BOOM!!!!

The sacred arrows came crashing down one after another. Brilliant golden light suddenly burst forth in the void of the star field. The golden radiance was like dawn breaking through darkness, driving away the shadows of the world and giving the Alliance forces unprecedented confidence.

Under the expectant gazes of all the Alliance people, when the golden energy field finally dissipated, the terrifying Abyssal Lord who had been everyone's nightmare was still alive. But she was clearly in an extremely weakened state now.

Even though Yumo's powerful body had managed to withstand the arrows from the Bow of Finality, the damage she'd taken was obviously immeasurable.

The swarms of butterflies that had once surrounded her with such overwhelming presence were now in tatters, having lost their former intimidating aura. The vast torrents of Shadow power had been reduced to less than a fifth of their previous intensity.

The girl at the center of the butterfly swarm was gasping continuously. Her body swayed unsteadily, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth like crimson ribbons sliding down her pale face. Her hair was disheveled and deep wounds that cut to the bone covered her chest, abdomen, shoulders and thighs. Blood kept flowing out, staining her entire body red. Her black dress was mostly torn, revealing patches of broken skin that made her look even more pitiful.

Those broken patches of skin were covered with countless scars left by swords and blades. Some were shallow, others deep. Blood and torn skin were everywhere, with some wounds still bubbling with blood, radiating the indescribable agony of a spirit being torn apart.

Massive amounts of blood flowed down from her wounds, turning her originally fair skin a deep crimson color. The sight was both bloody and tragic.

Yumo had completely lost all her former radiance and majesty. From head to toe, she'd been beaten into a sorry state by this brutal battle.

Not only that, but because of her severe injuries, the thin sword in Yumo's hand had begun to tremble. She could no longer unleash the terrifying power she'd wielded before. Every breath brought stabbing pain, and every heartbeat was accompanied by heart-wrenching agony.

...

WAAAAAH... it hurts... so... so much...

With one hand pressed against her abdomen and the other against her shoulder, Yumo bit down hard on her lips. Feeling the pain radiating from every part of her body, she had the urge to just break down and cry her heart out. But because she was too proud and didn't want to lose face in front of Maya, she forcibly held back the tears welling up in her eyes, not letting them fall.

But even as Yumo whimpered pitifully in her distress, Maya's attacks didn't stop!

The Emperor-Slaying Sword suddenly struck, slashing directly across Yumo's back and carving out a ghastly, horrifying wound.

"You... BASTARD Ahhhhhhhhhhh!!!"

Roaring furiously, Yumo suddenly fired dozens of Shadow Annihilation behind her!

Unfortunately, just like the hundreds of previous exchanges, Yumo's attacks hit nothing but empty space. Maya's figure had long since vanished without a trace.

"What the hell am I supposed to do?!!"

Yumo shouted hysterically.

Throughout all these rounds, Yumo had been constantly racking her brains, trying to figure out how to deal with Maya's tactics. But no matter what she tried, her strategies just wouldn't work.

What the hell am I supposed to do against this?!

When facing an enemy who struck once and then ran away, the Causality Reversal had to be activated immediately to reflect the damage back! But... once she planned to reflect it right away, Maya would predict her attack method with those damn eyes, making it completely ineffective. On the other hand, if she delayed the reversal by a few seconds, she might be able to avoid Maya's Eye of Revelation, but by then Maya would have already used the Golden Gate to escape hundreds of light-years away!!

Against Maya's despicable tactics, Yumo could only stay in a passive position, constantly getting beaten.

Actually, Yumo could transfer the damage she received to other objects.

However, when she tried to do this, she despairingly discovered that every single thing within the nearby battlefield had already been reduced to ash and smoke in the initial bombardment. At this moment, Yumo seemed to understand why Maya had played this game of chase in the star field from the very beginning. It was to use her own power to turn everything nearby into nothingness.

That damned woman!!

That had been her plan from the start!!

Realizing Maya's tactics, Yumo naturally wanted to retreat from this star field. But Maya's relentless attacks kept her body firmly locked in place, forming an invisible net of encirclement around her. As time passed and her stamina was continuously drained, Yumo lost the ability to break through the surrounding net.

She could only stay trapped inside, constantly being attacked by Maya, constantly being weakened.

Like... like this... if things continue like this, it won't work...

But, "What... what am I supposed to do?!"

Yumo muttered anxiously to herself. While muttering, she indiscriminately launched attacks in all directions without any strategy, trying to limit Maya's attack methods. Though this had some effect, such tactics were undoubtedly desperate measures. The shadow of failure was gradually enveloping Yumo.

...

Using her other Eye of Observation to watch Yumo in this state, Maya's eyes narrowed slightly.

"Sigh... that's about enough."

After letting out a long sigh, golden light once again gathered in Maya's palm. Her bow also collapsed and reformed under Maya's conscious control into golden chains that carved out sealing magic spells. These were the God-Binding Locks - Lierns.

In the next instant, a golden chain pierced through the Shadow Annihilation shot and stabbed right through Yumo's right palm, causing Yumo to furrow her brow and show a pained expression.

"What is this?!"

Gritting her teeth, Yumo hurriedly raised her hand to try and pull out the chain that had pierced through her palm.

Unfortunately, as soon as she raised her hand, another chain pierced through her left palm.

Then came her right foot, left foot, abdomen, chest...

In an instant, powerful forces came from all directions, pressing down on Yumo until she could barely breathe. The Shadow power that had been flowing through her body was frozen in place, beyond her control. At the same time, Yumo's consciousness was completely severed from the butterflies around her. Losing Yumo's support, the swarm of butterflies instantly transformed into countless crimson particles and dissipated without a trace.

This... this is?! A sealing formation?!

Staring at the golden chains wrapped around her body, Yumo had a very bad feeling. Her beautiful face was filled with terror and panic.

Unfortunately, Maya, who had already steeled her heart at this moment, wouldn't show mercy because of Yumo's pitiful expression. Instantly flashing behind Yumo, Maya raised both hands and a brilliant golden cube appeared between her palms.

"Supreme Seal - Holy Spirit Cube."

This was the very same terrifying skill that Maya had used to suppress Yumo in the trial space years ago. This seal, infused with the power of the Supreme One, couldn't be resisted by either the Holy Maiden or the Abyssal Lord. Once sealed within the cube, one would lose consciousness and fall into slumber. In order to ensure Yumo couldn't resist being sealed in the cube, Maya had gone through all this trouble to severely weaken her first.

Now little one, it's time to end this.

Slowly closing her eyes and focusing intently, Maya began rapidly chanting ancient and sacred incantations. As the incantations were chanted, the golden light around the cube intensified, and its volume began to continuously expand!

...

????

Huh?

However, just as Maya was rapidly chanting the spell and about to complete the Supreme Seal, her brow suddenly furrowed. Because at this moment, for some unknown reason, an intensely stimulating sensation suddenly exploded from her mouth, like a nuclear bomb going off inside her mouth!!

It forcibly interrupted her spell chanting...

"Cough cough cough cough cough cough!!!"

What... what the hell?!!

So... so spicy!!!!