In the stands, Yukino stared at the image in the Magic Crystal, her face instantly turning pale as she cried out in alarm.
"That's Lady Minerva's exclusive ability!"
"She altered the temperature of that space specifically to burn her opponent and strip away their ability to move. It's far too cruel!"
"Damn it!"
Inside the water sphere, Lucy endured the burning pain coursing through her body and gritted her teeth as she launched a counterattack.
She forcibly controlled the boiling currents around her, then thrust both hands forward.
"Water Tornado!"
A scorching water tornado howled forth, charging straight at Minerva.
Minerva gave a disdainful smile and casually flicked the empty space before her with her right hand.
The space instantly twisted, and the incoming water tornado changed direction on the spot, grazing past her body and flying away without harming her in the slightest.
"Too weak," Minerva sneered.
Lucy reached for the Celestial Spirit Keys at her waist, preparing to summon a Celestial Spirit to escape.
"Open, Taurus Palace—"
"I told you, this space is under my control."
Minerva's gaze turned cold as her five fingers suddenly clenched.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The space beside Lucy exploded without warning. Violent spatial shockwaves became tangible blasts of air, rampaging and crashing through the water.
"Water Barrier!"
Lucy hurriedly switched spells, raising a thin shield of flowing water before herself.
Bang!
A muffled blast rang out as the spatial shockwave slammed heavily into the shield.
Most of the force was negated, but the remaining impact still sent Lucy flying.
She slid more than ten meters through the water and was forced directly to the very edge of the water sphere.
One more step back, and she would be eliminated. Her situation was perilous.
A deadly crisis followed immediately after.
Standing in the distance,