Hikari vs Elesia: Blood tainted wings

Within moments after the blades were scattered away, and the second they clanged against the ground, the six blades returned to Elesia's grip. Clearly they were bound to her, leaving her with an assortment of 'limitless ammunition' if she decided to continue to throw them towards Hikari. However, now was not such a time as watched her opponent soaring at her with such great speeds.

Had Elesia's blades returned to her any later, she may have been impaled, but at the last critical moment, she cross her blades before her like an X-formation, managing to just barely block before it was too late. The sheer impact sent her back, and since she didn't possess flight like Hikari, she went backwards, thrown back towards one of the pillars. The flames alone from the blade told Elesia that close combat could become dangerously hot, but she didn't let it bother her. Instead, she braced herself, ready to slam feet first into the pillar, and then push off it to go right back at Hikari with her own impessive speed before she kicked off.

"The only corruption is the tyranny of hiding all the power away from mankind! We cry, we suffer, we bleed, we die. And yet you keep all this power that could bring us salvation to yourselves!"

Yelling this during their conflict, She started to throw blade after blade as she was diving back towards Hikari, leaving herself with only two blades after throwing the other four, ready for a diving strike right to her chest.

Hikari had concentrated a great deal of power into her sword when she was trying to deal that blow to Elesia. She released it when the swords met, the energy blowing outwards. She was sent back too, hurtling backwards until she regained control of her flight. Hikari regarded Elesia with a mix of apprehension and frustration. Why couldn't she understand how dangerous such power is? The Name of God gives the speaker command over the legions of Heaven; every angel who hears that word must fall to its knees and obey every word the speaker says. It is a dangerous power in the hands of anybody, even one who sought to do good. Humans wouldn't be able to know the ramifications of their actions, and it would only interfere with God's will. Hikari readied herself to attack again. She must stop Elesia from this foolishness.

"You don't understand God's will!" Hikari countered, "You think you can fix all the problems, when all you would do is disrupt the plans God has made for this world!" She flew at Elesia. Elesia's blades streaked through the air. The first Hikari parried, knocking to the side. The second she blocked using St. George's Sanctuary. The third was a bad throw, and Hikari easily dodged it. The fourth, however, scored a hit. It struck Hikari's lop left wing, shooting through it and leaving a trail of white feathers stained red with Hikari's blood. Hikari screamed in pain and fell to the ground, unable to fly for a second. She saw Elesia coming to finish her, and quickly called up her celestial power to defend herself.

"St. George's Dragon!" she yelled. A gout of flame shot out from her hand, arching skyward to intercept Elesia.

She just didn't get it... How could the angels from above fail to understand the suffering of humanity? How could they hoard this power and let this suffering continue for so long? The solution was right there, and yet, despite being chosen, she still had someone stand before her. She wasn't going to allow this interferance, she was going to attain this power for the good of mankind, even if she had to slay an Archangel!

Her gaze focused on her target as the blades were sent to their target, she hid her grin as one hit its mark, and she was closing in on her target, ready to pierce that flesh with her magical weapons. It hurt her to know she had to fight an angel, but she wouldn't let her personal grief stop her goal, she had her target, and she wasn't going to stop. Unable to stop her attack though since she had no control in the air, Elesia was an open target for the next attack, and could do no more than try to recieve the blow with as minimal damage as possible. Her eyes widened in a moment of fear before she dropped her weapons, allowing them not to return to her for this moment, and she shielded herself with her arm and legs. Curling up so her limps would take the direct hit, Elesia made sure to keep her vitals from being scorched as her knees hugged close to her chest, and her arms over her face, recieving the attack head on.

"Aaaaaagh!!!" Her screams of pain echoed through out the chapel as the flame connected with her forarms and lower legs, burning her to blisters and charred skin as she was thrown far back, sent with a crashing thud along the tiled floor close to the relic, but in a burnt heap. She was on the ground, face down as she didn't seem to move, the edge of her dress and her sleeves burned away, revealing her skin which was mixed in shades of red and blood, burned severaly from the attack as she lied there. She didn't seem to move at all, and it wasn't even possible to tell of she was conscious or even breathing, it seemed that Hikari's attack had done Elesia in at this point.

....Too bad she didn't realize it was just a ploy.

