With her transformation complete, Runebelle, now in her Project Rune form, faced off against Mui,

  Runebelle's cannons had transformed into two small, sleek guns. She gripped them firmly in each hand. Mui raised her sword and prepared for the clash.

  Runebelle was the first to make a move. She fired a barrage of high-speed energy shots from her guns, aiming for Mui, who deflected with her sword. The projectiles struck the ground and barrier surrounding the arena, creating small explosions on impact.

  Mui, with her unparalleled agility, closed the gap between them and attempted to land a strike with her sword, but Runebelle swayed to the side with nimble dodges.

  The two combatants engaged in a fast-paced exchange of blows. Runebelle's green energy shots and Mui's sword strikes filled the arena with vibrant displays of power

  Runebelle sheathed her guns and summoned her giant needle to her hands. She launched it at Mui, who reacted quickly deflected the projectile with her sword. The needle was sent ricocheting off of the arena’s barrier.

  Runebelle smirked. "You shouldn't have blocked with your sword.” Her words caused Mui's face to drop into shock.

  "What," Mui exclaimed.

  Runebelle explained, "You triggered my trap. My Needle of Empathy can affect anything that has a soul." She paused briefly. “It looks like it affects your sword."

  Mui's sword was now engulfed with a greenish energy. "Kyosa?"

  Runebelle’s confident smirk widened upon seeing the greenish energy enveloping Mui’s sword. “You’ve got many tricks up your sleeve, Mui, but I noticed you haven’t used your sword magic yet. I didn’t know much about it before, only what I’ve had to deal with involving it. I suspected that a sword with sword magic has to have some kind of soul.”

  Mui's confusion deepened. "But how is that even possible?"

  Runebelle held up her needle. "The Needle of Empathy is a unique weapon that can affect the souls of others. When I launched it at your sword and it touched it, it bound its soul to it. Now, you're unable to use your sword magic because it's essentially become a part of my soul. As long as it's under my control, you won't be able to unleash its full power."

  .

  The announcer declared, "What a jaw-dropping twist, folks! Runebelle’s Needle of Empathy has just neutralized Mui’s sword magic before she even had a chance to swing it!”

  Mui's eyes narrowed. She muttered to herself, "Impressive. But I still have other tricks up my sleeve."

  Mui reached for a set of concealed throwing knives and, in a swift motion, flung them at Runebelle.

  Runebelle deftly evaded the first set of knives but realized that Mui had more in store. The area around the arena’s barrier and ground became littered with the needles earlier, and now knives were added to the equation.

  Mui grinned. She manipulated her magical power to control the knives she had thrown. Black threads she controlled wrapped around the knives, redirecting them toward Runebelle.

  Runebelle swapped out to her her small guns and fired energy shots at the incoming knives, attempting to deflect them; however, Mui’s precision and control over her magical threads made it difficult for Runebelle to counter every knife effectively.

  Several of the knives hit their mark, and Runebelle felt a paralyzing agent taking effect. Her movements began to slow, and she gritted her teeth.

  Mui held a smug look while controlling knives with ease. "My magic is not limited to Kyosa alone. My sword magic may be linked to my sword Kyosa, but that doesn't mean my magical abilities are limited to it. I can manipulate magic directly as well."

  Mui raised one hand with a thread of energy tied to a knife. "The dark magic I was born with is known as thread and needle magic. I can manipulate and control magical threads and needles to my advantage. This is a power that I've honed over the years, allowing me to control the battlefield and my opponents."

  Mui continued. “There are countless substances and magical effects that can impact the human body in this world. From poisons that paralyze and burn, to agents that can numb or induce hallucinations. I’ve taken a particular interest in all of them because, despite their inherent dangers, they become extremely effective when combined with a touch of darkness.”

  She gestured to the knives and needles now swirling around her. “Each of these weapons is designed with a purpose. Some carry paralytics that slow your movements, others have corrosives that can eat away at your flesh. My thread and needle magic allows me to weave them into the battlefield with precision, turning any advantage into a lethal weapon.”

  Mui’s eyes narrowed. “While many swordsmen rely on their blades and techniques alone, I believe in honing more than just the sword. I aim to control every element of the fight, from the terrain to the opponent’s very movements. This philosophy allows me to take down enemies even without my sword magic. My mastery over my thread and needle magic ensures that I’m always a step ahead.”

