"What an interesting Calling. However, I sense a lack of experience in those blades.", commented Lena.
"That may be true but I'll still won't lose!", vowed Anna.
"I don't sense any Demonia coming from you either. Do you really think that you can beat me?", jested Lena.
"And so what?! If you think that's an advantage then think again!", said Anna as she stood her ground.
Anna entered a more advanced stage of her Heal Skin and made her way towards Lena. Not really fearing the change in Anna's presence, Lena activates her Demonia and protects herself from Anna in her offence mode.
"Is that.... Commanders Demonia?", questioned Anna.
"That's right! All of the leaders of the Revived Inu Realm are commander level and to think you have the audacity to beat me?! Don't make me laugh!", smirked Lena.
Lena Speedstar'd away from Anna and puts her pinky and ring finger up and calls out, "Altitude: Dense Area!". This move allows her to control the altitude density in the hallway they are in instead of it affecting anyone who goes near her.
Luckily, Anna is still protected by this to some degree thanks to her Heal Skin. However, it dawned to her that Keiichineko will now be affected by the move.
"That look on your face....You've realised, haven't you!", gibed Lena.
"This is bad! The Heal Skin is high levelled enough for me to handle but Keiichineko's will feel the full front of this attack and god knows if her partner can handle it! If he can, Keiichineko is done for! I need to finish her and quick!", thought Anna.
Elsewhere in the hallway, Keiichineko was making his way to Shuka but he fell to the floor gasping for air as he could feel the affects of Lena's power.
"What.....the......hell....is.....going.....on?", quizzed Keiichineko.
He looked on forward and could feel that Shuka was still trudging along towards him.
"How....can.....he....move?! Anna....needs....to....finish.....her....quickly!", gasped Keiichineko as he was feeling threatened by the Demonic Pressure of Shuka.
Back down the hallway, Anna and Lena carried on fighting with all their might. Lena kept pumping up the altitude to make it affect Anna but her Heal prowess was too strong.
"Why won't you get affected by my power? Demon Arts: Cursed Strike!", chanted Lena.
Black and red energy swirled around the blade and gave the sword a boost in power and strength. She cut the side of Anna's body causing blood to pour out but the cut sealed itself back up. However, as the name suggested, the cut is cursed meaning that it kept reopening. It was no problem for Anna thanks to her Heal Skin but since she had to keep healing it, it took up some of her energy.
"Dammit! This was not what I needed right now. My Heal Skin won't be able to keep up for so long.", complained Anna.
"Just the attack I needed! I'll drop that guard of yours and stop the most vital clog in the Fujimura's clans system!", exclaimed Lena.
With the cursed strike energy still surrounding the blade, Lena swung her the sword towards Anna again but she was able to deflect it with her Heal Blades. She put her hand through the handle and began to swing it around. Blue wave like rings came off the blade at some speed and knocked down Lena.
"Heal Blades: Radio Waves!", chanted Anna.
She stop the spinning and grabbed the handles tightly. She ran towards Lena and swung the blade near her face. Lena ducked and swooped her legs from behind. Not letting Lena take the lead in the fight, Anna with all her might forced out a Speedstar and moved away from her.
"How?! Her Demon Energy has no hint of speciality at all?!", panicked Lena.
Anna smiled and jumped up high and put her scalpers above her head. She span around at a high speed and crumbled down towards Lena. However, Lena was not going to let Anna take the higher ground.
"I never thought I'd have to use this on the likes of you but here goes nothing. Altitude: Infinite!", called Lena.
This move was the hitter. All the hallway turned into a dark and dense place. One breath of air would choke you. It was like a living hell.
Anna's Heal Skin wasn't enough to defend against this type of altitude. She dropped to the ground and clenched her throat. Her beautiful skin turned a pale sickly colour and her hands became wrinkly. Anna's life was slipping away....
"I've showed you my Oni-Chi, so now I'll show you my Calling. Kibun Hendō!", stated Lena.
Her calling was a Shoryu Keitai meaning that it was a form change. Kibun Hendō translates to Mood Swing. The form change allows the clothes that she was wearing to turn a different colour depending on her mood. It may seem like a nothing but since her moods are on display, it will grant her extra strength.
There are four colours to express her moods. Red means Rage, Green means Happy, Blue means Reflective and Purple means gloomy. Red will give you extra strength in terms of muscle and energy but you will lose all of your thought prowess. Green will excel your thoughts but you won't be any stronger. Blue will increase your defense and purple will boost all stats but your motivation will be low.
She went straight into her Red Mode and Speedstar'd towards the already on edge Anna and kicked her in the face. Since the force of the kick was so strong, Anna went crashing to the side of the wall. She felt her back crack a little but she had no strength of her own to give it any thought.
"Hahahahahahahaha! It's over!", laughed Lena.
"It can't end like this! I won't allow it to end like this! Keiichineko is relying on me! I can't let Suzuki down!", thought Anna while gritting her teeth.
At that time, she remembered all the training that she did with everyone.
"Good Job Hikari! You're mastering a lot of things quickly!", praised Keiichineko.
"It's gotta be the royal blood.", pointed out Hebi.
"Maybe. I do have a knack for picking things up.", smiled Hikari.
"Come on, Anna! You've got this!", encouraged Suzuki.
"I can't! I can't muster the strength to activate my Demonia and I can only pull off a Speedstar twice at a push.", sniffled Anna.
"Stop worrying!", began Suzuki.
"But....but.....", fretted Anna.
"Look, you can only do what you can do, Anna. You've got an amazing power so use it to your advantage. Push beyond your limits and defeat whatever stands in your way! And don't worry about the opponent's level!", grinned Suzuki.
As Anna thought back to that moment, her eyes began to see life once more. At that moment, she thought to herself "I'm not going to lose! I'll make everyone proud and push beyond my limits!".
Blue energy swirled around the room and it threw Lena aback. Anna rose up and looked her straight in the eye. Her mood swing armour turned from red to blue in an instant as she was awaiting Anna's attack.
However, in a blink of an eye, Anna ended up behind her. She dropped her scalpers and pulled her palm back. The blue energy shifted to a purple colour and gave off sparks. Her face was fierce and was ready to end this fight.
"How can she breathe?! It's impossible!", quavered Lena.
"I'm going past my limit! Heal: Attack: Palm Form: Radio Therapy!", yelled Anna.
She forced her palm into Lena's back and the waves from her palm surrounded Lena. It electrified her to the point that her skin began to crack and burn. The force from the palm strike ended up launching Lena away from her and slammed her into the wall. The fight was over!
The density of the air went back to normal in the hallway and Lena's terrain was gone. Feeling exhausted, Anna begins to fall to ground but she picks herself back up.
"I can't fall now. I need to meet up with Keiichineko so we can meet up with Suzuki.", Anna psyched up.
She begins to walk forward with her new found confidence.
"I guess you somehow saved me again, Suzuki...."
*Thanks for reading Mysterious Ways! I hope you all enjoyed and if you did, make sure to leave a comment and vote to show your support!
Authors note: We have now hit December!!! I'm beginning to feel the Christmas spirit now! Let's try and end this year on a high!!