Mistress Of The Evil Forest

''Hey, idiot! Concentrate!''

The moment Luxia hears those words, a source of refreshing energy seems to pour into her body from thin air. The previously searing wounds magically heal, while her weary muscles regain their vitality rapidly.

'Healing magic!'

Turning around, she spots Chloe, who is sitting precariously on top of a huge husky, her posture comical. Yet, seeing her face alone has ignited the lost hope in her mind. Luxia is never one to fear challenges, though having comrades still feels reassuring.

''Hold on for a bit! I'll go to the other idiot first!'' Chloe says before shooting away at the other battlefield.

''Got it!'' Luxia replied cheerfully even amidst the enemy's rain of magic.

Chloe's chain of thought is nothing complicated. She intends to bring the two battles together, creating a three-versus-two situation. Not only is being with two people safer for her, but that way, she can provide support more easily as well.

Even though the result will be fighting two Buezriths at once, it is still a beneficial trade-off.

At this point, Amelia Luminous is also struggling with her own opponent, albeit to a lesser degree than Luxia. Her sword is perpetually dyed a sparkling bright red—the color of fire mixed with lightning—as she trades blows with the crazed nun. Inferior in techniques, she makes it up with sheer magical output.

Thanks to Chloe's initial training and her insistence on keeping the regime after they swapped back, Amelia now possesses a proficient wield of both fire and lightning. Although Buezrith has only been grazed by that magic a few times, her body is already marred with burn marks, her clothes charred.

''Hah... hah... hah...''

Yet, Amelia isn't in great condition either. Repeated clashes with Buezrith's dark magic have taken a toll on her body. At this point, it is looking less likely she'd be the last one standing.

''Hey, idiot!''

''...?!''

During a brief instant of respite, Amelia hears an annoyed shout—a shout from Chloe, the insolent commoner who has taken her body for nearly a year. Seeing her and her haughty attitude always irritates Amelia, but in this moment, she can't help but feel relieved.

''Follow me!'' Chloe hastily throws healing magic at the blonde and makes a gesture.

''Tch.''

Amelia clicks her tongue, her feet moving nonetheless. Buezrith, spotting an amused smile, chases after the two.

Soon, the two battlefields are united. Though Chloe's team seems revitalized, the two nuns' composure remains solid. They nonchalantly join one another, looking at the three girls with unconcealed contempt. And as soon as the two sides continue to collide, the source of that confidence becomes clear.

After all, the thousands of flying monsters in the air are under their control. Plus, there isn't a rule that says they can't replenish numbers like their opponents do.

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''H-Hey, isn't this kinda dangerous...?'' Amelia mutters in disbelief as two other figures in nun habits descend from the sky.

''...I guess.'' Chloe chuckles nervously.

Luxia, meanwhile, can only let out a dejected noise. Already surrounded by the swarms that practically self-destruct at them, the three can find fewer and fewer opportunities to use the blank souls.

And now...

''What's wrong? Couldn't overcome your despair?'' One clone loudly taunts, her smile mocking.

''Come on, try harder, won't you?'' Another resonates the intention.

Chloe grits her teeth as the laughters pour in. Yet in the end, she smiles back at the bunch, ''Well? Yeah. Can't overcome despair if I hadn't despaired in the first place?''

'Did they really think we couldn't call reinforcements? This is our damn territory.'

Chloe scoffed in her head.

As the clones' senses sharpen, a pitch-black mist begins to seep from the ground up, shrouding the lower area. The buzzing insects, large and small alike, suddenly drop dead in hordes as they come into contact with it. Worse yet, the mist seems to possess its own will, surging after the creatures like a serpent.

''What—''

Before a clone can properly express her confusion, an intense pain wracks her body. Looking down, a gloved arm, now drenched in her own blood, has pierced her chest from behind. And when that closed fist tears its fingers apart, like a ball of tentacles unwrapping itself, a piece of glowing... something sits there.

''A-Ah...!''

The clone trembles, yet the blank soul has long locked onto her presence, healing her chipped essence. Not long after, by the will of the world, her existence is deemed unfit and is utterly erased.

''...''

The remaining clones stare at 049 with astonished gazes. The man wordlessly floats beside them, behind his plague mask settles a looming, silent madness.

In an instant, the three activate their dark magic, repelling the dark mist. One after another, spells form along their arms, all aimed at the new threat. Yet in that moment of sheer concentration, a creature zaps behind them at a speed hardly anyone can perceive. Simultaneously, a dull thud, one meshed with the sound of bones breaking, rings in the air, followed by the clones' pained shrieks.

As experts, their speed of bouncing back is fast. Broken bones can be healed, and torn muscles can be sewn together—all in seconds. However, when their magic finally takes shape again, Amelia and Luxia have already shot close to their bodies, holding blank souls in their hands.

Having barely recovered, the three scramble to escape the pieces' range. Even injured, their abilities shouldn't have been this sloppy against these two. It is certain that the mist has affected their bodies or minds.

Nonetheless, now with the environment painfully hostile, with the initiative already lost, they immediately turn to retreat. Even then, both Luxia and Amelia fiercely intercept on their ways, seemingly giving their all to stop their escape.

Strangely enough, neither the man in the mask nor the unidentified creature chases after them.

Gaining some confidence, the clones accelerate, burning their energy faster in exchange for more speed and firepower. Once again, thunderous fire clashes with barrages of dark magic, while the whistling wind tries to tear apart the fallout.

At some point, they have created a decent distance from the mist. With plans of regrouping with the other clones and launching another attack brewing, they give it another push to completely lose the pursuers—

'''' ...?! ''''

A deafening roar cuts that train of thought completely. The next moment, an unfathomable shadow swallows their figures whole. Before they can even turn their heads to glimpse the creature, their flying bodies are swatted flat onto the forest's floor.

Like flies being crushed by a human's hand.

The whole world seems to tremble at the enormous impact.

''Seriously ...I told her this is overkill.'' Amelia sighs helplessly as she cranes her neck upward.

''Well, well, Boss summoned this guy to take care of the swarm, didn't she?'' Luxia replies. ''This much is needed!''

The creature, whose statue towers above the clouds, slowly lifts its hand and turns away, leaving the three clones, now at death's door, sprawling amidst the debris. Up until Chloe, Amelia, and Luxia approach, they still haven't realized that this is but a little revenge for their attitude earlier.

Giving hope, then crush it.

Some cheap thrills.