  Runebelle's partially paralyzed body shuddered. She summoned her last bit of strength to raise her arms and gather green energy infused with sadness.

  “Desolate Rain!”

  In an instant, the arena was filled with a torrential downpour of green energy. Upon the droplets touching Mui's skin and clothing, she sensed her energy being sapped away. Confusion and alarm flashed across her face.

  Runebelle eyed Mui with a strained look. "Desolate Rain is my answer to the poison immunity that my sisters have in their transformed states. While I may not possess the same immunity, my power allows me to absorb poison-like effects, draining the strength of my enemies with each droplet that touches them."

  This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  Runebelle, feeling the infusion of vitality and magic, straightened her posture. The pain from the paralyzing agent began to ebb. Meanwhile her energy levels surged. The green aura around her intensified, and her previously shaky hands were now firm with renewed strength.

  In the stands, Roselle's eyes widened with amazement. “I never knew she could do that!”

  Risebelle nodded in agreement. “This must be a new ability. I haven’t seen her use Desolate Rain before.”

  Mui’s face twisted with frustration. “Why… why you…!”

  Desperately, she grabbed her blade Kyosa, which was now her only hope of turning the tide.

  Runebelle raised an eyebrow. “Were you not listening? My Needle of Empathy has bound your sword’s soul to it. As long as it’s affected, you won’t be able to use your sword magic.”

  Mui focused on Kyosa, attempting to unleash its magical power. The blade briefly glowed with dark energy, but the light quickly faded.

  Runebelle seized the opportunity. With a swift, decisive motion, she slashed with her giant needle, the attack cutting across Mui’s chest. The force of the strike sent Mui crashing to the ground. Her body hit the arena floor with a heavy thud.

  The red countdown timer appeared, ticking down from 60 seconds. Runebelle stood over Mui “It’s over, Mui. You underestimated me.”

  The announcer’s voice rang out, filled with awe and disbelief. "What a stunning twist, folks! Mui, one of the top Elite Guards, is down for the count! Who’d a seen that coming? Runebelle’s pullin off an incredible upset! Now, the big question—can Mui find her footing and rise again within these last 60 seconds? Stay tuned, ‘cause this is getting wild!"

  Mui lay sprawled on the ground. She appeared to out cold.

  In the stands, Roselle leaped up, clutching onto Risebelle and bouncing up and down in the air. “She did it! She really did it!” Roselle cheered.

  Risebelle glanced at Roselle with irritation. “Yeah, I can see you’re happy. But could you please stop holding onto me like this?”

  Roselle looked at her sister with a grin. “Come on, Risebelle! Just let me be excited for a moment!”

  Risebelle sighed, shaking her head but with a hint of a smile on her lips.

  During that time, Mui dived deep into her inner world. She whispered the name "Kyosa.” When she did, greenish energy raged within the realm of her mind, threatening to overpower her connection with her sword, Kyosa.

  Mui slashed through the tumultuous energy, sending shockwaves of green light scattering away. “Kyosa!” she shouted. She continued to cut through the swirling aura until she reached a figure emerge. It was shaped like herself but composed entirely of deep purple energy.

  The figure gazed at Mui with an intensity. With a deep, powerful chord, they asked, “Are you ready to overturn this battle?”

  Mui nodded. "Yes. Runebelle's power is unexpected, but we will turn the tide in our favor, just like we always do.”

  Kyosa spoke with irritation. "The Needle of Empathy has thrown a wrench in everything! I couldn’t grant you any power. Without the Sword Magic or the Sword God form, we’re going to get cooked."

  Mui responded, "The fact that I could reach the inner world at all means I should be able to use ‘something’. Maybe we can find a way to get some of that power back."

  Kyosa’s eyes softened. "You’re right. When Runebelle unleashed that desolate rain, it diminished the Needle’s effects just enough. If we can exploit this brief window, we might be able to regain some of our strength."

  Mui’s resolve hardened. "So, what’s the plan?"

  Kyosa took a deep breath with her tone now steady. "You should be able to access Stage One of Sword Magic for about ten seconds. In that brief window, you need to land a decisive blow. Runebelle can’t keep the Needle of Empathy active while she's juggling her other abilities. If you strike now, you might just turn the tide before the Needle regains full control over me."

