Shadow Slave

The enemy was in front of her, kneeling, and momentarily vulnerable.

Who knew how long that vulnerability would last? The demon would most likely regain his bearing a heartbeat later.

Everything inside Rain screamed for her to attack, to throw her body forward and slay the abomination before that happened. After all, she could not be sure that there would be another chance later.

Adrenalin flooded her bloodstream, and her heart thundered feverishly. Her pupils widened, her mind drowning in excitement, fear, and frenetic urgency.

But, at the same time, the memory of the teacher's arrogant voice rang in her ears:

«Bruise? What do you mean, it will leave a bruise? Listen, disciple… you should be grateful to your kind and gentle teacher for educating you so tenderly! The last time I made such a mistake, I was stepped on by a mountain. Not that left a bruise!»

It was the mark of a skilled warrior to keep a cool head in the middle of the fiercest of battles, And so, she suppressed her excitement, ignored her fear, and cast away her sense of urgency.

«Don't be greedy… greed will get you killed. It is a sin, and only those strong enough to bear the consequences have the right to be sinful… Rain did not abandon her caution and attacked calmly.»

The tip of her black sword slid into the seam of the Huntsman's breastplate, plunging deep into his side.

This time, there was very little resistance. Unlike her javelin, the dark tachi pierced the demon's flesh almost effortlessly.

But instead of leaning into the thrust or twisting the blade to wreak more damage, Rain immediately pulled it back and jumped away.

And just in time.

Although the Huntsman seemed momentarily dazed, and his weapon had been destroyed, his fist was already tearing the air with stunning speed. If Rain had been a split second too slow to disengage, her head would have been turned into bloody pulp. As it was, she had enough time to block with the dark tachi, and received the harrowing blow on its blade.

She was thrown backward like a rag doll. Which was the intended outcome. If Rain had been stubborn and tried to stand her ground, her body would have received the bulk of the impact. But by allowing her to be carried away, she dissipated the force greatly.

…It still hurt like hell.

It felt like every bone in her body was about to burst.

But they didn't.

Rain was tossed back into the shallow water once again and skidded in the mud. The ley water washed away her sweat and numbed the pulsing pain in her side, which felt almost pleasant.

I need

her a

her down, Rain groaned and rolled onto her stomach,

rose into a high stance, sending

badly did I wound

had to be a pretty terrible wound… the black sword created by her teacher was even sharper, deadlier, and much more frightening than she had imagined. If the Huntsman had been a human, he would have been

the retinue of

delivered him was ghastly, it was definitely not enough to bring the abomination

done something equally important,

axe, effectively disarming the

up, Rain stared at

resting in the mud. Fetid blood was spilling from the seams of his scorched armor. The

«Come on…»

reach would shrink, allowing her to engage the abomination in melee. But he was more than strong and ferocious enough to tear her

However…

Knights were not simple abominations. These towering, armored warriors of the

secret from talking to the Awakened who had ventured into the forest and faced its fearsome overlord. Instead, it was something that everyone in Ravenheart knew… that she had known from the day Seishan, Queen Song's daughter, killed the terrifying leader of the Chalice

More than that, detailed Information about the surviving abominations was provided by the town hall

decoration. It hinted at his true nature… because all Chalice Knights

ancient warriors faced a powerful enemy or

she had been fighting so desperately did not even show the true extent of his harrowing

and his blood

that was Rain's best chance

of her, the kneeling Huntsman let out a husky

his growl grew into a

it. His spine bent, and dark fur suddenly burst from the seams of

through the metal

The transformation had started.

knew that the unleashed beast would easily rip her to shreds and devour her, but simply because watching something

that mattered to

she knew, the transformation of the Chalice Knights took some time to happen. Even

stake her life on that eternity

bestial roar reverberated across the burning swamp,