(Heartfelt thanks to 'Nonexistent Existence Bu' and 'Die Xue Ao Shuang' for their rewards!)
(Rolling around and acting cute for support! Support, support, support!)
"Ikaros!"
Watching helplessly as Ikaros was swallowed by the surging black mist, Astrea's expression changed drastically. Her wings snapped open behind her, and just as she was about to charge forward, the black mist that had devoured Ikaros suddenly flashed with a fluorescent glow. It halted Astrea's advance and allowed her to see what was happening inside the mist...
Within the wildly billowing, steam-like black mist, threads of crystalline light flickered faintly. Upon closer inspection, one could see that the source of those glimmers was a circular crystalline barrier...
That was Ikaros' 'aegis (Absolute Defense Circle)'!
At the critical moment, Ikaros had activated 'aegis (Absolute Defense Circle)' in time!
As though holding up heaven and earth, Ikaros spread her arms wide. The circular barrier of 'aegis (Absolute Defense Circle)' enveloped her exquisite figure, protecting her from the black mist's assault.
However, while the surrounding black mist posed no threat to Ikaros, the densely packed black lights seemed to have encountered a formidable enemy. Within the mist, streak after streak of black light twisted like hammers, continuously smashing against 'aegis (Absolute Defense Circle)' like beams of light!
"Thud thud thud thud..."
A relentless series of muffled impacts immediately rang out from the circular barrier of 'aegis (Absolute Defense Circle)', like drums pounding wildly and erratically within the black mist, echoing into the sky!
From those deafening impacts alone, it was clear just how tremendous the force behind the black lights' attacks was!
The rectangular frames in Ikaros' eyes, already in Queen of the Skies Mode, flickered madly. A trace of pain appeared on her cool, beautiful face as she clenched her teeth. The hands supporting 'aegis (Absolute