Chapter 339

Chapter 339: Chapter 339

"Idiots!"

"Tell them to back off!"

"Stop getting in the way!"

"Are you trying to die?!"

Far from appreciating Heith’s help, the Gulliver Brothers only became irritated.

What was the point of sending in a mob of Level 4 adventurers and below?

No matter how many of them came, they would only be throwing themselves into the meat grinder.

"Those bastards! Quit looking down on us!"

The members who belonged to the Gulliver Brothers’ faction were one thing.

They still possessed enough respect for their immediate superiors to hesitate.

The other factions were a completely different story.

Anyone capable of making a name for themselves inside the Freya Familia was inevitably proud, unruly, and fiercely competitive.

Executives?

If they were in a good mood, they might respectfully call you an executive.

If they weren’t, they might just charge up and bury an axe in your face.

To them, high-ranking adventurers from other factions weren’t really commanding officers at all.

They were walking bundles of experience.

Given the opportunity, any one of these lunatics would happily defeat a stronger executive, achieve the feat needed to grow, and take that person’s place.

Rebellion was practically built into the Familia culture.

"Damn these idiots!"

Seeing that a large number of Familia members were still charging forward, the Gulliver Brothers could only become even more furious.

And that tiny disturbance in their concentration—was all Esdeath needed.

Shhk—!

Her sword flashed forward like lightning.

The blade pierced straight through the right shoulder of Alfrigg Gulliver, the eldest brother, immediately crippling much of his combat ability.

Esdeath then dropped her center of gravity and twisted aside from a spear thrust.

Her leg snapped out.

BAM!

A vicious roundhouse kick slammed directly into the abdomen of Berling Gulliver, the third brother.

The impact nearly rearranged his internal organs and sent a huge mouthful of blood spraying from his lips.

The remaining two Pallums reacted instantly.

Hammer and axe swung toward Esdeath’s head and waist from opposite directions.

Crack—!

Ice spikes suddenly erupted from the frozen ground beneath them, striking directly into their vulnerable abdomens and sides.

Their movements stalled for only an instant.

That was enough.

Esdeath surged forward.

Her slender sword carved through both of their midsections in rapid succession.

Shhk! Shhk—!

Blood sprayed through the air.

The pain tore through their nerves and slowed their movements even further.

Esdeath followed with several brutally efficient punches and kicks, each one landing squarely on the head.

Within moments, both Pallums collapsed unconscious.

In the space of only a few breaths, the famous Bringar, the Gulliver Brothers renowned throughout Orario, had been completely defeated.

And they were not the only ones.

The other Freya Familia members who had charged in were crushed once again, their bodies scattered across the courtyard amid pools of blood.

Esdeath’s monstrous strength, explosive speed, and brutally efficient fighting style left every adventurer present staring in disbelief.

Just where the hell had this monster come from?

"That’s it?"

Esdeath still looked unsatisfied.

She licked her lips.

"Who’s the strongest fighter you people have?"

Her smile widened.

"Bring them out."

"You beat a few pieces of trash and you’re already proud of yourself, woman?"

An arrogant voice suddenly rang out.

Esdeath immediately turned toward it.

A short catman stood on a nearby rooftop with a silver spear resting across his shoulder, glaring at her with murderous hostility.

It was the Freya Familia’s vice-captain—Allen Fromel, the fastest adventurer in Orario.

"Oh?"

Esdeath casually flicked the blood from her sword.

"So one of the real ones finally decided to show up."

Her lips curved with equal arrogance.

"Are you coming alone?"

"Or do you all want to come at me together?"

"I don’t particularly care either way."

Her grin sharpened.

"Actually, I’d prefer all of you at once."

As she spoke, her gaze shifted toward two other figures.

One was a refined-looking elf with blond hair, pointed ears, and a staff in hand.

Hedin Selland, known as Hildsleif, the White Elf.

The other had dark skin, short white hair, and a black cloak draped dramatically around his body.

He was Hogni Ragnar, the dark elf known as Dainsleif, the Black Elf.

"Hmph, hmph, hmph..."

Hogni covered his right eye with one hand, posing as though some forbidden demonic dragon had been sealed inside it.

