With a resolute declaration, Elden gathered her energy for another attack. The air around her crackled with electricity as she channeled the elements of Water, Fire, and Earth. Despite facing a towering brute before her, Elden remained composed as she meticulously calculated strategies to overcome him. Her mastery of magic was matched only by her awe-inspiring tactical abilities.
Recalling her days in school where she had proven herself victorious in countless mock battles, Elden felt confident that this opponent would be no different. He was slow and predictable, giving her ample opportunity to anticipate his wind aggression and counter accordingly.
As she focused on the battle at hand, Elden's thoughts briefly drifted to Judo, who lay unconscious behind her. She knew that using healing magic came with its own risks - overfilling the body with magic could lead to mana disease or even death, while healing magic often resulted in a comatose state instead. But she couldn't afford to dwell on that now; her priority was protecting Judo from any potential exploitation by Ken'Bu.
With a wary eye on the sleeping maid, Elden continued to strategize and unleash powerful attacks towards her opponent, determined to emerge victorious once again.
With a fierce determination, Elden released her charged attack, conjuring a powerful beam of water that surged towards Ken. The liquid structure shimmered and rippled with energy as it gained speed, ready to strike its target. But with a flick of his wrist, Ken effortlessly cut through the water, causing it to lose form and crash to the ground in a splash of droplets.
Elden knew the difference between manipulating water and conjuring it through magic. While she could control its speed and size, conjured water acted differently and was easier to deflect. But she refused to let this discourage her. She had trained hard for this moment, honing her skills as a Tier Five mage, ready to face off against her foe.
But as Ken circled her, taunting her abilities with arrogance, doubt began to creep into Elden's mind. Was she truly strong enough to defeat a Tier Six mage like him? The gap between their magic tiers was significant - it would take four Tier Fives just to match one Tier Six. And with only herself and her maid by her side, the odds seemed stacked against them.
But Elden pushed those thoughts aside and met Ken's jeering words with a retort of her own. "You talk a lot for someone who's about to lose," she said, cutting him off mid-sentence.
Ken chuckled at her defiance. "Oh really? And how do you plan on defeating me? Don't tell me you actually think you stand a chance against the strongest mage here."
Elden felt a surge of frustration at his words, but deep down she knew he was right. Despite all her talent and training, the gap between their tiers was too great. If she wanted to survive and reunite with her family, she would have to go all out in this battle. She focused on her spellbook, preparing for something more powerful - an earth spell that would hopefully give her the edge she needed to defeat Ken.
As she began to chant, calling upon the ancient deity of the land for strength and aid, Ken watched with a mix of curiosity and amusement. But little did he know, Elden was determined to emerge as the predator in this fight, no matter what it took.
The ground trembled violently beneath them, shaking the very foundation of their beings. Rocks erupted from the earth with explosive force, hurtling through the air like fiery missiles. One such rock net engulfed Ken'Bu, ensnaring him in a cocoon of stone.
Elden gasped for air, her mana depleted from the previous attack. She couldn't help but feel frustrated as only one rock had managed to strike Ken'Bu, leaving him with merely singed skin.
As she strategized her next move, deep thuds echoed from within the rocky shell. Elden knew this trap was designed for Tier Seven monsters, but it seemed to be just as effective on Tier Six humans. Catching her breath, she focused on retrieving Judo.
Hurrying towards her, Elden noticed that Judo had regained consciousness from her comatose state, a sign that her source had stabilized.
"My lady... Thank you. I didn't realize my strength was so lacking. I thought I could protect you, but I was wrong. Please forgive me," Judo apologized, her head hung low as her body continued to recover.
Elden helped Judo to her feet and they slowly made their way back to the road. Their plan was to wait until Elden had enough mana to cast a quick travel spell, allowing them to teleport to the nearest farming town.
"It's not your fault. You faced a formidable opponent and did your best. That's all anyone can ask for," Elden reassured Judo with a warm smile.
"Your compassion is truly remarkable, My lady," Judo replied gratefully, looking at Elden with admiration
Elden's heart pounded in her chest as she surveyed the crumbling rock formation that had trapped Ken'Bu. The jagged edges of the stones seemed to taunt her, a constant reminder of his power and her failure.
"It's fine, don't worry about it. Now, let's get out of here," she said, trying to sound calm despite the chaos around them. But she couldn't help stealing glances at the towering rocks, wondering how long it would take for Ken'Bu to break free.
But before they could make their escape, there was a deafening BOOM! The stone prison exploded into chunks, sending Elden and Judo flying back.
"Is that all you've got, bitch? Ten seconds is all I would've needed to break out, but no, I let you save your little friend. Everything is more fun with more people. So let's settle this right here, right now," Ken'Bu shouted triumphantly, his voice carrying far beyond their current location.
Elden's mind raced as she tried to come up with a plan. She knew avoiding the confrontation was impossible, but confronting it head-on would also prove challenging.
'Damn it,' she thought to herself. 'So be it. Someone needs to inform Werner of what happened here.'
Gripping Judo's shoulder tightly, Elden locked eyes with her companion. "Listen carefully! Run! Run as fast as you can until you reach the kingdom and find help. Do not turn back or try to help me. Understand?" she yelled urgently.
