"I can finally kill you!"
"Ugh—"
Perhaps Mana had sensed what Jessica was about to do.
Without giving anything away, Mana moved closer and brought the Laser Blade in her right hand down toward her.
But Jessica seemed to have anticipated that move. She blocked it with the high-output laser on her left arm.
At the same time, she opened the weapons container on her back and launched a barrage of miniature missiles.
"Whoa—"
Dozens of missiles flew toward them like rain, and Shido cried out before he could stop himself.
But with three Spirits and Mana beside him, there was no way he would get hurt.
Mana covered everyone with defensive Territories.
Lingmeng summoned her Elemental Spirit and knocked every missile away in a single clean sweep.
The deflected missiles exploded, blowing away every wall on the floor where Lingmeng and the others stood.
The enclosed corridor was suddenly open to the outside. They could see the bright moon and, beyond the building, Kurumi's Clones fighting DEM's Wizards.
Thanks to Mana's Territories, though, no one was hurt.
Shido had only just recovered from the shock when he saw Jessica piloting Scarlet Lycoris and swinging her Greatsword at Mana.
Before the blade could touch Mana, Lingmeng covered her arm in metal armor with the Metal element and caught Jessica's strike with one hand.
"Element Maker..."
Jessica gritted her teeth as she stared at Lingmeng, who had stopped her attack.
"Stay out of this! This is between me and Mana!"
With that, she issued a command in her mind.
The two Magic Cannons mounted on her shoulders began to charge, then fired straight into Lingmeng's face from point-blank range.
Lingmeng did not try to dodge. Still holding the sword in one hand, she lightly tapped the floor with the Elemental Spirit