Chapter 130: Total War With Proxia (6)
Iriel ran at a fast pace through the forest.
It wouldnt surprise anyone if she were pursued at any moment.
It would be even more unusual if the Holy Maiden escaped without being chased.
She kicked off trees and followed the stream to avoid leaving tracks.
This way, even if pursued, she could buy some time.
As she headed towards Selonia, Iriel began to feel a sense of unease.
Too quiet.
Aside from the sound of water flowing and the wind blowing, there was no noise.
Normally, there would be the chirping of birds, but now it was eerily silent, almost oppressive.
After a while, Iriel sensed a strong presence approaching from behind.
Without a doubt, she knew.
Such a presence could not be emitted by ordinary beings.
It was the hallmark of those who transcended humanity.
Different from a dragons aura, but undeniably the presence of absolute beings.
Soon, two old men appeared, just as she expected.
A man and a woman, looking like a powerless elderly couple, but in reality, they were Sword Masters.
Iriel quickly generated an Aura Blade in her hand.
The elderly couple produced Aura Blades as well.
It seemed they had no intention of letting her pass.
Hohoho. If you had kept running straight, you might have escaped further
What a pity.
Despite their seemingly concerned tone, a thick killing intent emanated from them.
Iriel sneered at their dual nature.
It seemed this was as far as she could go.
Even though she was the Holy Maiden, she could not face two senior Sword Masters.
Not just senior; even two intermediate Sword Masters would be overwhelming.
But she hadnt lost her fighting spirit.
Iriel pointed her aura-generating hand at the elderly couple.
One of you, at least one, I assure you, will accompany me.
Ho. If you can manage that.
With that, Iriel charged at them.
She had activated the Holy Maidens blessing while escaping.
Her body, blessed by the Holy Maiden, was like that of a fierce demon.
The elderly couple easily blocked her ferocious attack, aimed at their elbows.
Clang!
Sparks flew when the Aura Blades collided.
She didnt lack mana.
The problem lay in the quality of her Aura Blade.
The auras of the two senior Sword Masters boasted incredible density.
They could form clear shapes and manipulate them freely, wearing down her holy power with ease.
Ugh!
There was just one clash.
Moreover, she, who had initiated the attack, was at a disadvantage.
She flicked her hand to dissipate the recoil and dodged the old mans subsequent attack.
His sharp sword strike split the air where she had just been.
Swoosh!
Despite missing, the sound was incredible, as if the air itself had been sliced apart.
In that moment, Iriel felt a chill down her spine.
She quickly rolled on the ground, narrowly avoiding an aura strike to her back.
Ugh!
Almost split in half at the spine, Iriel, pale-faced, quickly stood up.
The elderly woman showed a surprised expression.
Such remarkable reflexes.
Your attack is quite heavy too. Hohoho.
Despite their seemingly praiseful words, Iriel frowned.
In this situation, their words were nothing but mockery.
But even so, she couldnt retort, as their attacks were relentless and impeccable.
Hot blood oozed from a cut on her back.
Heal.
Her wound rapidly closed with her chant, resembling that of a magic swordsman.
However, this was possible because of the nature of her holy power mana.
The broad scope of holy magic included the creation of Aura Blades.
In a sense, Iriels aura was akin to magic.
The elderly couple began pressuring Iriel again.
The old man took the front, while the old woman targeted Iriels back as she focused on the man.
Simple yet challenging, this tactic was especially difficult when executed by Sword Masters.
Even more troublesome than most assassins, Iriel was continuously pushed back.
Though she blocked and dodged well, avoiding major injuries, the accumulation of smaller wounds was nearly as dangerous.
Battered and breathless, Iriel glared at the couple.
Unlike Iriel, they didnt have a single scratch, which highlighted the stark difference in their abilities.
Overwhelmed with frustration, she couldnt find time to heal and had never felt so weak.
The couple didnt stop their assault, giving her no chance to catch her breath amid their relentless attacks.
Dodging and blocking, Iriel momentarily lost focus on the old woman, and the old mans aura surged toward her neck.
Ah!
Barely dodging, she lost her balance and fell backward, with the old womans blade aiming for her heart.
It was a perfect sequence that would have split her heart in two.
Iriel felt as if time had stopped, with everything around her moving slowly it was the so-called life-flashing-before-eyes moment.
Is this the end?
Surprisingly, she wasnt much perturbed by facing death. Instead, she felt an emptiness.
There were so many things left undone.
Iriel closed her eyes, but just before she did, she saw a white figure rushing toward her.
It was a familiar figure.
White hair, blue eyes.
Wearing the same holy robe, it was the figure of a saint.
The old mans aura and the old womans blade shattered instantly.
Boom!
Shocked by the broken aura, the elderly couple spat blood.
But their curiosity about who could shatter their aura overshadowed their pain.
At that moment, Iriel felt a chill run down her spine.
She quickly rolled on the ground, narrowly avoiding an aura strike from behind.
Ugh!
Nearly split in half, Iriel got up with a pale face, shocked by the close call.
