Goodbye

Activating Rage alongside his Yin Yang Ki, Reiji moves first.

Stepping in with Blitz, he appears besides the Saintess, lashing out with both Stunning Blow and Rending Strike. Slashing down with an axe kick, he breaks the two mana swords of the Saintess, before drilling his knee into her stomach, staggering her.

The broken swords reappears, countering with a over head slash, aiming to cleave the one before her. 

Swooping in from the side at full power, Souma slashes out with a Cross Slash, his whole body clad in azure lightning. Drawing an arc through the air, Souma flashes behind the Saintess, leaving three slashes on the Saintess.

Captain Ophelia moves at the same time, diving in between Souma's attack, slashing upwards, her sacred sword shining with divinity. Rising Slash, leaving an golden arc on the Saintess.

Burst of magic and shards of Ice rain down on the Saintess, each with pinpoint accuracy, between the attacks of the frontline. 

Retaliating these attacks, the Saintess would fire concentrated beams at Nraltia, or slash with swords skills too fast for the front line to react. 

Reiji, Souma and Ophelia, bled constantly from the Saintess onslaught, but Alexander's spell would mend their wounds, and his shields would protect them from fatal attacks.

The five of them continued trading blows with the Saintess, holding on through grit and determination. Yet despite their efforts they were barely dealing damage to the Corrupt Saintess. With each strike they would lose a large chunk of HP, while only being able to draw a single drop of blood from the Saintess. 

"This isn't working." Souma says as he jumps backwards, dodging the Saintess.

"We're barely doing any damage at all." Ophelia agrees as she blocks a downwards slash.

"I have a way. I just need a bit longer. Help me buy time." Reiji says, asking for their cooperation.

The others nod at his words, before diving back in, desperately struggling to buy time for Reiji's plan. The shockwaves of their battle resounding through out Celestoria.

Finally the words he'd been waiting for echoed in his head. "It's done, the connection is complete. We'll only have one chance at this. Don't waste it!"

Dashing forward, Reiji flares his aura, burning brightly against the dark sky. 

Sensing something the Saintess quickly turns her attention to Reiji. Once again forming a giant blade of mana, ready to strike down every one in one go, with her ultimate skill Empress Blade. 

"Make me an opening!" He roars furiously. 

Responding to his command, the other four rush towards the Saintess, each unleashing their strongest skill.

Crossing his swords, Souma dashes forward, slashing out with his lightning swords, drawing an illusory arc, creating multiple after images of his blades. "Illusory Evisceration!"

Raising her sacred sword into the air, Ophelia slashes downwards, a sword of divinity, striking down from the heavens. "Heaven's Judgement!"

Striking out with her runed shortspear, a wave of fresh air blows past the others, snow crystals dancing in the wind, forming solid sheets of white ice around the Saintess blade. "Cocytus!"

The three skills grind against the Empress Blade, greatly weakening it's power and speed. Breaking through the three skills, the Empress Blade continued flying towards them only to crash into a multi layered divine runed shield.

The resounding blast blew away all remaining buildings in the district leaving nothing but debris and rubble. With a crack, spiderwebs began snaking along both sword and shield, eventually covering them entirely. With a deafening bang, both shatter into a million fragments of gold and violet light, raining down on the 6 below.

Dashing forward, Reiji roars furiously, his black and white ki swirling around him. "Now Alicia!"

A bright blue light shines from Reiji's chest as he launches himself towards her. A second later, the same blue aura emanates from the Saintess, as her left half turns blue, the mana around her dissipating into wisp of smoke. 

The Saintess lets loose a silent roar of agony, but only the right purple side moves, the left side stays rooted in spot, her blue eyes staring into Reiji's. Her voice echoing in his thoughts. "Finish it, Reiji!"

"ORAH!"

Unleashing his strongest skill, Final Impact the spiral of black and white ki explode upon impact, the aftershock bursting from the Saintess back.

The sickly violet disappears, drained from her as it turns blue. Regaining control of her body, Alicia raises her hands, placing them gently on Reiji's cheeks, tears welling in her eyes.

"... Thank you Reiji... for everything." She softly whispers, as tears stream down her face, her face an expression of warmth and bliss. 

"Don't... mention... it..." He replies, forcing each word out with great effort, his face twitching from one expression to another. 

"Heh. What kind of expression is that? A hero shouldn't make that kind of expression you know?" Her form begins glowing faintly as it slowly disperses into mana particles.

"Hero? You're the hero remember? I don't even have the Hero title..."

"Heh, wrong again. Now that I'm... disappearing. The title of Hero is no longer mine. It has passed on to you..." Brushing away the tear rolling down his cheek, "You're my Hero, Reiji." 

"..." He opens his mouth to answer, but no words come out as he watches the disappearing Alicia.

"Thank you for freeing me from this curse... and I'm sorry... for forcing you to shoulder these burdens." Patting his shoulders, her arm is now gone, leaving just her head and her fingers that are on his shoulders.

"... I-I never said it before, but... thanks Alicia, for bringing me to this world." Reiji finally speaks the words from his heart, afraid that she would never hear them.

"..."

Hearing those words, Alicia smiles as she tries to say something, but her mouth has already disappeared. With one last smile Alicia completely disappears, her eyes conveying her final message to Reiji.

"I know, Alicia."