Volume 1, Chapter 21 – Breaking Through

The first to come was a deafening explosion, followed by billowing smoke. Then came a chain of blasts, one after another, like a carpet bombing. The rooftop where the crossbowmen had hidden was blown clean off by the violent shockwaves, while the walls collapsed entirely under the bombardment of fireballs. The entire second floor of the civilian building was completely flattened by Fia, as if sliced off horizontally by a blade.

What was truly astonishing was that not a single piece of debris flew outward—every fragment was intercepted by subsequent fireballs before it could escape.

A surgical strike of precision.

Had any knowledgeable magic caster witnessed this scene, they would have stared in horror as if seeing a ghost. Such precise control was beyond human capability.

Unfortunately, the only one who saw the full spectacle was Fia herself. Most people only heard the explosions before their vision was abruptly filled with the sight of the building’s upper floor being sheared off.

With the long-range snipers dealt with, Fia let out a light hum and dusted off her hands.

“That should make things safe.”

“Magic bombardment?! There’s a high-level caster here! Don’t stay in the courtyard—everyone, charge inside with me! Magic casters are no match for knights in close quarters!”

Fia’s actions had clearly unnerved the soldiers. They left a small group behind to surround the fleeing servants in Fia’s blind spot, while the bulk of their forces, led by their commander, stormed into the mansion’s first floor.

Soon, the clatter of armor and hurried footsteps echoed through the hallway.

Close combat now, huh?

Fia frowned slightly. She was adept at locking onto targets like in an aerial dogfight, but close-quarters combat was something she had zero experience with.

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She could, of course, unleash a firestorm to engulf the entire mansion and then leap to safety with her enhanced physical abilities. However, Anastasia was likely somewhere inside, and Fia couldn’t risk harming her.

Better to stick to the same method as before—pick them off one by one.

Even if fireballs couldn’t adjust their trajectory like guided missiles, at close range, hitting the target wouldn’t be an issue. As the saying went, “Outside seven steps, the gun is fast; inside seven steps, the gun is fast and accurate.” Of course, in this case, “gun” had to be replaced with “fireball.”

First, find Anastasia.

Just as this thought crossed her mind, the dim light of dawn was suddenly dyed a deep purple.

A familiar color.

She had seen it somewhere before.

It was the same hue that had filled the sky when the elf princess was killed.

Her sparse memories quickly provided the answer. In the princess’s final moments, her fleeting recollections had included this very radiance. First, a purple moon had risen, bathing the land in its eerie glow. Then, the light in the sky had converged into an impossibly sharp spear, extinguishing the princess’s life in an instant.

The treasure of the Milcandis Holy Kingdom—the weapon known as “The Unsinkable Moon.”

Were they trying to repeat the same trick? But how did the Holy Kingdom know the elf princess was hiding here?

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No one could answer Fia’s questions. With no leads to follow, she could only remain vigilant and prepare for whatever danger might come.

The light was far away—likely near the city center, where the grand cathedral stood. For now, getting out of this dangerous hallway was the wiser move.

Having been given a second chance at life, Fia had no intention of repeating the elf princess’s mistakes.

Without hesitation, she lifted the hem of her dress, stepped over the rubble-strewn corridor, and swiftly made her way to the staircase.

“Captain, go find Her Highness! We’ll hold them off here!”

“What about you?!”

“Her Highness’s safety comes first!”

That was Anastasia’s voice.

It seemed like a classic “heroic last stand” scenario—though calling it a “tragic farewell” would be an insult to their loyalty. Still, Fia wasn’t good at handling these kinds of life-and-death partings.

Better to show them just how formidable their elf princess could be.

She quickly descended the stairs, reaching the second-floor landing. The mansion’s first floor had a grand hall-like open space, and a sizable force had gathered there. Anastasia and fewer than ten elven soldiers were holding the staircase, fending off the Holy Kingdom’s troops below.

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Judging by the state of the battle, the elves had already endured a fierce assault. They looked battered, while the Holy Kingdom’s soldiers in the hall below stood in tight formation.

At the front, shield-bearing soldiers formed a wall of steel. Behind them, two teams of crossbowmen alternated between firing and reloading. The soldiers charging up the stairs to engage Anastasia’s group came from the flanks—their roles were clearly defined.

“Your Highness, run!”

When one of the wounded elven soldiers—slumped on the ground, clutching an arrow embedded in his left shoulder—saw Fia descending, he struggled to rise. Blood seeped from his shoulder and calf, soaking most of his clothes.

“Don’t move.”

Fia raised a hand to stop him, then turned her gaze to the hall.

Under normal circumstances, facing a hundred enemies with fewer than ten allies—especially with countless crossbows aimed at her—should have been nerve-wracking. Yet Fia felt no fear at all. It was as natural to her as eating or drinking, as if this were just another ordinary day.

She had wanted to comment on this back when she faced the corpses—had the elf princess’s emotionless demeanor rubbed off on her? She was too calm.

Of course, Fia wasn’t careless enough to let her thoughts show on her face. She lifted her chin slightly, her ruby-like eyes now devoid of any warmth. Her frigid gaze was inhuman, and an intense chill radiated from her entire being. The people in the hall, locked in combat, shuddered in unison, their movements slowing unconsciously.

Her black hair and crimson eyes, paired with her merciless demeanor, made her seem like the incarnation of death itself—no, even death could only claim lives on a single planet. The presence standing here now was something far more terrifying.

The chaotic scene quickly settled. The soldiers on the stairs retreated fearfully, step by step, while Anastasia and the others gathered around Fia.

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“Your Highness, we’ve been ambushed,” Anastasia said, her chest rising and falling from the intensity of the battle. Gripping her sword, she kept a wary eye on the Holy Kingdom’s soldiers as she explained in a low voice, “Someone among us leaked information. The bishop of Aurora City has retrieved ‘The Unsinkable Moon’ from the front lines and sealed off the entire city. We need to find a place to hide and wait for a chance to escape.”

“I see.”

The situation didn’t sound good.

Though Fia hadn’t yet had the chance to ask Anastasia what “The Unsinkable Moon” actually was, the brief description made it clear—Aurora City was under lockdown, and ordinary escape was impossible.

“Your Highness… Do you still remember how to use magic?”

As Fia pondered, Anastasia’s voice reached her again.

“Mm… I only remember one spell, but—”

“Understood. Later, I’ll lead you to escape through the upper floors. The others will cover our retreat.”

As she spoke, Anastasia’s expression hardened with resolve.