Chapter 41 While You Weren't Here (3)

  Agnes’ breath caught in her throat as she whispered, "The Champions..."

  Memories flashed through her mind—the first time they had saved her life.

  Reika moved swiftly to Agnes’ side, her hands glowing as she began charging a massive sphere of crackling lightning.

  "Come on, Princess," she gritted through her teeth, determination burning in her eyes. "We can do this!"

  Yumi stepped forward as well, drawing her bow and channeling energy into a piercing arrow. Her small but powerful frame tensed with focus, her well-endowed curves unintentionally drawing the attention of some of the surrounding warriors.

  "Let's finish this," she said resolutely. "We have more important things to do."

  The monster’s face twisted in rage as it glared at the wound on its arm. With a deafening roar, it trumpeted loudly, releasing a powerful shockwave that knocked many warriors to the ground.

  Only a handful managed to withstand it—Yumi, Reika, Alessandra, Agnes, and Joseph—their bodies trembling, yet held firm through sheer willpower.

  Agnes, still clutching her ears, commanded Orn through her mind. The wind spirit swooped in front of the beast, its sharp eyes locking onto the enemy. With a powerful cry, Orn unleashed a deafening wave of sound, colliding head-on with the Were-Mammoth’s trumpeting roar. The opposing forces clashed in the air, rippling through the battlefield and forcing the beast to halt its attack. It let out a furious snarl, its rage intensifying.

  Meanwhile, the dark energy surrounding the monster pulsed violently, rapidly sewing together its wounded arm as if it had never been harmed. Then, with terrifying speed, the Were-Mammoth lunged at Alessandra, its colossal fist hurtling toward her.

  She barely managed to dodge, rolling to the side just in time.

  "Be careful, Sensei!" Reika shouted.

  Without hesitation, she unleashed a crackling bolt of lightning, its brilliant glow slicing through the darkness. Yumi followed, her piercing arrow whistling through the air, both attacks streaking toward the monstrous foe.

  This time, however, the beast dodged, the attacks grazing it but failing to do any real damage.

  Joseph seized the opportunity and lunged, thrusting his sword deep into the creature’s shoulder. The beast roared in pain, stumbling just enough for Reika to land another thunderous strike against its legs.

  Furious, the Were-Mammoth retaliated with a brutal punch aimed at Joseph. He managed to leap back, but the sheer force of the attack caught him on the side, sending him skidding across the battlefield.

  He spat blood as he landed on his feet. "Damn it..." he growled, clutching his ribs.

  The warriors who had been knocked down earlier began rising to their feet, desperately trying to rejoin the battle. But they were too weak—none of them stood a chance against this monster.

  Then figures emerged from within the city—civilians, armed with whatever weapons they could find, ready to fight alongside the knights. Their determination burned as fiercely as the warriors on the battlefield.

  "Just DIE, you stupid beast!" Alessandra roared, anger flashing in her eyes as she charged again, her mace raised high.

  The Were-Mammoth swung its massive trunk, aiming straight for her.

  She barely had time to react.

  With instinct honed by countless battles, she raised her shield, which immediately flared with radiant energy.

  The impact sent her sliding backward, her boots digging into the dirt. The sheer force pushed her back, but she stood her ground, refusing to fall.

  The surrounding warriors watched in alarm, their faces etched with worry.

  They were exhausted—each and every one of them.

  Agnes’ heart pounded. This beast… it's not stopping. If this keeps up… it’ll kill us all—along with the city.

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  She saw the desperation in Joseph’s and the girls’ eyes as the Were-Mammoth gathered dark energy, preparing its most devastating attack yet.

  And then—

  The ground trembled.

  Even the monstrous beast hesitated, its demonic face twisting in confusion. A deep, primal roar echoed across the battlefield—so powerful that the entire continent seemed to tremble. The very air shook, sending chills through every living being.

  The Were-Mammoth’s eyes widened in fear as it turned to the north, sweat forming on its massive brow.

  The brief distraction was enough.

  A powerful lightning spell crashed down onto the beast, sending arcs of electricity coursing through its body. Before it could recover, a massive sword cleaved into its arm, cutting deep.

  "Ahhh!" Joseph roared, using the last of his strength to drive his greatsword into the wound.

  Seizing the moment, Alessandra leaped forward, swinging her mace with tremendous force. The heavy weapon slammed into the beast’s skull, sending shockwaves through its massive frame.

  Almost simultaneously, Yumi released another enchanted arrow. It streaked through the air, piercing the Were-Mammoth’s chest.

  The beast let out a bloodcurdling scream.

