Chapter 196: [196] Beneath Elven Skin (2)

Olivia’s eyes went wide as she saw the ball of light forming right next to her stomach.

She had made sure there was no limb close enough to her before she decided to leap into the air, dedicating her entire body to the attack. However, never had she expected a head to just pop out of its damn body!

’Shit!’ She cursed in her mind as lightning crackled over her body.

Since she could not dodge, there was only one thing she could do. She would use Lightning Burst to blow the monster sky high!

Just before she could release the blast, Olivia felt something strange tug at her legs. She stared down, only to see a faint glimmer of fine steel.

’Huh? When did he—?!’

She was suddenly pulled down to the floor, just as a surge of black fire streaked over her head, slamming right into the energy beam.

Booom!

Olivia lay flat on the ground as she felt heat wash over her, glimmers of sparkles drifting down to the floor.

The energy beam only managed to hold out for a second, just before the black fire ate through it, slamming into a monster and blasting it right through the forest, wreathing the environment with black flames.

It was an eerie sight.

Olivia stood up, watching as the black flames ate through the trees and wrought havoc on the monster’s skin and flesh.

’Black fire?’ She thought. It was the first time she had seen it. They looked sinister, like something that had been summoned from the abyss.

Skrreeee!

The monster suddenly screamed out in rage as it emerged from the burned forest.

Olivia was underneath it within seconds, her feet skidding to a stop just as she arrived. The monster was distracted by the fire; there was no way she would miss her opportunity!

She blasted herself up, her axe cleaving up towards the moon as it met the jaw of the monster, slicing off the elven head from its body.

Olivia’s wings fanned out by her sides as she lunged higher into the air. She did a flip, and then she came down, wielding her wings like blades.

One by one, Olivia carved out every single limb the monster had, reducing it to a limbless lump.

She landed right atop the severed head, stomping it into a bloody mush.

"Ha! You thought you were tough, didn’t you?!" Olivia was speaking when the putrid stench of the blood hit her like a bullet train, her face suddenly turning green.

"Argh! Damn it." She furiously shook her wings. "I got some of its stink on me!! Argh, this is disgusting, I feel like— I feel like I’m going to be sick—"

Splash!

Ark blasted her with a water spell, washing off all the blood. Immediately the smell vanished, she turned around to face him, her wet hair clinging to her face, but a big, wide smile on her face as she spoke.

"Skelly, did you see that? That thing didn’t stand a chance!"

Ark let out a small laugh. He had been worried that the monster’s continuous taunting would get to her, but Olivia had managed to keep a level head throughout.

Even when he saved her, he was sure she already had a way to escape...

Still—

The battle was not over.

Although mimics were dangerous because of their ability to steal faces and mirror other monsters with frightening accuracy, that was not the only reason they were dangerous...

They had a trait that made them far more difficult to deal with.

Olivia sensed something odd and turned around, only to gasp at the sight.

Instead of dying in peace, the mimic remained very much alive. The bloody stumps began to bubble, new flesh beginning to form around it.

Olivia’s eyes went wide as the first limb tore right through, more surely to come after it.

"Ark!" She yelled as she jumped back, making sure she was far away from his spell’s area of effect.

"Yeah, I’ve got you." A ball of glowing yellow fire was forming around him, growing larger by the second.

Olivia appeared by his side, and then lightning pulsed around her wings, concentrating her magic as she pointed her fingers forward.

A new head appeared on the mimic, the head of a giant praying mantis. Limbs gushed out like weeds in spring, and then an inhuman shrill cascaded into the night air.

"What is the deal with that thing?!" Olivia had to raise her voice to be heard over the sound of their forming spells.

Lightning raced through her body, seeping out of her skin and tangling with her hair.

"The only way to destroy a mimic is by burning its heart!" Ark explained.

The mimic took a step, wings tearing out of its back and fluttering wildly as it took flight.

"Alright!" Olivia laughed darkly. "That sounds easy enough!"

"WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU GUYS DOING?!" Rodolph screamed from behind them. "It’s coming, oh my god, it is coming!!!"

Ark’s emotions were generally dampened in his skeleton form, but even he couldn’t help but laugh at his reaction.

He stole a glance at Olivia. "Are you ready?"

"Do you even need to ask?"

"[Charge Fire]."

"[Lightning Stream]!"

The forest grew brighter than it would have been even during the day. The darkness was banished to the very corners of the area, just before it was completely wiped out.

A shockwave cut past them, followed by a whiplash of wings that caused the trees nearly to lean flat.

The two spells merged.

And then everything in front of them was completely eviscerated.

BOOOM!

When the smoke settled and the ash was finally carried away by the breeze, there was no trace left of the mimic.

Worst of all, they had burned a new path through the forest, turning the trees to charcoal and the earth to molten rocks.

Rodolph’s face twitched, just before he fell back unconscious.

Olivia winced, then scratched her head, turning to stare at Ark.

"Do you think we... maybe went too far?"

Ark shook his head. "Of course not. This is beautiful," he said, taking a moment to admire the art they had carved into the very world.

"Let’s be quick. They could be here at any moment!" Thalia said as she picked up a bucket of water and a rag.

She had no idea when Ark would wake up or when he would come, but she had a feeling it would not be too far off.

Thalia wanted the mansion to be in perfect condition before he arrived. It would be difficult, but there was a chance she could get it done.

"Yes, Miss Thalia!" A cute voice came from the other room when suddenly—

BOOOOM!

The entire mansion shook as though an earthquake had run through. Thalia rushed to the window and peered through, only to see a bright light surge from within the dark forest.

"M-Miss Thalia?! What was that?" the cute voice asked in a panicked tone.

Thalia smiled.

"They are close..."