Before Katie could even process the horror, the arrow continued in its path of cruel destruction, piercing straight through the second combatant’s head who was standing straight behind the first one with the same lethal force. Her friend’s headless body crumpled to the ground lifelessly. Enjoy stories on freewebnovel
Blood spattered across Katie’s face. She didn’t even have time to scream.
“These people are far too weak, Master.” The archer commented nonchalantly, with some disappointment evident in her tone. freewebnoveℓ.com
“Well, you’re level 18 after all, and you put in a lot of mana into that shot. I gotta say, that double kill was epic! Good job, Solace.” The man spoke up while clapping his hands together jovially while trying to cheer the slightly dejected woman up.
“Level 18?!” Katie shrieked. “Don’t you know that your Heralds have to be weaker than you?!”
Solace merely scoffed; “Master has more XP than me.”
“What?! No way…” Katie felt like weeping. Since when were people at such a high level at their young age? The Battle Sisters, her party, knew that they wouldn’t be able to fight against the cream of the crop competition on equal grounds, but they thought that they still stood a good chance at passing the Trial, since combat prowess wasn’t the only thing necessary to excel in a criminal organization.
However, now that she saw the disparity… She understood that they stood no chance from the beginning.
Katie wasn’t a girl who would give up. She had only one life, and she intended to fight tooth and nail to keep it. Her legs moved on instinct, dodging the bodies that fell around her. But it wasn’t enough to avoid the terror that was coming next.
The black-armored axe wielder, Scourge, let out a guttural battle cry as she leapt into action.
Behind the axe-wielder, the feminine Wizard-robed Dream acted with swift, calculated grace. Her wand rose, and she intoned spell after spell with a calm, eerie precision. “[Lesser Shield] [Lesser Strength Increase] [Lesser Vitality Increase] [Lesser Agility Increase].” A faint golden light shimmered around the surviving members of their group, but it wasn’t a blessing.
It was Dream’s enchantments, empowering her allies
Katie’s jaw clenched as she realized what was happening. “An Enchanter…” she hissed. “That’s rarer than wizards…!”
Scourge’s heavy boots thundered against the ground as she rushed forward with her massive black axe gleaming under the dim forest light. The sheer power and bloodlust emanating from her were suffocating, and Katie’s remaining allies froze in terror.
With a monstrous swing, Scourge’s axe cleaved through two of them in two single swift blows. Armor, flesh, and bone stood no chance. The first body split in half, spilling blood and intestines across the earth, while the second was practically bisected due to the brutal force of the axe which was enough to turn their internal organs into mush.
It was raw, horrifying strength- no technique, no precision, just pure, animalistic violence.
Katie’s remaining comrades screamed as they fell back in a panic. But there was nowhere to run.
“[Enhance Reflexes]” Meanwhile, Dream threw another buff the brute’s way.
The axe wielder, now bolstered by Dream’s spells, was akin to an unstoppable juggernaut. She charged into the fray again, swinging her weapon like a madwoman. Katie’s remaining fighters barely had time to defend themselves before they were torn apart- one after another.
Blood sprayed into the air as limbs were severed, and the remaining members of the team were brutally cut down in a matter of seconds.
Outleveled, outnumbered, outwitted, outmaneuvered. The fight finally left Katie once she realized that she was the sole survivor of their initial entourage made up of 24 combatants.
Her longsword’s clanging could be heard as she dropped the weapon to the ground and then she herself also dropped down to both of her knees. “… I surrender.” She muttered with a voice that was barely above that of a muted whisper, as if even speaking those words took more strength than she had left.
Katie didn’t even get to fight properly, but her mental strength was drained completely.
Scourge, the black-armored berserker who had single-handedly decimated her remaining comrades, growled with disgust. Her blood-soaked, dripping axe rested over her shoulder. “We refuse your surrender. Grab your weapon and fight me.”
Katie didn’t move. Her hollow eyes gazed at the dirt that was greedily soaking up the bloodstains of her fallen comrades, having a nutrient-rich meal donated to it abruptly. “I have no reason to. I’m already as good as dead. Do with me as you will.”
Scourge’s growl deepened and she glanced back toward her leader, the man who likely orchestrated this entire slaughter with cold precision.
“How about a deal?” he suggested all of a sudden. “If you beat her, you’re free to go.”
Katie didn’t react for a while, instead, she eyed the masked man. Her was gaze dull and defeated.
“I know that I’m already done…” Katie finally spoke up, shaking her head. “Win or lose, it makes no difference. Just end my suffering or spare my life. I don’t wish to be toyed with in my final moments. I beg you, please grant me this small mercy.”
Time seemed to stretch on forever as he weighed her words. Her request was hanging in the air as the last, faint hope of a broken woman.
Finally, he nodded. “Alright. Scourge, she’s yours. I want to hunt more badly prepared parties like this one, so hurry it up.” He said simply.
Hearing the decree Katie closed her eyes and she noticed that her heart was oddly calm despite being handed the death sentence a second ago. She opened her arms wide, welcoming what was to come. The sharp scent of blood filled her nostrils, but she didn’t mind. This was the end she had always feared would come in her line of work.
‘Let it be quick…’ she prayed silently while her thoughts were drifting to the Goddess in the afterlife. ‘Let me at least go in peace.’
“Good riddance.” Scourge muttered under her breath.
Katie felt the rush of wind before the sharp pain could even register. The axe came down with merciless finality, its blade severing her neck in one clean motion. She never heard the sound of her own body collapsing to the ground, nor did she feel the dull thud of her head hitting the earth.
Her once cherished life was over in an instant.
It was time for the young woman to greet the Goddess.