Volume 9, Chapter 45 – Ambush from Beyond the Hero’s Domain

When the soldiers in the Imperial camp noticed the meteor-like gray mist in the sky and curiously widened their eyes to get a better look, the Nightmare Knights hidden within suddenly appeared. Amidst the soldiers’ gaping mouths and piercing screams, they charged mercilessly into the tents.

It was a scene of chaos, like wolves entering a sheepfold.

If one were to look down from the sky, they would see large clouds of dust rising from the Imperial camp stationed on the plains, obscuring the heavens. It was like a large truck speeding through a dry desert, kicking up a sandstorm-like plume behind it. Due to the momentum carried by the undead legion descending from the sky, even the lowest-level Zombies and Skeletons caused several casualties upon landing in the camp.

Of course, this also resulted in losses for the undead legion—most undead lacked resistance to blunt trauma and falls. As they crashed through the tents, they themselves would often break into pieces, losing mobility. But the undead felt no fear or pain. And due to their trait of immortal souls and incorruptible bodies, as long as they came into contact with the gray mist saturated with deathly aura, bodies that should have taken months to recover would rapidly regenerate in just a few minutes, reforming into an undead legion with considerable combat strength, charging indiscriminately in all directions.

It was worth noting that this horde of undead was not controlled by Lin. They acted solely on their instinctual hatred for the living, attacking any creature possessing life. Precisely because of this indiscriminate and uncontrollable nature, [Summon Undead Legion] was deemed an evil, forbidden spell by the Magic Casters’ Association. However, in the current situation with only Lin present, it was arguably the most suitable magic possible.

In just a few breaths, the Imperial camp, calm moments before, transformed into a purgatory filled with fire and death.

This is the retribution they deserve. The moment they decided to attack the Divine Religion, the Empire became her enemy. Whether it was for avenging Red and Purple or ensuring the survival of the Divine Religion, this action was necessary. However, unlike those she had killed in the past, she felt no guilt this time. Previously, even on missions assigned by the Gospel, she would minimize casualties whenever possible. But now, her heart was inexplicably calm.

After causing sufficient chaos, Lin beat her enormous dragon wings, tracing a perfect arc in the sky. Like a falcon diving downwards, she swept over the Imperial soldier formations. Although caught off guard, the well-trained Imperial soldiers reacted quickly. During the time Lin had waited, the undead legion had been surrounded and segmented by the soldiers; it wouldn’t be long before they were completely wiped out.

This was only natural. She hadn’t expected a Tier 5 spell to annihilate the entire Imperial army from the start. What she wanted was chaos and fear.

Circling in the air and observing for a while, Lin found her target.

The Imperial General guarding the central section of the Norta Empire’s northern defensive line, Gore Harile.

As a general familiar with the terrain of the Duchy of Chloe, Gore would definitely be present in this siege army. And as long as the leader was killed, the remaining soldiers could be made to surrender through fear.

Narrowing her eyes, Lin quietly tightened her grip on her scythe. Under the moonless sky, the silver scythe seemed to merge with the darkness, emanating waves of sharp coldness.

[Penetrate].

The scythe flashed with an eerie blue light. After applying the magic-breaking enhancement, Lin forcefully beat her wings, shooting straight down towards Gore, who was directing his subordinates in front of the commander’s tent.

“[Death Slash].”

A speed she previously thought impossible was now easily achieved with a casual swing. A black light flashed past, but Lin frowned—the scythe didn’t transmit the solid feeling of cutting something. Gore, who had been standing there, had also vanished.

“Tsk.”

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It’s a trap.

The moment she realized this, Lin beat her wings again, preparing to retreat the way she came. But a sharp sensation from behind forced her to halt abruptly in mid-air.

A longsword glowing with golden light slashed through the space where Lin should have been.

The intense light element sent a stinging pain through the wings on her back.

Putting distance between herself and the swordsman, Lin flew higher, maintaining an altitude suitable for both attacking and escaping. When she got a clear look at the person who had swung the sword on the ground, she couldn’t help but click her tongue.

“It really is a trap.”

Slightly lowering the glowing golden longsword, Gore, clad in full plate armor, snorted coldly. Perhaps thinking he could finally kill this monster who had murdered the Eldest Princess with his own hands, Gore’s sword hand trembled slightly from excessive force.

