Book 1 Chapter 772

772.

"Hup!"

The man's massive forearm twitched.

A powerful aura emanated from the greatsword clutched in his hand.

Seeing this, Chen Xia quickly closed the distance to the man.

Kiiiiiing!

A sharp sound that seemed to tear through the air.

'Brave, but a foolish choice.'

The man, seeing Chen Xia charging without hesitation, had no doubt of his victory.

She possessed a strength that belied her young age, but he thought that was all.

Chen Xia felt the crushing blade, which tore even the air, descend upon her.

Swoosh-

But Chen Xia closed her eyes and kicked off the ground even harder.

Seeing this, the man's eyes snapped open.

Fwahoah-!

Chen Xia, who had leaped into the crushing blade, found an opening and lunged.

"Impossible!"

The man, letting out a gasp of astonishment, tried to fend off Chen Xia, who was rapidly closing the distance.

But Chen Xia was faster, burrowing into the man's embrace.

'She closed her eyes?!'

The man's face contorted as he watched Chen Xia.

Thwack-!

Chen Xia's fist burrowed into the man's side.

Though her fist was small and delicate, the power contained within it was immense.

Water flows.

The more it flows.

The stronger it becomes when its flow is blocked for longer.

Like a dam, Chen Xia had contained the water's aura at her fingertips without letting it flow out, delivering a heavy and powerful blow.

Furthermore.

Wheeeeek-!

As Chen Xia twisted her fist, a massive rotational force, like a raging current, was generated.

"Gak!"

A twisted scream erupted from the man's lips.

Kwagaagagagagag-!

The man was sent flying, crashing through several buildings.

"Hoo."

Chen Xia exhaled and opened her eyes.

The reason she had closed her eyes was quite simple.

'Super-sense.'

That was Chen Xia's method of stepping into the realm of super-sense.

Of course, Chen Xia's super-sense was only at a very basic introductory stage.

Moreover, the sense that entered the realm of super-sense was only 'touch,' in an incomplete state.

'Arion-nim and Leo-doryeong… they live in such realms.'

Chen Xia, accustomed to darkness, gained super-sense by temporarily blocking her vision.

Even this incomplete super-sense felt like a new world.

As Chen Xia marveled.

Thump-! Kuguugugung!

The buildings where the man had been sent flying collapsed.

The man emerged from the rubble, his body pushing through the debris.

The armor he wore was torn like paper.

The man, his upper body exposed, was smiling with a healthy face despite the immense impact.

"Not bad. But reckless. Your recklessness, driven by fear and closing your eyes, saved you."

"If you thought that was a reckless charge, then your level is apparent."

"Hmph. Are you trying to be brave? I like it!"

The man struck his own chest with his bare fist.

"But girl, your attack cannot pierce this steel-like body of mine."

The boastful human reached out to Chen Xia.

"What do you say, girl? Won't you serve the goddess like me, Akatris? You are fully qualified to be chosen as a warrior of the goddess."

"Goddess? What is that?"

"Ah, what a pity. A human who has forgotten Nix, the Ice of Death…"

"Even at first glance, it sounds like an ominous name, like the Flame of Calamity."

"The being who wishes to burn the world is different from Nix-nim."

Akatris laughed.

"He wishes to create an ideal world. He is the one who will cultivate this world beautifully."

"And after that?"

"He will freeze the world, creating a state where time does not flow."

"In the end, it's destruction. It sounds no different from Erebus."

"Indeed. But it will not happen in our era."

Akatris laughed confidently.

"In his radiance, you can live life to the fullest, enjoying honor and power until death, with the world at your feet. What do you say? Doesn't it tempt you? Moreover, I, Akatris, am a favored warrior of his. I am destined to stand at the pinnacle of humanity. I do not yet have a companion. You are fully qualified to be my companion and bear my successor."

"I decline your disgusting offer. I am already taken. My body and heart belong to one person."

Chen Xia smiled faintly.

However, her eyes were chillingly cold.

"It doesn't matter. In fact, I like it even more. I like to take things."

Chen Xia snorted.

"You are not in a position to do anything to him. Well, you wouldn't even be able to speak to him in the first place."

"What?"

