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Chapter 116: Stupidity

As the night fell, Charlotte felt a strange tightness in her chest and turned to look back.

The village beneath the volcano was engulfed in flames; from high above, she could only vaguely see figures the size of ants.

“Leo, I hope he’s okay…”

Charlotte had never liked her older brother, but if it weren’t for him wanting to harm Roy, she wouldn’t have hated Leo either.

Blood was thicker than water; after all, they were still connected by blood.

Hearing the girl’s murmurs, Roy sighed silently, saying nothing.

Regardless of how this battle ended, Leo would likely not come out of it well. Even if he didn’t hold a grudge against him, the Lionheart King certainly wouldn’t let a traitor go free, even if it was flesh and blood.

But now wasn’t the time for such thoughts.

To ensure speed, the reinforcements that had come were a select few elites.

But how could a dozen Gryphon Knights hold back nearly a hundred cultists and Wyverns?

Soon, a Wyvern broke through the Gryphon Knights’ blockade and chased after them.

Charlotte tightened the reins; with a kick to its flanks, her mount, “Cake,” instantly surged ahead.

Roy felt the night scenery rush backward, the howling evening wind stinging his face, making it almost impossible to breathe.

“Cake” moved like an arrow, and by the time Roy regained his senses, the Wyverns had already been left far behind, squawking in complaint.

“If we go around the volcano, we can reach the capital before dawn with “Cake” at this speed!” Charlotte said optimistically, letting out a sigh of relief.

But just as she finished speaking, disaster struck.

Before Roy could respond, he caught sight of a shadow racing against the flames from the burning village, zipping past the Wyvern and heading straight for them!

“Watch out!”

At Roy’s warning, Charlotte’s face changed, and she yanked the reins, steering “Cake” upward to dodge the incoming shadow.

But that shadow was far more agile than she had anticipated; it flapped its wings, turning upside down in mid-air, its vicious face aimed at them, and spewed forth a ball of fire!

The fireball hit “Cake” directly, exploding like fireworks against the darkness.

“Your Highness!”

Lisa, engaged in battle, caught sight of the flames in the sky, her face going pale in shock. In a frenzy, she swung her sword, taking down several enemies, but was subsequently surrounded by even more reckless cultists and villagers.

Injured, “Cake” fell headlong into the trees.

Charlotte felt dizzy as the world spiraled around her.

Fortunately, she reacted in time, unleashing a fireball just before hitting the ground. The explosion’s recoil counteracted some of the gravity, sending her flying, preventing her from sustaining serious injuries.

Even so, she crashed down, dazed and disoriented.

Charlotte struggled to get up but found that both “Cake” and Roy had disappeared somewhere.

The thick vegetation blocked the shattered moonlight; it was pitch dark, and she couldn’t see her hand in front of her face.

Damn it, she had to find them quickly!

Otherwise…

With a crack, a branch broke, followed by a low, beast-like breathing sound.

Charlotte felt as if she had plunged into icy waters, her heart sinking, cold sweat trickling down her forehead.

She slowly turned her head and froze in terror when she saw a three-meter-tall Dragonman monster grinning mockingly at her from the darkness.

Charlotte’s pupils trembled fiercely.

Because the Dragonman was covered in blood, and there dangled a lavishly dressed arm from its sharp teeth.

That was Leo’s arm.

“What… have you done…”

“Is this what you’re talking about?” Bruwen savagely bit down, severing the arm completely, his cruel laughter echoing.

“Foolish wretch, this is what happens when you obstruct our king.”

“Unfortunately, I initially wanted to spare his life for our king. But you being here will suffice.”

Leo had committed an unforgivable act, but he deserved a trial; even in death, his body should not be desecrated by a cult.

Moreover, he died to protect himself.

Charlotte wasn’t deeply pained, but her hatred for the monster before her grew even stronger.

“Your brother is a fool, craving the glory of a throne, yet too cowardly to sever the ties of kinship. In the end, he achieved nothing and still foolishly sought to thwart our king’s will.” Bruwen arrogantly tilted his head, a mocking glint in his eyes: “You should be smarter than him, right?”

“Stop talking nonsense! If you want to die, just say it!”

Charlotte swung her hand, sending forth a massive fireball.

Bruwen almost laughed out loud.

Now, he was at Source Level 3, and under the king’s grace, he could withstand the flames of Sequence 6!

Charlotte’s fire couldn’t harm him at all!

Bruwen didn’t even bother defending; he faced the fireball directly, feeling nothing.

Yet, once the flames and smoke cleared, he was startled to see Charlotte radiating an enormous Extraordinary Power from her hands.

The searing light shone like a morning star, illuminating the entire night sky.

That was the “Flame of Destruction,” sealing the Lionheart King Roy’s full power!

Cunning little brat!

As the terrifying attack was about to hit, Bruwen’s eyes turned cold, and he lunged forward, swiping a claw that sent Charlotte flying.

Charlotte soared through the air, blood splattering, yet she clung desperately to the “Flame of Destruction.”

Bruwen lashed out with his tough dragon tail for another hit.

His strike hit Charlotte’s abdomen like a heavy whip, causing her to spit blood and fall aside.

This time, the “Flame of Destruction” finally slipped from her grasp.

Bruwen didn’t rush to pursue; instead, he dealt with the “Flame of Destruction” first.

“No…”

After sustaining multiple heavy blows, Charlotte felt dizzy, lying on the ground in agony, unable to stand up, forced to watch as Bruwen swatted the “Flame of Destruction” deep into the forest, beyond her sight.

“What a clever little trick, but this is where it ends.” Bruwen turned back, sniffing disdainfully.

Charlotte’s face held resilience, but she was already out of options.

The “Flame of Destruction” was her only hope; without it, relying solely on her Sequence 8 strength, there was no way she could defeat an opponent who even Leo couldn’t overcome.

Could it really be over…?

As the Dragonman monster approached, not just fear but also intense pain shook Charlotte, her trembling body unable to move a single finger.

Her hatred for the cult, her reluctance to part with her family, her love for life transformed into profound unwillingness.

Memories flowed like water through her mind.

The joy of her first hunt, the warmth of family moments, and the recent, though brief, yet unforgettable experiences with Roy.

That’s right, Roy was still alive.

These cultists aimed for Roy!

Even if it meant death, she had to do something for him!

Even if it was just a minuscule wound, as long as it could grant Roy a chance to survive, that would be enough!

Charlotte’s nearly closed eyes snapped wide open, unleashing all the strength she had left like a dying beast, bursting forth with fierce flames.

“You, just like your brother, are foolish.”

Bruwen sneered, cruelly extending his claws toward Charlotte.

Whether begging for mercy or fighting desperately, all would become lamentable corpses under the might of our king!

But just as the dragon claw was about to pierce through the girl’s fragile body, an invisible weight of pressure descended upon them.

Bruwen felt as if gravity had seized him, freezing him in place.

In the next moment, a powerful punch cut through the air, striking Bruwen square in the face like a massive hammer!

 

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