Jane drew her long sword. Her back plate popped off and the tall and wide kite shield orbited her like a planet. The lights on Mei’s gauntlets flickered, and she extended her index and middle fingers.

The golden eyed woman flicked her wrists clockwise and slipped her fists through the two crystal circles she had written. The Candidates stared at the eight bracket spells in awe. The eight bright orbs glittered and the holographic circuit boards lit up.

“Oh? Your magic has grown stronger. Ladies first.” Kagiso said playfully and he pulled back. “Ha! No guts, no glory!” Jane roared, and she charged ahead with a loud boom. Her red eyes flared and scaled claws pierced the clouds.

Lightning bolts struck the webbed hands and the giant shadow broke through the clouds. The Candidate’s eyes bulged when they saw the sea monster.

“Who would create such a thing?” one of them asked in awe, and the wrinkled-up face lowered its gaze. “A mermaid?” Mei exclaimed, and her heart sank into her stomach. “Not anymore.” Kagiso replied sadly and the withered giant opened its mouth. “Evasive manoeuvres.” the two-horned man instructed.

“Ha! You haven’t changed! Find its weak points. I’ll draw its attention.” Jane rumbled confidently and her voice emboldened the trailing Candidates. They stayed on course, while Mei and Kagiso banked to the left and the right respectively.

“Move, you fools!” the two-horned man shouted and the sea monster inhaled sharply. It screamed and fired glittery rings at the Candidates. Jane flew right through the sonic rings. The violent sound waves rattled her armour, but they could not halt her charge.

The Candidates charged as well and Mei looked back. They flew right through the rings and their armour crumbled. The Candidates screamed as their bones cracked and their bodies burst into clouds of red mist.

Jane reached the giant fish tailed sea monster’s air space. She gripped her sword tightly and swung horizontally. Her shoulder crashed into an invisible wall mid swing and she vanished instantly. The two-horned woman retreated and appeared near Kagiso’s location.

“Are you happy now?” the two-horned man asked, and Jane giggled. “They were going to die, anyway. Sacrificing themselves to distract the sea monster, so that I can slay it, is an honourable way to spend your life.” She replied coldly and Kagiso’s eyes glowed.

“And you have not changed either. I told you before, seek glory and you will find death.” The two-horned man rumbled warily and he placed his hands together. Kagiso pried his hands apart, and a bejewelled bone sceptre materialised.

“We need to overload its shields first. Giants aren’t as invulnerable as they seem.” Mei instructed, and Jane glanced at her. The golden eyed woman had appeared behind them, without her noticing. “Oh, imagine how much easier that would have been if they were still alive?” Kagiso asked sarcastically.

“Hmph. Fine. I will have my father retrieve their souls when we are done. But I won’t be held responsible for their mental states. I’ll leave that up to the support.” Jane replied and rested her sword on her shoulder. 

“I hate people who think death is inconsequential. Have you ever been revived?” Mei asked, and the two-horned woman laughed hysterically.

“When? During my trial or as a child? I misjudged you, Mei. Anyone who has returned from the abyss is a true Dragon. Anyone with that kind of spirit may share a bed with me.” Jane rumbled affectionately. 

“Perhaps I should lead the way and give you two some time alone.” Kagiso said, and he vanished. “No, that won’t be necessary.” Mei replied and the two-horned woman chuckled, before she vanished as well.

The two-horned man’s sceptre glittered, and he slowed down slightly. Mei and Jane caught up quickly. Their fists and sword sparkled as well, before they broke the sound barrier at the same time. The trio’s eyes flashed and flared. They timed their attacks perfectly and struck the invisible wall with all their might.

The sea monster braced itself and the tremor revealed invisible bubble for a moment. Kagiso, Jane and Mei swung again. They exhaled sharply on impact and glittery shockwaves shook the barrier. The ripples rolled through the bubble and collided. Cracks formed, and the trio battered the sea monster’s barrier. They vanished, reappeared and swung in unison.

“Get ready to target its vital organs. Jane may claim its head.” Kagiso instructed, and Mei’s eyes flashed. She memorised the sea monster’s biology and glanced at the two-horned man. “How-““-three two one go!” Kagiso counted quickly, before he charged.

Jane’s blade became red hot. The glittery water flowed down the sword and coated the blade in a thin membrane. She swung a few split seconds earlier and flung a crescent-shaped blade at the barrier. The Blade Wheel sped up and screeched like a circular saw, as it cut through the air.

Mei’s magical circles sparkled, and the nodes shone. She threw a right straight and a crystal fist struck the barrier. Her Mana flowed out of her cells on impact and the giant fist struck the barrier.

Kagiso swung his sceptre and a glittery sphere, the size of a stadium, ballooned on impact. He roared and the Mana field burst. The deafeningly loud impacts parted the clouds. The sea monster’s eyes bulged, and the force knocked it backwards. The two-hundred-metre-long giant scrambled to regain control. However, it was too late.

Kagiso, Mei and Jane pounced. They vanished, reached hypersonic speeds and appeared only for brief moments. Mei’s crystal fists punched glittery pillars of wind that drilled through the sea monster.

Kagiso raised his sceptre and detonated the Mana bombs he had planted. The glittery spheres erupted, and the vibrations shattered the nano-spheres attached to the organelles in its cells.

The tiny snow globes burst and the monster’s cells became unstable. Jane swung at the sea monster’s neck. She roared and her Mana ignited. A glittery arc of fire lit up the night sky and the sea monster’s head flew off its neck.