-- POV Jessica --
"Only four for us ? Hahaha~ they should have come with an army to fight us. Capture them and once that's over we're going home!"
As Grim spoke these words a red-eyed half-human hit his thigh causing him to turn around. I didn't even have time to say anything as a sword was already brushing against my cheek leaving a slight gash.
"Huh ?"
Before me stood a woman with cat ears and tail and red and black hair. She carried a large sword that she could hold with one or two hands without difficulty. Pulling out my daggers, I stepped in front of this half-human to fight her. The cat didn't say a word and stared at me with her different colored eyes that couldn't belong to a human.
*Tsk...I must finish her off quickly before it's too late.*
I turned my head towards Grim to see that he was still fighting the she-wolf with his sword and could not come to help me. I was alone against her and I had to take my courage in both hands to kill her and save my life.
*I thought it would be easy here...what could have gone wrong ?*
The clearing was filled with screams, the sound of steel clashing and the smell of blood. Despite my level 23 I didn't like to be in situations like this, usually in a melee I would support someone or attack in a group but this time I was alone.
While I was thinking about a strategy, the half-human was stomping the ground heavily as she rushed towards me. Seeing her sword coming towards me, I prepared myself for the impact by brandishing my blades and contracting all my muscles. The impact was terrible and threw me several meters before biting the dust. My opponent was agile and in a controlled salto, she fell back on her feet with ease.
*Obviously with your body of beast you are more advantaged than me...but don't claim victory right away !*
Getting up with difficulty, I raised my weapons which had never left me and whose iron was more resistant than her dirty rusty sword.
"Come on fleabag !"
I was determined to defeat her and this time by myself. Our blades clashed and their sound echoed through the clearing as behind us the battle raged.
The half-human was defending herself well, fighting back and using her strength and skill with the sword. I had more experience so I could easily parry all her blows but I should not make this fight last otherwise I would be disadvantaged. Seeing a loophole, I sent my foot in the belly of the cat girl which made her stagger before she could regain her balance.
*God, what is she made of ?!*
In reality, it wasn't her body that was hard but my blow that was far too weak. I was specialized in surprise and discrete attacks so fighting an opponent face to face was complicated.
The half-human took advantage of my moment of distraction to attack me, I tried to react but it was too late. My opponent was fast and agile and despite my experience and level, a tremendous kick hit me on the left side. There was no blood on the spot but my ribs were broken as I fell to the ground in pain.
"Aaarg...you...cough cough"
Deep inside I was panicking, I didn't know what to do and I felt the end was near. Glancing at my leader, I saw that he was also having trouble with his enemy. Looking then at the half-human who still hadn't uttered a word, I stood up as I spoke.
"Wait ! You...you are strong. Join me and together we could take on the whole world !"
I obviously didn't mean any words but I wanted to get her to let her guard down and why not trust me, to make sure I survived at least until the end of the battle. I obviously wasn't going to keep her with me and was even planning to capture her to torture her and get revenge for her beatings.
For the first time I heard her voice which was quite soft but at that moment filled with hatred for me and my comrades.
"Why should i join you when I just pledged my allegiance ?"
*Huh ? What is she talking about ?*
Holding my ribs with one hand to ease the pain and wiping my sweat with the other I didn't understand what she meant. As she put her sword on her slim shoulder, a sly smile appeared for the first time on her face, which had been neutral until then.
"Why should I follow you when you can't even hurt me with everything you have ? I know a person far beyond your weak power, she could kill you with a snap of her finger so don't come spouting your nonsense at me."
That filthy cat was calling me weak without an ounce of fear in her voice..me, a human was being put down by an animal. As my teeth and fists clenched, a scream from my right startled me. Turning my head, I could see Grim clutching his leg which had obviously been broken by the blows of his opponent who was now fighting on all fours.
*What ?*
How could this be possible ? Our leader could not defeat this woman who, despite her wounds, was still standing up to him. I wanted to question the one in front of me but she was no longer there.
Suddenly I felt a presence in my back before finding myself face down on the ground by a sweep of the foot coming from behind. I had dirt, blood in my mouth and I wanted to vomit as she pulled me by the hair to send a knee blow in my face. I was in pain, bleeding and humiliated by a sub-race like her.
*I...I will kill her...*
"I WILL KILL YOU !!!"
Picking up my daggers and ignoring the unbearable pain of my broken bones, I charged my opponent to start swinging my blades in her direction again. I was animated by the same rage that shone in her eyes but unlike her I was not calm at all, my head was spinning I could not think straight. The fight never seemed to end as she nimbly dodged my sloppy and inaccurate blows.
However, despite my injuries I could see that she was getting exhausted as I attacked. I might have been in bad shape, but my body was more enduring than hers, which had been sweating like crazy for a few minutes now.
"So, little b*tch ? You may be more unharmed than I am but you won't last much longer !"
She was on her knees and breathing heavily as I pointed my weapon at her forehead with a satisfied smile on my face. In my head all the images of the possible tortures I could inflict on her after locking her up with the others were running through my head.
*Cut out her tongue ? No, I want to hear her scream. Break her ribs ? That's for sure, I have to give her back what she deserves. Maybe I could cut off her ears and tail, that sounds funny to me hihi~!*
While I was daydreaming, she was still getting up exhausted from moving around so much despite her endurance and agility. The half human gave me a dark look as she spoke again.
"Fight as far as your arms and legs can carry you..."
*Huh ?*
"...Let's take back this place by the sole force of our courage, our anger and our determination !"
I couldn't understand a word she was saying as she seemed to have lost her mind.
"What are you talking about ? Have you gone mad already ?"
Brandishing her sword again as she trembled, she added.
