novelzi Chapter 416 – The Building Blocks of Divinity
Chapter 416 – The Building Blocks of Divinity
Maisara raised her axe as she sidestepped yet another body. The so-called heroes that had first come out to investigate what the Goddess of Order was doing near the city that they occupied had been dealt with. The last of their gaggle were now retreating only due to the fact Maisara didn’t care anymore. Anarchia was managing to close the distance at quick yet leisurely pace. She wasn’t running but the march was obviously faster than a jog.
Maisara didn’t know if the woman was wanting to scare her, or throw her off, or what, but whatever she was doing, it was working. Only either utter fools or those completely confident in themselves kept a pace like that. It reminded Maisara of Fer’s approach through the battle. Combined with the fact Anarchia had sorcery… Well, Maisara would simply rather not risk anything, would she? Who knew how quickly the woman could close the distance? Who knew if she would suddenly pull out a spear or an axe that the few moments it would take for Maisara to recall her axe could prove fatal.
Maisara kept her eyes focused entirely on the Goddess of Anarchy approaching her. Anarchia came in a black skirt and a red shirt. And that was it. With long black hair that framed darker eyes, she looked… Well, the lack of armour was suitable for modern Goddesses, but the woman could have been a Great War veteran. Maisara swung her axe to the side, ready to bring it up in case the other Divine initiated a sudden strike.
No sudden strike came though. Anarchia simply came to a stop some distance from Maisara. Arascus had explained what they knew of Anarchia’s leeching through emotion, and Kassandora had reiterated her father’s word with her own analytical spin on things. Kassandora had said to remain calm no matter what happens and that if Anarchia was to start draining power, to call for an immediate retreat. Arascus had said that Maisara should be immune because she didn’t have character flaws for others to latch onto. Whatever that meant. Maisara didn’t particularly care.
Anarchia closed half the distance again as Maisara readied her axe. She wasn’t going to charge in against someone who had apparently stolen Fer’s strength and Anassa’s sorcery. The woman’s capabilities had to be tested first. Was her strength equal to Beasthood’s? Was her skill equal to Sorcery’s? “Maisara!” Anarchia shouted.
And Maisara’s mood immediately dropped. This was a woman who was still playfighting in combat. Who wanted to come in and talk. Both Kassandora and Arascus had warned her against talking with Anarchia. Who knew whether the woman needed a judge of one’s character or not. Arascus had said that Maisara shouldn’t even allow herself to form an opinion on Anarchia. That giving Anarchia any sort of emotional significance could put Maisara at risk.
Maisara did not know what that meant, nor did she care too specifically. The woman ahead of her was a threat to global order in the same way that a cockroach was a threat to cleanliness. Apart from the factual annoyance they brought, what sort of opinion did Maisara have on cockroaches. She clicked the earpiece again. “What is the timing like?”
Kassandora replied immediately. “The support ships are approaching now. Elassa is minutes away. She should be crossing the horizon soon.”
So it was up to Maisara only to delay then. “Then I’ll hold. Tell me when you’re ready to strike.”
“Air support is available if you need it.” Kassandora added.
“Not yet. Maisara out.” Maisara turned the earpiece off. Anarchia kept on closing the distance. Maisara stood her ground. Even if the woman had access to sorcery, she would not know the intricacies, there would still be the need for confidence as with any sorcerer. In theory, even Anassa needed to believe in herself for her powers to work.
Maisara swung her axe from side to side as Anarchia shouted. “Maisara!!” And again Maisara stood there in silence. “Can you not speak?” Anarchia asked. Maisara felt the chill the moment Anarchia started to raise her arm. A single long finger pointed at the Goddess of Order.
And Maisara felt it.
Maisara felt an icy chill slide down her spine as if a claw was tracing her back. She shivered and she stood there, as still as a statue. Kassandora had said that she would know immediately if her strength was being sapped and that she would start shrinking. The axe was still the same weight it ever was. She couldn’t be getting weaker. Maisara forced her way through that feeling and stared at Anarchia. The woman was still pointing at her. What exactly was she doing? Making her cold? Was that it?
Maisara saw Anarchia raise her finger stretch, point and once again felt that wave come over her. It was harder this time. The woman was obviously putting more energy into it. And that wave of ice ran down Maisara’s spine once again. It was as if a giant claw was dragging its sharp tip, trying to split Maisara in half from the back. And again, Maisara stood there, gripping her axe and waiting for Anarchia to make a move so that she could parry a blow and counterattack.
Maisara touched her earpiece to speak to Kassandora as another wave of ice fell upon her. It travelled from the top of her head to her feet and then out of her. “What am I supposed to be doing?” Maisara asked.
Kassandora replied instantly. There wasn’t even a moment’s pause. “She’s not draining you?” Even Kassandora sounded surprise.
“Is she supposed to?” Maisara asked. Anarchia waved her hand, stretched, and then pointed both arms at Maisara.
“Shouldn’t she be hitting you right now?” Kassandora asked calmly over the earpiece.
“I’m getting chills so I think she’s doing something.” Maisara replied as she tested her axe’s weight. It still moved confidently, still she could heft it off the ground. Not once did she take her eyes off Anarchia. Creatures in the past had also played fools and then exploited the overconfidence from vanity. “It’s just shivers though.”
“Are you actually immune?” Kassandora asked.
Maisara let out a sigh. She clicked her earpiece again as another massive wave of ice came down her spine. As if a swimming pool worth’s of freezing water had suddenly been thrown over her, and then evaporated a moment later. Her natural temperature returned. And Anarchia shouted a curse from ahead. Maisara raised an eyebrow. Crass. She clicked her earpiece again: “Should I just move in?”
And Kassandora answered. “Do you think you can cut her down?”
“I can try.” Immunity to power was one thing. Anarchia still possessed the strength of Fer and Anassa. Just because her magic proved ineffectual did not mean that her fighting abilities would. Overconfidence was a great killer after all. Maisara took a testing step forward. Anarchia did not seem to notice or react.