Chapter 42 - True Strength
However, Lillian looked at the other two. These are more skilled, and she senses another presence. There is another person here. Lillian sighed deeply. It is troublesome for her since they prepared well. Normally this amount of people will not do any damage for her; however, because of the toll of trying out that new spell, her body is quite weak now.
One of them charged towards her, and she dodged. Lillian grabbed their wrist but immediately let go. Unfortunately, it seems like she does not have the strength to take them down physically. Just now, she planned to twist their arm backward, but it seems like she cant in her current state.
As she grew up, Lillian learned many things about battles.
In a situation where it is unfavorable, and she may lose her life, she has to end the battle quickly. The unfavorable situations may be due to a lack of strength; the other person is physically stronger or a situation like hers. She is stronger than all of these people combined; even their hidden assassin cannot scratch her. But because she used up her mana, there is a chance that they can harm her.
Lillian continued to dodge their attacks before she fatally stabbed the person's vital points, causing them to land on the ground. Their blood splattered onto her face and arms. She picked up their blade.
To end this quickly, she must dodge their attacks, stab their vital points. So she must directly point her blade at their hearts. Then she must gouge out their hearts if there is a chance they survive that attack.
Due to the piercing blade, it was easier for her to pull out their heart. Lillian looked at the piece of flesh in her hands, and she brought her lips towards it. "It doesn't look very appetizing."
"Mo--Monster---."
"At least let them rest in peace! How could you do that to a dead body?"
"I don't know why you are worrying about a dead person; you should be more concerned for yourself-" Lillian looked towards the only lady soldier and chuckled when she saw her frozen in place. "My apologies, did you want this?" She pointed to the piece of flesh and then the body of the man."
"Gahhh-!" She charged furiously towards her.
The woman managed to slice her cheek, and she blinked, surprised. It seems her dear sister trains her soldiers very well; that is unexpected. She assumed that all her sister's people spent more time fawning over her sister and treating her like a god than train. But no matter how skilled these people are, in the face of true strength, they will fail.
"You know this is getting boring," Lillian mumbled. She pulled out her small dagger and waited until the female soldier got close. She used that moment where the lady naively thought she had her and swiftly used the knife to cut her throat.
The moment she did that, blood came rushing out like a fountain. It was a single split and a perfect cut. Anybody watching would be amazed at how beautifully she managed to cut in her situation.
Long before she could use her magic to cause more destruction, the knife was her only company. She only had this to defend herself from the horrors of the Ageha family, so she learned how to properly wield a blade. Unfortunately, so many people in this Empire depend on magic that they neglect other skills.
It is naive of them to think this type of swordsmanship can kill her.
Her gaze fell on the remaining individuals; there was barely any of them left. She already knew they would win based on how they were trembling in fear. Lilian extended her blade out.
"No matter what you do, it is futile. Your master knew you would not be able to kill me."
"Wh--what?"
Lillian laughed. "Don't you get it? She sent here cute little sister a meal before the banquet."
The remaining individuals did not speak; there was a long period of silence. Either they were too shocked by their master's betrayal or thought they would have done the same. Her sister sent these people here as a gamble. If they do kill her, she will reward them, but in the chance they cannot, she will not save them and allow her to kill them.
This is the law of survival; even normal-looking soldiers like this have such cruel thoughts. But this is exactly why she has to get stronger. Her current power is not enough; to not allow people like this to step over her, she has to use whatever means.
At that comment, a large burst of mana surged inside her, and she released it all at once. Red spider lilies covered the green vines that sprouted out alongside her mana.
"Impossible this place--"
Lillian appeared before that person in a flash. "Is it hard to believe I can break the seal on this place?"
Yes, people call this the forest of enchantment because a person's true magic ability will come out once they break the seal. The seal suppresses all the magic of the forest, and that is why people are unable to use magic here. But if somebody breaks the seal, they can use all the magic they can with no limits.
She continues to hear more screams, and yet that did not satisfy her. The red spider lilies continued to devour their flesh, but it was not enough. Finally, her gaze fell on sir Gilbert in the corner, and the person holding him hostage immediately tried to run away.
But she appeared beside them in a flesh and pierced his eyes out in seconds.
When people allow fear to control them, that is the moment they become weak.
When they start to focus on others other than themselves and behave recklessly, they will die right away.
Lilian sliced up the last person easily.
It was not much of a match, but with the state of her body-- Lillian felt her vision turn blurrier, and as each second passed by, she felt her remaining strength deplete. This was a bad idea breaking the seal with the little amount of mana she had left.
Before Lillian could collapse, however, somebody caught her. It was a man who wore a hooded cloak. He wore a similar cloak to those people she just fought but, "You're not the enemy."
"As per orders, I came here to save you, Miss Lillian."
Did somebody order this man to help her? Then that person also knew she would get attacked like this. "I don't need your help." Lillian stubbornly tried to break free, but he would not let her go.
"Are you so cautious because you do not know who I am?" The man removed his hood to reveal purple-colored hair.
Despite her blurred vision, she could make out who he was—the current head of the purple Lions, Van.