"These are the words of our Empress that are engraved in all of our hearts. I will not give up because I have no right to give up or fail. Enjoy this moment because I will not stop until you are neutralized even if I have to hold my sword with my teeth !"
Her words gave me goosebumps as I saw in her eyes an unwavering determination to defeat me. She dashed forward despite the fatigue with force, swinging her weapon at mine with ever increasing fervor. The half-human showed no sign of fatigue as she was focused, determined and driven by an unknown force. Could it be her Empress who inspires her so much and gives her this power straight from her soul ?
Neither of us wanted to give in but her blows kept coming down harder and harder creating a shock wave that made my whole body vibrate. I could feel the victory slipping away as the half-human arced her sword over my right arm, slicing it off instantly.
"Aaaarg my arm !!!"
Blood gushed from my badly cut limb from the rusty but still sharp sword. The pain prevented me from seeing her clearly as she approached me. Desperately seeking help from one of my comrades I looked around to see that no one was coming. Grim was still busy and the others were still fighting hard as arrows rained down on them.
*Damn it !
How did I get here ? I had come to this forest to capture and play with slaves, but now I was left with an arm amputated and lying in the dust. I had never regretted a choice so much in my life, I would have been better off staying in the capital quietly and not running any danger.
*Yes...I should have stayed in Zalhythe.*
The capital of the Kingdom of Zal had always been my favorite place, always cheerful with no problems or danger. At least there they chained the slaves and subraces while here I was literally beaten by one of them.
"Is...is your family locked up in here ? I...I can free them if you let me go."
I had no choice but to stoop to begging for my life. At that moment I found myself disgusted, dirty and humiliated to have to ask for mercy from a filthy race like hers. Seeing her look at me with disdain as if I were an insect made me want to vomit and disappear. I couldn't think anymore as the half-human stuck her blade still full of my blood on my chin, lifting my head.
"Human..I have orders to leave you alive, you can thank the Empress !"
I didn't know who this Empress was, but I hoped with all my heart that she would show mercy since she was leaving me alive. Maybe she just wanted to leave us with a warning ? I had received it well and at the cost of my right arm so if I managed to survive I wouldn't come back to this forest again.
"I..I don't know who you're talking about but I would be grateful for this second chance !"
"Huh ? Who's talking about a second chance? I just said I shouldn't kill you."
As she said these words she giggled for the first time with an amused glint in her eye as if I was wrong about everything.
*Why leave me alive if not to give me a second chance ? She must want money....yes she does ! Haha~ no need to worry about that right now !*
As I was reassuring myself, the half-human that arrived in front of me was shooting my daggers before grabbing my left arm and dragging me unceremoniously to where Grim was standing before tying me up.
"Grim !"
He was on the ground with his leg broken, a flaming arrow having pierced his shoulder and bound by what appeared to be brambles. He was breathing shallowly and probably in excruciating pain from the wounds he had.
"What have you done to him you monsters !!??"
The half-human who had fought me and the one who had beaten Grim looked at me without an ounce of pity in her eyes as the she-wolf answered with a mocking voice.
"Us monsters ? Haha~ cough cough !"
The red-eyed woman laughed as best she could as blood dripped from her stomach wound. I then decided to turn my head towards my comrades still in battle. There were now eight half-humans fighting the remaining 30 level 16 mercenaries. They couldn't come to our aid because I could see that they were already struggling to stay alive as the attacks came from all sides.
"What...weren't there only 4 of you? Where are the adventurers who were fighting these four ???"
Turning my head in panic, I could see that in the clearing there were no adventurers left, they had all disappeared without me even realizing it. Looking for where they could be to help us a cold blade met my cheek. It was that pesky cat that was hindering my movements having guessed what was bothering me.
"They're not here but a little further away. If they can be eight to fight them it's because our Empress is fighting alone in another area the adventurers you are looking for.."
I couldn't believe my ears. She was fighting alone, 21 people including a level 29 and 27 ? Impossible ! Just as I seemed to be going crazy, an explosion was heard outside the clearing followed by an icy wind of collossal power.
"What was that ?"
I was panicking as the cat was giving me a terrifying answer and left me with a livid face.
"It's her...our Empress."
_____
FULL STATUS
Name : Freya
Age : 0 years old / Mentally : 25 years old
Sex : Female
Course : Ice Demon Wolf of chaos - Adult
Race : Major Demon
Titles : Blessed by Titania, Goddess of endless Chaos and eternal frozen Hell.
Dragon tamer
Ruthless slayer
Level : 32/70
Exp required for next level: 2 000 / 33 000
HP : 90 000 / 90 000. MP : 45 000 / 45 000
Strength : 340
Defense : 336
Agility : 350
Stamina : 353
Speed : 342
Intelligence : 340
Charisma : 410 (imperial she-wolf)
Attribute points to allocate : 100
Married to: Gaya
Daughter : Shiro
Kingdom (menu)
Subordinates : 133
Humans killed : 128
Elements: Ice / Chaos
Skills (all):
Attack - Demon Claws (Lvl 5)
- Bite of hell (Lvl 5)
- Infernal ice spikes (Lvl 5)
- Fighting techniques (lvl max)
- Mastery of the katana (lvl max)
- Demonic aura of the empress (lvl 3)
Defense - Ice demon wall (lvl 4)
- Demonic cloak (lvl 5)
Pain Resistance (lvl 3)
Attack/Defense - Domain of the Ice Empress "frozen wrath" (lvl 1) - (under condition)
Others - Humanoid form
- Ice creation (Lvl 4)
- Storage of chaos (Lvl 3)
- Devouring chaos (Lvl 4)
- Analysis
- Second soul (Lvl max) - unique
- Telepathy
Passives - Commander (lvl max)
- Natural Aura of the Ice Empress ]