Chapter 42: Strongest Queen Becomes Izashi's Servant
Izashi's attack slammed into Grayfia with the force of a thunderstorm, but he wasn't done. His crimson eyes gleamed with excitement as his next move began to take shape. A dark-red beam formed in front of him, gradually warping into the shape of a menacing dragon's head. The swirling energy around it seemed to distort the very air.
"Destructive Dragon's Head!" Izashi roared, unleashing the attack.
Grayfia's eyes narrowed as she watched the beam streak toward her. She could feel the incredible destructive energy within it. This was no time to underestimate his power, and she refused to repeat her earlier mistake.
A large, bright magic symbol appeared in front of her, the air around it chilling instantly. "Ice Phoenix!" Grayfia called out, her voice calm but determined. From the magic circle burst an enormous bird of frost, much larger than Izashi's dragon head. The two powerful forces clashed, the explosion from their meeting sending ripples of energy through the air. The sheer impact dispersed both attacks.
As the icy mist cleared, Grayfia's sharp gaze caught movement. Through the remains of her Ice Phoenix, Izashi was charging directly at her. So that was his real plan—to force a distraction and launch a close-range attack. But this time, Grayfia was ready.
As soon as Izashi emerged from the dissipating ice, Grayfia's magic circles encircled him, glowing with an intense blue hue. "A thousand Ice Swords!" she called out as sharp, crystalline blades formed around her opponent. Each sword pointed toward Izashi, their gleaming edges catching the faint moonlight.
But Izashi, with a quick smirk, summoned his own set of crimson magic circles. Out of each one, small, thin snakes made from the Power of Destruction wriggled free. They slithered around the ice swords, crushing them into a mist of ice shards. Grayfia's assault was countered, her blades shattered effortlessly.
Though surprised at how quickly he dismantled her attack, Grayfia's face remained as expressionless as ever. Time seemed to slow as the two fighters locked eyes. Izashi was closing the gap fast, and she had little choice but to use physical strength. She was confident—Grayfia knew her raw strength was far superior.
Except this time, her confidence betrayed her. As their hands met, she tried to overpower him, but Izashi's strength matched her blow for blow. The sudden resistance made her eyes widen in shock. He had been holding back.
"What…?" Grayfia muttered to herself, almost inaudibly.
Realizing her mistake, Grayfia quickly summoned her magic. Ice energy burst from her body, surrounding her in an almost blinding glow of frost. The sheer amount of energy pouring from her sent a biting chill through the air. Izashi's devil wings fluttered slightly as he felt the cold seeping in, and for a moment, he stood still, evaluating.
"So you weren't going all out either, huh, Sister?" Izashi mused aloud.
Grayfia didn't reply. Instead, she conjured a staff made entirely of ice in her hand and, with a swift motion, slammed it into Izashi. The force sent him flying backward, smashing into several trees in the distance. Grayfia followed, her figure moving as fluidly as the ice itself. She had no plans of letting up this time.
Izashi gritted his teeth as he glanced at his hand, watching the ice creep along his left arm from where Grayfia struck him. "Impressive," he muttered, "but not enough." He closed his eyes for a second, focusing, and in the next moment, a surge of pure devil energy burst forth from his body. The ice that had begun to freeze him disintegrated instantly, the raw heat from his aura overwhelming the chill.
Grayfia, watching from above, felt a faint smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "I see… You were hiding this much strength all along."
Without a word, Izashi's wings spread wide, and he shot up toward her. Grayfia was ready this time, her hand pulsing with a massive amount of ice magic. At the very last second, as Izashi closed the distance, Grayfia unleashed it at point-blank range, creating a freezing explosion.
But Izashi wasn't fazed. His hand shot up, dispersing the ice magic with a single sweep. He had predicted the attack. Grayfia, however, had predicted his prediction. The moment her spell shattered, her figure blinked out of sight.
"Behind you," came her calm voice.
Izashi barely had time to react before her fist slammed into his back, sending him spiraling forward. Grayfia was relentless, summoning another spell—a gigantic block of ice formed in her hands, and she hurled it straight toward him.
Izashi quickly recovered, summoning a sword made from the Power of Destruction in his hand. With a swift, precise strike, he cleaved the ice block in two. The pieces shattered into a thousand shards, raining down on the battlefield.
Just as he finished, he felt a sharp chill behind him. Grayfia was right there, a sword of deadly ice in her grip. Her voice was low, but there was an edge to it. "This ends now."
The ice sword gleamed as she swung it, aiming to sever his arm. But at the last second, Izashi's aura shifted drastically. His once crimson magic flared into a radiant gold, and in an instant, he grabbed the blade with his bare hand.
"Playtime's over, Sister," he said coldly.
With a squeeze, the sword shattered in his hand. His entire body now glowed with a golden hue, his aura so powerful that it rippled through the air, suppressing everything around him. For the first time, Grayfia's usually impassive face showed a flicker of unease.
Izashi's eyes glinted gold as he stared her down. The oppressive force of his power held her to the ground, immobilizing her completely.
"Sister," he said softly, though his words were laced with amusement. "It looks like this fight's over. I win."
Grayfia struggled to move, but the sheer pressure of his aura was overwhelming. She couldn't summon her magic—she couldn't even stand. It was suffocating. Reluctantly, she lowered her head. "Yes, Izashi-sama," she said softly, "I concede. You have bested me."
Izashi grinned, his aura fading as he loosened his hold on her. "Good," he said. "But don't get up just yet."
Grayfia looked up at him, her brows furrowing in confusion. "What do you mean?"
Izashi's playful smirk returned as he stepped closer to her, leaning in slightly. "Remember the stakes? The one who loses has to do whatever the winner says. And you did lose, Sister."
Grayfia's eyes widened as she remembered the agreement from before the battle. Her heart raced as she nodded, acknowledging his words. "Yes… I remember."
Izashi's grin widened. He reached out and gently cupped her chin, tilting her face upward so their eyes met. His tone was teasing, but his gaze held a predatory intensity. "Good. Because I've already decided what I want from you."
He stepped back and extended his hand, where a knight piece materialized in a flash of red light. Grayfia's breath caught in her throat as she realized what he intended.
"I want you," Izashi said, "to serve me as my knight. Forever."
Grayfia's eyes widened further, but she didn't have time to object. Before she could respond, Izashi pressed the piece against her chest, and with a burst of magic, it began to sink into her body.
Grayfia's eyes fluttered shut as she felt the knight piece taking hold. At first, her body instinctively resisted—her Queen Piece, the one given to her by Sirzechs, fought back against this new power. But then something strange happened. Izashi's knight piece, infused with his golden energy, overwhelmed the Queen Piece. It sent a surge of power through her body, amplifying her strength, her magic, everything.
Grayfia's eyes snapped open as the rush of energy coursed through her. Her legs felt stronger—her magic more potent. It was unlike anything she had ever experienced before.
Izashi watched with satisfaction as she slowly came to terms with the changes. "That's right," he murmured. "You're mine now."
Grayfia's mind raced as she processed what had just happened. The power was intoxicating, but it was also terrifying. She had never felt anything like it. A part of her wanted to reject it, to remove the piece, but another part of her knew that this strength was unparalleled. Even with centuries of training, she wouldn't be able to reach this level on her own.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, she lowered her gaze to the ground and whispered, "I… I will serve you, Izashi-sama. As your knight."
Izashi grinned, his eyes gleaming with triumph. "Good. Welcome to my side, Sister-in-law. I knew you'd make the right choice."
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A/N: I hope you all liked this long chapter.
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