Chapter 1032: Evolve, Astrea!
"Ikaros-senpai!"
Astrea's face went pale after seeing Ikaros got engulfed by the dark mist. She flapped her wings and she flew towards Ikaros in a burst of speed. The dark mist that engulfed Ikaros lit up and Astrea slowed down to observe.
Crystalline brilliance pierced through the dark mist. On closer inspection, it appears to be a barrier made of hexagonal plates interlocking to form a spherical barrier.
Ikaros used her Aegis.
She used it at just the right moment.
Ikaros spread her arms wide while maintaining the Aegis. The barrier protected her divine figure from the corruptive dark mist outside.
The dark mist couldn't pose a threat to Ikaros. However, the same couldn't be said of the black lights that continuously rammed the barrier like hammers made of light. The black lights twisted and turned while whipping the barrier.
Bam bam bam bam
The lights had surprising mass behind their attacks if the booming noises are any indications at all.
Ikaros' augmented vision continued scanning the situation around her while she clenched her teeth in anguish. The hands holding the barrier together are shaking. Against so many black lights, her defense is slowly faltering.
"Ikaros-senpai!"
Astrea didn't hesitate, her partner's in trouble so she took out her Chrysaor (photon blade) and she deployed her Aegis L. In 0.1 seconds, she zipped there.
"Hiya!"
Chrysaor elongated and the oversized photon blade slashed at the dark mist surrounding Ikaros.
She used her full power!
Alas, if only she's trying to hit something tangible. The dark mist was relatively fine after taking a hit from Astrea. The dark mist only rumbled once and then it continued engulfing Ikaros like nothing happened.
Ikaros is still trapped in there!
"What the..."
Astrea looked at her Chrysaor with confusion. Her eyes were filled with shock, she looked at the black mist again.
"It didn't work..."
The black lights started amping up their attacks like Astrea had aggravated the dark mist and the black lights within.
Bam bam bam bam
"Ugh..."
Ikaros groaned as the pressure increased. Her arms trembled and the barrier's radiance dimmed.
It won't be long before Aegis breaks.
When it breaks, even if Ikaros is immune to the dark light's transformative properties, she would most likely be severely injured by so many black lights attacking her.
"What do I do?... What do I do now?...."
Astrea's brain isn't the fastest among the Angeloids, even so, she is doing her best.
"Right!"
Astrea yelled at Ikaros.
"Ikaros-senpai! Use your Pandora!"
Ikaros isn't so powerless as to be forced into a predicament like this. She reacted too slow to the dark mist's sudden attack.
If she can deploy her Pandora mode, Aegis will power up and she can boost her defense. She can also move around while Aegis is active.
At least, that's what Astrea thought.
Astrea forgot that the dark mist is restricting Ikaros from doing anything else. If she loses focus, the Aegis will shatter under the assault of the black lights.
She can't deactivate Aegis and that's the problem.
Using Pandora required her to temporarily give up control of Aegis. However, she can't lose Aegis' protection right now.
Ikaros shook her head at Astrea's suggestion. Astrea's almost driven to tears from desperation.
With the Aegis dimming by the second, it seems the barrier's destruction is only a matter of time. Astrea shed a tear.
"What to do? What do I do?... Master... Master..."
Astrea hated her weak and powerless self. It's just like when they first fought against the Beast King. She's just as powerless back then as she is now!
Astrea resolved herself to dive into the dark mist and bust Ikaros out. When she readied her shield and sword...
Ikaros looked up and she said to Astrea...
"Evolve, Astrea."
Astrea went blank.
"Evolve?"
Ikaros nodded with a pained look. She used what little strength she had to explain.
"Your Pandora is awakening too, if you can evolve then we can get out of this..."
"Y-yeah!"
Astrea placed her hand on her chest.
"Bu-but how do I do that?!"
Astrea's Pandora lit up after she reached tier 9. Her Pandora system is ready to shift her into the next stage of evolution.
"Master once said it all depends on you..."
Ikaros' voice was almost drowned out by the black lights around her. She forced herself to earnestly advised Astrea.
"The key to Pandora's activation is a strong emotion. You are not very good at computations but you have a strong heart. You are already that close to evolving!"
"I know you can do it. If you will it then it will be done!"
"If my will is there..."
Astrea's eyes lit up when a flash of inspiration hit her. She finally understood, she placed her hand on top of her heart.
Yes, she understood why she got stuck here.
She was holding herself back! She didn't want to change!
Ikaros's right!
If Astrea wants to evolve then she can!