Mind Over Matter Defense

I can take this blow! I won't fall! I can protect everyone! Mash fixed her eyes on the Holy Lance descending with world-destroying force. With no room for any other thought, she held fast to her conviction, braced her shield, and unleashed her second Noble Phantasm once more, enveloping herself and Ritsuka Fujimaru.

"The Castle of Distant Ideals!"

Ritsuka Fujimaru raised his right hand toward Mash. "By the power of my Command Spells..."

The instant lance and shield collided, golden and azure radiance entwined and erupted. A colossal spiral pillar of gold and blue light shot into the sky, while the shockwave swept across ten thousand miles. Not a cloud remained in the sky, which had been dyed gold and blue for a long time afterward.

Gudao: "So dazzling!"

Kikuchiko: "This is..."

Kouhai: "Did she block it?"

The light was too blinding. Mo Li had acted in advance to protect everyone's eyes, so they had only managed to see the instant the radiance erupted.

As the light faded, Mash stood upright with both hands on her shield, gasping for breath.

The Lion King looked full of approval. She put away the Holy Lance and said, "Congratulations. You have passed the test. Come find me once you have rested."

After saying that, the Lion King turned and left the training platform.

Ritsuka Fujimaru glanced at the Noble Phantasm's light around himself, which had become extremely unstable after being grazed by the aftershock alone. The three Command Spells on his hand had also dimmed. He hurried forward to check on Mash. "Mash! Are you all right?"

"I-I'm fine... It's just that I don't even have the strength to move right now..." Mash was still gasping as she spoke.

Ritsuka Fujimaru looked down at Mash's feet. A small portion of the shield's cross-shaped