Chapter 36 : Conditions

Conditions

Seeing Serea charging toward him while completely disregarding Lola's life or death, Dohr, with a desperate resolve, slashed his sword at Lola's neck.

"Too slow!"

With a burst of speed, Serea dashed right in front of Dohr. Just as his sword blade brushed against Lola's skin, Serea slashed out with her own blade.

*Puchi!*

*Clang!*

The greatsword dropped to the ground, accompanied by a hand still gripping its hilt.

Feeling the pain, Dohr looked down at his hand, but there was nothing left; blood spurted from the severed end of his arm.

"My hand, my hand!"

Releasing his grip on Lola with his left hand, Dohr staggered back several steps, clutching the bloody stump in an attempt to stop the bleeding.

Without his support, Lola, still bound by ropes, couldn't stand steady; she stumbled forward and collapsed into Serea's arms.

Seeing this, Serea held her upright.

"Ah!"

Lola cried out in alarm, seemingly afraid of Serea. Noticing this, Serea sliced through the ropes binding Lola and set her aside.

"I'll come for you later. Don't even think about running away."

"Ah... Yes."

Lola nodded blankly, while Serea went straight for Dohr.

At Serea's approach, Dohr's psychological defenses completely collapsed. He shouted,

"Monster, stay away!"

"Are you too scared to even pick up your sword now?"

As Serea spoke, she slowly stretched out her palm toward Dohr.

Seeing that monster raise her palm at him, Dohr felt the chilling threat of death. He shouted,

"No, you can't kill me! If I die, Lord Niltos will certainly investigate. With his means, you'll never get away!"

"Ha? Who cares about that? All I know is, today, you are dead."

With just that, Serea pronounced Dohr's death sentence. Terrified, he desperately tried to run.

Serea wasted no time; seeing Dohr trying to escape, she immediately used Blood Absorption.

"Argh!"

Blood gushed from Dohr's severed arm, pouring into Serea's palm, his body rapidly shriveling.

Turning weakly, Dohr cast a final glance at Serea.

"Despicable... despicable necromancer, you've meddled with Lord Niltos's interests—he... will... avenge me!"

With those words, Dohr became a dried-up corpse—thus ended his wicked life.

Seeing Dohr's miserable corpse, some elves couldn't bear the horrifying, bloody scene and screamed.

"Ahhh!"

Hearing the screams, Serea turned toward them.

"Shh."

She made a silencing gesture. With just a glance, the terrified elf maidens immediately fell quiet.

"Am I really that frightening?"

Serea said, continuing her work—extracting blood crystals and soul crystals, one by one.

Watching the humans' corpses wither one after another, the elves huddled together in silence, trembling and weeping from fear, terrified that after she finished draining those human corpses, they would be next.

With such fear and anxiety, the elves watched Serea drain every corpse. As she finished, the Skeleton Warriors gathered around.

"System, report current resources."

System: Counting, please wait...

Blood Crystals: 76

Terror Crystals: 92

Death Crystals: 44

Soul Crystals: 86

"Quite a haul."

Serea remarked, while beside her, Lola stared at her wide-eyed.

That power to manipulate blood—it seemed familiar to Lola. No, not just familiar; it was something hidden in her own bloodline!

From that moment, there was a new sense of kinship in the way Lola looked at Serea.

Noticing Lola's gaze, Serea seemed to recall something.

"Oh, right, you all."

With that, Serea approached Lola.

Facing the beautiful girl before her, Lola dared not confirm her suspicions. Until she was certain, she thought it best not to reveal that secret.

And the thought that such a monster had been captured by her own people sent a chill through Lola's heart.

"Please, my lady, forgive us!"

Suppressing her inner fear, Lola lowered her head.

As the queen of the elves, this act of humility was already the greatest concession she could make.

"Your Majesty!"

"Your Majesty!"

The elf warriors, seeing the monster approach their queen, wanted to break their bonds and 'save' her. To them, this monster was about to bare its fangs at their queen.

But they couldn't break free and could only struggle in vain.

"Our previous actions were mistaken—we didn't know your true identity, my lady. Please forgive our earlier rudeness."

As the queen of the elves, humbling herself like this would bring shame to her people, but to protect them, she had no choice.

Serea, for her part, recalled that she and Celia had been captured by these elves; that explained their pleas after witnessing her true power.

But Serea didn't care—she had been captured of her own will.

"That sort of thing... hmm..."

"If my lady is willing to spare my people, I am willing to agree to any condition."

"Hmm!?"

Serea had been about to explain her reason for being here, but hearing Lola's willingness to accept any condition, her mind raced, and she stepped forward.

Lifting Lola's chin, Serea had her look her in the eyes. That close, Lola was both stunned by Serea's beauty and a little shy.

"You're really willing to agree to anything?"

"Mmm..."

Lola let out a soft hum. Hearing their queen about to accept the monster's conditions, the elf warriors shouted:

"Your Majesty, don't beg such a monster for our sake, we would rather die—mmph mmph..."

Serea ordered the Skeleton Warriors to silence the outspoken elves, bringing much-needed peace and quiet.

"Alright, no more interruptions. You're sure you'll agree to any condition?"

"Yes, as long as you're willing to spare my people—any condition at all."

"Alright then."

With that, Serea snapped her fingers. The Skeleton Warriors quickly moved to untie the elves. Once freed, they gathered together.

To the elves' astonishment, these monsters had set them free. But seeing their queen still 'held hostage,' their first instinct was to fight back.

The elf warriors seemed eager, but Serea ignored them and whispered to Lola.

"I've shown my sincerity, but this is on the condition that you all listen obediently."

Taking Serea's warning to heart, Lola immediately commanded:

"Return to your positions—nobody act rashly."

"Your Majesty!"

"That's an order!"

Her tone firm, Lola's order left the elf warriors no choice but to step back and wait for the 'monster's' final judgment.

"Alright, my lady. As agreed, I will accept any condition you set. Please, give your orders."

Lola lowered her head and closed her eyes, as if resigned to her fate.

(To be continued...)