Chapter 1173: A Helping Wish

There was no escape.

Serah's speed as she descended was well matched with the encroaching darkness that was closing in on her.

She couldn't turn back as well, since the nineteen hands from above were rapidly descending to catch up to her as well. 

The way it looked, her forefront and behind were already danger zones. 

'What about my flanks?!'

Those were not even options at this point. All nineteen variants of Legris had specifically divied themselves into two groups, occupying her lef and right flanks. Not only that, but they also had one hand free, and those hands were pointing at her.

Darkness flickered on them, and it was clear that any move in their direction would lead to injury.

Any position she decided to go to would result in damage, so Serah found herself with only one solution.

… Choosing the direction that dealt the least harm.

So far, she knew the darkness ate through her Aether at a remarkable pace, and that it corrupted her energy beyond recovery, unless she got rid of the corrupted version quickly. If all nineteen hands got a hold of her, they would corrupt her faster than she could ger rid of them.

That was an automatic loss.

The darkness that would soon explode from the ten Legrises beneath her also had the same level of danger. 

If such a concentrated blast was able to connect, she was most likely going to die.

'That leaves my flanks…'

The problem with either option was that she had no idea what they had in store for her. They also seemed like the most obvious options, but her instincts kept ringing danger anytime she considered them as alternatives.

Once again, Serah realized how trapped she was.

'Damnit! If I knew this would happen I would have properly learned teleportation.'

As the attacks closed in on her, and with her unable to make a choice, Serah decided to brace the storm as it approached her.

"[Vermillion Shell]!"

A projected layer of pure vermillion suddenly covered her in an arc, almost like an umbrella. It shielded her face and most of her upper body from the blast that was approaching.

Whether it would be enough to brace the darkness while she tried her best to evade the rest of it was up for debate.

She could only take her chances.

~BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!~

The darkness erupted, instantly closing the gap between Serah and the ten Legrises. It ate through all things in its path, including the highly condensed barrier that Serah just generated.

Everything was taken in, and Serah was next.

However…

~WHISH!~

… She suddenly vanished.

For a moment, there was silence, and all ten Legrises looked at each other in surprise—same as the nineteen who had the same expression.

They had designed the perfect trap, only for their prey to vanish right when she was about to be destroyed.

This confusion, however, only lasted for a second. As soon as they recovered from it, all the variants gazed above them, and in a far corner in the sky two people stood.

Among these two was Serah Crimson, perfectly safe, expressing both relief and surprise. 

Who could blame her?

Even the Legrises were surprised by the current situation—or more specifically, the presence of the second person in the sky.

She had shiny silver hair, with glowing blue eyes and an stoic face. Her apparel was a pure white gown, with hints of blue frolicking around.

She was currently in an embrace with Serah, and while the both of them were currently stagnant in the air, Legris remained hesitant to attack.

At least… not yet.

"Maria Helmsworth, huh? Seems like another player has arrived." He murmured to himself.

"What to do now… ?"

******

Serah's widened eyes were well complemented by her slightly gaping lips. 

"I-I'm alive…?" 

Surprised couldn't begin to explain how she was currently feeling. Not only was she saved from immediate death, but her protege—Maria Helmsworth—was the one who saved her.

It was a shocking thing to experience all at once.

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"That was a close one! I'm so happy I arrived in time." Maria's booming voice betrayed her stoic face, but Serah was able to get the idea instantly.

"H-how…?"

"Wish! I desperately wished for it! I was afraid my Constellation abilities wouldn't work because of the interference I started experiencing, but it worked well enough for you."

Once again, despite being very thrilled by the results, Maria remained lull in her expression. It almost felt like she was a doll.

"A-ah, I see."

"O-oh… sorry for my expression, Master Serah. I haven't moved any of my facial muscles in so long. It'll take some time to adjust…"

Serah didn't think Maria could completely blame that on her lack of emotional display. Still, she was able to nod in acknowledgment.

"Well, thanks. I would have been toast if it hadn't been for you." 

"Don't be so modest. I'm sure you would have done fine without me." Maria's words made Serah's heart sting a little.

'Well… I would have lost an arm and a considerable part of my body, but… yeah, I could probably have survived it.'

Still, what would have happened after that? Facing twenty-nine enemies by herself while handicapped was suicide. 

She was more than happy to have Maria with her.

'She's not a burden.' 

Even though Serah didn't mention it, she could tell just by staring at her protege.

'She's strong!' 

Most likely even stronger than she was!

'Her training with her Constellation must have paid off.' Serah smiled, finally dislodging from Maria's embrace.

The latter seemed a little hesitant to let her go, but she did so without much resistance. It was awkward at first, but once the two women dislodged from each other, their eyes met, and they swiftly arrived at an understanding.

"We can catch up later." Serah muttered.

"Yeah. We need to take care of Legris first, right?" 

Serah nodded, truly impressed that Maria could suppress her curiousity and other emotions she had to be feeling for the sake of the mission.

After all, even though she had been composed throughout her entire exchange with Legris, she was also in the dark about his sudden arrival in the Constellation Realm.

There was a time and place for everything, though.

And now… now was the time for action.

"I'll follow your lead, Master Serah." Maria's words echoed with determination, and that caused a surge of pride within Serah.

"Those black things around him consume any Aether in their path. Magic doesn't work on him, so… ah… hold on…" 

It was at this point that Serah realized a fatal truth that she hadn't taken into consideration since she saw Maria.

"You… your forte is Magic, right?" 

"Yes. Why… ah…" 

Maria also realized it the moment she remembered Serah's earlier statement. 

Legris was the very antithesis to Spells and Magic-Based attacks. In essence, Maria's presence here was the very thing Serah feared from the start.

She was dead weight.

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[A/N]

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