The Rank 2 magical beast that suddenly lunged from the bushes was slammed into the ground by Hans’s shield bash in an instant.
“Good chance!” the greatsword youth roared, preparing to strike.
However, a figure was even faster than him.
Lilith appeared beside Hans at some unknown moment and decapitated the beast with a single sword strike.
Psh.
The headless corpse twitched twice and then went completely still.
The entire process was incredibly swift.
Hans slowly retracted his shield and turned his head, looking at Lilith, who had stolen the kill, and then at the longsword in her hand that was currently dissipating.
His brow furrowed deeply.
“Aren’t you a mage? Why are you using a sword?”
The youth with the greatsword also lowered his weapon, scratching his head. “Yeah, Student Lilith, that move just now... it was pretty cool, but aren’t you a mage from the Holy City Magic Academy? How are you so good at close combat?”
Faced with several pairs of focused eyes, Lilith’s heart skipped a beat.
Oops. I saw an opening and just went for it instinctively.
Her mind raced as she forced a slightly embarrassed smile onto her face. “Oh, that? Well, actually, I’m doing dual magic and physical training.”
After a moment, Hans nodded. “Hmm. People who pursue dual magic and physical training are rare. Your talent is indeed impressive.”
After saying that, Hans turned to inspect the beast’s corpse. “Clean up and keep moving. The smell of blood might attract other things.”
Just as they finished cleaning up and were preparing to leave...
The surrounding scenery distorted without warning, and a strange ripple surfaced.
The environment changed rapidly, and her teammates vanished without a trace in the same instant.
Lilith was left standing alone on the spot.
“???”
Lilith was completely bewildered. What was going on? Where were her teammates?
She tried calling out a few times, but there was no response from her surroundings.
She began to search the area, but no matter which direction she walked, she always ended up back where she started.
After walking for about a few minutes, a blurry black dot seemed to appear ahead.
Lilith’s eyes lit up, and she quickened her pace.
The black dot gradually became clear; it was a young girl collapsed on the ground.
Her body was curled up slightly.
Lilith frowned and walked forward.
The girl seemed to hear footsteps and turned her head with difficulty, revealing an exquisite face.
At this moment, her eyes were brimming with tears.
“Ugh... it hurts...” the girl’s voice was sweet and delicate, carrying a heart-softening tremor. She reached out toward Lilith.
“Little sister... I fell. Can you help me up?”
Lilith carefully scrutinized the girl’s character model: pink-to-white gradient hair and star symbols in her eyes.
“OK, you pass.”
Just as Lilith was about to reach out to help her, her brain suddenly clicked. “Wait, the scene shifted. A girl whose art style is completely out of place appeared. Besides, I didn’t see her at the inn.”
When things are this abnormal, there’s bound to be trouble!
Just as Lilith was about to back away...
The teary-eyed, pitiful expression on the girl’s face vanished instantly, replaced by a smirk.
Her outstretched right hand formed a finger-gun gesture, pointing straight at the center of Lilith’s forehead.
“Honestly... you were already so close.”
The girl’s voice remained sweet, but the weakness was gone, replaced by a lazy, teasing tone. “Long time no see, Lord Demon King. Luya, Third of the Four Calamities, at your service.”
The moment those words were spoken, an extremely brilliant light suddenly burst from the girl’s fingertip.
Lilith’s pupils shrank. Almost at the same time the other party’s fingertip lit up, she crossed her arms in front of her chest.
Boom!!!
A white light expanded outward with Lilith at the center. The moment any surrounding matter touched this white light, it was annihilated.
The light from the explosion lasted for several seconds before slowly dissipating.
Lilith’s figure emerged from the smoke. She slowly lowered her arms and looked down at them; her defense still hadn’t been broken.
However, a sensation of pain was radiating from the spot where her arms had blocked the attack.
Lilith was stunned.
Ever since she transmigrated, she had never felt any pain.
She looked up toward the center of the explosion.
The pink-haired girl who called herself Luya had already stood up gracefully at some point, lightly brushing the dust off her skirt.
The smile remained on her face as she scrutinized Lilith with great interest.
“My, my, your reactions are quite fast, Lord Demon King. It’s only been two hundred years since we last met.”
Lilith didn’t answer; her mind was working at high speed.
“Third of the Four Calamities? Isn’t that the rank above Rank 9 among the demons that Elena mentioned? Why isn’t she in the Demon Realm? What is she doing here?”
Countless questions flooded her mind, but Lilith had no time to think deeply.
Regardless of who she was, she’d fight first and talk later.
Lilith didn’t waste any more words.
She gripped the air with her right hand, and a longsword instantly formed.
She began to build up power. This strike would be far beyond her previous level!
The smile on Luya’s face froze instantly, and a flash of panic clearly crossed her eyes.
“Wait, wait, wait! Lord Demon King, show some mercy!” Luya waved her hands hurriedly, her voice urgent.
“Don’t be impulsive! I’m not here to fight, really. I’m here to report. Lord Veen sent me!”
But Lilith’s sword momentum didn’t pause for a second.
“Whatever it is, tell me next time.”
The moment her voice fell, she unleashed the strike she had been charging to the limit.
A dark red sword qi spread toward Luya.
The entire space, along with Luya’s slightly helpless figure, vanished together.
Her vision blurred.
Hans’s slightly impatient voice reached her ears: “Lilith, what are you dazing out for? Hurry up and keep up.”
Lilith blinked and realized she was still standing in the same spot.
Lilith took a deep breath, suppressed her thoughts, and her face quickly returned to its usual expression.
“Sorry, Mr. Hans. I was just thinking about a magic problem and got distracted.”
She gave an apologetic smile and jogged to catch up with the team.
Hans glanced at her but said nothing more, only urging, “Keep up and stay alert. This forest feels a bit off.”
Lilith nodded and silently followed in the middle of the formation.
Meanwhile, in the Demon King's Palace within the Demon Realm.
Veen sat in the meeting hall. He looked up at Luya, who appeared a bit disheveled beside him.
“Well? Did you get in touch with the Demon King?”
Luya patted her chest and gave an awkward yet polite smile.
“I... I did... but there was a tiny accident. The message... I didn’t have time to deliver it.”
Veen gave a soft “oh,” but his brow furrowed slightly. He picked up his teacup and took another sip.
“An accident, you say...” He placed the teacup gently back on the table.
“No matter. Since we’ve confirmed Her Majesty’s whereabouts, I shall go there personally.”
Back in the forest, Lilith couldn’t help but let out a small sneeze.
Rate on N.U.
