ethereal light as she dispelled the ice.

The training session continued, but Aliana’s inner dialogue persisted. ‘I had believed I was unmatched, untouchable,’ she reflected. ‘But these mentors, these Sword Gods, shattered that illusion. They taught me that the power I had was nothing compared to them...’

The memories played like vivid images in her mind. She remembered the countless hours spent honing her skills, the sweat and blood spilled on the training grounds, and the moments of despair when she questioned her own worthiness.

“It was a journey of self-discovery,” Aliana thought, her thoughts flowing like a river of emotions. ‘Speed, Power, reflexes, defense, and magic. It was already challenging enough to wield magic into a blade... so I focused on one key element: Speed.’

Aliana’s memories shifted to the countless hours she had spent honing her speed. She remembered the grueling exercises, the swift and precise movements that had become second nature to her. The way she had pushed her body to its limits, determined to excel in this crucial aspect of swordsmanship.

She could still hear the whispers of her mentors, their guidance ringing in her ears. “Speed is the essence of the Sword God,” they had told her. “With speed, you can strike before your opponent even realizes. With speed, you can evade the deadliest of attacks. With speed, you can control the flow of battle.”

Aliana had taken those words to heart. She had trained relentlessly, seeking to surpass her own limits with each passing day. She had raced against the wind, sparred with fellow disciples, and practiced her sword techniques until her arms ached and her body screamed for rest.

“The first time I became a Sword God,” Aliana remembered, her thoughts continuing like a torrent of memories, “I felt the power surge through me, the very world bending to my will. In this form, not even their attacks could melt or break my ice. That’s when I knew I had surpassed them.”

As the memory played out, Aliana recalled the astonishment in the eyes of the other Sword Gods. They had gathered to witness her transformation, and was filled with surprise and admiration. Aliana’s sword, Tengoku, had shone brilliantly, and her silver hair had gleamed like moonlight as she entered her Sword God Form.

The other Sword Gods exchanged hushed whispers. “She did it in three years,” one of them marveled. “Her speed is unmatched...This is unbelievable.”

Another nodded in agreement. “Not even our combined efforts could break her ice in this form. She truly is a force to be reckoned with.”

Aliana had basked in their admiration, a triumphant smile gracing her lips as she met their gaze. One of her mentors had stepped forward, his eyes filled with pride. “Aliana, you have surpassed our expectations,” he had said. “Your speed is unmatched, and your mastery of the sword is extraordinary. You are now one of us, you are now a Sword God.”

“Young one,” Another said, “your dedication to the sword is truly remarkable. Your mastery of speed is unlike anything we have witnessed before.”

Another Sword God, known for his stoic demeanor, added, “It took us decades to achieve what you have accomplished in a mere three years. You are a prodigy, Aliana.”

Aliana bowed her head in acknowledgment of their praise and said, “I owe my progress to your guidance and the lessons you’ve imparted upon me. I am honored to be counted among the Sword Gods.”

’I am Aliana, the Sword God. I’ve spent years honing my skills, mastering my ice magic, and perfecting my speed. I’ve faced countless opponents and emerged victorious. I am the embodiment of power and precision. And yet...”

Aliana’s thoughts faltered as she struggled to comprehend the reality of the situation. Roselle and Runebelle, with their combined strength, pushed her to the brink of death.

‘Is it possible that I underestimated them?’ she questioned herself, a seed of doubt taking root. ‘Have I become too complacent in my power? Or perhaps... have they truly grown beyond what I expected?’

Aliana lay there, her body battered and broken, her once pristine dress now a charred remnant of its former self. The icy magic that had enveloped her had melted away, leaving her in a pool of water that mirrored the defeat she faced. She gazed upon her beloved blade, Tengoku, its silver surface marred by burns and scorch marks.

“I can’t... move anymore,” she murmured weakly.Her strength had been depleted, her body pushed beyond its limits. The Sword God, once so formidable, was now on the brink of surrender.

With a trembling hand, she reached out to grasp Tengoku’s hilt, her fingers trembling as they brushed against the blade. “I’m sorry, Tengoku,” she whispered, “I wasn’t strong enough…to wield you.”

As soon as she finished saying that, the unexpected happened. A faint shimmer of light enveloped the blade, and from within it emerged the form of the Sword's Spirit. Its appearance mirrored Aliana's own and it stared at her within her mind.

Aliana's eyes widened in astonishment upon beheld the spectral figure before her. No words were spoken, but in that moment, a silent understanding passed between them within the realms of her mind.

Tears welled up in her eyes, and her grip on the blade began to loosen, but a sudden shout pierced through the air, bringing Aliana back to reality. “Princess Aliana, don’t give up!”

Startled, Aliana turned her gaze toward the source of the one shouting. There, standing before her in a magic academy uniform with blue hair that seemed to shimmer like a sapphire.

Roselle and Runebelle exchanged bewildered glances. The sudden appearance of this girl had taken them by surprise.

Risebelle, on the other hand, maintained a serious demeanor as she focused on regaining her magic.