The old woman looked surprised.
Such fast reflexes.
Your attack is quite heavy too. Hohoho.
Their backhanded compliments made Iriel frown.
In this situation, their words felt like mockery.
Yet she couldnt respond, as their attacks were too perfect and relentless.
Warm blood trickled from a cut on her back.
Heal.
The wound healed instantly with her incantation, resembling a scene out of a tale of a magic swordsman.
But this possibility arose from the nature of her holy power, which included the creation of Aura Blades.
Iriels aura resembled magic more closely.
The elderly couple resumed their pressure on Iriel.
When the old man attacked from the front, the old woman aimed for Iriels back.
Simple yet effective, especially against Sword Masters.
Despite her best efforts to block and evade, Iriel was steadily forced back.
The numerous small wounds proved as debilitating as a single major injury.
Soon, covered in bruises, Iriel glared at the couple, who remained unscathed.
She hadnt even had time to heal, overwhelmed by the stark skill disparity.
Although she had never seen herself as weak, the thorough defeat filled her with deep frustration.
The couple didnt let up, continuing their relentless assault without giving her a moments respite.
Constantly dodging and parrying, Iriel momentarily lost her focus on the old woman, which allowed the old mans aura to surge toward her neck.
Ah!
She narrowly avoided the attack, losing her balance and tumbling backward, right into the path of the old womans blade aimed at her heart.
The couple executed a perfect combination attack.
Her heart was on the verge of being cleaved in two, but suddenly, everything around her seemed to slow down.
Is this how it ends?
Facing death, she felt not panic, but a profound sense of emptiness.
So many dreams left unachieved.
Iriel closed her eyes, but at that moment, she perceived a white figure moving toward her at incredible speed.
White hair, blue eyes.
A figure clad in holy robes, reminiscent of a saint.
The old mans aura and the old womans blade shattered in a mere instant.
Boom!
Taken aback by the disruption of their aura, the couple coughed up blood.
Their pain was eclipsed by their curiosity about who could shatter their combined attack.
The elderly couples rash actions had led to their own breathless astonishment.
To use Mana Pressure against a mage capable of casting a Meteor spell with ease? The two elders were clearly delusional.
Ray looked at them, his head cocked in bewilderment.
Ahahaha. What exactly are you doing?
Boom!
If the couples combined mana was a small stream, Rays was like a vast ocean.
Their mana, incomparable in both quality and quantity, caused blood to burst from the couples bodies.
Argh!
Aaah!
Blood oozed from their pores, soaking their clothes.
Overwhelmed by the shock, they couldnt grasp their senses and died.
Iriel couldnt believe that even senior Sword Masters couldnt maintain their lives.
Watching them self-destruct, Ray clicked his tongue in disbelief.
Tsk tsk. Thats why you should know your opponent before using such tactics.
Thats because youre abnormal! Iriel thought, swallowing the words that almost slipped out.
Right now, she had too many questions.
Forcing herself up, Iriel thanked him.
Thank you for helping. But how did you know I was here?
I gathered information from Selonia. That helped me understand the current situation.
What?
Gathering information wouldnt pinpoint the Holy Maidens location, especially in a deep forest. How did he find her precisely?
Ray smirked, seeing her perplexed expression.
You were defending Gehel. Proxia deployed most of their forces for the Gehel invasion, right? If Gehel had been successfully defended, you would be safe there, no need to worry. But if Gehel fell to the enemy, as the Holy Maiden, youd have to escape to plan for the future, like now.
Iriels mouth fell open at Rays unhesitant words.
Even so, that wouldnt specify my location. And if Gehel was in danger, reinforcements could have come, right?
True, there could have been reinforcements. But the Holy Kingdom lacks forces to send. The only possible reinforcement could be Euclid, who moves independently.
Right. If she had come to Gehel, your theory would have been just a guess. How could you be so sure to find me here?
Euclid is in Selonia. That means Proxia deployed forces there too. They deliberately attacked Gehel and Selonia almost simultaneously to spread the already scarce forces of the Holy Kingdom.
Ray continued.
The Holy Kingdom fell into their trap by sending Euclid to Selonia. Foolishly enough.
The renowned tacticians of the Holy Kingdom had suddenly been made fools.
Iriel objected.
But if Proxia intended to take Selonia instead of Gehel, your words would be mere speculation.
Ray nodded.
If Proxia had sent more forces to Selonia, I would have gone there.
But Proxia sent their main forces to Gehel. That means Gehel was their target. Your weak army couldnt possibly defend it, and you would have had to escape, running around the forest to shake off the pursuit.
Iriel shivered at his confidence-filled answer.
Was this all calculated beforehand?
Is it even possible for a human?
To be so sure she would be in this unknown forest?
Ray, seemingly unaware of her thoughts, looked at the setting sun and said,
Euclid must have reached Gehel by now. We should hurry.
Watching him nonchalantly choose his next steps, Iriel shook her head.
This inhuman man should not be judged by human standards.
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