"In this world, there are those who dedicate themselves solely to the study of magic," Aliana began with a sense of authority. "And then there are those, like me, who choose to focus their magical affinity into their physical abilities, particularly their swords."

  She continued. "Someone with Sword Magic style can reach a state where swordsmanship and magic become one. The blade becomes an instrument of unparalleled precision and power, a conduit for our magic to flow through. It allows us to unleash devastating techniques with every strike, making us formidable opponents in both close combat and magic.

  A Sword God is someone who has mastered their swordsmanship to the point where they are able to understand their own swordsmanship style and the magic that comes along with it to the point where the sword themselves accepts the wielder’s soul. The title of Sword God is only bestowed upon those who have achieved true mastery of the Sword Magic Style.

  The name you give your sword must become more than just a label. It becomes a symbol of your strength, an embodiment of your magical prowess. When a true Sword God unleashes their blades power, it's a display of the highest level of mastery."

  As Aliana finished her explanation, she glanced at her sword with a sense of pride in her eyes.

  Risebelle looked with curiosity and said, "This will be valuable information for Dr. Kintovar."

  Aliana's eyes narrowed at Risebelle's remark, and without warning, she swung her icy blade at the young creation. The strike came dangerously close to Risebelle, the freezing edge of the sword passing inches from her face.

  Aliana stepped back and declared, "I will show you the first level of my Sword Magic style. Frostbite, Kori Tengoku.”

  Upon the command, a surge of icy energy enveloped her sword, Kori Tengoku. The blade glistened with an even colder radiance.

  As Aliana approached, time seemed to slow down for Risebelle. The world around her began to lose its color, everything fading into a dull gray. She fixated on the blade of Kori Tengoku, which loomed very close to her neck.

  Risebelle managed to duck just in the nick of time. However, Aliana's strike was so swift that it still grazed her. If she was just a second slower, she would have lost her neck.

  Aliana began to form a circle of blue energy with her sword. Risebelle dashed backward to create some distance between herself and the Cryomancer.

  Aliana unleashed six giant spikes of ice at Risebelle with deadly precision which came from the circle she formed. Runebelle summoned her three pillars to block the attacks.

  Runebelle turned her attention to her shaken sister and called out to her with concern. "Risebelle, are you okay?"

  ‘What the hell was that?’ Risebelle asked herself silently. ‘I almost lost my head there... Literally.’

  Runebelle called out again, this time louder, "Risebelle, are you okay?"

  Risebelle wiped a streak of cold sweat from her brow. She glanced at the ice-covered ground around her. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just... need a moment to process that."

  Aliana’s eyes flickered with amusement. "I hope you don’t think you’re quick. That was me holding back.”

  Risebelle ignored the jab. Her mind became flooded with thoughts about the Sword Gods. She took a cautious step back, eyeing Aliana carefully. "How many Sword Gods are there on this island?"

  Aliana’s gaze grew distant for a moment. "I’m the only one here," she replied with a touch of melancholy. "As for the City... there were seven of us. But how many there are now? Who knows? Time has a way of changing things, especially when you're stranded on a forsaken island like this."

  Risebelle was about to press further when Aliana’s sword flicked forward again, faster than she had anticipated. "You don’t need to know any more than that," Aliana said coldly.

  Risebelle raised her cannon to block the strike, but just barely. Even so, the force was so strong that it sent her flying backward. She barely managed to steady herself midair, her boots skidding across the frozen ground.

  The cannon’s surface was now covered in frost. The young creation growled under her breath, gritting her teeth against the icy burn

  “You’ll need more than that to keep up with me,” Aliana said calmly with a smile glued to her face.

  ‘What is this power Aliana possesses?' Risebelle thought. 'It's as if she can move so fast that she slips through the very fabric of reality itself… I can't afford to let my guard down, not even for a moment.'

