Chapter 8: Blood, Fire and the Witch

On the other side.

Lia and Phyllis suddenly felt dizzy, then both fell into the Underground District of the kingdom’s Inner City.

“We’re… quite lucky, huh…” Phyllis sat down weakly, her eyes dim.

Why—why is it always the Moonmist Sect?

Why am I still powerless to do anything?

I can only watch helplessly as the people I care about leave me behind.

“Get up, Phyllis.” Lia took off her mask, her face under the cloak void of any smile. “Among the kingdom’s powerful figures you know, is there anyone who usually resides in the Dungeon?”

“You… Princess?” The red-haired girl’s eyes widened in shock, realizing that the exiled princess had actually been right beside them all along.

But with such a formidable enemy ahead, she chose to trust this rumored “Usurper.”

“It’s the Sage. He has a shop here, specializing in purchasing rare materials.”

“Everett, right? Lead the way. He’ll help us.” Lia said with certainty.

That great mage had once been saved by her, promising, “Your Highness, if trouble arises, please do not hesitate to seek my aid. Wherever and whenever, I will do my utmost.”

“Boom—”

A powerful surge of magical energy burst from the entrance of the tunnel, intense enough to be felt even from a distance, revealing the ferocity of the battle.

“And why is there a Witch’s Gift scent as well? What exactly is happening over there?”

Fragments.

A few minutes earlier.

“Clang.”

A sword clashed against bone spikes with a harsh ring.

Tyr barely managed to fend off the ever-approaching threat, while also worried about the girl beside him fending off other Moonmist Sect disciples.

“Miss Tina, I didn’t expect you to fake being unable to use magic so well. You’ve been hiding it deeply.”

“If that’s a compliment, I’ll take it. Just don’t tell anyone, okay?” Tina snapped her fingers, and an invisible giant hand moved accordingly.

Most of the disciples hadn’t even reacted before being slammed against walls or smashed into the ground, turning into a bloody mess under the inexplicable force.

“Hey, hey, isn’t this a bit too much?” The white-haired man scolded from midair.

“What kind of magic is this, miss? Care to share?”

“Sure, if you survive.” No sooner had she finished speaking than a shadow engulfed the man from above.

The air was rapidly compressed, accompanied by a rushing sound of breaking wind as the man was suddenly squeezed by converging forces, crushed into a bloody pulp.

“Dead?”

Tina was puzzled, but the sensation she had felt wasn’t fake.

“Miss! He’s not that easy to kill. Until his blood burns out, he won’t die!”

“What? Burn blood?”

Tina didn’t quite understand the meaning at first, but soon she did.

Where the man had exploded, flames rose, spreading rapidly and encircling the entire battlefield.

The border looked like a living hell, illuminated brightly by purple flames.

The dead disciples withered at a visible speed, leaving only dry bones that were then dismantled into fragments, suspended in midair.

“This is bad.”

Watching the man in midair gradually form from the blood droplets scattered everywhere, Tina finally understood the severity of their opponent.

This guy can use the blood and bones of the dead to strengthen himself. As long as there’s blood on the battlefield, he’s practically immortal.

“You saw through me, miss.”

The man smiled awkwardly. “Allow me to introduce myself: I am Uli Patterson, one of the Archbishops of the Moonmist Sect. Greetings.

Miss, are you interested in joining us? You’re strong, and you have… a unique magic none of us understand. Your joining would greatly accelerate our goals, and of course, you’ll be well rewarded.”

“Tina, don’t listen to him!” Tyr shouted angrily, but was instantly engulfed by the man’s fiery tongue and lost consciousness.

“Don’t hurt him, or we won’t have a deal.”

“All right, all right.” Uli snapped his fingers, and Tyr was immediately released.

But even after only a few seconds of burning, Tyr’s skin was severely ulcerated and desperately needed aid.

“So, what do you say now, miss?”

“Before joining, I need to know what the Moonmist Sect is actually doing.” Tina’s expression remained calm.

“Good question! Our goal is—to resurrect the empire’s witch. For this, we need a large number of living people, mana crystals, and the most important item: the Witch’s Heart.”

“Unfortunately, after the witch died, no one knows where her heart was sent. Even following the Magic Compass won’t find it.”

“Resurrect her? What’s in it for you?”

“Hahaha!” The man laughed loudly. “Benefits? The witch possesses the most powerful force in the world. Her magic surpasses any Legendary Magic.

Wait, don’t think we rely on her though. Actually, after she’s resurrected, we’ll imprison her in a prison prepared long ago, then divide the power she holds for our own use.”

“What a wicked plan…” Tina sighed.

And this witch… she can’t be related to her, right?

“Miss, you’re not thinking of leaking this information, are you? I’m telling you because you have only two choices now: join us or die.

Pick one.”

“What if… I don’t want to choose either?” Tina looked at the man.

“Oh? You mean to defeat me with that unknown magic of yours?” The man sneered.

“Not once? Then try as many times as you want, until not a drop of your blood remains. No problem, right?”

“Heh, fine! I want to see if you get crushed into a puddle first, or if I burn out first.”

With that, roaring waves of fire surged in from all directions.

Standing in the center, even just standing required immense effort.

The sweat on her body evaporated before it could fall.

Tina summoned four arms—her current limit.

Controlling that many simultaneously drained her spirit greatly.

While pushing back wave after wave of the fire, Tina didn’t forget to attack Uli.

But after the first hit, he was well prepared.

“Miss, you can barely protect yourself now, can you? Do you really think I can’t dodge such slow attacks? Or do you think… I can’t block them?”

The giant hands were scorched red-hot by the Blood and Bone Shield before touching the man, sizzling audibly.

“Surrender. If this is all you’ve got, you’re far from enough.”

The girl’s attack frequency slowed noticeably in the waves.

Within ten minutes, her counterattacks nearly ceased, all remaining strength used to defend herself.

A blood-stained bone spike shot from Uli’s hand, aiming at Tina’s head.

“Blood-enhanced Strike, to end your painful struggle, miss.”

“X”

The girl turned her head aside, but still heard the splattering of blood.

“Hit? Not dead?” A strange unease grew in Uli’s heart.

The finishing blow the girl received only made her lower her head.

In Uli’s view, a streak of blood ran down the left side of her face; she seemed wounded.

But when the girl raised her eyes, Uli’s relief gradually turned into deepening anxiety.

No, it wasn’t because of the wound’s blood—it was… flowing from her left eye?

“?”

A drop fell onto his hand.

“Sweat? No, rain.”

The blood on the ground, without anyone noticing, had all risen into the air, turning into a blood rain.

When Uli clearly saw the presence standing beside the girl in the blood rain, he felt fear that had long been absent.

“Hey, this really is a monster…”