Volume 6, Chapter 46 – A Monster That Shouldn’t Have Appeared

Night was falling over Cold Night, where a drizzling rain had been falling all day. However, a large number of beastmen were still gathered at the unfinished checkpoint. Countless torches flickered in the rainy night. The air was filled with a nauseating smell of blood, and the roars of monsters were chilling.

“Lord… Lord Holy Son, the monsters are coming again!”

“Calm down. Just a disorderly mob. Let them pass through the corridor bridge and surround them!”

“Yes!”

Under Nola’s command, the workers digging trenches on the corridor bridge—the fifty-meter-wide passage left by Fia, referred to by the workers as the corridor bridge—retreated in an orderly manner. The soldiers responsible for protecting the workers stepped forward together, taking over the workers’ positions.

Although the current checkpoint was just a shallow arc-shaped trench, it could still provide protection. The soldiers stood according to the arc of the trench curving toward the plain, forming a pocket shape. As long as the monsters from the forest rushed from the corridor bridge to the soldiers, they would drill straight into the encirclement formed by the soldiers and be dealt with by concentrated fire.

A similar situation had already happened earlier today. Or rather, Nola went into the forest in the morning to notify Fia’s group inside that it was best to retreat to the city. Earthquakes were particularly frequent today, and monsters came in waves. Often, before the workers had worked for long, monsters would rush out of the forest.

But I ended up seeing a lovey-dovey scene.

And to think I ran over to notify them. I should have just let myself be drowned by the monster tide.

Nola cursed in her heart. But thinking that Claire was also among them, the vicious curse in her heart vanished, replaced by a stiff expression and repeated apologies.

Why do I have to endure this torture? There is a saying in magic studies called equivalent exchange, meaning you have to give as much as you get. Could it be that the bitterness I’m experiencing now is the price of becoming a Holy Son?

Sourness welled up in her chest. Looking at the monsters rushing over in the rain from the other side of the corridor bridge, Nola frowned tightly, wiping the raindrops off her chin. She wasn’t a fool. By now, she already knew there would be no result between her and Claire. No matter how much she insisted verbally, the facts couldn’t be changed. Claire already had Fia in her heart. Even if she put all her eggs in one basket and ran to pour out her heart, she would only get the answer she least wanted to hear, the most bitter answer.

It was just that the unwillingness in her chest and the stubbornness of not wanting to bow her head prevented her from completely letting go of this long-held feeling. Knowing clearly there would be no result, yet unwilling to give up. It sounded contradictory, but thinking about it slightly, any deep feeling wasn’t easy to let go of just by saying so. Unless hurt extremely deeply or accumulating too much dissatisfaction over time, it wasn’t something that could be easily cut off. She was like this.

The image of Fia and Claire pressing their palms together during the day resurfaced in her mind. Nola clicked her tongue impatiently. Fia’s group came out of the forest at noon. When they passed each other, Nola could clearly feel Fia seemed to want to say something. It was just that Nola was commanding soldiers to deal with monsters at the time, so Fia didn’t disturb her.

Thinking back now, Fia probably wanted to comfort her, just like when she was rejected by Claire in the Hunting Grounds before, and Fia quietly followed her using illusion magic.

Even though I didn’t say anything, she was curious and insisted on meddling—no, honestly speaking, I should say she is too gentle.

But she didn’t like it, and it was hard for her to sincerely accept being cared for by Fia, even if this was terrible behavior as a person, ungrateful.

Realizing this, Nola couldn’t help recalling the principle Fia taught her in Count Yureidon’s territory: thinking from others’ perspectives.

Standing in Fia’s position, caught between Claire and herself, yet wanting to care for her… it must be really tangled.

But precisely because of this, she can attract those people gathered around her, right? Combining strength and benevolence. If she were a man, she would have had wives and concubines in groups long ago; few women wouldn’t be attracted to her. Power, money, strength, and even character are at the pinnacle. My failure is simply logical.

Nola glanced at the wet ground, a trace of a bitter smile in her eyes.

To think I can stand in someone else’s shoes and think so calmly… I wouldn’t dare think about it in the past. Can this be called growing in adversity? The fire cat named Nola in the past would probably have turned angry from embarrassment immediately upon encountering this situation and rushed over to solve the problem with violence.

