Provoked by my words, Setsuen finally lost control. Crystal-clear tears streamed from her eyes, and with a scream that shook the entire room, she completely forgot her position and the survival of her people. The dagger shot straight for my throat; life or death hung on this very moment.
"Setsuen."
"Huh?"
I smiled gently, calling out her name in the softest tone. Setsuen reacted as expected. In her state of mental breakdown, she couldn't distinguish between reality and illusion, and her attacking thrust paused for a split second.
Life and death were separated by that single line.
With instinctive reaction, I chopped my hand down on Setsuen's wrist. As I knocked her dagger away, I simultaneously retreated backward into the room.
However, Setsuen's reactions and strength still far exceeded my estimations. Just as the dagger was about to touch the ground, she flicked it up with her foot, and it inexplicably flew through the air, chasing after my throat. But what really gave me a headache was that while she was kicking the dagger, she had already begun chanting a spell.
Elementary Wind Magic, Gust of Wind.
I hadn't even reached the doorway when the air around me began to churn wildly, forming countless vortices with astonishing suction, forcibly dragging my body back to the center of the room. I miserably lost my good chance to escape. At this point, I really had a headache; I hadn't expected Setsuen to be wind-attributed.
Among the seven major elements, wind-attributed magic is definitely the strongest in single combat. Its efficiency and speed are superior to fire and lightning, and even light or dark, making it the trump card for close-quarters combat.
Though not as formidable as Lily, Setsuen certainly had the ability to kill me, if she were in her normal state.
Caught in this vortex that sealed off all my escape routes, I struggled to keep my footing, batting away the incoming dagger with a palm. At the same time, I began chanting a counter-spell.
The dagger, which had originally flown off sideways, was miraculously blown back into Setsuen's hand by the wind. Gripping the dagger, her eyes wild, she lunged straight for my face.
The dagger suddenly stopped a few inches from my face. The one who blocked the attack was a mud golem, taller and more robust than me, but nowhere near as handsome.
Elementary Earth Magic, Mud Golem.
The mud golem took the hit for me, then swung back with a powerful punch at Setsuen. The wind dissipated, and Setsuen displayed the top-tier skills of a Magic Archer captain. Light as a swallow, she leaped into the air, executing a beautiful backflip. Not only did she dodge the golem's punch, but she also gained a crucial moment of reprieve in mid-air, allowing her to chant a spell and cast magic again.
It was then that the two guards outside finally noticed something amiss, kicked open the door, and rushed in.
Elf Secret Wind Magic, Five Consecutive Wind Blades.
Before, it was a headache, but now my scalp was tingling. This was a spell I had never seen, nor did I know that such a miraculous magic existed, capable of unleashing five wind blades simultaneously. This kind of spell is virtually unavoidable in single combat.
"Don't draw your swords!"
Even in the face of imminent death, I couldn't help but urgently warn the two guards who were rushing to save me. They were skilled swordsmen carefully chosen for me by Reanto, but they knew nothing about magic. Although wind blades are elementary magic, their power is enough to cleave a five-inch-wide fine steel greatsword. If they didn't draw their swords, the scabbard combined with the blade might just barely block the attack without killing them. Otherwise, both man and sword would undoubtedly be split in half.
First was the massive mud golem. Its body, as tough as a leather shield, was swept by two wind blades, which cruciformed it into four pieces. The other three wind blades simultaneously lunged towards the three of us.
I retreated backward, my back slamming hard against the wall.
Screams erupted beside me. My two subordinates were indeed hit by the wind blades. Both their longswords, scabbard and all, were cleaved in half simultaneously. Blood immediately splattered, and they were thrown backward by the remaining force, crashing through the wall and flying out of the room.
An inexplicable rage ignited within me. My hand instinctively reached behind me for the saber hanging on the wall. A flash of silver, and the wind blades that should have split me in two miraculously changed direction, soaring upwards, carving a massive crack in the solid stone ceiling.
"Oh? This is..."
"Good eye, you guessed it right."
Dragon's Bane Four Ultimate Swordsmanship.