  Panicked, it turned and leaped toward the city, charging recklessly through the streets. Knights and warriors attacked from all sides, but anyone who got too close was mercilessly crushed—armor flattened, bodies reduced to pulp in a gruesome display of carnage.

  Joseph and the girls gave chase, their breath ragged, their bodies pushed to the limit.

  "We need to finish it before it heals!" Joseph shouted.

  The beast’s wounds were already closing, dark energy knitting its flesh back together.

  As it barreled through the city, it smashed through a building, collapsing stone and wood in its wake. It showed no signs of stopping.

  And then, just as it neared the castle’s outer walls—

  A brilliant pillar of white-blue light tore through the sky.

  Descending at an angle with blinding intensity, it struck the Mammoth with unstoppable force, engulfing the towering creature in a searing explosion of divine energy.

  The heat was unbearable.

  "Everyone, GET BACK!" Joseph shouted as he felt the air around him burn with raw power.

  The light consumed everything.

  For a single moment—

  Silence.

  Then, the light vanished.

  Darkness reclaimed the battlefield.

  Where the Were-Mammoth once stood, only devastation remained—a massive crater, its scorched edges glowing faintly. The ground was burned beyond recognition, the hole plunging so deep into the earth that its bottom was nowhere in sight. The monstrous beast had been completely vaporized.

  Agnes stepped forward, her breath catching in her throat. Her wide eyes reflected the abyss before her.

  "What… just happened?" she whispered in disbelief.

  Joseph approached, his grip tightening around his sword. The remaining knights, warriors, and citizens finally caught up, gathering around the edge of the crater. Their eyes were filled with awe and horror as they stared into the unnatural fissure. Unease settled over them like a thick fog.

  Princess Agnes and her loyal guard turned their gazes northward, to the source of the devastating attack. Their expressions tensed with worry.

  Then—Agnes noticed something.

  Yumi, Reika, and Alessandra stood together, their eyes fixed on the northern sky. Their faces were solemn, tinged with sadness, concern, and something deeper—understanding.

  Then, as if reaching the same realization, their expressions hardened with unwavering resolve.

  “He’s alive… He’s still fighting,” Alessandra murmured.

  “He’s not giving up,” Yumi said firmly.

  “As expected from him,” Reika added with a nod.

  And still, they kept looking—toward the distant horizon...

  Near the edge of the massive crater, a man dressed in a simple tunic stepped forward, his voice rising above the murmuring crowd.

  "Brothers and sisters, rejoice! This is the work of the gods!" he proclaimed. "The scriptures speak of divine wrath striking down the wicked and purging evil from our lands. He will rise to the skies, and with his divine light, he will purge the enemy! His voice breathes justice and will shatter the unworthy!"

  The gathered people exchanged uncertain glances. Some nodded in awe, their eyes filled with reverence, while others remained skeptical, whispering among themselves.

  "Weren't those beliefs prohibited?" someone whispered to a companion.

  "I think they're just not allowed to have power over the city," another person murmured in clarification.

  Agnes and Joseph sighed at the crowd’s reaction.

  "At the very least, we made it through this," Agnes said, turning to Joseph, who was being tended to by Jonas. The healer's hands glowed faintly as he worked to mend Joseph's wounds.

  "But to stand against a demon like that… to fight it on equal footing… that was incredible," she added.

  The knights, civilians and warriors raised their hands in unison, their voices swelling into a victorious chant.

  "Long live Commander Joseph! Long live the Ethereal Princess Agnes! Long live the Valiant Beauties!"

  Agnes’ face flushed red at the overwhelming praise.

  "I'm grateful," she said, looking down, "but I don’t think I did enough…"

  Joseph, now steadier on his feet, approached her and the gathered people.

  "That’s enough," he called out, raising a hand. "The glory belongs to all of you—every citizen, every knight, every warrior of this kingdom." He gave them a respectful bow.

  But then, his tone darkened.

  "Still… I hate to break it to you, but that thing—it wasn’t even a true demon," he admitted grimly. "There are far stronger creatures out there. This is what the king and our allied nations are facing right now on the front lines. We need to be ready."

  Before anyone could respond, a deep, resounding sound echoed through the city.

  Everyone tensed. Hands tightened around weapons, breaths caught in throats.

  "Are there more attackers?!" Joseph snapped, his grip tightening around his sword as his sharp gaze scanned the surroundings.

  From the city’s entrance, a group of knights and warriors galloped in on horseback, pulling several large carriages behind them. Their armor gleamed under the moonlight, and atop their banners, a familiar crest fluttered in the wind.

  "The Maxwell standard," Agnes murmured, eyes locked onto the approaching riders.