No, it’s precisely because violence can’t solve it that I can think calmly, right? Rather than growth, it’s more like a helpless move.

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Having said that, the past self wouldn’t think from others’ perspectives, nor would she think of Fia in a good way. She would only keep hating Fia, the third party, treating all her actions as having ulterior motives and mocking herself.

It must be the fault of estrus. Estrus made me abnormal.

“The monsters are rushing over! Loose arrows!”

“Hey, hey! There’s something behind—!”

“What?”

The whoosh of arrows cutting through the air drowned out the soldiers’ shouts. Because the sun had set and the sky was dark gray, plus the drizzle filling the vision, the rear-row soldiers who couldn’t see the situation clearly could only shoot arrows forward according to the commander’s order. The front-row soldiers also responded as usual, combining shield towers as tall as a person to form a shield wall to prevent monsters from rushing into the formation.

Although beastmen performed poorly in large-scale warfare, they were experts in small-scale skirmishes. Their powerful physical strength ensured their formation wouldn’t scatter even if hit head-on by large monsters. The arrows shot were also swifter and more powerful. Even ordinary iron arrowheads could easily penetrate the thick hides of monsters. With just one volley, the wolf-type monsters at the very front were mostly cleared by the strike array. A faint smell of blood filled the rain again, mixing with the wet and sticky feeling of rain soaking the body, causing nausea.

Previously, soldiers who solved a group of wolf-type monsters would definitely heave a long sigh of relief. But now, especially the front-row soldiers, they all became nervous in unison, even subconsciously wanting to retreat. The itching sensation brought by fear crawled on their skin like ants climbing up their bodies.

They saw a huge humanoid Rock Golem.

Things like Rock Golems weren’t uncommon on the World Tree Continent. They only appeared in places rich in leyline magic power or where large-scale magic wars had occurred. Those unconscious rocks and clods of earth, nourished by magic power, would gradually awaken self-awareness, eventually transforming into golem monsters of various forms. Most Rock Golems would transform themselves into monsters they often saw, but a very small number of Rock Golems with extremely high rank, or even evolved higher intelligence, would transform themselves into the shape of giants.

Feeling no pain, ordinary swords and even giant axes could hardly create a nick on its body. Even magic bombardment was just scratching an itch for a Rock Golem. Their bodies were as hard as magic crystals. What was worse, humanoid Rock Golems could often use large-scale magic. If not for being untamable, they could perfectly become war machines.

“Rock Golem? Humanoid? How could this kind of thing appear on the outskirts of the forest!”

“Scatter! Don’t gather in a group! Lure it to the plain and exhaust its magic power!”

“But monsters will rush into the city!”

“Don’t worry about that much; if we rout, it’s all over!”

“Lord… Lord Holy Son!”

The officers in chaos looked at Nola sitting in the rear one after another. Although Nola alone could expel all monsters in previous battles, Nola was the acting clan chief of the Fire Cat Tribe; she didn’t have to do everything herself. Letting ordinary soldiers deal with monsters would certainly result in casualties, but it would also allow them to accumulate experience. The Fire Cat territory was quite large; she couldn’t stay here with the Charm Cat Tribe all the time to deal with low-rank monsters.

“How could the Rock Golem inside the Illusion Barrier run out… Maintain formation; leave the Rock Golem to me.”

Holding the Flame Greatsword on her back with her right hand, Nola took a step forward. Without high-level detection magic, she could only judge by the Rock Golem’s height approaching thirty meters that this Rock Golem should be between the fifth and sixth rank.

Usually, monsters of this level should stay inside the Illusion Barrier and couldn’t come out. No monsters exceeding the fourth rank appeared in the monster tide during the day. How could a Rock Golem that should be inside the Illusion Barrier appear on the outskirts of the forest?

Nola’s heart sank. This wasn’t a good omen. The appearance of the Rock Golem here meant other high-ranking monsters might also escape the Illusion Barrier. And if the ubiquitous white fog and Fog Demons in the Illusion Barrier that drove people mad also drifted into the city, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Did the frequent earthquakes during the day damage the magic circuits of the Illusion Barrier, rendering it ineffective? But if so, why did only one high-ranking monster, the Rock Golem, appear?

