Although thinking this felt a bit unfair to Luminous.
Hinata couldn't deny what she truly felt.
She had a premonition.
If Luminous and this female knight were to clash, the result...
It was highly likely that Luminous would lose.
"Swish!"
"Captain?!"
Leonard had only looked away for a moment, but by the time he turned back, Hinata had already charged ahead.
Logically, upon encountering such a powerful opponent, Hinata should have held back and ordered the team to retreat.
But she understood the situation perfectly.
Artoria releasing her aura so openly was a clear message—there was no retreat.
The only choice now was to charge forward and fight this overwhelming enemy head-on.
"Quick! Follow her!"
"We can't let the Captain fight alone!"
The four of them chased after Hinata. Though they were slower, they landed beside her shortly after she stopped.
They surrounded Artoria, watching her warily.
"Who are you?"
"Why do you appear in this forest where monsters gather?"
"And why..." Hinata narrowed her eyes, "did you lure me here?"
"Commendable courage."
Artoria did not directly answer. Instead, she gave her an evaluation. "I originally thought you would turn and flee."
"What?"
Before Hinata could respond again, an overwhelming surge of magical power erupted from Artoria.
"Rumble!!"
In the next moment, Leonard and the others felt as if a mountain had been placed on their shoulders.
"This!"
"This pressure!"
"This person... she can't be human!!"
Each of the four reacted differently, but their conclusion was unanimous.
This being was no human. She was an overwhelmingly powerful, non-human existence.
'This one...'
Hinata's perception was more direct than theirs.
Artoria's Demon Lord-level aura didn't just contain terrifying magicules, it was also infused with her sword intent and will.
'Aside from Demon Lords, in this world...'
Hinata wasn't afraid. Instead, her heart surged with excitement and anticipation for the coming fight.
'There actually exists someone this strong!'
Speculation was one thing. Seeing Artoria in person was something else entirely.
"How rude, Otherworld Knight."
Artoria glanced at Fritz of the Wind, who had called her a monster.
"Bang!"
His armor shattered. Blood sprayed from Fritz's mouth as he flew backward, crashing into the distant grass.
"Fritz!"
Leonard watched helplessly as Fritz flew backward, having no idea what had just happened.
Artoria had done nothing, at least not visibly.
So what was that just now?
"Swish!"
Suddenly, Artoria raised the Sword of Promised Victory that had been stabbed into the ground before her.
"Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle..."
A longsword wrapped in rainbow-colored light was sheathed into the blue-gold scabbard, releasing a violent torrent of magicules.
"Litus!"
"I, I understand!"
Because of Hinata's intervention, the pressure on the other three quietly dissipated.
Litus quickly took the chance to check Fritz's injuries.
"Just one strike, and Fritz is down."
Hinata stared at Artoria, who was calmly looking back at her.
Hinata questioned, "I'll ask you again. Who are you? Where do you come from? Why are you blocking my army?"
"Artoria."
"Artoria Pendragon."
Artoria felt the force behind Hinata's sword strikes and praised her. "Good swordsmanship. I heard you're the strongest human in the Western Nations. Is that true?"
"Pendragon?"
Hinata thought she had misheard.
If she remembered correctly, wasn't that the surname of the Arthur King from British legends?
"Perhaps you've heard my other title."
"King Arthur."
"What a joke!"
Hinata felt like she was being mocked.
She continuously swung her Seven Luminaries Sword, attacking Artoria, but every strike was blocked by the scabbard—Avalon.
Since awakening, Artoria's swordsmanship had become completely unreadable.
And she wasn't one to bully the weak.
Which was why, if her opponent wasn't worthy, Artoria wouldn't draw her sword.
As for Hinata...
At least for now, Artoria had no intention of drawing her blade.
'So strong...'
She had attacked countless times, but Artoria blocked every one with minimal movement.
'She sees through every move I make...'
Hinata was increasingly certain Artoria was an Awakened Demon Lord, on the same level as Luminous.
Her own strength wasn't weak.
Among Awakened Demon Lords, she could rank around the middle.
But compared to the female knight standing in front of her, the difference was glaringly obvious.
Not to mention the pressure from that earlier release of magicules.
Simply put, Hinata estimated that Artoria's magicules were at least 5 million.
Hers, at most, was around 1 million.
A fivefold gap.
And that sword...
Hinata's eyes fell on the scabbard blocking her Seven Luminaries Sword.
It was absurd.
Her Sword didn't just cut flesh, it could attack the mind and soul.
If someone was hit seven times, their soul would be destroyed.
Yet that divine artifact couldn't even leave a scratch on the scabbard.
Something like that...
"Are you wondering why my scabbard can block your sword?"
Artoria still hadn't moved from her original spot. She raised the Sword of Promised Victory in her hand.
"I heard from 'him' that you, like Rimuru, are from Earth."
"If that's true, then you've heard my legend, haven't you?"
"..."
Hinata no longer knew where to begin.
Him?
Who was that?
And Rimuru, like her, came from Earth.
A reincarnator? An Otherworlder?
And most importantly—this information about the legend of Arthur King.
"Avalon's scabbard?"
Hinata instantly recalled the legend.
The Arthur King, bestowed a scabbard by Merlin, one that made the wearer immune to all damage.
If that exquisite blue-gold scabbard was really the same Avalon...
Then it was no wonder her attacks couldn't even scratch it.
(To be continued.)
◇◇◇
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 200 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on Pat if you're interested: p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves (Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)