442: The Princess and Her Sword
Asuna looked around the formerly great living quarters of the High Priest and his priests and priestesses. In addition to all the blood and mutilated bodies the great hall was now also partially on fire. The smoke that had until now built up and spread just below the high ceiling now started to descend due to rising temperatures. The one big broken hole in the outer wall could not keep up with the rapid expansion of smoke, heat and fire on this windless evening.
The Fourth Princess then looked past Ember and the eunuchs as if they did not exist and asked her sister, “I find myself wondering—what goes on in that feeble little mind of yours? Do you intend to destroy the entire palace?”
“You’re just mad that I’m taking care of your mess!” Annie shouted across the burning hall, showing surprising life after what should have been a deadly wound.
“You what?” Asuna snorted in a half smile at the outlandish accusation. “Have you hit your head again with that oversized toy of yours?”
“All you go is pose all day in front of a mirror and make out with that stupid sword of yours instead of doing your job as one of the commanders of the guards and the one charged with security in the palace!” Annie pointed her finger at Asuna. “Dissent was brewing right here, under your nose! The High Priest was planning high treason before I stopped him! You can’t even stop rebels from coming and going as they please! You wouldn’t even know of them if I did not engage them in combat, all alone, risking my life!”
“She’s not wrong,” one of the soldiers whispered to the other one next to him.
“Shh!” that soldier shushed the idiot and looked at Asuna for any indication that she overheard that ill-thought comment.
Asuna sighed and shook her head, “Again with that jealousy of yours. ‘Commander’ this, pose that. When will you ever get it through your battered skull? I am immeasurably more beautiful than you. My Bloodoath eclipses your grotesque hammer both as a weapon and a partner. And the reason that I am the only one among all Seven Sisters that was given an official position with actual responsibilities is because I am not a walking embarrassment or a literal nuisance like you lot!”
“Hmph! As delusional as you are, you still could not deny sleeping with your sword!” Annie clung to the one undisputed accusation. “Will you give it your virginity too? When’s the wedding? Will you have our father walk you down the aisle to a sword in a tuxedo?”
“Claymore,” Asuna emphasized the correct term for the type of her weapon, drew it and thrust it into the floor before her, placing both hands on the decorated cross-guard. “The fact that I find Bloodoath to be a better partner than any of the spineless insects within these walls while half of my sisters spread their legs on a whim, says more about you.
“Now, please, shut your mouth and stop embarrassing yourself—and me by proxy—any further. The daily reminders that I am related to you is already more than I can take. Better yet, while I execute this rabble, make yourself useful and open the windows before the-GHUAAAhhhh~!”
“ASUNA!!” Annie cried out when she saw her sister arch her back and blood pour out of her agape mouth.
“What!?” the soldiers turned their heads to see what happened.
“Princess!?”
“Commander!!” they called out in shock, too slow to react.
While the two sisters bantered Beatrice used the cover of smoke and fire to sneak all the way behind the newly arrived princess and abused her equipment set bonus to its full potential.
+30% damage dealt on first strike if initiating combat, +60% damage dealt on a back attack if initiating combat, for a total of +90% against an unprepared opponent after activating her [Sharp Claws (+2)] for an additional increase of Physical Attack by 45% and Physical Defense penetration by 20%. Nowhere in her [Sharp Claws (+2)] Skill’s description did it state that she had to use her claws to receive the bonuses of the Skill. So, Beatrice thrust her Eerie-Looking Dagger right into Asuna’s poorly protected kidney.
542 damage dealt
But Beatrice was not done. She instantly pulled out and swiftly thrust into Asuna for a second time.
1084 damage dealt
And a third time right through the neck of the princess to secure the kill.
2198 damage dealt
“NOOOOOOOOOOO!!” Annie cried in tears as Asuna’s lifeless body fell to the ground.
“Shut it,” Ember raised her hand that was again on fire, pointed the open, fiery palm at Annie and called out, “Doomsday!”
“AHN!?” Annie was momentarily blinded by a bright flash and by the time she regained some sight in her teary eyes she was staring right into the fire that engulfed the second molten rock to fly through this hall, only this time Annie did not have her hammer when the “Doomdsay” comet reached her.