  Risebelle swiftly placed a blue, slippery energy on the ground around herself. With her defense in place, Risebelle raised her cannon and fired a series of precise shots at Aliana. Each shot surrounded with water magic, hoping to disrupt Aliana's movements

  Aliana gracefully sidestepped the incoming shots. She blurred while moving forward and then formed ice spikes and sent them hurtling toward Risebelle. Risebelle attempted to gather water for her Aqua whirlwind but she wasn’t fast enough, and the ice spikes struck her with critical force.

  Risebelle let out a pained gasp. She clutched her side where one of the spikes had struck. Her breaths came in ragged gasps, and she fought to maintain her composure despite the intense pain.

  Aliana observed Risebelle’s condition with a hint of satisfaction. "It seems you underestimated me," she remarked. "But worry not, dear. Your suffering will be over soon."

  Risebelle struggled to regain her footing. Risebelle's heart raced upon seeing Aliana vanish from her sight, only to reappear within the swirling blue energy she had created.

  Aliana found herself swept off her feet. She stumbled and fell to the ground, her icy aura briefly flickering as her control over her magic wavered.

  Risebelle’s vision sharpened upon seeing this. A flicker of hesitation crossed her face, but Risebelle didn't give it a second thought.

  “Aqua Whirlwind!” she shouted, despite the ache in her side.

  Water surged from her body rapidly forming into a powerful, twisting vortex of water. It roared into a violent tempest that surrounded Aliana with crushing force. Razor-sharp water blades slashed through the air like deadly shards of glass.

  Aliana struggled to rise. She attempted to command her ice magic to stabilize herself, but the rush of water disoriented her. The flow of energy seemed to tear at her concentration, pulling her into the heart of the whirlwind.

  Risebelle pressed her advantage and took aim with her cannon at Aliana. In the aftermath of the Aqua Whirlwind, Risebelle fired off several shots at Aliana, infused with water.

  Aliana’s aura flared back to life, freezing the water around her in an instant and sending shards of ice shooting outward at the shots of Risebelle.

  Aliana’s ice aura blazed outwards. She dashed forward as a blur , but this time, Risebelle’s eyes sharpened. She could see her.

  Risebelle aimed her cannon not at Aliana directly, but at the ground beneath them. She fired. A burst of water shot forth from the cannon, carving a path into the earth below.

  Aliana’s face shifted to one of confusion. A beam of water magic poured out of the cannon, swirling around Risebelle like a pillar of liquid energy, propelling her high above the battlefield.

  Now in the air, Risebelle smirked. “Gotcha.”She called forth her magic once more, and this time, her Aqua Whirlwind formed in midair.

  The tempest descended with tremendous force. The water blades slashed through the air, closing in on Aliana from all directions. The freezing energy that had sustained Aliana’s ice magic flickered once more, but she couldn’t react fast enough. The overwhelming rush of water overwhelmed her, and she was once again caught in the heart of Risebelle’s deadly whirlwind.

  The cold aura around Aliana sputtered and crackled. The Aqua Whirlwind consumed her completely, forcing her to the ground once again.

  "It seems you're the one who underestimated us," Risebelle declared with resolve. "We're not just foolish creations of Kintovar. We are living beings just like you, but you humans refuse to admit that so you just want to kill off any scientist you please... but it’s always been that way...”

  As Risebelle's words rang out, her mind briefly flashed back to a different time, a different life. She remembered a girl with blue hair, dressed in tattered slave clothes momentarily. She forced herself back into focus, turning her gaze towards Runebelle who had stepped cautiously toward her.

  The younger sister looked at Risebelle with concern. “I’ll heal that wound,” she offered quietly with sorrow.

  Risebelle shook her head. “Don’t bother.” She pulled back slightly.

  Runebelle’s sad eyes deepened. The pity she couldn’t hide made Risebelle’s chest tighten.

  “Don’t give me that look,” Risebelle added. She gave her sister a warning glance. “Look, I’m about to do something very dangerous, so you need to move. Find a safe spot, far away from here. Do you understand?”

