Chapter 117: Maria vs vex
The fractured reality zones around Maria and Vex continued to shift and collapse, each pocket of altered physics demanding concentration to maintain. Maria felt sweat mixing with blood as it ran down her face, the strain of keeping multiple contradictory realities stable pushing her abilities to their limits.
’This isn’t working,’ she thought desperately, watching Vex’s fragmented form reassemble itself after their last exchange. ’She adapts too quickly to environmental changes. I’m burning through my strength too fast.’
Vex’s pieces flowed back together like mercury finding its natural shape, her cruel smile reforming as her consciousness settled back into a single form. "Growing tired already?" she taunted, wiping blood from her reformed mouth. "I’ve fought reality-benders before, child. They all make the same mistake—they think altering the battlefield guarantees victory."
Maria let her fractured reality zones collapse one by one, the effort of maintaining them becoming unbearable. As normal physics reasserted itself, she staggered, the sudden return to conventional space-time leaving her dizzy and disoriented.
’Damn it. She’s right. I’ve wasted too much energy on those zones while she just adapted to them. I’m in serious trouble here.’
"Finally admitting defeat?" Vex asked, advancing with renewed confidence. Her form began to blur again, splitting into multiple versions that moved independently. "Good. Death will come easier if you don’t struggle."
Maria drew her blade—a simple steel sword, nothing magical about it. Her hand trembled slightly from exhaustion, and she had to grip the hilt tighter to keep it steady.
’Magic isn’t working. Maybe basic swordplay will fare better, but against someone like her? I’m probably dead.’
The duplicates attacked in coordinated waves, each one wielding different weapons that materialized from thought itself. Maria parried desperately, her blade meeting strikes from daggers, swords, and even a morning star that shouldn’t have been able to manifest so quickly.
A curved blade sliced across her shoulder, drawing first blood. The pain was sharp and immediate, making her cry out. Another caught her across the thigh, and Maria stumbled backward, her defense becoming increasingly ragged as she struggled to track multiple opponents at once.
’Too many of them. I can’t keep up. Every wound is real, every mistake might be my last.’