Neither of the two magic beasts noticed that the little silver dragon, who was nearly dead, had something twitch slightly beneath her eyelids the moment the Nightfiend withdrew its magic power.
Yisela was waiting for an opportunity.
An opportunity for them to let their guard down.
An opportunity for them to get close enough.
An opportunity for her to burst forth and immediately escape afterward.
She silently counted numbers in her heart.
Under her sleeve, her fingers lightly gripped the strengthening talisman.
The Nightfiend grew impatient.
It leaned in, opened its gaping maw large enough to swallow half her body, and prepared to gently scoop her up in its mouth like a kitten and carry her away.
Now!
Yisela watched that mouth slowly approach—jagged fangs, dark red gums, and a wave of thick, suffocating stench rushing toward her.
Ugh—!
This smell…!
Did you just crawl out of a cesspool?!
This princess would rather be struck by lightning than be held in that mouth!
It’s time.
Yisela snapped her eyes open.
Those ruby-like eyes—where was any sign of weakness?
They were clearly a dragon’s eyes, a mixture of cunning and ferocity.
The Nightfiend froze.
It didn’t even have time to react—because the little silver dragon, who was supposed to be dying, had already moved the instant she opened her eyes.
Her left hand slammed against the ground, using the recoil to bounce her body half a foot into the air.
Her right hand swung out from her waist, carrying the monstrous strength boosted by the strengthening talisman, and smashed precisely into the Nightfiend’s large, defenseless front tooth that had just leaned in.
“Get away from this princess!!”
Don’t touch me with your stinking mouth!
Crack—!!!
That was the sound of a tooth breaking, mixed with the crisp snap of a dislocated gum, mixed with a short, unfinished whimper squeezed from the Nightfiend’s throat.
The obsidian fang, under the dual boost of her fist and the talisman, was forcibly cracked.
The crack ran from the root all the way to the tip.
“Owwww—!”
The Nightfiend’s scream finally erupted fully.
The sound was so piercing—ten times more miserable than when its paw had been bitten earlier.
It jerked its head back, its whole body leaping backward, and rolled on the ground clutching its cheek with its front paws, smashing several large roadside rocks in the process.
Up in the sky, Ting Xiao instantly spread its wings, arcs of electricity crackling and popping between its feathers.
Its pupils shrank to needlepoints—not because it was angry, but because it was too shocked.
It even forgot to attack.
How is this possible?
That brat, beaten half to death—how does she still have strength?
But Yisela gave them no time to react.
She hadn’t even touched the ground. The moment the Nightfiend threw its head back in pain, she used the recoil from her punch to flip half a turn in the air, landing steadily on a protruding rock with both feet.
Go.
Then she activated the holy light boots.
Full power.
A pale cyan light erupted from beneath her feet, kicking up gravel and dust around her.
Her body shot forward like a silver bullet, skimming the ground in an arc as she raced toward the depths of the Dense Forest.
She glanced back.
Ting Xiao finally reacted, letting out a screech twisted with fury as it flapped its wings violently.
Purple arcs of electricity slashed a blinding streak across the sky, chasing after her.
The Nightfiend was still rolling on the ground, clutching its cheek with its paws, its half-broken fang dangling and wobbling.
A smug smile curved at the corner of Yisela’s lips.
She made a highly provocative face at the two enraged magic beasts behind her—sticking out her tongue, rolling her eyes, and throwing up a “you guys suck” gesture.
Her crisp voice echoed in the wind, carrying a reckless arrogance:
“Nyah nyah nyah, you two idiots!
“Go home and suck on your mommies’ milk!!”
This princess would never lose to stinking fools like you!
Then she turned her head and ran forward with all her might.
Her whole body was trembling.
The fierce, reckless energy from moments ago had all turned into aftershock.
That scared this princess to death…!
She looked down at her fist. Her knuckles were red and swollen, a crack had split open on the web of her thumb, and blood dripped down her fingers.
It hurt.
It really hurt.
But she bared her teeth and laughed.
She laughed soft and light, like someone who had crawled through darkness for too long and finally saw a glimmer of light.
“This princess…”
“…isn’t dead yet.”
She whispered very quietly.
And!
I even cracked that stupid dog’s tooth.
Hmph, let’s see if it dares to open its big mouth again.
Then she closed her eyes, buried her face in her knees, and let the string that had been taut for so long finally loosen for just a little while.
*But!
Next time, could you not come at me with your mouth?
That was seriously too stinky.
This princess is going to take ten baths when she gets back.
In the distance, the Nightfiend’s roar still echoed, and Ting Xiao’s electric arcs still flickered in the sky.
The next step was figuring out how to stall them.
Master Temple Master, your reinforcements better be reliable. This princess and Saint Sister are counting on you.