  Runebelle’s brows furrowing in confusion. “Do you… need to do this? Whatever it is?”

  Risebelle took a breath, weighing her options. Aliana had just revealed a portion of her terrifying power. ‘Level one of her sword style,’ Risebelle reminded herself. There were undoubtedly more levels to her abilities, and right now, the Cryomancer was pushing her limits. The Aqua Whirlwind had caught Aliana off guard, but would it hold up if Aliana ramped up her magic again?

  She couldn’t rely on that move alone. She was fast, but Aliana was faster. And if the Sword God’s ice could cut through Runebelle’s pillars with ease, there was no telling how long her own defenses could keep her safe.

  Risebelle’s mind settled on the grim reality: they had no choice but to take the fight to Aliana—on their terms.

  “I need you to get to safety,” she spoke more forceful now. “Don’t argue. I’m going to have to push everything to the limit. You just… keep your distance.”

  Runebelle nodded slowly, though the uncertainty still lingered in her eyes. She didn’t want to leave Risebelle, but the way she spoke to her made her feel like she had no choice. She turned and began to retreat.

  Risebelle watched Runebelle retrea. Her heart clenched for a moment, but she quickly pushed the feeling aside. There was no time for hesitation.

  Risebelle’s mind wandered to Roselle and Runebelle. Roselle, the ‘little idiot’.

  ‘Roselle could be annoying sometimes… reckless, thoughtless,’ Risebelle thought with a silent growl. ‘She needs constant guidance, always rushing into things.’

  But despite her frustrations, Risebelle knew the truth. Roselle had her moments. Moments where the girl showed surprising intelligence, where the spark of understanding flickered in her eyes and she could actually think things through. When she did, it was like she was a completely different person. But those moments were like gold in a pit of rubble.

  ‘And then there's Runebelle,’Risebelle mused. ‘Not as annoying as Roselle, hardly speaks at all… but when she does, it’s usually to make things better. She’s been useful, no doubt about it, and damn if I didn’t wish she’d stop looking at me with that sad puppy-dog look…’

  Still, though, Risebelle couldn’t quite figure out Runebelle. How much did she truly understand? How sharp was she? She had her own form of quiet strength, but there were so many unknowns still swirling around the younger girl.

  Risebelle's thoughts darkened when she turned back to the battle. “I didn’t think I’d have to use this so early…”

  Risebelle closed her eyes, taking in a deep breath. Water magic swirled around her body, starting as a faint mist before rapidly building into a turbulent aura.

  ‘There’s a good chance this will leave permanent damage, ‘she thought. ‘My body wasn’t designed for this kind of strain… probably not even Kintovar knows I’m capable of doing this yet...’

  Her aura surged, spinning faster, more violently, as Risebelle drew from the wellspring of emotions she’d buried deep within her. She clenched her fists and her nails dug into her palms. ‘Focus on it, she told herself. Focus on the hatred.’

  Her voice trembled at first but grew steadier when she began to speak. “Humans... I’ve seen what they are. Their cruelty, their arrogance, their twisted sense of superiority. They call us abominations, monsters, tools to be discarded when convenient. They don’t care about anything that doesn’t fit into their perfect little world.”

  The swirling water pushed outward like a tidal wave, displacing the air and sending a sharp chill through the forest.

  Risebelle’s face darkened further. “I’ve seen the way they look at Roselle. At Runebelle. Like we’re less than dirt. Like we don’t deserve to exist. But I do. We do. And I’m going to prove it.”

  Her aura flared violently. The liquid magic lashed out in sharp tendrils around her. Risebelle lifted her head with a cold glare towards Aliana. “This is for them. For Roselle, for Runebelle… and for everyone else who’s ever suffered at the hands of humans. You won’t break us.”

  Aliana’s eyes narrowed. ‘That’s… a lot of water, ‘she thought. ‘Though I can’t sense anything from those creations of that fool Kintovar. Even if I can’t feel it, something’s changing here… What is she up to?”

  This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.