Nephalian did not hold back and attacked again.
Manfred took a deep breath, refusing to retreat as he struggled to maintain the power of the Forbidden Fire Blessing and unleashed his Sword Qi.
He swung his blade several times, sending out streaks of orange-red Sword Qi that slashed toward Nephalian in horizontal and vertical arcs.
Nephalian swung her sword upward, no longer hiding her mist-like Sword Qi as it began to permeate the surrounding air.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The orange-red flaming Sword Qi missed its mark repeatedly. Manfred focused all his attention on the mist drifting before him.
He held his sword with both hands, retreating while layers of fine, fragmented Sword Qi enveloped his body for defense.
Nephalian’s speed was incredibly fast, a characteristic of a rapier-wielding swordsman.
Combined with her Water Mist Sword Qi, her attacks were nearly impossible to defend against.
"No discipline, no understanding of integration. You only know how to use fire for brute force while hacking wildly with your sword."
"The Forbidden Fire Blessing is truly wasted on you. It would be better suited for a puppy."
"A puppy might actually be able to breathe fire if it had the Forbidden Fire Blessing."
"Can you even breathe fire?"
Several phantoms charged out of the mist simultaneously, leaving Manfred to parry frantically in a state of confusion.
Hearing Nephalian's words, Manfred realized his own shortcomings.
He had been too eager to fuse his Sword Qi with the power of the blessing. By rushing the process, he was essentially trying to run before he could walk.
He had been too demanding of power... haste and panic had clouded his heart.
He shifted to a one-handed grip, releasing sharp and pure Sword Qi to slash at Nephalian.
At the same time, he summoned flames with his other arm.
A long tongue of fire erupted like a dragon, roaring toward Nephalian.
As the mist exploded, Nephalian lunged forward once more.
Manfred swung his sword arm to the side to meet the thrust. After the sharp sound of clashing metal, only a leaf-shaped dart remained before him. Nephalian's figure dissipated into mist once again.
It exploded instantly under Manfred's attack.
A magic item!
Manfred quickly swung his other arm, and a beam of fire erupted from his palm, burning toward the side.
Relying on her Water Mist Sword Qi, Nephalian cut directly through the scorching flames.
This single thrust pierced straight through Manfred's palm.
Enduring the pain, he pulled his hand back as the burning flames quickly dispersed the Water Mist Sword Qi that was trying to seep into his palm.
"Not bad. At least you've learned to breathe fire now. I suppose you're on par with a puppy."
Manfred did not get angry. He looked at Nephalian.
"Who are you exactly? Why are you teaching me this?"
Even a fool would realize by now that this swordsman—whose skills were terrifyingly refined, as if she had honed them for centuries—was teaching him.
She was using combat to show him how to utilize the power of the Forbidden Fire Blessing.
However, her attempt to seize the Candelabra was also real.
But it seemed she only wanted to wound him and take the Candelabra rather than kill him.
"We help anyone who bears hostility toward the Grey family."
"Whether they are good or evil, right or wrong, or even despicable, we are willing to help."
"It would be better if that despicable family were wiped from the face of this world, every drop of their bloodline incinerated by fire."
Nephalian did not hide her hatred for the Grey family in the slightest.
"I will say it again. Hand over the Candelabra. If we continue to fight, it won't end with just a heavy injury."
Manfred took out the Candelabra and gripped it in his hand.
"You want to use the power of the Forbidden Fire for revenge, but I only want to use it to protect those important to me."
"Therefore, I will not hand over the Candelabra."
"Heh."
Nephalian let out a cold laugh.
"Coward."
"If all you think about is protection, you will end up protecting nothing at all!"
"The best way to protect is to fight—to destroy."
"Only by destroying all your enemies and returning every bit of hatred and vengeance can you protect what you want to keep!"
"Do you think this is a fairy tale? This is reality. Protective restraint only exists in stories!"
Nephalian approached step by step, her grip on her sword tightening.
"Cast aside the childishness and stupidity in your heart."
"Thinking only of protection is the mindset of a coward. A coward like you is unworthy of the destructive power of the Forbidden Fire."
Nephalian was very disappointed in Manfred.
She had originally thought this human could deal with the Grey family and become an asset to their revenge.
After all, he was a young man who dared to raise his sword in violent resistance against a titan like the Grey family.
When she first heard news of Manfred, she truly admired this young human.
But now that she saw him in person, there was only disappointment.
A person who craved the dangerous Forbidden Fire yet only thought of protection was a coward.
Did he really think this was a fairy tale?
Short-lived humans were always so naive.
Nevertheless, Nephalian still did not intend to kill him. She only wanted to take the Candelabra and find the Forbidden Fire.
She intended to use the insane destructive power of the Forbidden Fire to take revenge on the Grey family and rescue the primordial elves.
Manfred did not answer; he simply continued to face Nephalian.
...
The situation grew increasingly dire as Caiman Grey fell completely into a disadvantage.
The greater magic grade magical artifact, the Air Iron Tail, felt like it was dragging him into a swamp full of thick mud.
Forget fighting—even moving was incredibly difficult.
Furthermore, the spatial barrier deployed by the Air Iron Tail made it impossible for him to even flee.
If this continued, defeat was only a matter of time.
Now, he had only one choice.
"Claude Grey!"
He mustered all his strength and let out a roar. Simultaneously, his body began to glow with a golden light.
He could only place his hopes on Claude Grey, the fourth-rank priest and former bishop who had been hiding in the shadows!
As a fourth-rank priest, it was impossible for Claude Grey not to have left a trump card.
Caiman carried a holy art marker left by Claude Grey on his person.
The Goddess of Light was the primary deity of light.
And light was the first ray that shone to dispel the darkness; it was also a guiding beacon within the dark.
Therefore, the holy light from Claude Grey that erupted from Caiman now would quickly attract Claude Grey's attention.
It was as conspicuous as a light in the darkness, providing direct guidance for Claude Grey.
Seeing this, Eomer became serious.
He had already known about the intelligence regarding Claude Grey.
Furthermore, he had been on guard against Claude Grey the entire time.
Caiman was merely bait; Claude Grey was their true target!
"Third-rank holy art, Emerald Tree!"
As Eomer activated the holy art, a giant tree with the texture of emeralds grew rapidly.
Within the range of the Air Iron Tail's barrier, Caiman had no way to dodge. He could only rely on the Forgotten Hero to sustain his Sword Qi defense, watching helplessly as the Emerald Tree's canopy enveloped him.
Countless gem-like branches grew wildly around him, trapping him firmly within the canopy until he could not move.
A binding type magic... another binding type magic!
After finishing the holy art, Eomer quickly drank an alchemy potion to replenish his spent mana.
The imprisoned Caiman struggled incessantly, trying to break free from the Emerald Tree's grasp.
However, no matter how he attacked the hard emerald wood, he could not escape.
The Emerald Tree was the strongest third-rank sealing holy art.
Once the seal was formed, it was absolutely impossible for any specialized class below the fourth rank to break out from the inside.
Rate on N.U.