"B-but, My lady... It's my duty as a ser-" Judo began to protest before Elden cut her off with a sharp slap across the face, followed by a searing pain.
"I gave you an order. What makes you think you can talk back to me?" Elden interrupted sternly.
"Oh... Yes, my Lady," Judo said, holding her cheek and shuffling away as quickly as she could.
As Elden and Ken'Bu advanced towards each other, a tense silence filled the air. The ground seemed to shake with their impending clash, two powerful forces about to collide in a battle that would have far-reaching consequences.
The anticipation of battle hung thick in the air as Ken'Bu taunted Elden with a sly grin. She shifted into a battle stance, determination etched on her face.
Elden reached for her spell book, quickly scanning through its pages for the perfect spells to use. As she chanted and casted, fiery blasts erupted from her hands, creating a flurry of chaos and diversion.
But Ken'Bu was prepared. With a single chant, his skin hardened into an impenetrable barrier, deflecting Elden's fire attacks effortlessly. Her eyes widened in shock and frustration at her failed attempts.
Focusing on her next move, Elden considered her options carefully. 'Water or Earth attacks?' she thought, trying to strategize against her opponent's defense.
She conjured up a ring of sharp water spears and launched them at Ken'Bu with precision. But he was quick and agile, easily dodging most of them. One managed to pierce his leg, but he dismissed it nonchalantly.
Taunting her with cruel words, Ken'Bu charged at Elden with incredible speed and accuracy. Despite her best efforts, she couldn't dodge his powerful strike to her stomach. Gasping for air, she collapsed to her knees before being sent flying by a kick that left her helpless in mid-air.
As pain wracked her body and fear gripped her heart, Elden's thoughts raced as she questioned her choices and wondered if she could have done something different to avoid this fate. Her tears mixed with sweat as she sobbed for salvation.
But as Ken'Bu approached with a smug expression, Elden knew it was too late. She was defeated, both physically and emotionally.
With one final mocking remark, Ken'Bu stood over Elden triumphantly as she lay broken and defeated on the ground. In that moment, she realized that despite all her bravado and skill, she was nothing but a pawn in the grand scheme of things. A mere fraud in the eyes of her enemy.
His fingers dug into her neck, crushing her windpipe as she gasped for air. "This, Kirchner, is the difference between us," Ken'Bu taunted, his voice oozing with malice. "You overestimated your strength and now it has led to your downfall. Do you regret it now? If only you had been stronger, perhaps you could have stood a chance. But here we are. Any last words?" His words were like acid, burning and mocking the woman who now teetered on the brink of death.
She coughed, crimson liquid spraying from her lips as it trickled down her chin and splattered onto Ken's forehead. He scowled, seemingly fascinated by her suffering. "Hmm... How repulsive."
"ARGH!" With a roar, Ken'Bu hurled Elden's limp body to the ground, where it bounced with a sickening thud. Elden felt her strength fading, her consciousness slipping away. 'I-I'm sorry, Viktor...' she lamented silently as she prepared to embrace the darkness that beckoned her. Her eyes closed, ready for the final release.
But then, suddenly, blinding light enveloped her senses. She found herself in a pristine white room illuminated by a single flickering flame, a stark contrast to the darkness she had just left behind. A child's voice broke the silence. "Hello!" it called out joyfully. Elden remained still, taking in her surroundings.
Slowly, a figure emerged from the shadows—a young boy with striking white hair and piercing purple eyes. He wore a simple white shirt and dark shorts, his bare feet padding softly on the ground. As Elden studied him, a realization dawned on her. "Viktor? Is that you, my son?" she asked tentatively, unsure if what she was seeing was real.
The boy regarded her with indifference. "Oh... You're much weaker than him. I doubt you'd be of any use to us," he remarked casually, dismissing her presence with a wave of his hand. Before Elden could respond, she was thrust back into reality, the searing pain of her injuries flooding back.
Gasping for air, Elden found herself sprawled on the ground, the harsh sunlight blinding her. Ken'Bu towered over her, momentarily distracted by something else. "You're still alive? You were dead for at least ten minutes. I was considering what to do with your corpse," he commented, a hint of amusement in his tone.
Elden attempted to scream, but only a weak whimper escaped her parched lips. She felt utterly helpless, a mere shadow of her former self. Ken'Bu, the formidable third-strongest member of the Holy Crows, had easily defeated her. Even if their magical abilities were evenly matched, his combat skills were unparalleled.
"Elden," Ken'Bu muttered, tightening his grip on her skull. "Farewell."
The pressure intensified and excruciating agony coursed through Elden's body. And then, with a sickening crack, all went black as death claimed her.
Ken'Bu released her lifeless body and walked away, his words dripping with scorn. "Such a shame... I could have ended her seventy-six times over in less than four minutes. What a pathetic rookie."
***
"I apologize. I do not remember asking for your consent to bring people here. This body is under my control. If you want it, you'll have to come and take it," the young boy spoke with a confident tone, his eyes focused on an invisible force. He paused for a moment, his face giving nothing away.
"Just wait and see, master... Things are about to get a lot more exciting," he whispered, a hint of excitement in his voice.
Next Chapter: 6-Blast From The Past