It was trite that no one could resist the power of a Constellation.
If any mortal was to challenge them, it was already clear who would be the victor. However, despite the vast difference in power between Constellation and Mortal, there was one factor that gave the former the edge.
The Unwritten Laws.
As a result of this, no Constellation could attack a mortal directly, with only one exception allowed.
Thanks to this, Jared Leonard enjoyed a substantial amount of liberty in his battle against Aquarius. He was able to expertly evade Aquarius' meager attempts to end the battle, while accounting for the factor that she couldn't harm him.
And for a while, that was a competent strategy.
However…
'Let's mess with his mind a little.' Aquarius thought to herself as she stared at Jared's stationary form.
Using her power to access his mind, full memories or not, she could stir his thoughts and create dissonance in them.
This often led to nausea, confusion, pain, submission, and whatever other reaction she desired to induce in her targets.
'I used this on his allies back then, and they all fell. Well… almost all of them.' It was at this point that Aquarius was reminded of the other human who irked her.
The one known as Ciara Epilson.
'She was able to resist my power. I still do not know how…'
First was Legris Damien, then Jared Leonard, and now Ciara Epilson. Why were so many mortals springing up to challenge her power?
It made no sense to her!
'Could Neron perhaps do the same? He is a Singularity, so he is exempt, but… I wonder.' Aquarius decided not to dwell too much on her thoughts any longer.
Instead, she focused on the opponent before her.
His mind… was as good as hers!
"Hmmm…?" If she had eyes, Aquarius would have squinted them, and this was because she had just tried to access Jared's mind… but couldn't.
'Impossible! How can this be?!' She thought to herself as she glared deeply at the young man in front of her.
There was only one explanation.
The Jared in front of her had no mind of his own.
'But just a few seconds ago he… what exactly did he do?!' Aquarius wondered to herself in puzzlement.
This was her first battle with such a problematic opponent.
However, no matter how elusive he could be, there was no way for him to challenge her. She was currently shrouded in her barrier, thus preventing him from being able to reach her in any measure.
'Still, why do I feel uneasy?' She wondered, focusing very deeply on Jared's current dull face.
He had no expression on, giving an unhinged emotionless and thoughtless vibe.
"[Resonatia]." She heard him suddenly mutter, and an incorporeal book appeared in front of him, almost as if he was going to read it.
The book floated in front of him, shining brightly as his eyes glowed in response to it.
'A Spell, huh? He really thinks that'll work on me?' Aquarius smiled to herself.
Throughout their battle, Jared had not used a proper Spell even once, and that was because of its uselessness when facing a Constellation.
Conventional Magic created by mortals had no means of affecting something that existed far above their scope.
'So, unless he just made a Spell on the go… one that is effective on Constellations, then it would be foolish to even—'
"G-gurghhk!" Aquarius suddenly felt her thought process halt, and a sudden intrusion into her mind caused her to grunt slightly.
It felt like her thoughts were being stirred, causing her vision to blur slightly, and her mind fell into a brief moment of confusion.
'W-what… is happening?!'
Aquarius had never felt a sensation like this in her entire life, so there was no way for her to have instantly known that this was the same sensation Jared would have felt had her Mind Interference succeeded.
And by the time she figured it out, Aquarius was bleeding with nothing short of rage.
'He used my abilities against me? How?'
It could have been that his mindless mind accepted her intrusion, but there was nothing to stir, so he was able to harness the frequency and utilize [Resonatia] to return the same to her.
'He used my Representation against me too!'
No attack could pass through her barrier—whether from within or without—but she was the exception.
He capitalized on this and keyed into the frequency of her attack, which had a residue path to be utilized.
'Smart. But so what? In the end, it's just a mild inconvenience.' Aquarius thought to herself as her vision returned and her senses were fully functional.
"You are… huh? Where is he?" Her words were now tinged with an emotion she was unfamiliar with.
It was an emotion she did not prefer to feel.
Suddenly, Aquarius felt a strange presence shroud her. If she had hair and skin, the latter would probably be erect as a result of the discomfort she felt within her own haven.
It felt terrifyingly clustered in her safe space.
And then…
~WHOOOOSH!~
… Aquarius felt the presence close in on her, almost touching her body with its flesh.
At this point, she had two options:
Keep holding back and taste the humiliating experience of defeat for the first time since her existence.
Or…
To win the current battle.
Aquarius was tired, but also tense. This wasn't physical exhaustion, and it wasn't as if her power had been pushed to some extreme.
No… she was just tired of her situation and the opponent she was fighting. She didn't want to continue the mind games and unexpected twists that awaited her if she kept going down the current route.
Besides, the presence closing in on her was evidently an opportunity for her.
'I'll stop playing around.' Aquarius finally thought to herself as she heaved internally.
"[That's Enough]."
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[A/N]
Thank you all for reading!
Okay, this time it will end in the . I give my word.
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