"In that case, try this on for size— Eiga!"
At Ren Amamiya's command, Arsene's hands erupted with violent, surging waves of crimson-black flame, like solidified curses made manifest.
The roaring, dark flames leaped across the distance, lunging like an incredibly agile giant serpent, greedily licking towards Armored Hare's body.
Eiga and Maeiga shared the same power level; they were essentially the same attack. Eiga targeted a single foe, while Maeiga was the higher-cost area-of-effect version.
Seeing the ferocious wave of fire approaching like a crimson-black python, a grave look flashed in Armored Hare's eyes. Her figure darted nimbly through the air, transforming into a streak of blue-purple light soaring across the sky.
Yet, no matter how Armored Hare twisted and turned, she couldn't shake off the relentlessly pursuing serpent of cursed flame.
The trajectory of the dark fire quickly closed in on the trailing end of the blue-purple light streak.
Realizing she couldn't evade the Eiga controlled by Ren, Armored Hare abruptly reversed her flight path. The purple spear held tightly in her hand pulsed with a brilliant, beautiful dark light.
Armored Hare took a deep breath, swiftly optimizing her condition.
Twisting her slender, well-proportioned waist in mid-air, she treated the purple spear as a javelin. After pouring a sufficient amount of Honkai energy into it, she hurled the purple javelin forward with the dramatic force of a cannonball!
The spear, wreathed in dark purple light, pierced through the crimson-black flame wave right before it reached Armored Hare, parting it like Moses parting the sea, creating a safe path through the inferno.
But the moment the purple javelin fully penetrated the tail end of the dark flame wave...
...what appeared directly in front of it was the figure of Arsene, its crimson eyes flashing suddenly.
Arsene reached out, its sharp, black bird-like claws seizing the purple javelin flying towards it.
Carried backward by the spear's terrifying momentum, Arsene spun several times before infusing its own power into the javelin. It then hurled the purple spear back towards its original owner with unstoppable force!
"—What?!"
Seeing her own purple javelin returned with interest by Arsene, Armored Hare's eyes widened in shock. She instinctively tried to dodge sideways while simultaneously reaching for the backup spear at her waist.
But Arsene was faster.
Under Ren's control, terrifying crimson-black flames burst from Arsene's claws, propelling it forward like rocket thrusters.
Combined with the assistance of its already massive wings, Arsene unleashed a blinding burst of speed that even Armored Hare couldn't evade!
Clad in its crimson attire, Arsene streaked across the sky at supersonic speed. It adjusted its form with nimble agility, executing a perfect Rider Kick in mid-air, aiming the sharp, high-heel-like blade on its foot directly at Armored Hare.
Boosted by the dual propulsion, Arsene quickly overtook the purple javelin it had just thrown. Its menacing black foot-blade slammed powerfully into the back end of the spear, amplifying its already terrifying power even further.
Squelch—!!
Armored Hare had only just begun her evasive maneuver when the purple javelin, now connected to Arsene's bladed foot, pierced clean through her soft, delicate abdomen.
Feeling the horrifying sensation of the spear impaling her, Armored Hare's eyes flew wide open, her pink lips parting slightly.
However, before she could utter any words of defeat or let out a tragic scream...
Arsene, already upon her, acted with cold, emotionless brutality, grabbing her masked head with its black claws.
It delivered a point-blank, full-power Eiga curse-flame blast directly to Armored Hare's head!
CRACK—!!!
A sound like shattering glass abruptly rang out.
Taking the full brunt of Arsene's relentless onslaught, Armored Hare's body froze completely before suddenly exploding into myriad pieces of beautiful blue-purple dream fragments.
With Armored Hare's shattering departure, the real Hare, still nestled within the dream barrier above, was jolted awake by the intense feedback, falling from the purple shield and landing on the ground below.
"And that... is Checkmate!"
Striking a pose reminiscent of classic victory tableaus, Ren Amamiya stood before Hare, who was now sitting somewhat awkwardly on the ground [W-sit]. He raised his golden sword, its tip pointing directly at Hare's slender, swan-like neck, declaring his victory over the defeated opponent.
"Indeed. The victory is yours. Congratulations."
Despite the golden sword tip aimed at her delicate neck, Hare showed no resentment. Kneeling on the ground, she tilted her flawless, pale face upward, offering Ren a soft smile instead.
Ren could sense zero insincerity or sarcasm in her tone; she was genuinely congratulating him on his win.
In fact, Hare's dreamlike blue eyes held something akin to joy and relief as she looked at both Ren and Arsene before her.
"You seem completely fearless. Aren't you afraid of dying?"
Seeing Hare so calm despite being utterly defeated, without a hint of panic or fear, a flash of insight struck Ren. He asked the question, maintaining a neutral expression.
"Death... For humans, it is naturally a concept feared like snakes and scorpions. But for me, it is a distant realm I yearn for yet can never reach."
Hare, who hadn't shown bitterness or regret even in defeat, now wore a look of profound sorrow as she spoke of death.
Even her gentle tone became noticeably heavier.
"As a Stigmata Crystallization, the concept of 'death' doesn't truly apply to me. Humans die when they are killed. But if I am 'killed,' I merely respawn in that cold, desolate world [likely referring to the Stigmata Space], forced to continue my aimless existence."
Because of the sins she carried, Hare had tried countless times to end her own existence.
But due to the mechanics of her being, she could never succeed. Even upon 'dying,' she would quickly revive, forever tormented by the thorny vines of guilt, forced to endure until now.
"Just as I thought..."
Ren murmured softly. Under Hare's somewhat curious gaze, his expression was one of utter lack of surprise, as if confirming something he already knew.