Astarea felt as if her body was shutting down. âA single punch with her skill is this powerful?â
Being in the same realm as Yasenia, their strengths were just too far apart. Even if Astarea could fight Yasenia using her experience and exceptional defensive battle style, there was a difference in power.
Looking down at the ascending dragon woman, Astarea raised her hand and chanted solemnly. "[Divine Tides Of Renewal]."
Yaseniaâs pupils shrank as an ocean manifested in the air and fell like a blanket. âDoes it make sense to be able to summon such a large body of water at once!?â
Looking to the sides, the dragoness knew that dodging the attack was impossible. âBut, wonât it hit Astarea as well? What is she planning?â
While the titanic ocean descended, the Dragoness stopped and prepared to use her defensive techniques. Even if she stopped, her eyes were fixed on Astarea, eager to see the effect on Astareaâs body.
An instant later, the enormous tide engulfed Astarea, but the Divine showed no signs of being damaged. On the contrary, the purple bruise on her stomach began to heal at a rapid rate.
The dragoness was surprised. âWater and Light with healing capabilities? How does that even make sense? Is it a concept of water that I donât understand?â
"[Orionâs Shield]."
A large white shield made of starlight manifested above Yasenia, covering the area above her. When the tides impacted, Yasenia grunted, but she maintained her position. "Heavy... But I can block it. Although..." A hint of surprise appeared in Yaseniaâs eyes. "Is the water corroding the shield? No... It is eating away at the energy."
Seeing the effects of Divine Tides Of Renewal baffled Yasenia. âA wide area healing and damaging ability with energy dismantling properties. Quite incredible.â
Knowing that it was not the time to be awed, Yasenia looked at Astareaâs figure with a frown. After thinking, she sighed. âI wanted to save this skill to face Ao Jiuyao, but it seems that I have to reveal it if I want to defeat Astarea quickly. Otherwise, I will have to reveal Dramel and Soluna.â
She was thinking of using her life-saving treasures. Nevertheless, unless she saw no angle to defeat the Divine, she refused to do so.
"[Heavenly Firmament Sanctuary]."
Astarea, who was looking down at Yasenia, felt a strange pulse spread from Yasenia. The pulse of energy enveloped the entire battlefield, taking over the energies of her surroundings for a second. âWhat was that?â
Confusion flashed in her mind, but Yasenia was charging at her again, so she had no time to check in depth. Dodging, blocking, and counterattacking took a lot of effort for Astarea.
Yasenia swung her sword, using her martial arts skills and normal techniques one after another. At first, Astarea and Yasenia fell into the previous stalemate situation.
Even when Yasenia used [Firmament Shaking Arc], [Firmament Dividing Celestial Twilight], or [Soul Dividing Tyrannical Cleave], the result was Astareaâs defense being blown apart but recovering shortly after.
Yaseniaâs voice gained a tinge of annoyance. "Why have you learned so many defensive and healing techniques?"
Astarea, feeling slightly playful, answered the dragonâs grumble. "I want to live for a long time."
Astarea moved quickly, blasting Yaseniaâs sword to the side and kicking at her stomach. This time, Astareaâs eyes were tremendously focused on Yaseniaâs reaction. At first, she noticed Yaseniaâs eyes gain a touch of flusteredness before turning ferocious.
Then, using a complicated move, Yasenia twisted her body and managed to place her tail in front of her own stomach.
BANG!
Astareaâs kick hit the tail, pushing Yasenia back several hundred meters. Astarea was certain after this attack. âShe really hates being hit on the stomach... No.â Astareaâs eyes flashed with certainty. âItâs not the stomach she is protecting. Is Yasenia pregnant?â
The first time, she took it as a bad decision. The second time, she was confused, but she didnât really think too deeply about it. Now, when she actively targeted that spot, she finally couldnât ignore it. âIf thatâs the case...â Astarea fell into a conundrum as Yaseniaâs sword rained on her shield fiercer than before. â...Do I take advantage of this information?â
Honestly, if it were any other person, Astarea wouldâve used it to her advantage right away. She was not someone who would give up on a fight because her opponent was pregnant. To begin with, it was the motherâs fault for placing the child at risk by participating in a match.
âNevertheless... That child, Lataria, seems quite fond of Yasenia.â
Over the course of the over five thousand years Lataria had lived, Astarea had seen Lataria look at the world as if she were someone looking at it from an outsiderâs point of view. It was a strange feeling, but Astarea couldnât explain it in any other way.
âBut... Strangely, she is quite fond of Yasenia. Why is that?â
As her shield blocked Yaseniaâs barrage, she couldnât help but grunt. âMy arm bone is going to break again at this pace.â
Her shield arm was numb from blocking Yaseniaâs constant attacks, but she didnât mind. Only if her bones broke would her blocking ability weaken.
"Yasenia."
The dragoness didnât stop attacking, but she had the decency to answer. "Whatâs wrong, Astarea? Are you getting tired?"
Astarea wouldâve chuckled a bit, but this time, she had a complicated expression. "I canât give up this treasure. Therefore, I will target your weak point. Sorry, child."
"Huh?" Yasenia was confused when Astarea suddenly dodged one of her attacks and lunged at her. "You want to exchange attacks? Bold..." The dragoness sneered, but as she prepared to exchange blows with Astarea, her pupils shrank.