This move originated from the Holy Elf clan, the ultimate swordsmanship of the Great Sword Saint Dragon's Bane, and what I used was Dragon's Bane Soft Sword Slash from the Dragon's Bane Swordsmanship. The highest realm of this soft sword technique is to repel water without getting wet, using leverage to neutralize any attack. Whether it's a physical or magical attack, as long as it can exert yin energy, it can all be nullified.
Seeing that I knew a secret sword technique that even the Great Elder was unaware of, Setsuen retreated in fear. Fortunately, she was in an abnormal state; otherwise, she would have realized that I simply didn't have the stamina to perform this dominant sword technique a second time. This was my trump card, but even in peak condition, I could only use it once.
With a roar, I transferred the longsword from my aching right hand to my left. The hilt spun once in my hand, then, like a long rainbow, struck at the startled Setsuen.
"No! Don't kill me!"
Just as my longsword was about to pierce her chest, she surprisingly knelt down first, clutching her head and sobbing painfully.
Perhaps sensing my danger, Lily, with whom I had a contract, appeared at the doorway at that moment. She was stunned by the chaotic scene inside and outside the room. With the Saintess present, I could finally breathe a sigh of relief. My legs betrayed me, going soft, and I slumped to the floor.
"I told you before, you can't kill me."
From the broken balcony, the vibrant red sunset could just be seen slowly descending.
Inside the infirmary, my two subordinates lay on white beds.
"Lily, how are they doing?"
"Please don't worry, Master. Fortunately, both Knights blocked Setsuen's attack. The wind blades did not injure any vital organs, so there's no life-threatening danger."
Lily stood between the two beds, simultaneously casting two elementary water-based healing spells. All those elf scoundrels had crowded into Setsuen's adjacent room; even the healers and water priests had all been taken there. Only I, Lily, and the remaining two dozen knights stayed here.
I sighed, coming to the side of one of the knights who hadn't yet fallen unconscious, and gently patted his shoulder, comforting him, "I'm very sorry, my two brothers, that you were injured for me."
"Sir, you speak too highly... To be injured for you... is our honor."
"Fools. I'd be happy if you served me, but if you're injured for me, I'll feel guilty."
"Sir..."
After only a few words, this knight also gradually fell unconscious due to his injuries. At that moment, a commotion came from outside the door. I silently cheered; I'd unleash this anger on whoever came looking for trouble.
"Lord Avanti, what is the meaning of this? Why did you injure Sister?"
I didn't turn around, but I knew the speaker was Reishi, the elf strategist.
"Why? Because I failed in my lechery, and being humiliated, I got angry and killed her to silence her. Are you satisfied with that answer?"
After my deep voiced reply, a series of swords being drawn responded, some from the elves, and some from the knights behind me. They formed a standoff. Only Lily, facing me, saw the murderous intent in my eyes.
"Lord Avanti, are you speaking truthfully or falsely?"
"What's the difference? You've already decided I'm that kind of person anyway. I don't want to waste time explaining."
"Hmph, everyone heard him. Let's take him down and punish him."
"Presumptuous!"
Lily let out a cold cry, and her figure instantly vanished. I only felt a fragrant breeze flow past me, and then I was startled to realize she was already standing behind me, her sword drawn and pointed at Reishi and Komnenos. So fast, even I was shocked. I hadn't expected Lily in her normal state to be so powerful.
The elves were all very familiar with Saintess Lily's strength. Now, seeing her blocking behind me, they dared not speak rashly anymore.
"Baron, I believe there must be some misunderstanding. I hope you can, for my sake, reluctantly explain the incident briefly."
I slowly nodded. Hearing these somewhat sensible words, I slowly turned to face them. Standing at the front were Reishi and his son, and behind them were a whole host of sword and spear troop captains, all with drawn weapons, looking ready to devour someone. The one who had just spoken was the Archery Captain, Senyo, whose expression was calmer.
"Very well. Because of your words, you, Captain, are now Avanti's friend. But it's not that I'm unwilling to give face; it's that I truly cannot reveal the truth. I hope you can understand, Captain."
A half-comprehending expression flickered across Senyo's face, but the other generals were quite displeased. Just as this stalemate was about to erupt into a bloodbath, footsteps were heard from outside the door.
"Have you made enough noise? Do you want to disgrace the Holy Elf clan completely?"