The four knights stared at Adeline as they began to strategize, while Adeline continued to sughter the soldiers. With each swing, blood, organs, and limbs flew. Alfred and Tymon were also engaged, and the scene quickly turned into a massacre. One of the knights decided to deal with the giant hydra, while two pursued Tymon, leaving Zion to face Adeline. She quickly realized what had happened and, in anger, unleashed blood-red mana from her body, giving chase to the three knights, with Zion behind her, trying to catch up.

  “You are my sheep; why are you running from me? Such cowards.”

  “I am your opponent!”

  Zion shouted from behind as Adeline cleared a bloody path. At first, she ignored him, but then she thought it might be best to secure victory. She stopped in the middle of the battlefield, surrounded by soldiers on all sides, and swung her sword, killing all the soldiers in the immediate area, creating a circle. The soldiers backed away as Zion stepped forward.

  “Today, you die, demon.”

  “Skip the threats; I have been itching for a proper fight.”

  Zion shot forward, unleashing his mana. Adeline lifted her sword and tried to block the attacks. Her movements were sloppy, to say the least, but she was still able to block the attacks. Zion increased the pressure, and Adeline began to stumble as she tried to maneuver the giant sword. He felt victory was near. Adeline then swung her sword, forcing Zion to retreat. Adeline then began to replicate the same movements, and, satisfied, she darted forward and attacked Zion.

  Zion was known as the promised child. His talent was described as astonishing, with only the daughter of the Grand Duchess surpassing him. He received praise from all over the empire, with nobles lining up their daughters for marriage proposals. Yet, here he was, being pushed back by a lesser demon, a monster. Her strikes carried great weight, and she didn't even use her mana, just brutal force.

  To regain his pride, he began using more complex attacks. He slowly retreated to the edge of the circle, then concentrated all his mana. In an instant, he disappeared from Adeline’s vision, and a sudden pain shot through her shoulder. She inspected her shoulder as blood began to flow. She moved her shoulder around, as if confirming something. Zion, now behind her, oddly didn’t feel confident. He had aimed for her heart, but at the st second, she slightly moved, and he stabbed her shoulder instead.

  “You should have started fighting like this.”

  “Tsk.”

  Zion unched another simir attack, this time cutting her cheek. She turned and faced Zion, tasting some of her blood with a smile. Zion repeated the same move over and over, trying to nd a critical strike, but he always seemed to barely miss her vital organs. He was confused; she was an amateur at best.

  “Is that all you can do?”

  “How are you doing that? You are an amateur at best.”

  “I may be new to holding a sword, but not fighting.”

  “You haven’t told me how you do it.”

  “You have never had a life-or-death fight before, have you? Your instincts are still blunt. You rely on your talent and strength alone; it makes you predictable.”

  “You know nothing! You are just a monster, nothing else!”

  “I have grown incredibly tired of holding back. Open your eyes, and take in your st lesson.”

  Adeline looked around the battlefield, her body oozing blood. She pced her sword on the ground, stared at the sky, and closed her eyes. She then opened her arms with a devious smile on her face. She slowly began to ascend into the sky as the clouds rolled in, blocking most of the sun, except for a ray of light that shone on Adeline.

  Her blood-red mana began to be released from her body as her wounds disappeared. It became darker as it spread outwards, like a fog, covering the entire battlefield. The soldiers stopped fighting as they watched the red fog spread. Alfred and Tymon also paused their fights, looking towards Adeline, who looked angelic.

  “You fight for greed, misery, and all that is evil. I relish knowing that you will die by my hands. Your screams and pain will heal the world you have destroyed. You no longer have room to absolve yourself of your sins, for judgment has come.”

  Zion watched Adeline, his instincts telling him to move, but his body and mind were mesmerized. Alfred and Tymon slowly bowed in her direction, with the rest of the soldiers caught in a trance-like state. Like mindless zombies, they simply looked at Adeline. The soldiers began to bleed. Blood poured out from every opening, and others fell to their knees, repeatedly stabbing themselves.

  All the blood flowed into Adeline as her body transformed. Her horns grew and curled, turning pure red. Her entire body doubled in size as she tore through her armor. Her eyes turned completely red, with red lines extending through her entire body. Her porcein skin became more refined, glowing in the sun. The only word that could define her was dreadfully beautiful. She slowly descended onto the battlefield, her red eyes nding on Zion, who was finally able to move his body.

  “Now, let us begin.”