her finest hour

It started subtle.

The first sign was the use of her shield.

Up until now, Valkyrie blocking a strike was rare occurrence. Now it happened every few seconds.

Once we began noticing the marks, it must have already gone on for a while.

Valkyrie was no longer able to avoid all the axes. And so she started to prioritize, letting the ones who do minor damage graze her while she avoided the dangerous ones.

She spared her shield as long as she could, bringing it up to deflect only when absolutely necessary. Even so, that necessity grew more and more.

If there was one ray of hope in this, it was that at one point Minerva stopped increasing her axes. Frighteningly high as it was, even she had a limit and that limit was evidently reached.

But even if this was her limit, it would be enough. The cuts and bruises on Valkyrie’s body were slowly but surely accumulating.

“These massive amount of attacks, her mana should run out at some point, right?”, I asked, somewhat desperately.

“It should”, Hebi-san agreed. “We imagine this is what Valkyrie is working towards.”

Dark Lords are invincible but they are not inexhaustible. These axes Minerva is throwing around with reckless abandon were not in infinite supply. Similarly to what I did to Beatrice in the third round there was a chance that Minerva was overextending herself.

The long, drawn out battle continued just like that. It took until the 100 minute mark for the next change.

“There are less axes”, Sylphid pointed out.

“R-Really?”, Fisti strained her eyes, but trying to notice that in this whirlwind seemed a hopeless endeavor.

However, a few minutes later, even I could see that Sylphid was right. The axes were decreasing! In addition, Valkyrie was certainly injured but she had not suffered a critical wound yet.

For all account and purposes it looked like she will be able to outlast this **** after all.

“Oi, Lucky charm.”

Lucky, who was up until now completely fascinated with the proceeding yanked her head around. “Hullo?”

Cassandra glared at her. “Make the Valkyrie win.”

Huh?

“H-hold on”, I tried to cut in. “Cassandra that’s a bit…”

“Shut up, Daddy”, The huntress glared at me with eyes full of murderous rage before shifting her target back to Lucky. “Can you do it?”

“Eeeeeeh?”, Lucky made a bit of a difficult expression as she looked at Cassandra. “But that’s cheating. I don’t want to do that.”

“Cheating?”, Cassandra spat the word out as if it was a curse. “Who gives a shit about that! Do you know what’s at stake here? Sylphid! Command your shitty brat!”

“I said I don’t want to.”

A lightning strike struck

Aiju hissed and immediately bolted away.

“Valk wouldn’t want that either, Cass”, Sylphid said. “I don’t think she would ever forgive me if I intervened here.”

“See?” Just like that Lucky was back to smiling again. “Cheating is boring! This is so much more fun this way!”

“Imbeciles.” Cassandra clicked her teeth and glared back down in the arena with disgust. “Hope you are prepared for what’s about to happen next.”

“W-what are you talking about slaver?”, Fisti scowled. “The Dark Lord is running out of these shadow thingies! Valkyrie is clearly winning! We don’t need yer lousy cheating!”

“Can’t you see what’s happening!”, Cassandra roared. “The cunt isn't running out of Mana. She reduces the axes because they aren’t needed!”

What?

I peered down in the arena.

Yes, indeed. The axes grew fewer.

But despite that, Valkyrie was still not able to fully avoid them. She could earlier but no longer.

The reason?

She is weaker now then she was at the start of the match.

Finally, I was able to make out the individual axes again. And by the time Valkyrie’s shield had at last been grinded down to nothing, the attack stopped completely.

Minerva casually glanced at the clock. “One hour and fifty-five minutes. Almost half time.” She gave a cruel smirk, the insinuation was obvious.

It was evident that Valkyrie was not in a good spot. Her stamina was still holding out. Even after almost two hours of this insane combat. But, while she still managed to avoid any critical injuries, she was now bleeding from over a dozen wounds.

And it was under these circumstances that Minerva once again returned to close combat.

The difference was subtle but it was there. Valkyrie was no longer as adept as before in avoiding Minerva's attacks. Her evasion was still tremendously high but with her shield gone there was no way to block anything. The Dark Lord pressed hard and finally, she was successful. One swing of her axe cleaved into her stomach and Valkyrie let out a sharp grunt of pain before retreating, the axe leaving the wound followed by a squall of blood.

“Finally got you good, eh?” Minerva chuckled. “But got to say, I’m a bit disappointed. Come now, at least make it to two hours! YOU CAN DO IT!”

Minerva hurled her axes towards Valkyrie once more. This time the Galmon did not avoid them. Instead she used both of her arms to punch all four axes at once in a magnificent display of strength.

Minerva whistled.

And Valkyrie smiled.

Then the next volley came. Valkyrie crushed it as well and the one after.

It took to the eight volley until one axe caught her in the left leg. The Galmon grunted but kept her balance. Six more volleys would had to follow for Valkyrie to finally collapse to one knee, her left leg and both of her fists a bloody ruin.

The large bell of Rasheul Cathedral reverberated through the storm.

Minerva was on her by the second bell. Valkyrie tried to roll herself to safety but was ultimately caught and mounted by Minerva. Two of her arms restrained Valkyrie's means of defense. “Now then...”, the Dark Lord viciously grinned. “I like you to surrender.”

“Not enough”, Valkyrie stated resolutely. Her spirit still unbroken. “More.”

Minerva responded by punching her in the face. “You wanna be my punching bag? Be my guest!”

Punch after punch, the brutal onslaught went on for minutes. For any normal being it would surely be enough to pulverize their face, but for better or worse Valkyrie was built from sturdier material.

She endured the attack in stoic silence.

“And would you look at that!”, Minerva smiled as she gazed towards the clock that now pointed at exactly ten minutes after four. “Two hours! You made it! Good job!” She laughed and for the first time took a deep breath. “Whew! That worked up a thirst!”

“We aren’t done yet”, Valkyrie smiled upwards. “I want more.”

Minerva laughed at that as well. “Guess I have to...ah?”

The strongest Galmon let out a loud roar and started straining herself. Her arms began bulging with muscles as Valkyrie’s entire strength poured into them. There was a puzzled expression on the Dark Lords face as she tried to keep Valkyries arms down. Muscles were straining against muscles as both vied for supremacy and ultimately Minerva was slowly but surely pushed upwards.

Yes.

Despite all the wounds she suffered.

Despite that she was up against a being she had no way of harming.

In a direct contest of strength the strongest Galmon Valkyrie still came out on top.

Then, Minerva cut her hands off.