"Oh my lord in heaven, forgive me for what I have just done," Hikari murmured as the flames bathed Elesia, burning her. She quickly called them off, allowing Elesia to not be completely incinerated. Her clothes were still on fire at the edges, her legs and arms burned and blistered. Hikari felt a wave of pity for the girl. She didn't know what she was getting herself into, fighting an angel and seeking the Ark. Hikari didn't know how or why Elesia was here, only that she shouldn't be. She knew that Ariel didn't want her here.

Hikari walked over to Elesia with her sword raised, prepared to deal the finishing blow. "I am truly sorry, but I have spared you from a more unpleasant death," Hikari said, "You may rest in peace knowing that your body will not be utterly destroyed and that those who love you will have something to mourn. Now, goodbye Elesia, shadow of God." Hikari raied her sword and prepared to plunge it into Elesia's prone body.

As Hikari approached her, Elesia was taking this time to gather her strength. She was hurt, but far from exhausted. Elesia had faced death before, and because of the bindings to her body and soul, even death couldn't keep her from coming back, so there was no fear in this woman towards death. But here... in these walls, she didn't plan to die, nor would she allow it to be done by an angel. For all she knew, Hikari's strike may have banished her, and coming back wasn't really an option.

'I'm sorry... Michelle.' She thought to herself, feeling bad that her vampyric lover was probably worried about her right now, and would be so upset if she knew how much she was getting hurt. Her thoughts subsided though as she concentrated, drawing in the first of three stages towards her true power, ready to unlock the first seal. For a moment, just before the sword came down, a strange hissing sound came from Elesia, and then finally, just as she was about to plunge the blade into Elesia, she felt the power surge into her, truly unleashing her first seal.

"Flight of Hermes!" Her body seemed to vibrate, as if it was blurring and becoming distorted, before suddenly she rolled aside, quicker than what a human should have been capable of. In her roll, she even managed to kick up on her feet, practically rolling in mid air as she got up, her body glowing with a pale, white light. In an instant, her weapons had returned to her, and she was on her feet, several feet away from Hikari, standing there as if she had never been touched. In fact, her skin begun to reveal several marks upon her skin. They were tattoos, religious markings layered upon her flesh from the neck down, ranging from the crucifex to the Star of David, her body was littered with religious symbols. Parts of her flesh that was burned were not steaming, healing right before Hikari's eyes, and even her clothing had changed, becoming a more battle oriented style of clothing. It was a navy blue, sleeveless top, coming down with a short skirt and knee high buts, truly something much better for a battle like they were having now. Despite her blades appearing though, Elesia dismissed them, raising up a gloved fist as the cross was etched into her palm as a tattoo, and on the glove itself. Her entire body seemed a bit more muscular even, as if the girl had unleashed a new hidden power within her.

"Seal one, unleashed... The Flight of Hermes. Thy nature unknown, even the world can not keep thine rooted" Readying herself with one fist raised, elesia stared coldly down at Hikari, as if she was awaiting for her to strike. Elesia was ready, waiting to counter an smite her with her divine fists.

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"Impressive," Hikari said. Truth be told, she was actually a bit frightened. Ariel seemed shocked inside of her, and she couldn't understand what could terrifying about Elesia. Hikari raised her sword up, pointing it at Elesia, the flame on the sword blazing with power.

"You think that just because you released this power that I will fear you?" Hikari said, "Don't be stupid. I'll defeat you just the same." She raised her sword up and called up divine energy. She then leapt off the ground and flew towards Elesia, her damaged wing healing as she flew toward Elesia, sword raised up prepared to cut down Elesia.

A long, stead breath escaped from Elesia as she felt her senses heighten, and the boundries of human limits within her break and snap. Her entire body felt as light as a feather, and her muscles felt as hard as steel. She felt ready to take on the one who stood before her, even with just the first of three seals unlocked. Watching Hikari through a dark glare, Elesia stood her ground, waiting to be struck.

"I have died ten deaths. I have found a hundred virtues. I have completed a thousand journies. I have said a million prayers. And I have bled for all of humanity. Do not think I will let one angel strike me down!" Declaring her stand, Elesia watched as the sword came down at her, and finally, she reacted, raising her right fist as the blade came down and struck it. However, the blade never cut through, in fact, it felt just like she struck the hard surface of metal, never even cutting into Elesia's fist, like it acted like a mace.

