NOVEL NEXT Chapter 55
Clunk— Silina’s eyes widened at the sensation of being shoved away.
At the same time,
Rustle— with a chilling sound, a bizarre curve shot up from the very spot she had just occupied.
Following that, her Guard Knight, Untla, who had been standing next to her, also swung two daggers in response to the movement of the curve.
And there stood Yurasia.
Silina’s body began to tilt slowly. Even amidst this, three sharp objects were hurtling toward Yurasia. At this rate, Yurasia would be pierced.
As if that wasn’t enough, the dagger would surely embed itself into her white nape.
Had a knight of the Royal Family allied with the Demon Race?
Since when had they meant to kill her?
By whose orders?
She didn’t know. She didn’t need to.
There was no time to feel betrayal.
The Guard Knight had clearly become an enemy.
So, she had to move. She had to kill.
Silina clenched her teeth. She raised the axe in her right hand as high as she could.
But Silina’s axe didn’t touch anything.
It was too late. Because of her, Yurasia would die.
At that moment,
Kaang—!
In an instant, Yurasia’s sword deflected Untla’s dagger.
Then, Puhwaak! the dark blade emitted a verdant sword aura that slowed the curve’s speed.
Before Silina could even properly comprehend the moment, Yurasia had blocked two attacks.
For a brief moment, she marveled at that wonder, but Silina’s gaze was still locked on the swirling curve.
At that speed, she could react.
Having made up her mind about what to do in this situation, Silina threw herself forward.
She shouted.
“Everyone fall back!”
“Ah, understood!”
Silina’s axe was lifted, and at the same time, the students from the Academy moved at her command.
Ka-gak—!
Two axes interposed between the single curve. But it was heavy. They were being pushed back. If they continued like this, their stance would collapse. She felt the gap between them and whatever was behind the wall deeply.
Nonetheless, Silina didn’t falter.
Yurasia was behind her.
For that brief moment, Yurasia had risked her life to protect her.
Thus, there was Yurasia, whom she could trust.
Though the outcome was uncertain, it would buy them time.
And Yurasia responded to that thought.
“Ha!”
With a quick breath, a blue sword aura was drawn in the air towards the curve. Karduk—! Unlike before, the properly formed sword aura pushed the curve back. Simultaneously, Yurasia charged forward.
“Princess!”
There was no dialogue. The blue eyes met the platinum ones. However, the blue eyes contained a strong will. Silina, staring into those eyes, understood Yurasia’s intent.
Silina moved immediately as well.
Her target was Untla, who had been her Guard Knight but had now become an assassin.
She didn’t know how long it would take before the Mage beyond the wall arrived here.
They had to kill Untla as quickly as possible.
That was their plan.
Silina, at 3rd Rank, was enveloped in golden mana. Pududuk— her hands gripped the axe handle tightly as she swung it.
Behind her, the blue sword aura gathered around Yurasia’s sword, cutting through the air.
Silina’s attack was a feint.
Yurasia’s sword strike was also a feint.
The real attack lay in the blue sword aura hidden behind it.
Untla recognized that.
With a light step, she dodged Silina’s axe. Grabbing her dagger briefly, she swiped upward to block Yurasia’s sword. Instantly, she took in the barrage of blue sword strikes and swung her dagger.
Simultaneously, Flash! Yurasia’s sword aura dispersed.
Dozens of torn sleeves fluttered through the air as Untla’s approach grew nearer.
On her full body,
“…Strong Magic.”
The symbol of 5th Rank, strong magic enveloped her.
Guardian Magic.
She had deceived the ranks. She had hidden her capabilities.
Silina had believed that Untla’s level as her Guard Knight was 4th Rank. But, it wasn’t.
Silina bit her lip, and with trembling hands, she regripped the axe.
On the other hand, Yurasia’s eyes were calm.
With a tranquil gaze, she measured her level against Untla’s. She pondered how to pierce through the Guardian Magic.
‘Guardian Magic? If it’s 6th Rank, maybe not, but for a 5th Rank at its beginning stage, it can probably be pierced. I read in that, um, book, it’s nothing special.’
When she had reached 4th Rank, Eliaernes had told her something that echoed in Yurasia’s mind.
‘First, Guardian Magic consumes a lot of mana. If it drags on, you can win, well, they say you can win.’
But what if that wasn’t a possibility?
‘Sharpen the sword aura to its limits and just keep hitting one spot. Over and over without pause.’
After all, it was made to kill an opponent stronger than oneself.
‘This is the fighting style Yurasia is still mastering.’
She might not trust herself, but she trusts her master Eliaernes. Therefore, she decided to trust in the Yurasia that Eliaernes trusts.
‘Yurasia can do this.’
So, she could.
“Princess, please aim at where my sword points. As much as possible, without rest.”
“…Understood.”
With that brief exchange, Untla stepped into Yurasia’s range.
The target was the right leg.
They would sever the leg, rendering her unable to fight, and take on the incoming Mage afterward.
They had finished their thoughts.
Thud! With a firm step, Silina’s kick shook the ground. The strength that rose through her lower body reached her arm. She immediately swung her sword large.
