NOVEL NEXT Chapter 73: She's terrifying...
"This guy…" Adrian muttered, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth. "He's not giving us any room to breathe."
Medea's gaze flicked to him, and she gave a curt nod. "Then we'll have to take it," she said simply. "No more holding back."
With that, she raised her hand, summoning a massive sphere of shadow above her head. The dark energy swirled and coalesced, growing larger and more menacing with each passing second.
Adrian could feel the raw power radiating from the sphere, and he knew that whatever Medea was planning, it would be their only chance. He steeled himself, summoning the last of his strength as he prepared to strike.
The chief's eyes narrowed as he sensed the shift in the air. His expression twisted into a sneer as he gathered his own energy, the dark tendrils wrapping around him like a protective cloak. "You think that will be enough to stop me?" he growled.
Medea didn't respond.
Instead, she brought the sphere crashing down toward the chief, the force of it shaking the very ground as it hurtled toward him. At the same time, Adrian launched himself forward, his chains blazing as he aimed directly for the chief's heart.
The chief raised his hands, summoning a shield of dark energy to block the incoming attack.
The impact was cataclysmic.
The shadow sphere collided with the shield, unleashing a torrent of energy that sent shockwaves rippling through the battlefield. The sheer force of the explosion knocked soldiers off their feet, the ground splitting beneath them as the two powers clashed.
For a moment, it seemed the chief's shield would hold.
But then, with a deafening crack, it shattered under the weight of Medea's attack. The dark energy dissipated violently, leaving the chief momentarily exposed.
That was all Adrian needed.
In a blur of motion, he drove his chains forward, wrapping them around the chief's arms and legs, pinning him in place.
With a primal shout, he thrust his sword into the chief's chest, the blade sinking deep into flesh and bone.
The chief let out a guttural roar of pain, his body convulsing as the fiery chains tightened around him. His eyes blazed with fury, but there was nothing he could do.
The combined force of Adrian's chains and Medea's shadow magic was too much.
With one final, violent surge, Adrian twisted his sword, driving it deeper into the chief's heart. The dark energy surrounding the chief flickered and sputtered before fading away entirely, leaving him powerless.
The chief's body went limp, his eyes glassy and lifeless as he crumpled to the ground, his chest still impaled by Adrian's sword.
Adrian stood over the fallen chief, his chest heaving with exhaustion.
The battlefield was eerily quiet now, the remaining soldiers too stunned to move. Blood soaked the earth, and the scent of death hung heavy in the air.
Medea stepped forward with a cold expression as she surveyed the scene. "It's over," she said, her voice devoid of emotion.
Adrian nodded as he pulled his sword free from the chief's lifeless body, his breath still coming in short gasps as he surveyed the battlefield. The ground was littered with the bodies of fallen soldiers, blood soaking the earth beneath his feet.
The air was thick with the scent of iron, sweat, and death. The few surviving soldiers stood in silence, too stunned to move, staring at their leader's crumpled form.
A few feet away, Lilith sat comfortably on a makeshift throne—a fallen pile of debris—her puppet soldier fanning her with a piece of cloth. She was admiring her nails, with a bored expression despite the chaos that had just unfolded.
When she met Adrian's gaze, the bored look gave way to a smile and a wink, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction.
"It seems we've won," she said softly, her voice carrying an air of triumphant amusement. "What now?"
Adrian turned to Medea, who stood beside him, her gaze cold and detached as she wiped the blood from her blade. Despite the destruction they had caused, there was no trace of emotion on her face—only the grim satisfaction of a job well done.
"Well, we can start by locating Zack in this mess," Adrian replied, scanning the carnage for any sign of their terrified companion.
Medea gave a nod of agreement and raised her fist toward Adrian. Without hesitation, Adrian bumped it with his own, a mutual acknowledgement of their victory.
The two of them approached where Lilith lounged, her puppet still diligently fanning her despite the blood and sweat staining his face.
