Champion Minerva

“But gotta say, boy…” Minerva let out a half annoyed, half amused grunt. “Letting a devil do the fighting for you? That’s pretty pathetic. Where’s the honor in that?”

There was no reason to engage in this obvious provocation but with my Queens hypnosis there was no chance to get provoked in the first place and I still needed to regulate my exhaustion. As such I decided to indulge her. “I simply value certain things higher then honor.”

“Of course”, Minerva nodded empathically. I don’t get the impression that she really cared. “Well, even with your devil, we’re having a bit of a stalemate.” She slapped her armor. “This thing is pretty sturdy but I’m not hitting much with it on.”

“Feel free to strip anytime”, Femto suggested with a wink to which the Dark Lord chuckled.

“Let me show you something fun first.”

Femto gave me a nod to prepare myself. And I did.

What followed, was grotesque.

It started with her eyes.

Minerva’s eyes started to grow, longer and thinner until they merged together into one single entity.

But it wasn’t stopping there. The pupil was continuing expanding, over her ears and behind her back until it connected again, forming one singular long ring that stared at everything and nothing.

At the same time two shadow arms emerged out of her back. But unlike when she fought Valkyrie, these were angled backwards.

With that, Minerva effectively got rid of any blind spots.

“Now then…”, she leered at us as two more axes formed in her new hands and her armor dissolved itself back into her body. “Come, Devil.”

Femto gave me a look to stay out of this.

I nodded.

Then, she rushed at Minerva. Femto was fast. Now that she absorbed Sylphid’s power, she might even be at her level when it comes to speed. Minerva, even with her armor discarded, could not keep up completely, she compensated for this by using her axes as a shield and use the occasionally burst of dark spears.

Due to this, Femto was unable to attack Minerva’s body directly and had to contend herself with her axes. But in the hands of the Dark Lord they proved much more sturdy then their flying counterparts. Even when Femto managed to destroy one, a new axe was formed almost instantly.

That being said, Minerva was also unable to inflict a blow on Femto. The devil was simply too fast.

In other words, this was another stalemate. All the while, my time was ticking down.

As for myself, I could do little but watch. Of course I still had to be wary of any attacks, but it didn’t look like Minerva had the luxury to attack me with Femto breathing down her neck.

Naturally, that also meant that she pretty much ignored me.

I let a few minutes pass just like this before I finally threw something towards Minerva’s head.

The Dark Lord reacted immediately. In theory, I should not be able to injure her. But this was a split second decision and she couldn’t dismiss the chance completely. After all, that was how Minerva defeated Dark Lord Ithere.

As such, one of my old steel Dirks was hit by an axe. Far weaker then my Hirara ones, the dirk was evaporated within seconds.

But that also meant one of Minerva’s axe’s was now gone.

It was all the opening Femto needed.

The Devil rushed forward and slashed with both of her claws at Minerva’s eye. The Dark Lord was prepared for that too and blocked with her axes. But that was what Femto was aiming for. Her sharp tail lunged forward, ducked through the gaps in her defense with ferocious speed and drilled itself into Minerva’s abdomen. The Dark Lord let out a vicious hiss and immediately retaliated by cutting said tail off but that didn’t stop it from burrowing itself deeper.

A lesser opponent would have panicked, but Minerva never let her focus shift from Femto itself, while her stomach began to churn and wobble. Whatever she did, it caused the tail to stop wiggling.

“Managed to kill it off before it hit anything important”, tempered Femto my expectations while she casually regrew her tail. “Still, she’s gonna feel that one.”

Indeed, for the first time, Minerva seemed genuinely angry. With a low growl, she yanked the tail out of her abdomen and crushed it in her fist. “First a mole and now a lizard?. How many fucking powers do you have?”

“More then enough for you, m’Lady”, Femto smiled and bowed. “Allow me give you an estimate, free of charge, of course. Your chance of defeating me is 0.03%”

“That so?”

“Indeed. It’s the truth. We devil can’t lie after all.” Femto sighed. “You know, this was very fun. Good times was had by all but...would you be a doll and surrender now? I’m a busy devil and let’s not kid ourselves, we both know this is over.”

“Can’t say I agree with your estimate”, the Dark Lord responded. “Matter of fact I’m only getting warmed up here.”

“Is this a final form kind of thing? Because I loathe when my opponents pull that.” The Devil shook her head. “Come now. Not knowing when to cut your losses is so unprofessional. My client is willing to treat you amicably, if you are cooperative.”

“You have my word”, I added. “This doesn’t have to end this way.”