“Hmph. Haven’t seen you in a few days, seems you’ve grown quite a bit.”

“It will surely exceed your expectations—Surrender. You’re no match for me now.”

If she could take Gore hostage, the likelihood of the Empire yielding would be higher.

“Just you? Even if you brought everyone from the Divine Religion, you couldn’t possibly stop the Empire’s iron hooves! From the moment I was rescued from that seaside town and received His Majesty’s pardon, I swore I would personally slay the culprit who murdered the Eldest Princess! And now is the time to fulfill that vow! Go to hell!”

“The one going to hell is you!”

There was no need for further talk. The moment their auras flared, the two clashed in mid-air. But unlike the expected stalemate, when Gore’s longsword met Lin’s scythe, Gore was sent flying backwards like a cannonball, smashing into the ground even faster than he came. The solid earth instantly formed a huge crater, as if struck by a meteorite. The wind pressure from the collision even caused the surrounding tents to rip apart consecutively, scattering in all directions like flimsy structures caught in a hurricane, even sending the soldiers hidden in the shadows, ready to support Gore with magic, flying.

This was the difference between the realm beyond heroes and the hero’s domain.

Before Lin reached the realm beyond heroes, her strength was comparable to Gore’s, perhaps even slightly weaker due to Gore’s light-element magic weapon. But now, even ten Gores attacking together would be no match for her.

“Tsk!”

Quickly climbing out of the huge pit, Gore wiped his mouth, raised his sword, and took his stance again.

Even though he had used [Fortitude] before hitting the ground, a dull ache radiated from his back. If his armor hadn’t been magical equipment, he would have been seriously injured just now. Gore narrowed his eyes. That brief contact had already told him Lin’s strength was much greater than before—she had likely reached the realm beyond heroes.

“…Beyond the hero’s domain. You monster. Witch of Destruction.”

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“What did you say?”

Lin frowned slightly. She could have delivered a fatal blow just now while Gore was still climbing out of the pit, but she hadn’t. She was curious about his claim of ‘murdering the Eldest Princess.’ Although most intelligent people in the Duchy of Chloe knew the Empire’s declaration of war was just a conspiracy to divide them, Gore’s hate-filled gaze didn’t seem like a lie, as if it had actually happened.

“…Have you forgotten? But it doesn’t matter. I will make you remember everything you did as the Calamity That Brings Ruin! Fourteen years ago, in a small coastal city of the Norta Empire, you transformed into the Calamity and reduced the entire city to ruins! And I, tasked with protecting the Eldest Princess, almost died in that disaster… Hehehe, if I had vanished along with the Eldest Princess, I wouldn’t have experienced these decades of pain! But I survived! And the survivor carries the duty of revenge! I must personally destroy you, the one who murdered Her Highness the Eldest Princess!”

“How is that possible!?”

Facing Gore who charged at her again, Lin chose to evade. The only people who knew she was the Calamity That Brings Ruin were Atwood, Yisi, and Clarence. Gore couldn’t possibly know. Since he could accurately state the time and place, it was almost certain Gore was a survivor of that disaster.

The content of the Empire’s declaration of war wasn’t a lie.

Those soldiers of the Duchy of Chloe, those people who admired her, would die because of her. She was the primary cause of this war.

Realizing this, a momentary panic flashed through her mind.

“What! Too guilty to fight back!? Demon! Today I will surely bury you here!”

Due to the fleeting panic, Lin failed to dodge in time. Gore left a shallow cut on her arm. The stinging pain made Lin frown slightly.

Now is not the time to hesitate. As long as she could single-handedly take these Imperial soldiers hostage, the Duchy of Chloe would suffer no losses. Moreover, she was the savior. If she didn’t deal with Gore here, it would only harm the entire Divine Religion. Realizing this, Lin tightened her grip on her scythe. As Gore swung at her back again, she pivoted sharply, swinging the silver scythe behind her.

“[Reaper’s Blessing], [Dance of Death].”

“[Starfall Slash]!”

Boom!

