Flames and beasts danced.
The fire that burned the mountain did not leave its soot only upon the earth.
Smoke rose without end and blanketed the surrounding sky, until at last even the sun was robbed of the chance to display its noble form.
Thus, the only sources of light upon the ground were sparks.
Rolling flames, burning starlight, and the pupils of the two girls that shone especially bright amid them collided again and again, bursting into radiance.
Like prehistoric humans striking flint to kindle a fire.
The sequence of exchanges was no longer “martial arts.”
When the black-haired girl parried, the gray-furred beast stepped upon empty air and spun.
Seria’s Aura surged in like a current rushing to fill an empty ravine and finally left a shallow cut across Celine’s cheek.
Countless exchanges followed one after another without pause.
The seamless succession of offense and defense seemed closer to a phenomenon of nature than a display of technique.
Fwoosh!
Before long, flames spilled from the wound instead of blood, and the scratch healed.
Yet the fire was not fierce enough to burn away the bewilderment hanging over Celine’s expression.
The arsonist could only think.
‘How?’
It was a question she had asked herself countless times already.
Yet no answer came easily, leaving the girl no choice but to seize upon that thread of doubt once more.
It was only natural.
Even now, just look.
The flames shattered with a crash beneath Seria’s beastlike…