Minerva responded with a low chuckle. “You are on a time limit, aren’t you?”

Femto’s smile never wavered. “Ho? What makes you say that?”

“Just a hunch. If I’m wrong go ahead and deny it. You devils can’t lie, can you?”

“Oh please.“ Femto laughed. “What professional would I be if I just divulge client information like that?”

Femto appeared nonchalant and in no hurry at all. It was the correct move of course but even so I can’t help but feel that Minerva see’s right through it.

The Dark Lord casually smiled at us. If the wounds Femto inflicted on her bothered her in any way she was very good at hiding it. “If you got Sylphid to sacrifice herself, I guess you get about four hours out of the devil? Hm...no by how antsy you are it’s probably closer to two. Or even less. Sound’s about right?”

“So, sorry auntie. But unfortunately for you, I am a professional, I don’t comment on rumors.”

“Well, time limit or not, doesn’t really matter to me anyways”, Minerva kept her smile as a cloud began partially blocking out the sun. “You are going to die in here.”

“And there are the **** threats. So unprofessional...”, Femto sighed and shock her head a few more times and immediately went for a high speed surprise attack.

Just then.

I sensed something beneath me and jumped out of the way, just as a shadow spear jutted upwards.

...

She got me.

The shades. I completely neglected the shadows.

On my landing position, a second spear shot upwards, impaling me through the groin. I didn’t feel any pain. Instead, I heard a loud bang. Akin to something banging at a door.

Then a black void engulfed me.

Femto came to the rescue.

Inside her void, immediately numerous tentacles wrapped itself around me.

“Does this count as time as well?”, I asked as I let her tentacles work their healing magic.

“Nah, don’t worry. Void time doesn’t count.” Femto answered. “But that was a close one. That attack almost killed you.”

No, not killed. Minerva want me alive. That attack, vicious and brutal as it was, would not have been fatal. That was the only reason Femto managed to save me.

I screwed up.

I did not expect her to be able to conjure up shadow spears from the shades. And she didn’t do it until almost an hour into the fight, even though she had plenty of chances. Minerva waited until the perfect moment. The point were I would have dismissed the chance of them completely.

“You have to stay out of the shade”, Femto continued. “Consider all of it off limits.”

Certainly. Another attack like this could be fatal. “How much is Minerva slowed down right now?”

“Around 30%?”, the devil replied. “I take periodically void breaks like this to recoup my stamina. I can keep this pace up for the entire hour. The wound I just gave her will hurt, but from what I saw she is well capable of just powering through the pain.”

That was only her at 70% of speed? Astounding.

“How much time do we have left?”, I asked next.

“44 minutes, before the contract is up.”

We have done some decent damage in that amount of time. Well, Femto did at least. But this will not cut it. The notion that Minerva will give in to **** was absurd. The only viable path to surrender is to make her climax.

Femto nodded. “Usually, I would suggest cutting off her limbs, but…”

That is unlikely to work with how well guarded she was. Besides, she could simply regrow more limps via her shadow magic.

And Minerva figured out that there was a time limit as well.

Formidable.

I don’t think there is any other word to describe her.

So far Minerva expertly thwarted all our plans. No, this goes beyond that. She even managed to retaliate and if her objective was to kill me she would have already succeeded.

I was hoping it wouldn’t come to that but it seems we can do nothing but trust for our trump card to be activated.

It took about an hour to get my wound fully healed again. We used the time to go over our strategy again. We also had provisions in the void, food and water but I couldn’t just stay here indefinitely. My Queens hypnosis was immensely strong but even so, the maximum amount of time we got it lasting was twelve hours. And that was without fighting.

Furthermore any time I sustain a wound like this, there’s a chance my Queen’s hypnosis could break. I shouldn’t count on it withstanding another attack of that magnitude.

“How’s that?”, Femto asked. “Your wounds should be completely healed. Are you able to move alright?”

I did a bit of warm up and nodded. “Let’s go back.”

The devil agreed. “Minerva will be waiting for us, I need you to move to evade right away, alright? Get out of the shade. Can you handle it?”

“Yes, I have the place memorized.”

Femto nodded.

And so we returned.

Femto’s assumption was correct. The moment we reappeared, yet another spear threatened to impale me. Femto took the blow for me while I immediately dashed towards a sunny spot.

Upon seeing my full recovery, Minerva clicked her tongue. “Bloody devil.”

“Terribly sorry”, Femto immediately was back to her usual cool persona. “I know it’s pretty cheap, but you know, business is business. Nothing personal.”