Chen Xia smiled and tapped her own neck.

Akatris, who had worn a look of confusion at the action, momentarily covered his throat as something hot surged up.

"Your body is tough, and your regenerative ability is remarkable. Now I see the wound."

"What… Gak!"

Akatris, clutching his neck with the hand not covering his mouth, widened his eyes.

Thump-! Clang-!

His heavy body sank to its knees.

Chen Xia approached the kneeling Akatris.

A dagger was now in Chen Xia's hand.

"When I struck your side earlier, I cut your neck with a dagger. During that process, I flowed water aura into your blood."

That water aura had become a blade, tearing apart Akatris's internal body.

"Normally, one would react to the pain or detect it through aura sensing, making such an attack ineffective… It seems you have the ability to block the pain from physical harm. Furthermore, you only know how to use strength, but you seem quite clumsy at controlling it."

"You… cowardly… Kugh!"

"Cowardly? You speak of cowardice when you can't even deal with such a basic attack?"

Chen Xia smiled brightly.

"So, will you say it again? Who are you going to take from whom?"

***

Celia took a deep breath.

Using the strength of her legs, she moved at an almost imperceptible speed, a beastman warrior.

His powerful claws inflicted various wounds on Celia's body.

Fwahoah-!

Aura gathered on Celia's sword.

"Foolish. You cannot cut me with your slow swordsmanship!"

The beastman's mocking laughter could be heard.

At the beastman's mockery, Celia swung her sword in an instant.

Fwahoah-!

"Huh?!"

The sword, swung with precise prediction of the beastman's path.

"Too bad. I was a bit faster."

Celia said nonchalantly.

She admitted his speed was almost invisible.

But…

"Your attacks are monotonous. It's not difficult to predict your path."

Celia scoffed.

As she said, the beastman warrior's attacks were too simple.

"Ridiculous! I will kill you before you can fully predict my movements!"

The beastman warrior said fiercely.

At that moment, a glint flashed in Celia's red eyes.

Soon, Celia's vision entered the realm of super-sense.

Then, the beastman, moving at tremendous speed, became visible.

Celia kicked off the ground.

With his movements fully visible, predicting the enemy's path was too easy.

Swerish-!

"Kuh?"

Chop-!

Celia's sword cleanly severed the beastman warrior's neck.

The severed neck, seared by the flame aura, did not even bleed.

"Hmph. A waste of physical ability."

Celia scoffed.

***

Before Eiran were numerous tunnels.

The dwarf warrior who appeared before her was an enemy who attacked while moving underground.

It seemed like a trivial ability, but his underground movement speed was tremendous, making him difficult to catch.

Eiran's ears perked up.

Soon, Eiran leaped into the tunnel.

'Foolish! To enter the tunnels I dug to catch me!'

The dwarf warrior mocked Eiran.

This was akin to leaping into the heart of enemy territory.

'How should I hunt this foolish elf…'

Tap tap-

"Excuse me."

"Huh? Kugh?!"

The dwarf warrior was shocked, seeing Eiran tapping him from behind.

Eiran smashed the dwarf warrior's head with her shield.

Quang-!

"H-how…?"

The dwarf warrior, his eyes rolling back, foamed at the mouth and collapsed.

Eiran's sharp elf ears twitched ceaselessly.

"I can hear everything…"

Eiran, whose hearing had entered the realm of super-sense, found it a simple matter to catch the dwarf.

***

Chloe was frozen solid, trapped in ice.

"To challenge me with ice magic. You foolish human."

At that moment.

Crack-!

The ice shattered, and Chloe emerged from it.

The elf mage's eyes snapped open.

"I had high expectations for this magic formula, which I've never seen before…"

Chloe sighed.

"It's an interesting formula with infinite potential, but the user's skill is abysmal. A combat style that relies solely on immense magical power is an outdated concept."

"O-outdated to me, a genius mage?!"

Chloe looked boredly at the elf mage, who reacted almost hysterically.

"I will show you what ice magic is."

Gooo-!

Immense magical power rippled from Chloe's body.

She felt the sensation of having entrusted herself to Lisinas before.

At that time, Lisinas had used magic of a power Chloe could not unleash through Chloe's body.

