My Taboo Harem System

Chapter 118: Final [2]

The knight remained completely still, her hands firmly gritting the hilt of her sword which was strapped to her back. Her gaze was fixed entirely on Patrick.

Her eyes widened ever so slightly as she watched.

At this point, Denzel was relentlessly bombarding Patrick with one strike after another.

The moment the final blow landed, she watched Denzel come to a stop before calmly turning around and walking away.

’Don’t tell me that’s enough. Don’t tell me he actually believes that’s enough to knock Patrick out. That’s thinking too kindly of yourself. You should always assume your opponent is at their absolute best.’

She continued watching.

Denzel had only taken a few steps when Patrick slowly began rising to his feet.

Without making the slightest sound, Patrick pushed himself back up until he was standing once more.

’Hmm... The guy isn’t even as tactically brilliant as he should be. This would have been the perfect opportunity to finish him.’

She watched Patrick steady himself, preparing to launch another attack against Denzel.

But then...

His foot made the faintest thud against the ground.

The sound alone caused Denzel to stop.

’Looks like he seriously lacks stealth skills. What should I do? Should I just end this duel? The peasant has already done his best, but then again, there’s nothing more he can do.’

She watched as Patrick gathered the last of his strength, preparing to unleash his final attack.

’Oh... He’s actually going to use his final attack on a mere peasant. Too much pride is dangerous.’

She wasn’t worried.

But then...

Her eyes suddenly widened.

For the first time during the entire fight, she was genuinely caught off guard.

She watched Denzel suddenly push forward.

At that exact moment, she felt a surge of mana erupt from his body.

Almost instantly, smoke burst outward as Denzel thrust his hand forward, his entire arm becoming engulfed within it.

Although, to Patrick and Denzel, everything had happened within a single instant...

To the knight...

She had seen it all.

Every single detail.

’What the fuck? I thought he was a peasant. That’s what Patrick said... No, that’s what everyone said. Even in his normal life, he never acted like he was an Awakened. Back at the chief’s house, I didn’t even see him fuse with an element or anything. What was that? Patrick unleashed control over his fire abilities... and somehow converted them into smoke? No... Only High Lords are capable of doing something like that. Patrick hasn’t even reached that level in his training. He’s nowhere near skilled enough to make something like that happen. Besides... I never sensed such a massive mana output from Patrick. The mana output came from... Denzel.’

She continued staring at him in complete disbelief.

’This guy... He’s a mere peasant, yet he just performed a feat that only masters of the flame element are capable of. Impossible.’

She watched as the smoke screen finally dispersed.

Denzel was still standing.

Patrick had fallen.

’I don’t believe it...’

"The peasant won."

She frowned.

’This is the real mystery. I have to see for myself.’

The very next moment, she shifted her footing atop the tree.

With a single swish, she shot out from her hiding place, landing just a few meters away from Denzel.

The instant she touched the ground, Denzel immediately came to a stop.

Slowly, he tilted his head toward her.

For the briefest of moments, their eyes met.

’It’s him... He’s battered and bruised, but it’s actually him.’

A deeper frown appeared on her face.

’This doesn’t make any sense. How? How was he capable of carrying mana outside his body when he isn’t even an elemental? Even now that I’m standing this close, I can’t sense any mana coming from him. What the hell... What the hell is this guy?’

Her gaze drifted away from Denzel before settling on Patrick’s motionless body lying on the ground.

Taking a slow breath, she immediately understood the severity of his condition.

Patrick could have already lost his life.

Without wasting another second, she rushed over to him, dropped to one knee, and pressed two fingers against his neck, checking for a pulse.

’His pulse is weak. He needs medical attention immediately, or he’ll die.’

Right then...

A voice suddenly sounded from directly behind her.

Her body reacted on pure instinct.

In a single fluid motion, her hand shot to the hilt of her sword as she spun around.

Standing right beside Denzel was what appeared to be...well, a figure.

The person’s entire body was concealed beneath a cloak.

With a swift motion, the knight raised her sword, pointing it toward both the cloaked figure, who stood beside Denzel.

"Who the hell are you? Stop in the name of the Lor—"

Before she could finish speaking, the cloaked figure interrupted her, a soft feminine voice emerging from beneath the hood.

"You have two people here, and both of them are in critical condition. I’m a healer, and I’m capable of healing this boy. So instead of wasting time arguing with each other, how about we heal these two fighters who have already settled their quarrel once and for all?"

The knight remained silent, her eyes locked onto the mysterious figure.

’What? Who the hell is this girl? She doesn’t know either of them. I didn’t even sense her presence until she got this close to Denzel. She could prove to be quite a serious problem if I don’t kill her now.’

The cloaked girl spoke once more, her tone remaining calm.

"If you’re thinking about killing me, you should know I don’t die easily. So you have two choices. I’m taking one of these fighters with me. It’s your choice which one you’re going to protect... and which one you’re going to give up. If you try to save both of them, I can assure you that won’t be possible."

For a brief moment, the knight’s gaze shifted toward Patrick.

Then...

It returned to Denzel.

The answer was obvious.

Patrick carried royal blood.

There was no way she could allow him to die.

As for Denzel...

He was nothing more than a mere peasant.

Even if something happened to him, there was no way she would receive any sort of punishment.

Her grip around the hilt of her sword tightened as she slowly lifted her eyes back to the cloaked girl.

"I see you’ve made your choice."

"Yes... I have."

Without a moment’s hesitation, the knight exploded forward, dashing straight at the cloaked girl with the intention of cutting her down.

But at that exact instant...

A massive gust of wind suddenly erupted around the cloaked girl.

It formed something resembling a gigantic sphere of swirling wind.

In the blink of an eye, both the girl and Denzel were lifted high above the ground.

Then another powerful gust burst forth.

The wind propelled them westward through the sky at incredible speed.

In less than an instant...

Denzel was gone.

She had kidnapped him.