The huge sheep shook the earth as it walked.
The giant dragon raised a cry and tried to intimidate it.
Both of them were monsters beyond human ken, living proof of the Age of Heroes, and also monsters, that no human today could stand up against. The strongest golem that Juvia created before receiving her curse, Levia.
And one of the Twelve Zodiac's Guardians that used to be under Lunaru Fenris, Fiona the Rainbow Ram. Those two giants, who could sap someone's will to fight just by being their opponent, faced off against each other while slowly approaching, creeping closer to each other's range.
Teuchi and the others could no longer do anything other than watch events unfold.
"GRRROOOAAAHHHHH!"
"MEEEEEeeeEEEEEEHH!"
They roared. Just that action caused violent winds to break out and froze people on the spot.
Probably the only ones who didn't wither in the face of Fiona's roar would be someone of Juvia's level. And even for her, a drop of sweat could be seen, sparkling as it rolled down her cheek, giving away that she was just barely holding on.
Juvia was fully aware that she was far from her best condition. Levia was her masterpiece that she made back in her prime. It was actually stronger than Juvia herself right now. That meant that if Levia were to be destroyed, she'd never be able to replace it.
If that were to happen, even if they got through this battle, it would mean the death of the country anyway, having lost the cornerstone of their defense. Levia was a deterrent that Juvia really didn't want to move if she could help it. The golem acted as a restraint, giving others the impression that they shouldn't foolishly attack since they had a guardian deity. That was Levia's role.
In other words, losing Levia equaled the loss of the country.
Juvia had to somehow keep Levia alive and claim victory over that monster.
"…Go, Levia!"
Victory to those who act first!
Juvia gave her orders to Levia, and it flew at Fiona.
The two monsters's elements were water and fire. If they were to clash straight on, Levia would have the advantage.
Levia's fangs sunk into Fiona, but Fiona didn't seem affected. The wool covering Fiona's body must have interfered, as almost no damage went through.
"Guarrgh!"
In return, Fiona also bit into Levia.
But Levia's body was made of water. Physical attacks held almost no meaning. Levia's body, torn apart by Fiona's bite, reconnected as if nothing had happened, and the two of them took their distance and went back to glaring at each other.
"…Mehh," Fiona cried, and her eyes, filled with rage and madness, glinted.
In a flash, Fiona opened her mouth and shot out a line of powerful fire from the opening.
The target was… Svel! Just now, Fiona ignored her opponent, Levia, and tried to destroy Juvia directly.
The flames, which melted the ground itself along their path, were intercepted by Levia as it put itself in the way.
Was that attack really because Fiona was ignoring Levia? Or was it intended to make Levia put itself in the way?
…Either way, if this went on, Levia would no longer be able to move.
However, Levia was still Svel's guardian deity. Even though it doesn't come near a real god like Haru Heartfilia, or even the kin that she spawned, the "true dragons," Levia was still undoubtedly a witness to the Age of Legends.
There were seven elements in this world. Of those, the Goddess Haru Heartfilia presided over two, and she spawned five dragons to preside over the other five. Levia was made as a guardian deity imitating those dragons.
In other words, Levia was nothing but an imitation of those gods, a replica. However, even as a replica, its power was real.
Levia morphed its ever-changing body, letting loose a wave of water spears.
Even though Fiona managed to evade the sudden attack, Juvia made her move, aiming for that gap.
"Tidal Wave!"
She unleashed a high tier water element spell, one that unleashed a tsunami. In that space that should have been empty, suddenly, it was as if the entire area was an ocean as a giant wave that threatened to engulf even Fiona's huge body appeared.
Magic was the act of changing the mana in the atmosphere into something else. All it did was fake events and phenomena that would disappear once the magic was over, but while it was happening, the event was definitely real enough. That was why ridiculous things like "making a tsunami appear out of thin air" were possible.
"Mehh!"
However, just when the wave seemed about to hit, Fiona jumped.
The jump caved in the earth under Fiona and caused a huge shake that even knocked Teuchi to the ground as Fiona flew up 100 meters into the air.
"Wha…! It jumped with that huge body?!"
One of the mercenaries expressed his shock, but Juvia wasn't moved. She knew… She knew from the onset that Fiona would easily get past a trick like that.
After all, she was one of the Twelve Zodiac's Guardians that Naru herself recognized. Something like common sense was no deterrent to them. They were a group that would easily stomp over even divine providence. However, the next moment, Fiona did something that even Juvia couldn't anticipate.