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There were too many incomprehensible points. She wouldn’t know the answer without personally checking the Illusion Barrier. For now, solving the Rock Golem was the priority.

Chanting [Flight] in a low voice, Nola flew over the army with wavering morale, heading straight for the Rock Golem’s head. The Rock Golem had already walked onto the fifty-meter-wide corridor bridge, blocking the monster group behind it like a high wall.

Just defeating it like this should be able to crush the monster group behind it, solving this monster attack in passing. It’s just that the Rock Golem is too hard; even for me at the seventh rank, dealing with it is troublesome.

If only I could communicate…

“Hah!”

The Flame Greatsword, ignited with fire, arrived in front of the Rock Golem’s forehead in the blink of an eye. Sparks that lit up the night sky for an instant erupted from the Rock Golem’s head. A heavy metallic explosion pierced the eardrums. However, Nola’s strike didn’t smash the Rock Golem’s head. Only some small stones flew off the Rock Golem’s head, revealing the brilliant transparent gem luster underneath.

Nola’s pupils constricted.

The gem luster indicated this wasn’t an ordinary Rock Golem, but a Crystal Golem, harder to deal with. Whether in hardness or magic ability, a Crystal Golem was stronger than a Rock Golem.

Such an opponent right off the bat?

If it’s a Crystal Golem, it must have reached the sixth rank, or even possess intelligence.

“Long-lost wound… You are… Holy Son…”

As soon as Nola’s surprise passed, the Crystal Golem responded with a deep and heavy male voice. But the crystal’s thinking was extremely slow, giving the impression that it needed to think for a long time to organize language.

“Possessing intelligence indeed. Since you recognize me, you should know you are not my match. Go back where you belong; this is my territory.”

Pulling away from the Crystal Golem, Nola narrowed her eyes slightly. She had long stopped injecting magic power into the Flame Greatsword, yet the sword still glowed with an unusual golden light. This meant a Darkborn was nearby, or even was the Crystal Golem itself.

“Oh… your territory… but no.”

“No?”

“Must… go outside…”

The Crystal Golem still answered with a slow, dull-witted voice. The speech lacking a main stem made the impatience in Nola’s eyes grow thicker.

“Why must you go outside?”

“This is… will…”

“Whose will?”

“Get… lost.”

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Clearly not wanting to answer Nola’s question, the Crystal Golem extended a hand the size of a house, grabbing at the floating Nola. However, Nola was prepared. Just gently urging her body, she dodged the Crystal Golem’s grasp. She opened her mouth, trying to give a final warning. But before the voice could come out of her throat, she saw a change that made her scalp explode and every cell in her body scream warnings.

The Crystal Golem’s hand was suddenly wrapped in a layer of black slime. This layer of black slime seemed to possess its own life. Gathering together, they transformed into a scythe slashing at Nola amidst a nauseating squirming sound in an instant. In the eyes of distant soldiers, the Crystal Golem’s right hand suddenly elongated into a weapon, slashing straight at Nola.

Dodge as much as possible.

Her body’s instinct told Nola to evade. Following her instinct, she flew higher. However, the scythe formed by black slime suddenly expanded, weaving into a fishing net to cover Nola, seemingly intending to catch the prey just like that.

“Tch.”

Fool who refuses a toast only to drink a forfeit.

Crystal Golems could only use elemental magic. This black thing should be the Darkborn causing the Flame Greatsword’s reaction.

As a Holy Son, eliminating harmful Darkborn was only natural.

A fighting spirit ignited in the corners of her eyes. Nola no longer dodged. Gripping the Flame Greatsword with one hand, she swung it downward across the air.

“[Molten Flame Bird]!”

An arc-shaped blade of fire left the sword, transforming into a falcon in mid-air and smashing straight into the black net. The moment the two touched, the air erupted with the violent sound of liquid evaporation. The Flame Bird tore open the black net with crushing momentum and continued to smash toward the Crystal Golem below.

Unfortunately, after hitting the Crystal Golem, the Flame Bird disappeared with a poof , failing to even create a scorch mark on the Crystal Golem. For the Crystal Golem, it didn’t even count as a scratch.

“Weak magic…”

“Just a diversion.”

When the voice sounded, Nola had already appeared behind the Crystal Golem’s head. The Flame Bird blocked the Crystal Golem’s line of sight, giving Nola the opportunity to find an entry point.

