Death Guns In Another World

Meanwhile, in a secluded clearing far from the clashing of Saeko and Gracier, Sakuya and Artemia faced each other, eyes sharp with focus. Sakuya gripped her twin katana, their blades gleaming, while Artemia held a long, blue spear, crackling with arcs of electricity. Water swirled at her feet, rippling outward in controlled currents that mirrored her intent. Artemia, a master of both lightning and water magic, was a formidable match, but Sakuya, with her dual command of both ice and space manipulation, held her own unique power.

The sparring match began with a bang as Artemia launched forward, her spear thrusting like a bolt of lightning. Sakuya responded instantly, shifting her stance and invoking her spatial abilities. With a flicker, she seemed to vanish, reappearing a few feet away, just out of reach of Artemia's spear. Artemia's eyes narrowed, and with a twist, she summoned a surge of water that wrapped around her weapon, extending its range in a sweeping arc.

Sakuya was ready, her twin blades meeting the water-wrapped spear in a clash that sent a shockwave across the clearing. She pivoted, using one blade to deflect while slashing with the other, her movements precise yet fluid. As her katana met Artemia's spear, a thin layer of frost spread along the blue shaft, causing a faint shimmer in the air around them.

Artemia grinned, her spear crackling with renewed lightning as she summoned more energy. "You'll have to do better than that, Sakuya."

Without missing a beat, she spun her spear, releasing a barrage of water projectiles that shot toward Sakuya in rapid succession. Each droplet seemed charged with electric energy, sparking with lightning as they tore through the air.

Sakuya focused, the air around her warping as she tapped into her spatial abilities. With a graceful sweep of her hand, she twisted space itself, bending the trajectory of the projectiles away from her and sending them splashing harmlessly into the ground. She countered by thrusting her katana forward, causing the space around Artemia to compress, distorting her vision and forcing her to step back.

But Artemia wasn't one to be outdone. Channeling her magic, she extended her hand, and the water on the ground rose in twisting, coiling tendrils, creating a barrier around her. With a snap of her fingers, the water crackled with lightning, forming a defensive shield.

Sakuya seized the moment to press her advantage. She dashed forward, slicing through the water barrier with her frost-coated blades. Each slash spread a sheet of ice along the surface, freezing the water on contact. Artemia, sensing the impending strike, channeled her energy and unleashed a wave of lightning that shot through the ice, shattering it into countless glimmering shards.

As the icy fragments scattered, Sakuya teleported, reappearing just behind Artemia with her katana raised. But Artemia was ready, spinning her spear and releasing a burst of lightning that forced Sakuya to teleport away once more. The two continued to exchange blows, each attack met with a swift counter, their powers clashing with ferocity and finesse. Explore more stories with empire

At one point, Artemia summoned a massive vortex of water infused with lightning, sending it rushing toward Sakuya. But Sakuya smirked, raising her hand and twisting the fabric of space itself, creating a rift that swallowed the vortex and reappeared just behind Artemia, redirecting her own attack back at her. Artemia quickly sidestepped, her control precise as she dissipated the vortex, turning it into a fine mist that hung in the air.

The mist sparkled with residual energy, and for a moment, both warriors paused, breathing heavily but grinning, each acknowledging the other's skill.

"Not bad, Sakuya," Artemia panted, tightening her grip on her spear.

Sakuya smiled, a steely glint in her eyes. "You too. Let's see how you handle this."

With a focused exhale, Sakuya raised both katana, calling upon her mastery of ice. Frost spread across the blades, thickening into crystalline edges that gleamed with a deadly, frozen brilliance. She slashed forward, releasing a wave of icy energy that froze everything in its path, a glittering force aimed directly at Artemia.

Artemia responded by summoning a spiraling cyclone of water around her, the air buzzing with electricity as she infused it with lightning. The water met the ice head-on, sending a burst of steam and sparks into the air. The clearing was filled with swirling mist, obscuring both fighters from view.

When the mist cleared, they stood facing each other, weapons at the ready, their expressions fierce yet respectful. They knew this was only a fraction of what they were capable of, but each attack, each defense, brought them closer to understanding their strengths and weaknesses.

As the evening light faded, both warriors lowered their weapons, breathing heavily. They exchanged a nod, silently acknowledging the progress they'd made and the strength they had drawn from each other.

"You're good, Sakuya," Artemia said, lowering her spear with a grin. "I can't wait to see how

After their intense sparring session, Sakuya and Artemia decided to take a well-deserved break at the nearby spa to cool down. The path to the spa was quiet, bathed in the soft glow of the evening as they walked side by side, their competitive edge softened into a comfortable camaraderie.

Once inside, they each sank into the mineral-rich hot springs, the soothing warmth immediately working to relax their tired muscles. A gentle steam rose around them, mixing with the faint scent of herbal oils in the air, adding to the spa's calming atmosphere.

Sakuya leaned back, closing her eyes as the tension from the battle slowly melted away. "I think I needed this more than I realized," she murmured, letting the hot water ease her lingering soreness.

Artemia chuckled, letting her arms float lazily on the surface. "Same here. Those teleporting moves of yours kept me on edge the entire time," she admitted, a playful grin lighting up her face. "You don't hold back, do you?"

"Neither do you," Sakuya replied with a smirk, eyes still closed. "I'm still feeling that lightning blast you threw at me near the end. You didn't even give me a second to catch my breath."

Artemia laughed. "I had to keep you on your toes somehow. You're a tough opponent to pin down."

They soaked in companionable silence for a while, watching the stars begin to appear through the open ceiling of the spa. The tranquil setting was a stark contrast to their earlier sparring, the bubbling water and warm lights creating a sense of peace that felt almost otherworldly.

"So," Artemia finally said, her tone more thoughtful. "When the real battles start, do you think we'll be ready?"

Sakuya opened her eyes, gazing up at the stars before answering. "I think so. All this training is more than just improving our skills—it's learning to trust each other, to rely on each other's strengths. When the time comes, I'm confident we'll have each other's backs."

Artemia nodded, her gaze softening. "I agree. And it helps to know I'm not alone in this."

They shared a small, reassuring smile, both feeling the weight of the upcoming battles, but also the strength in knowing they had allies by their side.

After a while, they moved to the cooler baths, letting the refreshing water help regulate their body temperatures after the heat of the hot springs. They laughed as the cool water jolted them awake, the calm of the spa renewed.

As they wrapped up their session, drying off and preparing to head back to camp, Artemia shot Sakuya a playful look. "Next time, I might just have a new lightning trick up my sleeve."

Sakuya raised an eyebrow, amused. "Good. I'll look forward to countering it."

With light hearts and refreshed spirits, they left the spa together, ready for whatever challenges the next day would bring.