  When the countdown hit 40 seconds in the arena, Mui stood up. She swiftly brought her sword up to the air. Her sword, Kyosa of a medium size, extended slightly in length. Two dark circles emerged in the center of the blade, connected by a thin, dark line. The blade's color shifted to a more intense, greyish hue and energy radiated from it.

  "Overturn, Kyosa!"

  As Mui unleashed her Sword Magic, a dark wave surged from her blade, propelling her forward with incredible speed. She closed the distance between her and Runebelle in the blink of an eye. Runebelle was taken aback by Mui's sudden burst of speed.

  Runebelle barely managed to raise her needle in time to block Mui's strike. The force of the clash sent vibrations through her arm. If she had been a second slower, she would have taken a fatal blow.

  Runebelle jabbed her needle forward, but Mui seemed to glide around the strikes as though she were a phantom.

  Runebelle’s eyes widened. “You should be affected by Desolate Rain. What’s going on?”

  Mui responded with a slash at Runebelle from behind, "You underestimate the power of my Sword Magic, Runebelle. I have transcended those mere limitations that you tried to place on me."

  Runebelle stepped back and took her small guns in her hand. She fired a series of shots at her opponent, but Mui moved around them quickly and slashed Runebelle across the chest, causing pain to surge through her. Runebelle dropped her small guns and summoned her Needle of Empathy and ignored the pain she felt. She drove the needle into the center of Mui's being.

  The moment the needle made contact, Runebelle said, “Earth’s Radiance!” A green aura enveloped her body.

  Mui found herself unable to move. Her body was locked in place. Runebelle spoke triumphantly. "You got hit dead center by my Needle of Empathy. This fight is over. There’s no using sword magic to avoid this one."

  Runebelle stepped back and picked up her small guns to aim at Mui. This time, she charged them up with green energy. She then fired off two powerful beams from them that surged toward her target.

  The green energy shots struck Mui directly, and upon impact, they detonated in wide explosion. The crowd watched in awe as Mui was engulfed by the powerful energy.

  The smoke that had enveloped the arena after the explosion began to clear. To everyone's shock, Mui appeared behind Runebelle.

  Runebelle stammered in disbelief. Mui appeared behind her, seemingly unscathed by the explosion that had engulfed her.

  Mui gave her an amused look." Runebelle, Kyosa's power isn't about speed or enhanced abilities. Kyosa has the unique ability to overturn situations. It allows me to reverse the effects of various abilities and manipulate the outcome of battles."

  Runebelle's confusion deepened. Mui continued. "I overcame the effects of your Needle of Empathy by using Kyosa’s Sword Magic to reverse its influence on me."

  Runebelle was stunned, but Mui spoke with authority. “Runebelle, after everything you’ve seen of my various weapons, what do you think my Sword Kyosa is coated with right now?”

  Before she could respond, Mui continued, “Everything.”

  In a swift, decisive motion, Mui slashed with Kyosa. A dark wave surged forward from her blade, carrying with it a deadly concoction of poison, paralysis, burns, and darkness. The combined effects overwhelmed Runebelle. The intense energy from the slash sent her crashing into the arena’s barrier with a tremendous impact.

  Runebelle cried out in pain, spitting out a streak of blood from the collision. She slumped against the barrier shaking from the multiple debilitating effects.

  Mui sheathed her sword with a calm demeanor. She looked down at Runebelle, who lay crumpled on the ground.

  “And now,” Mui declared with finality, “this match is over.”

  The crowd watched in stunned silence. The announcer broke the silence with a boom. “Mui just flipped the script with her Kyosa, bustin’ through Runebelle’s Needle of Empathy and landin’ a decisive blow! What a showdown, folks!”

  Runebelle struggled to get back on her feet. She aimed her Needle of Empathy toward Mui with desperation. She shouted loudly, "If I can just use Desolate Rain again, even for one second, I could—"

  Before she could finish, Mui appeared behind her with Kyosa drawn and ready. The sudden presence startled Runebelle.

  Mui said calmly, “I said it’s over. Enough already.”

  Runebelle’s eyes widened. She felt the cold steel of Kyosa slice across her chest. She fell to the ground with blood gushing out of her.

  Project Mage