The Queen attained a much more demonic appearance. Her skin suddenly turned completely purple, her eyes deep red, black scales grew over her entire body and such scales transformed into armor around her, reinforcing her physical defenses.
She wielded no weapon now, but her own hands had grown scales that shaped into sharp black claws, and her back had a long, sharp black tail with a spear-like end. Her head grew with several black horns, and the corrupted, black-colored Blue Orb Fragment rested in her chest, protected by scales, and infusing her entire body with endless power constantly.
Her synchronization with the Deep One had become much stronger than before, and her total power level had finally reached a new level, as she exuded the power of someone… at Rank 10, at the very least.
TRUUUUMMMM…!
Her dark chaotic aura spread around her surroundings, Yuki, Tisha, and Pekora resisted it to an extent thanks to their amazing equipment. However, even if she had similarly enchanted equipment, Sapphire was too weakened. It seemed as if the presence of this transformation of the Queen made her Stigma go insane, as if it was beginning to weaken and the power of her Stigma was slowly being drained.
"Hahaha! Can you feel it? This power? It is the strength of my God, the Sea God!" Laughed the Queen. "Oh? Sapphire, don't tell me you're tired now, huh? Did you notice? How can I absorb the powers of your Stigma?!"
"T-Tch…! So that was it!" Sapphire muttered. "This is not a power you had before…"
"It is something we made up over many years of planning…" Laughed the Deep One. "A countermeasure against you Stigma users! Sadly, it required too much power that could only be attained through fusing one's body with a Blue Orb Fragment, thankfully, we had one just available for the occasion!"
The Deep One might act arrogantly, and sometimes foolish and reckless, but he was a deeply cunning man. A fragment of the soul of Oberon, the first Demon King was not to be underestimated.
"T-Tch… Dammit!!!" Roared Tisha, rushing forward. Unleashing all her strength all at once, as her entire body unleashed a powerful aura of pure strength.
Her eyes began glowing bright red, as her aura suddenly turned completely red. She had activated a Divine Ability she had developed…
[Berserk Mode]!
"RAAAAHHHH!!!"
CLASH! CLASH! CLASH! CLASH! CLASH!
Her monstrous attacks generated gigantic shockwaves that shook the entire castle and made everything around crumble apart into pieces! Her blows alone unleashed a red-colored power known as the War Attribute, an Attribute that only tremendously strong warriors, most of the time Giants, could develop, and which Tisha had awakened not so long ago.
"Hahah… Amusing."
However, Tisha's berserk-like attack was immediately parried by Anastasia's claws, as her blows were easily thrown away, and then, using her bare feet, she hit Tisha's chin and threw her up into the ceiling.
"GRUUAAAGH…!"
CLAAAASH!
Tisha's head was stuck in between the ceiling, as she tried to get out of there only for Anastasia to arrive below her, unleashing a barrage of overwhelming blows using her claws, shattering the ceiling above and covering Tisha with deadly wounds.
CLASH! CLASH! CLASH! CLASH! CLASH! CLAASH!
"HAHAHAHAHA! DIE!"
"AAAARRGGH…!"
Tisha groaned in agony as she was unable to keep up with the tremendous speed that Anastasia had, her sword barely managed to parry and defend her against a few attacks, her aura continued boosting her strength, sometimes, she managed to connect an attack only for it to be immediately regenerated back.
"It's useless, snow elf! You're merely an inferior being! Know your place!"
BAAAAAAMMM!!!
The Deep One exerted his force as he kicked Tisha down into the floor with a tremendous attack, an enormous explosion reached the ground, as Tisha's tattered body stayed there, without moving… her eyes were completely white.
"T-TISHA!" Pekora panicked, rushing towards her. She found the ice elf's body being completely broken. Her arms and legs were twisted horribly and all her ribs were piercing her organs. It was a horrid sight. "[Divine Life Spirit Magic]: [Healing Light]-"
CLAAAAASH!
However, a giant kick reached Pekora before she could even heal her friend, blowing her frail body away with tremendous force, like a mere ragdoll.
"Hahaha! Did you think I would allow to heal your friend- Huh?" The Queen and the Deep One suddenly realized Tisha was no longer in the floor, the moment Pekora was kicked she grabbed her friend using roots and branches that grew off her own body, barely managing to save her friend's life.
Aside from that, Pekora's appearance had changed as golden and electrifying fur grew across her body, emanating holy light and lightning element around her, giving her the power to even float in midair, her branches and roots wrapping around Tisha as they slowly healed her wounds.
"Hoh so you had such a trick below your sleeve, little rabbit?" Giggled the Queen.
"You'll pay for this…" Pekora gritted her teeth, for once, the desperation and frustration made her lose her coolheaded behavior.
Tisha was someone special to her, she was her best friend, and someone that always stood at her side at all times. Even when both were slaves, she was always there, giving her some sanity in her life of pain and agony.
At some point… More than friendship, Pekora started to develop a much stronger feeling for her friend, she was someone that brought her joy and happiness, someone important and precious.
"P-Pek… Run…" Tisha groaned in between the branches and root wrapping around her body.
"I can't run now…" Pekora sighed. "I won't let you die."
Tisha's eyes glanced at her, shining brightly.
"Yuki! Stand behind me and support me!" Said Pekora, suddenly beginning to channel more of her Spiritual Powers, and placing Tisha inside her own Divine Realm, away from harm.
"O-Okay!" Yuki snapped back to reality, as she was also panicking over what was happening.
"Hah, as if any plan you're thinking about would ever come to fruition!" Laughed the Deep One and the Queen, reaching Pekora and unleashing countless claw attacks at her!
SLASH! SLASH! SLASH! SLASH! SLASH! SLAAASH!
Pekora's entire body was… sliced into pieces!
