The lone Remnant fought, braving the endless wave of fiery soldiers.
Standing tall to protect the chamber behind her, Titania destroyed everything in her path.
Her sword cut through their bodies with little resistance.
"Kh!" Gritting her teeth through the pain, Titania backed off, giving a little more ground for the enemy to advance.
Drawing her sword to her face, its gleam shone bright as her resolve steeled.
Countless copies of Avalon flashed into existence behind her, revolving around her in a ring of death.
Forcing every ounce of strength and energy out of her body, she pointed Avalon at her enemies.
Swords flew in all directions, slicing and piercing anything within her field of vision.
Some of her magical swords became lodged in the ground as they ravaged the enemy's side.
But this was part of her plan.
From the swords, light soldiers emerged, grabbing the hilts in their armored hands.
The clattering of metal echoed, almost drowned out by the sound of flames ravaging the monsters of ash.
"March forth, my soldiers!" Titania lifted Avalon high, shouting this simple order.
The light soldiers, their eyes hidden beneath their helmets yet radiant with determination, raised their swords in answer.
Loud battle cries escaped the mute soldiers as their blades fell upon the enemy.
Carnage ensued. For a while, Titania managed to hold off the monsters.
But the army appeared to regenerate incessantly, their numbers forever increasing.
"There is no end in sight..." Titania said, grabbing her chest in pain.
As the seconds passed, her eyes grew heavier.
"H-Huh?" Unable to hold herself up, she drove Avalon into the ground.
Falling to one knee, she felt her strength wane rapidly. Her vision narrowed, and her fingers grew numb.
"Impossible... Is this... the end?" Clenching her jaw tight, she watched powerlessly as the monsters drew closer and closer to finish her off.
Bracing for the end, Titania closed her eyes.
As a light caught her attention, a familiar memory returned to her.
*
"The link between us won't ever break, right?"
"Then use it."
"When you need it the most, I'll answer."
*
Light enveloped her as a warm, comforting energy filled her entire being.
Orion's voice filled her head as a the flood gates opened inside her.
Pushing against her legs, Titania stood tall.
Her eyes shimmered in the brilliant glow of her sigil, overlapping her pupils.
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
The light soldiers pulled their swords from the enemies' remains and turned toward her.
Their eyes, settling on the woman who had conjured them, almost appeared moist.
They all stabbed their swords into the ground, ignoring the shadows marching toward them.
Kneeling, they showed their utmost allegiance to Titania, whose body hummed with an echoing vibration, almost like a song.
A wave of light exploded from Titania, destroying everything standing before her.
She pulled Avalon from the ash; her wings, though damaged, stretched majestically.
Her right foot moved. Before the ash could take its imprint, she vanished.
Tears of light trickled down from the soldiers' helmets as their bodies dissolved into particles.
Their role of protecting Titania was over.
Titania's sacred swords moved toward their master, who hovered above with a piercing glare.
She aimed Avalon at the center of the marching force.
One of the swords vibrated, launching straight toward that spot.
Piercing a single monster, it embedded itself in the ground below.
A massive detonation of light engulfed hundreds of monsters, spreading further among them.
Titania paused for a breath before dropping headfirst toward the ground, Avalon gripped tightly in her hand.
She crashed into the front line, unraveling a dance of destruction as Avalon and its projections ravaged everything.
The movements and techniques taught by her mother were clearer than ever in her mind.
Each projection felt like Titania herself wielded it.
The haze plaguing her thoughts disappeared, and doubt vanished. She knew what to do, and how to do it.
Each of the swords moved independently, covering the Remnant's blind spots while dealing deadly damage to those around her.
Like a bullet, she tore through the ashen monsters with effortless efficiency. Her serene expression while fighting stood in stark contrast to her face moments before.
Each movement of her arm tore through multiple monsters, quickly decimating their ranks.
Blades danced around her in a controlled frenzy, and at last, Titania struck down the final monster.
Disintegrating into a pile of ash, silence returned.
"..."
Taking a few steps back, she exhaled slowly.
Her eyes scanned for any incoming enemy, tension tightening around her heart.
At last, she realized the battle had truly ended.
The light covering her body faded, followed by a heavy sigh.
Holding Avalon, she glanced down at it.
Fondness and pride filled her gaze as she gripped its hilt.
Mother. Have I managed to shorten the gap between us?
That thought lingered for a brief moment, the visage of Artheia forming in her mind—
Until the sound of buzzing approached, forcing her to look forward.
Two green blurs crashed down in front of her, worry painted across their faces.
"T-Titania!" Mia rushed forward, holding the woman's hands tightly. "Are you alright!?"
The anxiety in her voice was palpable.
"Your body..." Nia stood beside her, shaken at the sight of Titania's injuries.
Deep gashes marked her arms and legs, dripping green blood. A deep cut marred her left flank, and burn marks covered her skin.
The most heartbreaking sight was her charred leaf wings, feebly twitching with each breath.
As the twins carefully examined Titania, loud stomping echoed nearby.
Karteira emerged from the forest, her scale armor covered in soot and embers.
"Mother!" she shouted, distress distorting her usual smile.
She abruptly stopped near the sisters.
"How is she!?" she asked urgently.
"Not good. She's lost a lot of blood." Mia glanced over her shoulder, her fingers cramped around Titania's hands.
"..."
Unable to reassure them, Titania kept silent. There was no reason to act tough, especially now.
"Karteira." Her voice carried weakly.
"Yes, Mother!" She took a step forward, ready for any demands.
"Could you..." Titania paused, her throat almost clogged with exhaustion. "Heal me...?"
Mia and Nia moved aside, making way for Karteira.
"Of course! Leave it to me." Rushing to her side, Karteira wrapped an arm around her mother's waist and guided her inside the chamber.
Following silently, the twins stayed alert for any movement.
At the same time, they took in the result of Titania's battle.
This amount of destruction is unusual for her. Mia thought. She was in a weakened state, so how could she manage to hold off against them?
Sis... Maybe... Exchanging thoughts through their twin link, Nia gave a straightforward answer.
Could she have resorted to using Orion's magic directly?
The silence in Mia's mind said enough about the possibility.
There are no other options. Looking at the large piles of ash littering the surroundings, Mia frowned.
"I'm glad..." Nia's sobbing voice, unable to be contained, reached her ears. "I'm glad she chose to use his strength instead of giving up."
Wiping her face furiously, Nia could not hold back her tears.
"..."
Mia, glancing at the cave's ceiling, held her emotions in check.
But a crack appeared in her steeled resolve.
"Me too!" she said, tears running down her face.
Karteira, making her way through the water barrier, glanced over her shoulder.
I understand your feelings. Her gaze softened.
If not for him, we would have lost her... I dread to think of our own survival if it had happened.
Glancing at Titania's exhausted face, she smiled.
"Thank you for not giving up," she said to her mother.
"Hm~" Nodding faintly, the Remnant slowly closed her eyes, drifting into unconsciousness as her daughter lowered her onto the soft ground.
