Rustle, rustle...
Hinata rode her white horse at the forefront.
But soon, she sensed an inexplicable unease.
"A misdirection spell?"
Hinata saw through Treyni's trick almost instantly. "But it feels... somewhat different."
No matter. Such tactics wouldn't stop her... it was a pipe dream to think otherwise.
"Child's play!"
Hinata's gaze sharpened, and an invisible wave of mental energy spread out, enveloping the entire army and neutralizing Treyni's illusion.
"Impressive..."
Sensing Hinata's magical prowess, Treyni, who was with Artoria, showed a look of admiration. "Is this the strength of the Holy Church's mightiest Saint?"
As the first True Demon Lord to enter the forest, Treyni's powers had little effect on Hinata.
With her present, Treyni could no longer interfere with the Crusaders' judgment.
This allowed the coalition to advance smoothly, crossing several forest regions and nearing their predetermined encampment site.
"What now?"
Treyni looked at Artoria, troubled. "With Hinata here, I can't separate the two forces."
"Is that so?"
"Fine, I'll just tell her I'm here."
Artoria's response was simple and direct... she had no intention of hiding her plans.
If it's a fight they want, so be it!
Schemes and tricks were an insult to a powerhouse like Hinata, and even to Artoria herself.
As for separating the two forces, it was meant to spare the Crusaders.
But with Hinata complicating a silent division, Artoria wouldn't force it.
She raised her head, her calm emerald eyes fixed ahead.
And there, precisely, was Hinata's location.
"Hm?"
Suddenly, Hinata looked up, her gaze locking onto a specific direction. "This feeling..."
"All units, halt!"
"Stop!"
Leonard observed the disciplined Crusaders and asked, "What's wrong, Captain? Did something happen?"
"..."
Hinata didn't answer immediately. She glanced at the army behind her, noting everyone had entered the forest.
She paid little attention to Falmuth's 50,000-strong army.
In this war, Falmuth was clearly looking to coast and claim some credit.
Moreover, upon entering the forest, Hinata had already gauged the enemy's level.
'True Demon Lord!'
The opponent was undoubtedly a True Demon Lord!
Against such an enemy, sending 50,000 troops would be like serving them on a platter.
Rather than direct combat...
The Falmuth army's role was to clear the western forest of monsters after Hinata defeated the True Demon Lord.
But now, an unexpected situation had arisen.
"Over there, that direction?"
At first, Hinata was puzzled, unable to discern the mastermind's intent. "Hmph, provoking me? They must have a death wish!"
You don't enter a tiger's den to catch a tiger's cub.
Hinata was never indecisive.
Without much hesitation, she pinpointed the direction.
"What's over there?"
Hinata asked Leonard, who quickly checked the map. "About 20 minutes further is the Verdant Plains, our designated encampment site."
"They're waiting for me there?"
To Hinata, Artoria's intent was clear: no rest for them.
After crossing the forest, they'd likely face the enemy's forces.
What followed would be a bloody, brutal battle!
"It seems the enemy is very confident in their strength!"
Hearing Hinata's words... that the enemy had already set a direction for her... Leonard's expression darkened. "Mere monsters, so arrogant!"
They'd long speculated about the mastermind in the forest.
The most likely culprit was some monster that appeared out of nowhere.
But to underestimate the Crusaders and disregard them entirely? It infuriated Leonard.
"Calm down, Leonard."
Hinata sent Arnaud to inform the Falmuth army and king to avoid reckless actions.
"Let's go take a look."
"Captain?!"
"They've extended an invitation," Hinata said, "and they chose the exact spot we planned to camp at."
The monsters were waiting with the advantage of terrain... a blatant strategy.
Now, Hinata was more curious about the mastermind behind it all and what kind of being they were.
"Yes!"
Leonard didn't argue further but brought Bacchus, Litus, and Fritz to accompany her.
Soon, the four, led by Hinata, left the forest.
Sunlight bathed them again, and the lush green plains stretched out, with small animals grazing as if no war loomed.
"What's going on?"
Litus was bewildered. "Weren't the enemy forces supposed to be waiting for us?"
But this didn't look like an enemy was present!
"An illusion?"
"No way!"
Fritz scoffed. "What kind of illusion could pull this off?"
"It's not an illusion."
Hinata's expression remained calm as she spotted her target.
A woman.
Clad in blue-white armor, her golden hair swayed in the breeze. She stood thousands of meters away on the plains, as if waiting for them all along.
"Human?!"
Like Razen, the four Saints' first impression of Artoria was human!
"She's human, right?"
"There's no trace of a monster's aura."
"No, not just that... it's almost..."
How to describe the feeling Artoria gave them?
Holy?
Yes, holy!
Like an immaculate saint or a goddess.
If such a woman was a monster, what did that make humans?
"So strong..."
The more Hinata gazed at Artoria, the more her fighting spirit and bloodlust surged, impossible to suppress.
Powerful... unprecedentedly powerful!
This female knight was, without a doubt, the strongest being Hinata had ever encountered in her life!
Even Luminous, who had crushed her with overwhelming force, paled in comparison!
***
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