As soon as the bull came anywhere near one of the nuns, that nun would turn and run, dodging if she had to. Her sisters would move in and distract.
The bull did not do the long charges that Irene had described. It tried to get close and crush the nuns with its horns.
“You’re crazy,” Juliana said as she flattened herself against the ground. A lightning bolt crackled overhead a moment later.
The bull used its wings to close the distance between it and one of the nuns leading to the other nuns firing into empty space.
Without making a sound, the nun dove to the ground and rolled a short distance just as the bull landed where she had been standing. With a kick in the air, the nun went straight from her back to her feet and immediately continued the assault.
“People may have mentioned that before.”
“So what if the nuns start losing?”
“I’m not going to jump in and help either party. I have no love for the nuns and I’m sure that demon can take care of himself.” She motioned towards the black blood floating near her hand. “This is just for a shield if things get too hot.”
Juliana balked, eyes wide as her head whipped towards Eva. “Demon?” She didn’t stay looking to gauge Eva’s reaction. Getting hit by a stray lightning bolt simply wasn’t worth it.
Out of the corner of her eye, Juliana saw Eva tilt her head back down before cocking it to one side. “Did I not tell you?”
Juliana shook her head.
“Oh.”
“Oh? That’s it? Did you summon it?”
Eva let out a loud scoff. “I am not so suicidal. That thing could probably take on both Arachne and Ylva at the same time without breaking a sweat. I don’t know how or why he is here, other than him having some sort of issue with the nuns.”
“So it isn’t going to attack us?”
“Well, let me put it this way,” Eva said, “I am not going to go anywhere near him if I can help it.”
The battle raging before them seemed far too ‘near him’ for Juliana’s tastes. Still, she stuck by Eva. Or knelt by her. Too many lightning bolts flying around for her to want to be higher.
All four nuns glanced between each other before nodding in unison. All four raised both hands. Lightning–at least twice the size of their regular lightning–burst from their hands and struck the bull in the side.
The bull flew through the air–not because of its wings. It crashed into the floor. Dust and debris scattered around as the bull dug into the ground. It skidded to a stop mere feet from a few of the frightened students.
One of the nuns did not seem to care. She sprinted forward. As she neared the downed bull, white flames spurted from her hands.
Pulling itself to its feet with haste, the bull merely stood there. The flames engulfed the beast as its wings unfurled. Not a drop of the fire got past.
Juliana stared on in shock. She glanced up at Eva’s unperturbed face. “Is it protecting the students?”
The black-haired girl simply shrugged. “Maybe it thinks demon on fire is scarier than demon not on fire.”
If that was the case, Juliana couldn’t argue with its effectiveness. From one tip of its wings to the other, the demon burned. White fire danced across it so hot that Juliana could feel it through her metal armor.
It simply stood there. No bleating or screeching or whining. The glow of its yellow eyes brightened against the flames.
The nun ceased her flamethrowing. They stared for just a moment before the beast begun scratching its hooves against the ground.
It charged.
Rumbling earthquakes shook the ground as it trampled across the dueling arena.
The nun hurled herself out of the path. Her arm met the ground hard enough to make Juliana wince. It might even be broken. She turned and fired more fire as the beast lumbered past her.
She missed.
The demon charged too quickly and the fire flew through empty air.
And landed on one of the cowed students.
Screams filled the air. Not of fright or fear, but out of pain and agony.
Before Juliana could blink, a shield formed around the student. A black-red shield. Eva’s shield.
It was too late. It caught some of the fire, but too much had gotten through.
The nun’s eyes immediately lost their fire. Flames on both the student and the bull rapidly diminished to nothing. The damage was done. The student continued screaming as she held up bright red, raw arms in front of her face.
Gazing in horror, the nun locked up. Her sisters shouted out at her.
The nun did not hear. She took a head-butt from the bull straight on. A red smear appeared on the floor in her place.
She never saw it coming.
It was too much. The scent of charred skin. The nun. Juliana retched as she turned to one side. She tried and managed to hold it down. Her helmet was still covering her head and mouth.
As the remains of the nun settled on the ground, Juliana felt a hand on her shoulder.
“You need to get out of here,” Professor Kines’ voice came from just behind Juliana.
“Don’t worry about us,” Eva said calmly. She raised her hand and pointed past the battle. “She needs far more immediate attention.”