Of all things, Fiona blasted fire out of the ends of her hooves and accelerated through the air. Her target, as before, was Svel! Levia couldn't dodge since it needed to protect Svel and all the people living there, so it had no choice but to use its body to block Fiona's attack.
They clashed.
Right away, Juvia put up a defense barrier, protecting herself and the city.
If Juvia was even a little late with that reaction, the two monsters would have crashed into them with all their weight, and everyone in the vicinity would probably have been squished under them. As if to prove that prediction, just the aftershocks of those two huge bodies colliding threatened to destroy the capital. However, a straight clash would see Levia with the advantage. Even though there was a gap in levels, it wasn't insurmountable with the advantage in elements.
Or so Juvia thought, but her opinion was quickly proven too optimistic. Something occurred within the rainbow wool that covered Fiona's body.
The wool stood as if it was being burned—No, it was, in fact, being burned. All the wool around her body burst into rainbow-colored flames, turning Fiona into a ball of fire.
"Mesarthim."
It was a skill that turned one's entire body into fire, allowing them to apply continuous damage to the enemy through simple contact. It was one of the skills once given to Fiona by Naru. A memento of her comrade who was betrayed long ago.
Seeing the skill bare its fangs, Juvia felt irritated. "…Annoying Sheep."
Juvia immediately turned all her attention to maintaining the barrier and defending the city and her troops. She was forced to do so because if she didn't, just the waste heat from the skill would cause those around not of a high enough level to evaporate.
Of course, the capital would burn as well.
However, that also meant that Juvia could no longer take any other action. If she were to undo her defense, although she might be fine, the people behind her would all die. If she were to let up on the barrier even a little to attack, someone would burn and die.
Juvia had no other choice.
"Kssshhaaaahhh!"
"MEEEeeeeehh!"
The two giant beasts once again clashed.
They shook the earth, caused wind to blow, and continued to crash into each other along with their tremendously oppressive presences. Just by moving, the two of them caused the ground to fissure. If one fell, it would cause nearby mountains to crumble, and just the shockwaves would break trees in half.
Like that, the two continued to crash into each other. However, Levia slowly started to look like it was coming out ahead.
Their elements were fire and water… Looking at that relationship alone, Levia was completely on top. Of course, that was exactly why it could fight evenly even with a 300 level difference.
Levia's charge blew Fiona back, causing her to fly back in an arc and crash into the ground. Once again, the ground fissured. And it shook.
Right away, Fiona got up, but the damage definitely remained. It was working. Fiona was definitely being worn down.
"We-We can do it! We can do it, Lady Juvia!"
"We can win! We're going to win this fight!"
"All hail the Witch Princess! All hail the great guardian deity, Levia!"
Behind Juvia, the soldiers were all cheering. However, none of them noticed. They were the ones that were really in trouble.
Juvia frowned, desperately holding back all the insults and complaints she wanted to yell.
…This is bad… She's evaporating the very water that makes up Levia's body! Now I can't repair it…!
Alchemists could use their skills to repair, or heal, their golems. However, that repair was impossible thanks to the water making up Levia's body itself being changed. There's no getting back what's gone! And on top of that, water made from magic couldn't be used in alchemy, either.
Water and fire born from mana weren't natural. They were just phenomena born from burning the mana in the air or transforming it in some other way, and once the spell was over, the mana returned to how it once was.
In other words, mana was an all-purpose energy that could become anything in creation. That was what magic engines used as fuel, and it only worked because it burned the mana as energy and discarded it. However, alchemy needed to use at least semipermanent materials, so magic that disappeared immediately had no use. Even if Juvia were to make a water golem out of water made from magic, it would just immediately disappear back into mana.
At the moment, the fight seemed even.
However, the one actually with their back to the ropes was the kingdom of Svel. Even if they managed to win this time, if the war were to persist, Levia would only continue to be weakened and become unable to weather the next fight.
But, even knowing that, there was no other choice but to keep relying on Levia!
…Forgive me… Levia…! While apologizing in her heart to her masterpiece that had to be used roughly, Juvia once again ordered Levia to charge.
Will Fiona fall first? Or will Levia disappear…?
With no choice other than to bet on awful odds, at this moment, Juvia was having the most bitter experience out of everyone there.