Chapter 55: Chapter 55 - The White Sword Hunter ( Part 9)
The monster brought down its monstrous head.
Its scarlet eyes narrowed to a pair of slits.
It was no longer looking at Jennie as its target.
It was now looking at her...
With hatred.
The whole forest was quiet.
Even the spirit of the wind, who usually had energy in abundance, was hiding behind the branches of the Worldleaf Tree.
They could feel the ancient intent of the killer coming from the monster.
Jennie slowly raised Excalibur.
The legendary sword shone under the afternoon sun.
One after another, the golden runes on its silver blade were activated, just like stars in the night sky.
The sword gave off a soft humming sound.
Not because of anticipation.
Because it recognized the enemy.
"Another corrupted creature..."
Excalibur whispered.
"What a pity."
Jennie gently ran her finger on the flat side of the sword.
"Let’s protect this forest."
The serpent responded with a furious hiss.
Its body instantly blurred.
Such a monster...
Was unbelievably fast.
BOOM!
It hit the ground as it charged towards Jennie.
Its enormous jaws opened wide enough to eat an entire wagon.
Most hunters would be retreating right now.
Jennie stepped forward.
One step.
Elegant.
Relaxed.
Fluid.
The serpent bit the empty space in front of her.
Its huge head smashed into the ground.
Its impact crushed the ground and uprooted the ancient trees.
Jennie had already moved.
She stood calmly next to its neck.
"So predictable."
She slashed the blade in one fluid motion.
SHING!
A thin line of silvery color appeared in one scale.
Only one.
It was not a deep cut.
Just barely enough to draw some blood.
The serpent retracted.
It felt...
Danger.
In the bushes, far away...
Frightened Herb Goblins looked at the battlefield.
One goblin gasped in horror.
Another covered his mouth.
These tiny creatures had expected that the strange human would die immediately.
Instead...
She did not even crease her clothes.
The serpent roared once again.
Purple mana started flowing from its body.
Immediately, the surrounding ground began wilting.
The flowers darkened.
The grass crumbled to dust.
Even the rocks in the vicinity slowly began cracking due to the poisonous aura of the serpent.
Jennie frowned.
"So that is your real power."
Excalibur’s voice was calm.
"Corrupted Mana."
"Don’t let it touch you."
Jennie nodded.
"I don’t plan to do that."
The serpent opened its jaws.
Instead of using them to bite...
It spewed venom from its mouth.
The purple liquid flooded the clearing like the river.
The trees dissolved instantly.
The stone hissed and melted.
The venom consumed everything in its path.
Jennie calmly raised her other hand.
Blue magic circles appeared next to her fingers.
Perfectly synchronized, each circle was spinning around.
The moisture around her came together...
From the air.
Drops.
Streams.
Vapor.
All of it was obedient to her command.
"Water Magic."
These magic circles joined into one elegant spell.
"Flowing Heaven."
An impenetrable wall of blue crystals appeared before her.
The venom hit this wall with incredible force.
HISSSSS!
The steam burst into the air.
The poison melted harmlessly in the water before it fell as rain.
Not a single drop touched Jennie.
The Guardian Wolf was observing the battle from the ruins of the destroyed shrine.
Its golden eyes were wide open.
It had never seen magic used with such skill.
Jennie smiled faintly.
"I have always loved water."
She lowered her hand.
The protective wall dissolved into the droplets, nourishing the dying flowers below her feet.
The Worldleaf Tree shimmered brighter.
The serpent got angry.
It smacked its tail into the ground over and over.
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
The whole clearing was shaking.
Monstrous boulders flew up from the ground and landed in the air above her, like the meteors.
She inhaled calmly.
"Wind."
Unseen currents started gathering around her feet.
The spirits were dancing in joy.
"Lift."
The winds responded.
Instead of destroying the falling rocks...
They redirected them.
The monstrous boulders floated elegantly above her before smashing somewhere else.
The Herb Goblins stared at her in disbelief.
One goblin quietly fainted.
Another slapped him back to consciousness.
Jennie sighed.
"I hoped for a peaceful end."
The serpent responded with charging.
This time...
It curled around the whole clearing.
Blocking all ways of escape.
Poison dripped from its scales.
Its enormous shadow engulfed the Worldleaf Tree.
Excalibur’s voice sounded.
"Master."
"Yes?"
"Do you mind me making a suggestion?"
Jennie smiled.
"When have I ever said no?"
The legendary sword almost sounded amused.
"Use me properly."
Jennie’s smile widened.
"I suppose..."
"It has been a while."
She closed her eyes.
Golden mana started flowing from her Mana Core, blessed by Goddess Miasa.
It flowed through her body like warm sunlight.
The ancient runes carved into Excalibur were fully awakened.
The sword shone with bright silver light.
Its dragon shaped guard was almost alive.
The forest responded to the change.
The winds ceased.
The rivers slowed.
Even the Worldleaf Tree bowed down slightly.
Like greeting the king.
Jennie slowly opened her eyes.
The crimson color of her eyes now had faint golden rings.
She pointed Excalibur at the serpent.
"This is your last chance."
The corrupted beast roared at her.
Jennie sighed.
"I tried."
She simply disappeared.
Not through teleportation.
Not through magic.
Through...
Speed.
The serpent’s pupils shrunk.
It could not see her.
It only sensed someone moving past its neck.
Just a cool breeze.
Nothing more.
Jennie reappeared several meters behind the monster.
She calmly lowered the Excalibur.
"...Too much."
She whispered.
For one second...
Nothing happened.
And then...
A brilliant silver line went all the way through the monster.
SHHHHNK!
The monster stopped moving.
A clean cut severed its corrupted Mana Core from its body.
No explosion.
No unnecessary destruction.
Just...
One perfect cut.
The serpent fell to the ground.
The ground trembled.
Silence filled the Emerald Forest.
The Guardian Wolf slowly stood.
It stared at Jennie for several moments.
And then...
It lowered its head.
Not out of fear.
But in respect.
Jennie was surprised.
"...Are you thanking me?"
The noble wolf let out a low, soft growl.
Behind them...
The Worldleaf Tree started releasing millions of glowing emerald leaves into the air.
As though applauding her.
Somewhere far away...
Among the trees...
The Herb Goblins cheered joyfully.
They did not know her name.
But from this day on...
The stories about the mysterious hunter in white clothes...
Who fought with a sword flawlessly...
Started spreading from village to village and forest to forest.
The legend of the White Sword Hunter took its first step.