"So you are the tyrant who tramples all things and seeks to dominate everything."

His voice dropped into an unnecessarily dramatic register.

"That madness... that fighting spirit... hehehe. Even the demonic blade in my hand thirsts for your blood."

Beside him, Hedin looked so embarrassed he practically wanted to dig a hole into the ground with his toes.

"Idiots!"

Allen glared sharply at Hedin and Hogni.

"Stay out of this."

"She’s mine."

Then he disappeared.

One moment, Allen had been standing more than a hundred meters away on a rooftop.

The next—he was already directly in front of Esdeath.

His silver spear thrust straight toward her heart.

There was no hesitation in the attack.

No testing strike.

He was trying to kill her from the very beginning.

Clang—!

Esdeath sidestepped, parried, and simultaneously created ice to counterattack.

Every movement flowed naturally into the next, smooth and precise.

"Don’t embarrass yourself with tricks fit for children."

Allen’s body flickered repeatedly.

Afterimages appeared through the air as he attacked Esdeath from different angles in rapid succession.

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang—!

The sound of colliding weapons became as dense as a torrential rainstorm.

Their figures constantly vanished and reappeared through the courtyard, moving so quickly that ordinary adventurers could barely follow them with their eyes.

Shockwaves from their battle tore apart the ground.

Deep trenches and craters appeared one after another, rapidly reducing the previously beautiful courtyard to a ruin.

"That woman can actually keep up with that damn cat?"

Hedin’s pupils narrowed.

His expression grew noticeably more serious.

Her speed was already impressive enough.

But what truly shocked him was her combat skill.

That battle-hardened technique.

Those almost animalistic instincts.

The way she immediately identified danger and chose the most efficient response.

How exactly had someone trained themselves to this level?

And why had nobody in Orario ever heard of her before?

"Tch!"

On the other side of the battlefield, Allen was becoming increasingly irritated.

Kiriya was one thing.

But now some random woman had appeared out of nowhere and could keep pace with his speed too?

"Good!"

Esdeath’s excitement only increased as the battle continued.

"Yes, exactly like that!"

Her eyes burned with delight.

"Give me more pressure!"

"Try harder!"

"Try to defeat me!"

Anyone watching might have wondered whether this woman had taken some kind of drug.

Who got this excited just from fighting someone?

The answer was simple.

Esdeath did.

She was, without question, a sadist.

Such a personality took pleasure in dominating and tormenting the weak—but at the same time, Esdeath possessed an equally powerful hunger for genuinely strong opponents.

And after spending so long around Kiriya, that second tendency had only become stronger.

The more excited she became, the higher her fighting spirit rose.

And the higher her fighting spirit rose—the stronger she became.

Strength.

Agility.

Dexterity.

Endurance.

Even Magic.

All of them continued rising under the effect of Battle Intent Furnace.

Allen really had no reason to feel frustrated.

He was not fighting an ordinary Esdeath.

He was fighting an Esdeath whose Skill was continuously buffing her like a cheating player in a game.

Of course the battle was becoming harder the longer it continued.

"She definitely has some kind of enhancement Skill or Magic."

Hedin quickly reached the conclusion through sheer experience and tactical judgment.

"So?"

Hogni looked eager.

"Should we join?"

A dark smile spread across his face.

"Let us see whether my blade of despair is sharper... or whether her tyrannical strength can crush even fate itself."

"Are you planning to block her Magic with your own body?"

Hedin asked flatly.

Hogni froze.

"Golden wheel, silver collar. Beloved hatred, hollow illusion. Fate gathers here..."

Allen had already begun chanting at tremendous speed.

The murderous intent in his eyes became even sharper as he stared at Esdeath.

He admitted it.

This woman was strong.

In pure close combat, he could not defeat her.

But Allen was not the kind of person who wasted time agonizing over pride.

If close combat was not enough—then he would use Magic.

The method did not matter.

Only victory did.

"Until the song of the wheel reaches the distant heavens even beyond death—carry the Goddess’s divine will and run!"

"Gralineze Fromel!"

Magic erupted around Allen.

His small body transformed into an unstoppable war chariot.

Then, carrying enough momentum to pulverize everything in his path, he charged straight toward Esdeath.