Chapter 13 : The Final Blow

The Final Blow

Suddenly pulling out the scroll from his waist, while the monster had not yet charged again, Odura immediately unfurled the scroll.

Upon seeing that scroll, Serea silently recited in her heart,

It's here!

"Mana Prison!"

The scroll burned rapidly, then a tier-three control spell was released.

A yellow light enveloped Little Black, and a circle of runes formed beneath its feet, restraining it. Next, the light covered five Skeleton Warriors and Skeleton Archers as well, and they too were pinned in place by the runes.

Witnessing this, Serea gripped the dagger in her hand tightly. Though tense, she was also relieved that she hadn't underestimated the empire's mages.

Seeing the seven monsters bound, Odura was flooded with both joy and gratitude for surviving.

Although he had used one of the tier-three spell scrolls his mentor had given him, as long as he could capture these formidable undead creatures, it was worth every cost.

"Hahaha!"

Odura burst into laughter—a joy of victory and harvest.

Though the mercenaries had died, he didn't care, because the people searching for Serea inside the jungle had already signaled; they had found Serea and would soon bring her back.

As long as Serea was found, the mission was as good as complete, and he had gained an unexpected bounty besides.

When he presented these nether undead and Serea before his teacher, he would surely receive heavy rewards.

In that moment, Odura's mind was filled with visions of a glorious future: high-level magic, countless beauties, and inexhaustible gold coins!

All this would be his—as long as today he brought Serea and those unexpectedly captured monsters back.

His bright future would begin today!

—Thud!

The sound of a dagger sinking into flesh. Searing pain erupted from his back. In disbelief, Odura turned to see Serea's mocking face staring back at him.

Golden twin tails, blood-red eyes—upon seeing that familiar face, disbelief twisted Odura's expression.

"You...you!!"

Mouth full of bloody froth, Odura uttered a voice of shock and unwillingness.

Yet, Serea wasted no words with him. She coldly pulled out the dagger, then slit Odura's throat with one swift motion.

Gripping his throat as blood gushed like a spring, Odura fell to the ground with utter reluctance on his face. After a few final spasms, Odura died just like that.

Dead...

"So, never let your guard down until the very last moment. Heaven knows what tricks your opponent might pull out against you."

The girl's voice echoed across the battlefield strewn with corpses—yet now, no living soul remained to hear it.

Just as Serea said, in the final moment, you never knew what means the enemy would draw on.

As someone who, in her previous life, had licked blood from the tip of a blade to rise above countless corpses, Serea naturally understood this. Even with Odura's use of the tier-three spell scroll, he could not avoid her assassination.

Staring at the scroll that had burned to ash on the ground, Serea muttered quietly to herself.

"So, this is what helped you eliminate my guards. Fortunately, I had a backup plan."

A novice mage wiping out a team of novice warriors—mages might be powerful, but not to that extent.

Serea understood the importance of advance intelligence, and so she had prepared for Odura's final move!

With Odura's death, Little Black and the Skeleton Warriors regained their freedom and gathered by Serea's side.

"Your Majesty, we have failed you."

Though no expression could be seen on Little Black, Serea could hear genuine dejection in its tone.

"No, you haven't disappointed me. You completed your task exceptionally."

"But I didn't kill the enemy."

"Success isn't about knowing your opponent's fate. While you failed as the executor, I succeeded as the strategist. Victory in battle is a success."

Saying this, Serea spoke to Little Black much as she had once taught 'young recruits' in her past organization.

But faced with Little Black's long silence, Serea slapped her forehead.

"I forgot you can't understand. Anyway, you did well this time. Keep it up next time."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Little Black replied softly.

Serea hadn't realized that these few words would completely change Little Black.

Having won her victory, Serea looked over the battlefield, her face alight with joy.

"It's as if I see tons and tons of materials beckoning me."

Serea spoke thus, then spread her palm toward the scattered corpses on the ground.

Blood Absorption!

Streams of blood surged from the corpses, gathering into Serea's palm. At that instant, system notifications sounded repeatedly.

System: Acquired one Blood Crystal.

System: ...

After collecting seventeen Blood Crystals, Serea set her sights on corpses farther away.

"Bring those bodies over here."

With her command, the skeletons immediately set to work, carrying more bodies before Serea.

But in the process, one Skeleton Warrior noticed something unusual.

The Skeleton Warrior cautiously peered into the front carriage, as if sensing a threat. Upon receiving this through her mental link, Serea turned to look behind her.

"Gr-great Goddess of Light, please protect your devout follower—Holy Light!"

A beam of golden light blasted forth. The instant the light shone, Serea realized she couldn't dodge it.

"Crap!"

Surprised by the sudden attack, Serea reflexively tried to evade, but it was clear this strike wasn't aimed at her.

"Protect the Queen!"

A Skeleton Warrior rushed out to confront the hidden enemy, but a second later, the ray of light struck it.

Sizzle, sizzle—

A cloud of black smoke rose, and under the Holy Light, the Skeleton Warrior's body was roasted black.

On seeing this, Serea recognized the skill—a tier-one divine spell called 'Holy Light', unique to the church and clergy. Such powers were extremely lethal to undead.

Just like that, within a few seconds, the Skeleton Warrior fell. The fire in its eyes dimmed; for a while, it would be unable to act.

But this raised a question—why was someone here using divine spells?

The answer immediately appeared: a young girl in light armor weakly walked out from the front carriage. She was the one who had fainted in the carriage at the very start.

Yet after emerging, the girl did something that left Serea utterly baffled.

The girl wrapped one arm around Serea, pulling her into an embrace. Serea, held single-handedly by this red-haired girl, was forced to rest her head on her shoulder.

Taking a deep breath, a heady scent of roses wafted over.

At this, Serea stopped resisting...

So sweet!

(To be continued...)