While Yaseniaâs sword was moving in a descending arc, Astareaâs spiky mace was swinging horizontally straight toward her stomach.
Usually, Astareaâs actions would be ridiculous. A hit to the stomach in exchange for Yasenia decapitating her? Those spectating thought that Astarea had gone crazy.
However, something strange happened. Yaseniaâs movements shifted. Twisting her wrists and body, her tail and even sword moved back to block.
CLANG!
Yaseniaâs posture crumbled, and the badly positioned wrists cracked while she was thrown to the side. The dragoness quickly retreated, landing on the ground with a flap of her wings.
Her gaze, looking up, burned with anger as Astarea slowly descended. "Child, give up. You canât defeat me."
Astarea stepped forward, pillars of light and light lances flying together with her. In an instant, the attacker and defender had changed.
Moreover, Yasenia couldnât maneuver Draheart accurately since her wrists had been damaged. Even if she swallowed her pain, her hands didnât respond as quickly.
âShe noticed? How?â Yasenia frantically blocked Astareaâs barrage as she jumped back. âDid Lataria tell her?â
A trace of resentment bloomed in her heart. But, even if she was angry, she could only bite her lips. After all, if she were in the same position, she wouldâve done the same as Astarea was doing.
âI hate it. I hate it. I hate it.â
All the attacks were directed not at her vital points but at her stomach. As time passed, her agitation increased as her motherly instincts took over her calm reason.
Astarea continued her attacks, doing feints targeting her stomach to injure Yaseniaâs arms, legs, and other body parts. Exploiting the weak point, she could target other locations and weaken the overwhelming dragon woman. âItâs like having her reverse scale wide open and easily targetable. The battle is decided.â
She noticed Yaseniaâs temper darkening, but Astarea didnât stop. Sadly, even when she took everything she knew into account, she miscalculated one thing: Yaseniaâs limits.
"ENOUGH!"
BOOM!
With Yaseniaâs roar-like scream, a shockwave blasted Astarea backward. Astarea was confused as she looked at the Dragon woman standing on the ocean. Yaseniaâs face was twisted with murder, a bloody mist surrounding her figure.
"Since you are so eager to win, I will shatter you! Either way, your attacks are already a tenth weaker, so you are not a threat anymore."
âWhat?â Astarea quickly analyzed her body, and she noticed something strange. âWhat is this energy? When did my energy erode to this point!?â
The effects of [Heavenly Firmament Sanctuary] were already affecting her deeply.
"[Celestial Intent Domain]! [Tyrant Warlord Intent Domain]!"
Astarea was confused when the sky suddenly rippled and targeted the ocean below them. âThatâs futile. They are at the same level... Huh?â Unlike the first confrontation, Astarea noticed something terrible. "She is pushing back my two Domains? How?"
Her energy surged, feeding her domains to resist the pushback. Yet, the strain when manipulating her energy became clear. Astareaâs mouth opened with confusion and bewilderment. "What did you do? How did you erode my Intent Domain? That shouldnât be possible!"
Yasenia took a step forward, a star appearing below her foot. "I wanted to fight with you as fairly as possible."
She took quick forward steps, each step summoning a star below her foot. "You are a great opponent to practice my skills and get stronger. I also didnât plan to humiliate Latariaâs elder."
Astarea wanted to stop whatever Yasenia was doing, but the sky suddenly became alive as countless Celestial Objects descended and targeted her. âOh no! Her Intent Domain has gained enough advantage to be active!â
Astarea used her shield and skills to dodge the planets, suns, moons, and stars attacking her, her eyes moving towards Yasenia. âIs that constellation... An eastern dragon?â
She had noticed Yaseniaâs peculiar movement technique, and she was impressed by it. Nevertheless, the constellations she formed were almost instantaneous and never really gave her a feeling of danger. This time, it was different.
âI must stop her!â She quickly tried to get rid of the barrage of attacks coming from the Celestial Intent Domain, but it was futile.
"Astarea." Yaseniaâs voice was heavy and full of anger. "Surrender or die. [Heavenly Constellations Steps..."
Yasenia twirled, her dance manifesting the stars necessary to complete one of the constellationâs wings.
"...Sixth Sky..."
While Astarea hastily dodged and moved closer, Yasenia successfully completed the last steps of her beautiful dance.
"...Dracoâs Descent]."
BOOM!
The draconic constellation surrounding Yasenia moved and shot to the sky with a giant shockwave. Astarea was pushed back and quickly looked up. There, she saw that the stars in the firmament were rearranging themselves to form the contour of a creature.
Those in the spectator stands looked up at the sky with trembling hearts.
"W-Whatâs that?"
Latariaâs trembling question was answered by someone nearby, who was stepping back as if something that shouldnât exist had manifested.
"Thatâs impossible... That figure..."
From the void, a being that dwarfed Moons manifested. Using Yaseniaâs Celestial Intent Domain as a source of strength, the dragonâs body was more complete.
The winged eastern dragon formed from the cosmosâ stars looked down, its presence sweeping their surroundings with a feeling of omnipotence. The eyes of the dragon, black voids filled with two spiraling galaxies, seemed to contain part of the universe within them.
That person shouted. "...[Primordial Constellation Dragon...!"
Yasenia pointed at Astarea, exhaustion filling her face, and called out his name. "...Draco], destroy her."
ROARR!!
Draco opened his maw, his roar shaking the cosmos around them.