Adrian couldn't help but feel a slight unease watching Lilith so casually control the man who had once been their enemy, but he pushed the thought aside. There were more pressing matters to attend to.
As they approached, Lilith glanced up, her smirk growing wider. "That was fun," she drawled lazily, flicking a speck of dirt from her nails. "You two make quite the team. Though, I have to say, I prefer a more hands-off approach." She gestured to her puppet. "Let the little people do the work for you."
Adrian shook his head, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth despite the gravity of the situation. "Different styles, Lilith. Yours might be a little... unconventional, but effective."
She winked at him playfully, then stretched her arms overhead, clearly enjoying the afterglow of their victory. "Now, about Zack…" she mused, looking around the battlefield.
"Zack!" Adrian called out, his voice cutting through the eerie silence. For a moment, there was no response, only the distant sound of wind rustling through the trees. Then, from somewhere behind a toppled carriage, a faint, trembling voice answered.
"H-Hello? Adrian? Is it… is it safe now?"
Adrian followed the sound, stepping over the bodies and rubble until he found Zack huddled behind the wreckage.
The man's face was pale, his eyes wide with shock as he took in the sight of the carnage. His hands were shaking uncontrollably, and it was clear that the experience had rattled him to his core.
Adrian crouched down beside him, offering a hand to help him up. "It's over," he said softly. "You're safe."
Zack stared at Adrian in disbelief, his voice a frantic whisper. "How… how did you do that? There were so many of them, and the chief… He was unstoppable. I thought we were done for."
Adrian gave a small shrug, his expression tired but calm. "We've had some practice. Now come on, let's get out of here."
With a shaky nod, Zack took Adrian's hand and allowed himself to be pulled to his feet. His legs were wobbly, but he managed to steady himself, his eyes darting nervously around the battlefield as if expecting another attack at any moment.
As they made their way back toward Lilith and Medea, Zack's voice trembled with a mix of awe and fear. "I've never seen anything like it… You fought like gods. And her—" He glanced nervously at Medea, who was calmly wiping the blood from her hands with a piece of cloth she'd conjured from thin air. "She's terrifying."
Medea didn't acknowledge the comment, her attention focused on herself as she used her energy to repair the damage done to her body and clothing.
Dark, swirling energy enveloped her, knitting torn fabric back together and sealing the cuts and bruises on her skin until she looked as pristine as ever.
With a final flick of her wrist, the energy dissipated, leaving her looking completely untouched by the battle.
Medea turned toward Adrian, her gaze sweeping over his disheveled appearance.
Without a word, she raised her hand, and the same dark energy enveloped him. Adrian could feel the warmth of her magic washing over him, mending his wounds and cleaning the blood from his clothes.
In an instant, the exhaustion in his muscles faded, replaced by a newfound sense of strength.
"There," Medea said simply. "Now you're presentable."
Adrian nodded his thanks, rolling his shoulders as he felt the tension ease. "Appreciate it."
Zack, still trembling from the ordeal, glanced nervously at Lilith's puppet, who continued to fan her without missing a beat. "So… what now?" Zack asked in a shaky voice.
"We find your boss," Medea replied coldly, her gaze still fixed on the horizon as though already planning their next move. "He's the one pulling the strings here, isn't he?"
Zack swallowed hard, nodding slowly. "Y-Yes. He's the one… He'll be at the manor, just outside the city. But getting there won't be easy. Plus, we still an escort."
Lilith, her playful demeanor returning, tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Well, speaking of escorts…," She glanced at her puppet, who stood obediently by her side. "Why don't we have him lead the way? He'll make sure we don't run into any unnecessary trouble."
Adrian glanced at the soldier, who looked half-dead from exhaustion, but still stood ready to serve. "Good idea," he said.
Zack looked like he was about to protest, but the weight of the day's events had clearly taken its toll on him. He nodded weakly, his shoulders slumping in defeat.
"Lead the way," Lilith commanded her puppet in a gentle but firm voice. The man's eyes glazed over with the compulsion of her magic, and he turned without a word, starting the march toward the manor.