''Third Form, Flow Redirection.''


    With fluid motions, Mrazivy swung her sword and used one of the special techniques she had learned from the Sword Savant.


    The vicious rush of attacks Mara was throwing at her were swept away and never came close to reaching her.


    At first Mrazivy had to devote all of her focus to parrying, but as the seconds passed on, she adjusted to her opponent''s burst of strength.


    Soon she was finding opportunities to counterattack, and her sword weaved past Mara''s guard.


    The wounds were shallow, sometimes barely even cutting through a fewyers of skin. Still, the damage was racking up, and after thousands of exchanges Mara was drenched in blood.


    "Damn You!"


    Letting out a furious roar, Mara swung her ax down with the greatest amount of force she had ever mustered. It was empowered by every one of her strongest abilities and the Primeval Demonic Essence she had consumed.


    Yet even this blow was turned aside by Mrazivy calm and collected expert swordsmanship.


    After deflecting Mara''s all or nothing strike, Mrazivy was left with a perfect opening. Her foe was off bnce and the huge weapon that she relied on for both offense and defense was barely still in her grasp.


    ''First Form, Light Speed sh.''


    In a single blinding movement, Mrazivy''s saber traced an arc through Mara''s throat.


    A single thin line burst open across the Eminence''s throat and blood began to gush out.


    "I suppose that I shouldmend your reflexes. I was trying to take your head off." Mrazivy said sarcastically as Mara leapt away from her.


    In truth she had not actually been trying to kill her enemy. If she had wanted Mara dead, she would have struck her down far sooner. Mrazivy had been instructed to capture her alive if at all possible and she was taking her mission very seriously.


    Nevertheless, her words and tone of voice only angered Mara further, just as she indented. So long as her adversary was lost in a blind rage, she would be much easier to control.


    ''I can deal with head-on attacks just fine. The only thing I need to worry about is cunning schemes. Something I doubt that she cane up with in her current condition.'' Mrazivy thought while continuing to antagonize Mara.


    Thankfully her jeering worked wonders, and the seconds that Mara''s regeneration had finished healing her shed throat, she threw herself back at Mrazivy.


    Over and over again, the two of them shed, with the victor being the same every time.


    Despite Mara using one of her trump cards, she was helpless to overpower the person she had initially thought would be little trouble.


    She hade prepared with what should have been an overwhelming force to crush the group that had gotten in the way of so many of her organization''s ns. Expect the tables hadpletely been turned on them. Now most of her allies were dead or captured, and it was only a matter of time until she met the same fate.


    "Looks like Marcus has just finished up. If you wouldn''t mind just giving up, that would be great. The man that you forced him to fight was someone he had a connection to. I can tell that he could use somefort right now. So, I don''t want to waste another second on you."


    Wearing a far more serious expression than she had up to this point, Mrazivy sent a wave of intimation towards Mara to break her already worn-down spirit. The time to slowly chip away at her opponent was over. She was ready to end this.


    "Don''t you look down on me!"


    Refusing to buckle under the pressure being exerted on her, Marashed out in anger. It was all she could do to not fall.


    "I figured that this was how it would go." Mrazivy muttered, preparing to unleash her sharpest strike.


    With her focus and intent heightened to their absolute limit, she became one with her de. It had been crafted using parts of her own body and by the person that she treasured the most. It was not only a weapon of the highest quality, but also one that was perfectly in tune with her.


    One instant was all it took. Mrazivy cleaved through Mara''s final reckless attack.


    Her saber sliced through Mara''s giant ax as if it was made of tofu, then through her armor, andstly into her body.


    "GRAHHH!"


    Once the pain assailed her, Mara sunk to her knees and sped the gushing stump where her right shoulder had once been.


    What little mana she had left in her body she channeled towards the wound to speed up its regeneration. However, it refused to close, and instead was slowly getting worse.


    "I''m afraid that is not going to help. My sword has already left its mark on you."


    Mrazivy''s Bahamut''s Fang had been granted a powerful enchantment along with its name from the system. If she so wished, anyone cut by it would be continually assailed by a deadly frost. Only a potent restoration spell or ability could cleanse it. In her current state, Mara''s regeneration could not keep up with the continual damage.


    "I''m sure that you feel self-important and proud right now, but your victory over me won''t mean anything in the end." Mara growled. "When our Lord arrives, you will just be another insect for him to do as he pleases with."


    After saying thesest biting words, Mara activated the teleportation item she always kept on her person for emergencies. She was loath to use it and run away in disgrace, but letting herself be captured to satisfy her pride would get her nowhere.


    Surpassingly, Mrazivy did not take any steps to stop Mara. She simply waved at her while wearing a triumphant smile.


    "We''ll see how long she can keep that grin on her face. I''ll torture her until she is whimpering at my feet, and when she''s broken, I''ll give her over to a bunch of demons to be their ything." Mara spat when she appeared on a teleportation circle in a hidden location only, she had ess to.


    In all of her life she had never been so livid before. Not only had she been thoroughly trounced and humiliated, but it was at the hands of Vaughn''s niece. That fact made it far worse for her.


    The pain of her missing arm soon took all of her attention, and she took out several potions to restore herself. Unfortunately, she did not have anything potent enough to cure the lingering effect of Mrazivy''s saber. She would have to endure until she could seek out a specialized healer.


    "You''re still look pretty bad. I''d be willing to help you for old times sack, boss."


    Mara whipped around in surprise when she heard a mocking voice behind her.


    She had recognized the voice, and when she visually confirmed who it was, her eyes went wide in disbelief.


    "That''s impossible! You''re supposed to be dead!" Mara yelled.


    It had not been long ago, someone she thought had been a close attendant turned out to be a spy. Nevertheless, Vaughn had torn off her disguise and the guardian assigned to their base by their Lord had eaten her. It had been confirmed that she was dead.


    "That''s not a very nice way to greet me. I thought that I did exemry work and that you appreciated me." Alexandria said while feigning sadness.


    Although her ns had gone awry when Vaughn outed her, she was still very much alive. And now she was here waiting for Mara so that she could fulfill her true objective.