By the time the Crystal Golem reacted, the body of the Flame Greatsword had already smashed ruthlessly onto its neck.

Clang!

This is too hard!

Like slashing a heavy iron plate, the huge recoil sent Nola flying back, making her entire arm numb and the web of her thumb ache faintly. Looking at the Crystal Golem, although that sword strike not only blew off the rock on its skin but also cut deep into the crystal, creating a not-small gap, this still failed to bring the Crystal Golem anything that could be called an injury. Crystal Golems had no blood. A half-meter wound was nothing to a neck three or four meters in diameter.

“As expected of… Holy Son…”

The Crystal Golem didn’t turn around. It reached its right hand behind its head like swatting a fly. The black slime that appeared before turned into countless spikes in its palm, sealing Nola’s retreat from all directions. However, just as Nola’s attack was ineffective against the Crystal Golem, the Crystal Golem’s black slime couldn’t harm Nola either. A slight swing of the Flame Greatsword burned all the black spikes clean.

“What are these black things?”

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“Will… [Crystal Wall].”

A short, obscure chant sounded. Following it, a brilliant wall appeared abruptly above Nola’s head. Heavy pressure mixed with strong wind smashed toward Nola, even sealing her retreat with its broad area. If one stood on the side, they would discover this wasn’t a simple wall, but a small mountain formed of crystal.

If hit head-on, even a giant dragon would emit the crisp sound of breaking bones.

Impervious to reason.

Irritation appeared in her mind. Nola acted as if she didn’t see the crystal mountain covering the sky above her head. She took a deep breath, pouring unprecedented magic power into the Flame Greatsword. In an instant, a wild wind that made it impossible to open one’s eyes blew in the canyon, and the rain became more violent.

“The name of the Holy Son tolerates no stain. Regret your recklessness.”

— [Brilliant Sacred Flame]

Not enhancement magic acting on herself, but using the Flame Greatsword as a medium, a flame giant sword even more exaggerated than the Crystal Golem appeared before everyone’s eyes. This wasn’t the Flame Greatsword being enlarged, but burning white sacred flame condensed from high-concentration magic power. Nola just casually lifted the Flame Greatsword, and the incredibly solid crystal mountain body exploded and shattered from the bottom like being bombarded by high-ranking magic. The disproportionate, bizarre scene made people subconsciously feel fear.

Immediately after, it seemed even Nola, the user, found it hard to control. She held the hilt with both hands, raising the sword body high, and pressed down the Flame Greatsword bit by bit at an extremely slow speed. As for the targeted Crystal Golem, it felt a huge pressure locking its body, making its legs unable to move a millimeter, as if its whole body was embedded in the rock layer, unable to even lift an arm.

Along with it, countless poof-poof sounds like balloons exploding were heard incessantly. The monsters following behind the Crystal Golem all prostrated on the ground, but this only let them live one second longer. Their bodies soon couldn’t withstand the terrifying pressure, exploding into blood flowers. Even a large section of the corridor bridge sank deeply under this terrifying sword strike that seemed to split the earth in two, constantly emitting screeching groans.

Looks like I need to replenish flames after going back.

Thinking this, Nola glared at the Crystal Golem below.

Be more careful in your next life.

Hesitating no more, Nola pressed down the Flame Greatsword forcefully. The moment the sword body touched the Crystal Golem, the golem softened and deformed as if melted by high temperature. In just a few seconds, it was completely split open by Nola. The corridor bridge below was also affected by the aftershock, a deep gap thirty meters long appearing, accompanied by incessant collapsing sounds like thunder.

Maybe Nola saw it wrong, but she noticed something black flowing out of the monster and Crystal Golem corpses, melting into the earth and disappearing.

Monster blood? Or the black slime on the Crystal Golem before?

Nola wanted to go down and check, but the dizziness rushing to her brain stopped her. Just as Charm Cats needed to absorb energy to replenish themselves, as a fire cat who feared fire, she hadn’t replenished flames for a long time. Today, she had reached the point where she had to replenish.

So annoying. Why is the consumption so large?

Clicking her tongue hatefully in her heart, Nola put away the Flame Greatsword, turning to look down at the soldiers watching her with awe.

“Notify Tsukuyomi to send the relief soldiers over!”