"Divine energy against another Divine... it's like blade striking blade." She said simply, her words blunt as she revealed that her hands were fueled with divine powers right now. The crosses on her gloves continued to glow brightly, eminating those same energies as she decided to counter, using her other fist to try and deliver a powerful strike right into Hikari's gut. Two fists against one blade, and right now her fists were as solid as a rock.

Hikari saw Elesia not even moving when she approached, not even a hint on her face. She was a bit unnerved, but that didn't matter. She was going to defeat Elesia no matter what. Her sword raised into the air, Hikari brought it down with a yell. "Die!". Then her sword was stopped. Hikari was surprised, her eyes widening. "What?" she said, her surprise evident. She couldn't cut through Elesia's arm, no matter how much strength she put into it.

Then Elesia's other fist came up and struck Hikari in the gut. Not only was the punch strong, it was fueled with powerful celestial energy. Hikari got blasted across the temple by the blow, stopping when she hit a pillar. Her wings shed a shower of white feathers, falling to the ground. Hikari fell with them, landing in a messy heap. She wasn't finished, slowly pushing herself up onto her hands and knees, coughing out blood.

"You-you matched my power," Hikari said, "How?"

Elesia knew this power would be enough, but it came at an extreme cost; one she was willing to sacrafice no matter what. It was her life... with every five minutes, her lifespan would be shortened another year. At this point, she had used this so many times that she'd be lucky to hit fifty. And if she was going to face the Archangel Ariel, Elesia knew she would lose a few more years. None the less, it wouldn't stop her, she would extract this power despite the cost, and use it to gain the relic. Thus, it was precisely what Elesia went for while Hikari was knocked back.

"By using it against you. You may be an Archangel, but the Gods are on my side." Suddenly, she turned her back to Hikari, making an incredably quick dash for the relic, her speed easily surpassing human limits, nearly a blur as she got to the relic. She needed to wield it for some time, and she knew that blood was needed as a catalyst, but right now, the euphoria of power was enough to make her feel powerful enough for a victory. Even though the first seal was more related towards speed, her power and endurance was a bit higher as well, but no where nearly as increased as her agility. And thus, while she had the chance, Elesia plucked the relic from it's containment, taking hold of the sphere in one og her glowing palms.

It felt... strange. For a relic of ancient power, there wasn't much beyond a faint sensation of purity and bliss that washed through her body. It must have been because it wasn't activated yet, but that would soon change. Taking hold of it, Elesia turned towards Hikari at the other end of the temple, clutching it tightly as she spoke aloud, her voice echoing in the halls. "The creature that sleeps within you, it can sense my power, and it is afraid.... It should be."

Hikari was powerless to stop Elesia as she dashed towards the relic and grabbed it. Despite Ariel being inside of her, giving her the power divine, she was still a mortal and her body was still mortal. The angel mail protected her from the worst of the blow, or her bones would be shattered and her organs turned to pulp. As it was, Hikari felt the damage inside of her. She coughed again, more bloods spurting out. She was in a lot of pain. She wasn't even sure that she could mend the damage Elesia did to her.

"Even if God is on your side," Hikari said, "I can't let you have that Ark." She raised her left arm. Elesia had the ark in her hand, but she had not broken the seal yet. There was still time. Ariel guided her on what to do next.

"You'll have to hit her fast, get that out of her grip," Ariel said.

"Are you really afraid of her power?" Hikari asked.

"No, but you should be," Ariel said, "She can't kill me, nor can she really even harm me, but she can kill you. If you could use the Angel Novae Burst, then you'll have enough power to match her. But as it is, neither of us are in any shape to control the full power we have."

Hikari sighed. She began to push herself to her feet, using the pillar for support. She needed to stand to be able to aim. "So a instant spell, just to make her let go?" Hikari thought.

"That's probably all you'll be able to manage," Ariel said.

Hikari closed her eyes and drew upon the celestial energy. "This will have to do," Hikari said, "Power of Freedom, Liberation!"

Light filled the room, blazing not from Hikari's hands but from the Ark itself. It lasted less than a second. The light exploded outwards, filling the temple. The sphere Elesia held in her hands would shoot out from her grasp, bouncing off the walls like a super-bounce ball and stop right in the middle of the temple, hovering in the air.