Quarrr—! Swathes of sword aura split dozens of ways from Yurasia’s sword tip. Still, the red strong magic clad Untla did not stop her steps.
She lightly swung her dagger. The strong magic bursting forth tore apart the blue sword aura. Likewise, Yurasia’s sword didn’t falter.
Golden locks fluttered in the gaps of the dispersed sword auras. The black sword drew through the air, followed by two axes swinging in unison.
Kaang— clang—! In that fleeting moment, Untla effortlessly deflected five attacks and swung her hands. Boom! With a thunderous sound that shook the ground, a stunning impact overwhelmed both Silina and Yurasia.
Their insides trembled. Bones ached.
Gurgle— blood seeped from Silina’s mouth.
But there were no injuries. In that fleeting moment, Yurasia had barely deflected the strong magic aimed at themselves.
Even so, remnants of strong magic slithered across their bodies, leaving the shocking impact, like being hit by a massive hammer.
With trembling arms, Yurasia gripped her sword. Her gaze remained sharp, and the aura emanating from her was dreadful.
At that sight, Untla clicked her tongue.
“A mere 4th Rank, yet impressive.”
Then she chuckled softly.
“How unfortunate for a girl with a bright future to perish so gloomily in a place like this.”
Before her words ended, Yurasia leaped.
Silina followed right behind. Untla watched them leisurely and swung her daggers.
She didn’t feel the need to block. That was her thought as she maintained her Guardian Magic and focused solely on counterattacking with her two daggers.
Amidst the three swirling weapons, considering the hidden sword auras and life strikes, there were many—ten or so. But Untla was overflowing with confidence.
Even though she had no main weapon—her axe—and only cheap daggers,
She was sure that two girls, one at 4th Rank and one at 3rd Rank, could not penetrate her Guardian Magic.
And in reality, that was what was happening.
Amidst the prolonged exchanges, the persistently swung sword and axe rattled Untla’s Guardian Magic but failed to breach it.
On the other hand, Silina and Yurasia’s bodies were accumulating wounds. Although they hadn’t struck at vital spots, the amount of blood loss was gradually increasing.
Their expressions contorted, and the gaps between their attacks widened. They clearly appeared fatigued.
Especially, Silina’s condition was terrible.
Compared to Yurasia, she was lacking in stamina, strength, rank, and experience, not to mention that all of Untla’s attacks were aimed at Silina.
Her wan face showed her eyelids had warped.
Crimson blood flowed from her light pink lips.
Untla’s mockery deepened.
With strong magic bursting forth, she raised her arm high.
At that moment,
Untla’s instincts screamed.
An unknown sensation stimulated her nerves.
What was threatening her now?
There wasn’t enough time to ponder that.
Rrip— the sound of something tearing.
She hurriedly lowered the raised arm and shifted her gaze to the direction of the sound.
Her trousers had ripped.
The body that had been enveloped in Guardian Magic.
Although mana consumption was severe, it hadn’t run out.
In fact, there was an abundance of mana within her body to kill the two girls before her.
Yet, her trousers ripped. In that moment, the Guardian Magic had broken.
It wasn’t a shake; it was pierced.
How could this be? There was no time to assess the situation. The axe swung by Silina arced above the torn trousers.
Clang—!
The sturdy gathered strong magic stopped the axe, but that wasn’t the end. Following it, Kaang! another axe struck the head of the one touching the strong magic.
Then, it plunged into the strong magic.
Untla’s eyes widened.
She lifted the raised arm again. She had to block the next attack. The next attack would surely be Yurasia’s sword. With that thought, Untla moved.
Simultaneously, Yurasia’s attack flooded in.
Not her sword, but her knee.
Yurasia’s knee struck the back of Untla’s head, disrupting her strong magic.
Kwadruk—!
Yurasia’s axe penetrated deep into Untla’s thigh. More than half of it had sunk in. Muscles tore, and tendons snapped.
And thus, the massive form of Untla began to topple.
With the sudden pain, the Guardian Magic wavered. The armor that had firmly held its ground began to shake.
Yurasia seized that gap.
Crack— once again, she drove her knee into the semi-embedded axe, pushing it even deeper. Bright red blood erupted as Untla’s leg was completely torn apart.
The Guardian Magic was dissipating. Untla’s body continued to lean. She reached out with one arm to touch the ground. That arm was struck down by Silina’s axe. The same with her other arm. Thus, Untla’s body finally began to fall over.
There was no longer any Guardian Magic. No mana enveloped her.
There was no armor, no protection, none at all.
What lay before Yurasia was the fully exposed neck.
There was only one thing to do.
Yurasia raised her sword.
At the same time,
Rustle—
Thud.
Untla’s head rolled across the ground.
“…What, hey.”
Yurasia had merely lifted her sword.
She hadn’t swung it. Silina, standing beside her, hadn’t swung her axe either.
Yet, Untla’s head was severed.
“Gah, heeek, heehee, hihihik! Gah!”
Soon after, a horrifying laugh echoed from outside their view.
Yurasia turned her head. Silina raised hers. The blue eyes, the platinum eyes, both stared at the ‘something’ standing before them.
And they both realized.
“Khihihihihihihik. The scent of a virgin.”
They had come to understand that unescapable death had arrived.