'It's proof that my research is still insufficient.'

Saaaaa-!

A chill flowed from Chloe's body.

Crack-!

Ice formed on the ground and took the shape of Chloe.

An ice clone.

The clone began to chant.

Chloe layered her spell on top of it.

A fusion spell that could put the caster in danger.

But the risk was borne by the ice clone.

"Kugh! You think I'll let you do that?!"

The elf mage hastily tried to cast a spell.

But Chloe completed her spell faster.

Flicker-!

"Kuh?! How can you cast such a fast spell…"

"It's just a simple activation formula."

Chloe shrugged.

'Luna-nim and Lisinas-nim were amazing even without knowing activation formulas, but…'

The magic skills of the two were far beyond the common sense of the latest magic trends.

Of course, comparing the elf mage before her to the two of them was an insult.

'A mage intoxicated by their own magic.'

There was no easier enemy to deal with than such a mage.

Chloe looked at her clone and said.

"Attack!"

At her words, the ice clone flew away.

It then collided with the elf mage, causing a massive explosion.

Poong-!

The ice clone exploded, and ice particles began to fall from the sky.

"…Chloe. What kind of magic did you create?"

Celia, who had returned after dealing with the enemy, asked with an astonished expression.

Eiran, who had emerged from the tunnel, also gaped blankly.

To that, Chloe said with an innocent face.

"Self-destruct magic."

"…Doesn't it bother you that a clone that looks exactly like you explodes?"

"Hm? Why?"

Seeing Chloe's incomprehensible expression, Celia shook her head.

"You really feel like a true mage when you're like this."

***

Enisilial's eyes snapped open.

She could not possibly defeat the elf before her.

"Wh-what is this…!"

"Nothing special."

Lunia retracted her flames.

Then, looking at Enisilial, whose form was so bloated that it was unrecognizable, she sneered.

"Vulgar, using your fists…!"

"Agh! What about fists! I used my feet too! You damned woman who serves Erebus's cousin!"

Lunia kicked and punched Enisilial wildly.

"You think it's okay as long as you live well, no matter what happens to your descendants? That's ridiculous! You're worse than the traitors!"

"Ugh! To do this to me, an Elf King…!"

"Elf King, so what! I am a successor of the Nebula's progenitor! I am far greater than any Elf King!"

"Wow… You're no different from a thug."

Lunia, who had been crushing Enisilial, turned her head.

"Chen Xia. What about the human you were fighting?"

"He spouted dirty nonsense about liking to take things, so I took his life."

Chen Xia replied with a sweet smile.

"Well then, shall we finish this elf now?"

Chen Xia smiled sweetly and looked at Enisilial.

In response, Enisilial shrieked with rage.

"The great Saint and Saintess will not let you go!"

Kwagaagagagag-!

As soon as those words ended, a loud explosion sounded, and something flew towards them.

Thud- Thud- Rolling-

It was none other than the third Saintess, Phuri, a demon with pale skin.

Swoosh-

Phuri's head melted and disappeared.

Enisilial's eyes widened in horror.

As Phuri flew, someone walked from that direction.

A beautiful face reminiscent of a goddess.

But its aura was so ferocious that it instilled fear in anyone who saw it.

In his hand, he held the third Saint, Plegedon, by the scruff of his neck, his body in tatters.

Plegedon also melted and disappeared soon after.

"Oh, it's a nightmare… this is a nightmare…"

Enisilial muttered, lost in thought.

"Is that the elf?"

Lisinas's chilling eyes turned to Enisilial.

"The one who caused the commotion."

"Yes, yes…"

Lunia replied with a trembling voice.

As Lisinas growled menacingly and approached.

"Now, stop right there."

Leo appeared from behind and slipped his hands under Lisinas's armpits, lifting him.

"I'll handle that elf."

Lisinas glanced back at Leo, who was lifting him from behind, with a sullen expression.

And he snorted.

Once Lisinas calmed down, Leo set him down and approached Enisilial.

"What are you going to do?"

Lunia asked with a curious expression, and Leo said calmly.

"I need to extract information."

"How?"

To Lunia's question, Leo smiled sweetly.

"Usually, when people are in enough pain to want to die, they spill it out themselves."