Before I knew it, it felt like I was trapped in an empty void. I couldn't feel anything now nor could I smell, or taste or hear. If it wasn't for my Magic Eyes still functioning my sixth sense would be the only thing remaining.
'It's the second night, huh. This must be a curse of numbness. I suppose I should start resisting.'
I wasn't able to fully understand the curses of this forest, but I was able to resist most of their power so my senses were back to around the level of a trained human. I was still a little out of it, but I was doing much better compared to William and the rest.
Since he had needed an artifact to defend against the curse of blindness, this additional curse of numbness had completely robbed him of his vision. However, though his other senses were still there, it would barely be enough for him to keep track of his own location. But he was still in much better condition than the cloak group.
Three seemed to have been afflicted by the curse of confusion. I don't know what countermeasures they brought but it obviously wasn't enough as two killed each other and the other one committed suicide.
Of the remaining three, one rapidly grew older, another grew weaker from illness and the last one was suffering from extreme amnesia and curled up in the fetal position.
As I watched this happen and re-examined both myself and William, I concluded that the curse got stronger with each time you were afflicted. Therefore, even if you were lucky to get several non-fatal curses in a row, it would eventually reach a point where it was too much.
'If I could get the power to create a forest like this, wouldn't it be the perfect deterrence to invaders?'
While I was inspired by the insidious power of the cursed forest, I snapped my fingers and impaled the living members of the cloaked group with pointy trees that sprouted from the ground. Not a single one was in the position to block or dodge so a single time was all that was needed. I was slightly surprised that William didn't try to stop me, but I didn't think much of it.
"With this, your backup is gone. Fortunate for me, but not so much for you."
"That's fine. I never planned on asking for their help. This is between you and me."
William still looked shaken by my earlier words, but he stood in front of me with a firm resolve.
"I see. Then I guess you must believe in your people then."
"Hmm? Well yes, of course I do."
I scoffed at his confidence, "That reaction, I can't believe it. You actually didn't think this through. And I bet your wife wouldn't tell you either."
"What are you talking about?"
Finally beginning to get my hint, William asked in a worried tone.
However, I wouldn't be kind enough to reward him with the answer. Especially since I also wanted to head back soon.
"You don't even know that you're about to be thrown away, how pathetic."
"Ha!!!"
In a reckless attempt to silence me, he ran with his axes but I was the one who struck first. I slammed my halberd on his head, but that only knocked him off course and so I then swung for his temple. He barely managed to dodge that one, but it didn't matter as I continued pushing him with my advances.
Each time I swung my halberd he would be helplessly pushed backed as he defended in a passive state. Of course, he wasn't weak, but as he couldn't even put his full concentration into this fight there was no way I could lose.
Therefore, I kept on beating on him in an advantageous position. However, as I was about to begin another round of pummelling him, he finally had enough and forced me several steps back with a powerful roar.
"Ahhh!!!"
The roar not only served to get rid of his own hesitation, it was also a skill that boosted his physical abilities. However, the increase in his fighting ability would mean nothing if it wasn't for the new look in his blind eyes.
'I would have rathered killing you while you were shaken, but I guess you won't let me take it easy at all will you.'
The minotaur threw one of his axes, something that would normally be a foolish decision, but the weapon quickly grew in size until it was ten times my height. I didn't have to face this big attack head-on, but I felt like it anyway.
Like I was holding a bat, I swung my halberd at the side of the incoming axe and watched it fly through the sky before shrinking and going back to the open hand of William who had suddenly appeared above my head and came crashing down.
To face him, I covered my halberd in blue flames, but the moment he sensed these flames he moved his axes to defend and was only repelled when I swung at him.
'Tch, good reflexes.'
Though they didn't have the same oppressive heat as white blaze, blue flames signified the peak of fire magic so just the tiniest ember would have been enough to burn his tough flesh.
As he landed a couple metres away from me, I entered a thrusting stance and made the blue flames wrap around the blade portion of the halberd like a thick case. In response, William roared and brushed his feet against the ground like a bull ready to charge.
The way we faced each other with all of our strength made for a good scene, but I had no obligation to act like I cared for having an 'honourable' battle here.
"Ha!"
"Mm!"
We pushed off at the same time, but I reached him first. With a simple use of Blink, I appeared behind him. If I was better at spatial magic I would have appeared with my halberd already inside him, but by pushing out my hand the same result was reached.
"Ku!"
Since I simply condensed it from dirt my halberd wasn't sharp, but the blade-shaped flames gave it the ability to pierce William's chest. This looked like a fatal blow, but I didn't want to be a witness of the trope where a character could still stand and fight no matter what kind of injuries they took.
After getting my weapon inside him, I made the flame devour him in its azure embrace and then pushed him away before capturing him in a tall cylindrical prison that resembled a round chimney.
He was no immortal but I knew of his impressive durability and healing factor, therefore I wouldn't be satisfied until he was cremated.
"Explosion."
Like a thunderclap, a loud rumble affected the entire forest as a burst of blue popped out from the top of the tall prison. Just like I hoped, it didn't reach the flammable forest but I felt the surrounding temperature rise by a few degrees.
After about three minutes, when I sensed the fire completely extinguish, I took down the prison to see the exact image I wanted while protecting myself from the residual heat with a barrier.
Even the magic items he had were partially melted while not even a hair remained of him.
With my mood elevated, I stored the items and took one step to leave before stopping.
"Didn't you hear when I said to come out?"
"..."
I heard no response but I could now clearly sense him standing behind me. Just like the other group, he was also in a black cloak, but he felt completely different from them.
Even if I could look past the fact that he was somehow using his own power to resist the curse more than I could, the moment I felt his gaze I knew.
'He's dangerous. Lia, how did you miss a guy like this?'
Much more so than William, this guy was a threat. I didn't know why he didn't do a sneak attack, but I was so grateful that I nearly thanked him.
'I know the forest dulled my senses, but I can't believe he could conceal himself so well. Plus I can't be sure that just because he's not hiding anymore means he's easier to beat.'
I turned around while getting myself back into the mindset for battle. Fortunately, my opponent was pretty courteous for an assassin so he waited for me to face him before he made his move.
When I saw the golden light that spilled from his clothes, majority of my questions were answered and I couldn't help but I curse at the ones who sent him.
"Those crazy bastards. How the hell did they catch someone like this?!"
With light magic strong enough to make me feel suppressed despite having reached the limit of Agility, I knew I had no choice but to confront him in most direct and stupid way available.
Against his level 10 ultimate Light Magic, Angel's Descent, I activated my level 10 ultimate Dark Magic, Demon's Temptation.