The Golem Mage

”Wouldn’t you like to step down and give up while you still have the chance?” Carmilla asked, her gaze fixed on Michael, who appeared on the verge of collapsing.

”Why would I do that now, after I’ve gathered all this prestige and morale? My hope is to continue fighting until I can no longer stand,” Michael responded confidently.

” Even in a situation when I fall, I would still be seen as a hero, as I would have the crowd’s support on my side, and whoever replaces me next will receive the fans’ passionate backing, this would fuel their desire to defeat you, the one who has eliminated the one who gave the crowd two straight wins, think about that,” Michael expressed his strategy with a smile, leaving Carmilla to shake her head in disbelief.

”No wonder my big brother didn’t want me to face you at first, you truly are a troublesome opponent, especially at full power and when you haven’t even unleashed your innate eye laser spell, no wonder he made sure you had no choice but to use it,” Carmilla remarked as she assumed her fighting stance.

”Well, I had a feeling your brother was behind all these counter schemes, as if it were up to your block-headed captain to decide the next challenger, I’m sure he would have just chosen himself,” Michael retorted.

”Get ready to lose, because your plans will no longer hold any effect from now on!” Carmilla declared, readying herself.

In response, Michael raised his sword, adopting a protective stance.

”Begin!” The referee’s voice signalled the start of the battle as Carmilla reached for the band holding her hair.

With a swift movement, she yanked it off, allowing her wine-coloured hair to fall freely.

As Carmilla’s long hair cascaded down, extending all the way to her knees, she began to perform intricate hand signs while swiftly advancing towards Michael

Michael, in a defensive stance, tilted his head, using his ears to face Carmilla, as if relying on his heightened senses to anticipate her attack. However, he was quickly compelled to raise his sword for defence.

Bang!

The force of Carmilla’s relentless assault sent Michael hurtling through the air, unable to adequately protect himself against the onslaught unleashed by her extraordinary hair.

After the assault, Carmilla stood in the center of the battle ring, her hair noticeably longer and stronger than before, intertwined in braids that shimmered with a brilliant crimson glow at the tip.

The sight gave the crowd an impression that her hair could be even sharper than the most finely honed spears.

They had witnessed the damage it had inflicted upon the ground where Michael had previously stood, leaving deep gouges.

Despite the assault, Michael persisted, still striving to listen for Carmilla’s movements with his closed eyes.

”It’s quite pathetic, isn’t it? The fact that I have to face you in your weakened state, had believed that defeating you would satisfy my thirst for battle, but clearly, I was mistaken,” Carmilla taunted.

”Step down with some semblance of pride and allow me to face the next opponent, that way, I can still salvage some dignity for you, if you refuse, I’ll utterly shatter any reputation you think you’ve built when I defeat you mercilessly.”

As Carmilla circled slowly around Michael, he strained to locate her, relying solely on the sound of her approaching footsteps.

”Well, I’m sorry, I just can’t do that!” Michael asserted.

”Then you leave me no choice!” she declared, as her hair launched towards Michael like a legion of flying swords, as the crowd and fans of the Holy Grail Academy, were yearning for their hero to conjure another miracle, but was left in despair.

As they watched as various parts of his body were impaled by the sharp tips of Carmilla’s hair.

Initially, he had managed to deflect a few of the strikes, by rolling on the ground and casting some light spells, but his injuries and his temporary blindness severely limited his capabilities.

It wasn’t long before he was ensnared; when one of her braided hair tips found its way through his injured neck, rendering him immobile for more than a second and allowing the other tips to pierce different parts of his body.

Although he had managed to slightly move, averting the hairs from striking any of his vital organs, but the moment he was pierced, he began to feel his strength waning as his blood drained away.

But it wasn’t only blood loss he felt; the tips of Carmilla’s hair that had penetrated his flesh were not merely strands but giving him the feeling of leeches, voraciously draining him.

”Ahhh, I give... (whack)” Michael attempted to concede, but his speech was abruptly silenced by a lash from one of the hair whips.

”It’s too late now, I warned you, and you should have accepted my offer when I presented it,” Carmilla stated as she advanced towards Michael, who was now being raised to the air by the hair tips deep inside his body, his broadsword slipping from his weakened grasp.

”You witch, you seem to relish in my torment!” Michael mumbled weakly, yet his words were still audible to her.

”Of course, I’m doing this for my teammates, Connor and Kira, whom you nearly killed, you talented piece!” Carmilla retorted.

[> Mid Bloodline Spell – Judgment Blade Blood Copy