Black and gold clashed again. But this time, unlike their first exchange, when Lin’s scythe hit Gore’s, spiderweb cracks rapidly appeared on his longsword. Before Gore could even be sent flying by the tremendous impact, a phantom figure clad in tattered robes, wielding a giant black scythe, suddenly appeared behind Lin. Following Lin’s initial strike, the phantom swung its scythe in a second slash. Like the last straw breaking the camel’s back, the already cracked golden longsword shattered. The Reaper’s scythe, having broken through the sword, struck Gore heavily on the chest. Even with the armor mitigating the force, Gore’s chest visibly caved in.

“Puh—”

A sweet taste filled his throat. Gore’s mouth moved, and blood uncontrollably trickled down the corners. But due to the Reaper Scythe’s [Absorption] effect, Gore couldn’t fall to the ground; Lin continuously drained his life force.

“Hmph.”

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Closing the distance, Lin kicked Gore hard in the side, smashing him into the ground again. Then she lowered her altitude and walked over to the rapidly breathing Gore.

“Surrender, or die.”

The difference in strength was obvious.

However, Gore had no intention of giving up. On the contrary, the hatred in his eyes deepened. His eyes wide, he clenched his blood-stained teeth.

“The one who should die is you!”

“Stubborn fool—?”

Clang, clang.

Without warning, the clattering sound of chains suddenly echoed from all directions. Countless golden chains appeared simultaneously in Lin’s vision. As if possessing life, these golden chains shot out from the overturned tents, all converging on Lin at the center of the battle.

The holy aura is even denser than the deathly aura in the sky.

Beyond the hero’s domain.

Sensing the joyous light element and the repelled deathly aura, the image of one person surfaced in Lin’s mind.

One of the Empire’s three powerhouses beyond the hero’s domain, the light-element magic caster named Bayldes.

“Damn it.”

She couldn’t help but curse inwardly. Although she was also beyond the hero’s domain now, she hadn’t fully adapted to her increased strength. If she encountered someone of the same realm, her chances of winning were at most thirty percent, not to mention her opponent was a light magic user who countered her.

Must retreat.

Forcefully beating her wings, Lin shot towards the sky. However, just as her legs left the ground, her body was forcibly halted by an external force—Gore had grabbed her ankle and simultaneously used gravity-increasing magic. His face, covered in dust and blood, showed the fierce joy of vengeance obtained.

“This is the grand gift I prepared for you! Demon! Today is your death day!”

“Tsk.”

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Without hesitation, Lin swung her scythe, severing the arm Gore used to grab her ankle. Then, channeling magic into her dragon wings, she ascended at maximum speed. However, due to Gore’s delay, Lin lost the optimal timing. As she gained altitude, countless golden chains converging from all directions formed like a blossoming flower, faster than Lin, chasing her from below, seemingly intending to envelop her.

In just a few breaths, the clashing chains reached behind Lin. She could even see some golden chains flying higher than her. The vast sky was enclosed by the chains into a well-like circle, and this circle was shrinking—when this only exit was completely sealed, she would have nowhere to run.

Bad.

If I’m not faster, I’ll be trapped in a cage of light element.

But no matter how hard Lin pushed her body, her flight speed wouldn’t increase as she wished. She could only watch helplessly as golden chain after golden chain surpassed her, finally becoming part of the cage.

If I cut these light element chains—

Realizing this, Lin first drank the magic potion Yisi had given her, then desperately squeezed the magic power flowing within her, driving it into her scythe, and unleashed the fastest, most offensive strike possible.

“[Dancing Blade Slash]!”

CLANG!

The chain struck by the scythe emitted the sound of clashing metal, its trajectory wobbling. But that was all. Lin couldn’t sever these chains. They still tried to envelop the flying Lin.

Lin didn’t know that the reason the light element magic caster hadn’t appeared initially was precisely to cast this Tier 6 restriction spell, specifically designed to deal with those beyond the hero’s domain.

The sky became smaller and smaller.

Too late.

However.

Just as Lin was about to be completely sealed within the cage, an impolite cold snort echoed across the plain. Simultaneously, the golden chains abruptly stopped, as if frozen in time.

What happened?

No, right now I only have one choice—get out of here as fast as possible.

Wasting no more time, Lin flew out of the only exit, leaving the Imperial camp and heading straight for the Duchy of Chloe.