Minerva rolled her one eye, or I assume that was what she did. It was a bit hard to tell “Oi referee boy!”

“Yes?”

“Ain’t that a rule violation or something? Even if it’s only for a split second. They left the arena, right?”

Ben seemed to ponder the question for a bit.

“Sorry, honey but I stop you right there.”, Femto argued, not without pride. “I did the exact same thing in the second round against the huntress Cassandra.”

“Yeeeeeeah, sorry.” Ben grinned, somewhat sheepishly. “I imagine this loophole will be addressed next year. But for now, I’m afraid you have to deal with it.”

“I see.” Minerva gave a very understanding nod. “Catch.”

Minerva casually flung one of her axe’s directly at Ben’s face.

He was too far out of reach for both of us, but luckily for Ben the axe missed him by the fraction of a hair and crashed in the stone wall beneath him.

“W-what are you doing!”, Ben shrieked, clearly shaken by what just happened. “I-If you kill me you get disqualified with a surrender penalty. You become a ****!”

“Will I now?”, the Dark Lord had a sly grin on her face.

...

It was true that according to the rules that would happen. But that was only according to the rules.

The invincibility field would protect the Dark Lord against any spell. That’s why her loss could only happen when that shield is penetrated.

Minerva chuckled. “Relax, wasn’t trying to kill you in the first place.” She pointed towards the crumbled wall behind him.

I stared at the wall.

It would take a while, but unlike the magic barrier she could certainly break through her with enough time.

“Looks like you caught on. I’m getting really tired of your cheap shots, so if you keep pulling them I might just get bored and leave.”

“You would throw the match?”, I asked incredulously.

Minerva casually shrugged. “No point in staying when I can’t win, is there?”

“Mari”, Femto looked at me. “Just so that we are on the same page here. My assistance was for one hour. The moment that is over I will no longer be able to protect you.”

I was aware of that. Simply winning is not enough. Naturally, we would doom Valkyrie but Minerva might also come after me, seeking ****. In fact she might do so right after this battle had concluded.

“Don’t make such gloomy faces”, Minerva smiled genially, her one circular eye giving off a weird, bizarre gleam “It’s not that I want to get disqualified either. How about we come to a mutual beneficial agreement?”

“And what might that be?”, I asked warily.

“No more hiding in that black abyss”, Minerva demanded. “Next time either of you do it, I throw the fight.”

Femto gave me a look. It was my call to make. There was a chance this was a bluff.

“Couldn’t you attack her?”, I asked. “If she tries to break through the wall?”

“Maybe”, Femto allowed. “But if she puts her armor back on…I don’t fancy my chances.”

I addressed Ben next. “How deep does the barrier go?”

Ben was evidently not happy to be asked that. “W-Well, I’m afraid that information is…”

Minerva meanwhile only chuckled, clearly amused by my predicament. Given her power I had no doubt she could burrow herself under the barrier with little issue. Or why even bother with that? All she has to do is surrender verbally.

This match is only continuing as long as Minerva wants it to continue.

…

I glanced at the sky. Luckily that cloud formation had now passed and beyond that the sky appeared virtually cloudless. I wonder if I have Lucky to thank for that. Would today’s final have taken place on a cloudy day this truly would have been hopeless.

Ultimately, I agreed. There was nothing to be done. We had to get Minerva to surrender when she was completely helpless, so Femto is capable of tearing that invincibility shield open.

“Excellent!”, Minerva smiled cheerfully. “Can we make this a rule? If anyone hides in there again it counts as an immediate surrender.”

So this was her real aim. I should have figured.

“Eh, hold on, I’m not sure that’s…”

“I’m not gonna take their word for it”, Minerva scoffed. “They employ all manner of underhanded tactics.” She jerked her thumb back towards her tower, were the broken window was very visible.

“I had nothing to do with that”, I responded.

“Sure you didn’t. Well, it doesn’t matter. Either that rule gets added or I stop the fight here.”

“In exchange”, I responded. “We want the killing the referee results in a surrender rule struck from the record.”

“Oh come on, you guys!” Ben sighed loudly. “What kinda circus do you think we are running here?”

The one with you as the headmaster.

“Well it’s either that or the fight ends here”, I said, matching Minerva’s smile. “I’m sure the crowd would love that.”

There was a brief discussion as Ben checked with his superiors. He grumbled a lot but in the end had **** but to agree to our terms. Well I say our terms but lets not sugarcoat it. This was a major blow to us.

But there was no reason fretting about it in the first place. At this point it was obvious that nothing but our most risky move at a chance of getting past Minerva.

We had to bet it all on our trump card.