The bird Sarah had shot had taken on a humanoid form.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf8x2ky0rtK
Its feathers were immense in size, and when it beat its wings, the resulting gust was strong enough to blow people away. His gaze locked onto Sarah, and he descended with an elegance not of this world.
On the ground, Rick and Emilia were still busy fighting, yet they—along with many others—had their eyes fixed on Sarah and the bird. She had given them hope. If she were to crumble now, so would everyone else.
And so, despite the fear gripping her body and the immense strain she was under, Sarah stood tall like a boulder.
“You don’t scare me, bird!”
“Oh, very soon I will.”
In the silence that followed, the thunder of galloping hooves and the rallying cries of soldiers filled the air. Loudest among them was Rayshel—of course, she was at the front, riding a carriage. Her axe was strapped to her back, and in her hands she held a bazooka. She fired without hesitation.
“I’m craving some chicken wings!” Rayshel bellowed—louder than the bomb hurtling toward the bird.
The bird slapped its wings and summoned a tornado beneath the bomb. The winds lifted it skyward—where it detonated. The explosion rocked the air.
“Do you want to kill the president?!” Emilia yelled.
Rayshel ignored her and hurled the bazooka itself at the bird. He didn’t see it coming—not until he dispelled the tornado. He raised a claw and slashed the weapon apart.
But Rayshel had already leapt into the air right behind it. As the broken bazooka pieces scattered, she appeared from behind, grabbed the bird’s wing, and slammed him into the ground.
“President, you better leave this tower!”
The president didn’t need to be told twice. “Good luck!” he shouted as he fled.
When the bird tried to rise, Rayshel brought him back down with a vicious punch. She continued her barrage until the bird had enough. Spreading his wings, he created a burst of wind strong enough to blow her away. Then, he lunged and kneed her in the ribs.
He rose again—but Rayshel grabbed his ankle. He took off, dragging her into the air, trying to shake her loose. It was in vain.
“You can’t be human!” the bird shouted.
“You can’t be human!”
“Of course not. I’m an angel!”
“And I’m a god!”
“You crazy woman! Time to die!”
Still airborne, the bird spun and surrounded himself in violent winds, forming a tornado. He dived, crashing straight into the tower where Sarah had given her speech—BOOM.
The tower crumbled. The first to emerge from the rubble was the bird—only minor wounds, but his feathers were singed.
Around him, the tide had turned. The arrival of Pandora and her soldiers had given the humans the upper hand.
Just as the bird was about to take off, Rayshel rose from the debris. Her body was battered, her arms and shoulders swollen. Blood dripped from her bruised forehead.
“Where are you going, bird?”
“Still alive, woman? Then die!”
He flapped his wings, sending razor-sharp blades of wind at her. But she stood her ground. Reaching for her axes, she screamed:
“Yeeeeees! Hahahaha!”
She swung both axes diagonally downward, unleashing vortexes that clashed with the wind blades.
“What are you, human?”
“I told you. A god.”
She shot forward—faster than ever. The bird cloaked himself in wind to defend, and it held—barely—against the first few blows.
“Gods are long gone! What are you really?!”
Rayshel dropped her axes and attacked with her fists. Each strike worsened the state of her hands—but made her punches stronger. She shattered the wind shield, circled the bird, and hugged him from behind.
Then she lifted him into the air andslammed him over her shoulder into the ground.
The impact resembled a massive explosion.
When the dust settled, the bird was on his knees. His back and neck were wrecked. Even raising his head was a struggle.
He wheezed. “This power… you grow stronger the more injured you are.”
“Seems like you recognize it.”
“That’s impossible. You’re mortal. I’m sure of it!”
“Where is your leader?”
“What?”
“I said—where is your leader? Take me to him!”
In the King’s Chamber
Nade was on his knees, struggling for breath. Blood filled his throat, making it hard to breathe. One arm was gone; the other mangled beyond use.
Temphaelsat on his throne, unmoved. Since the first wound he had taken no more.
“It was fun playing with you, ice boy. Got anything left up your sleeves? Show me now.”
Nade staggered to his feet, swaying briefly before standing still.
“You’re a true monster. So that’s what a king candidate can do… Then we’ll throw everything we have at you.”
Elsewhere in the castle
Michael and Michaelawere barely holding on. Their regeneration had slowed; now, it could only heal small wounds. Michael’s missing arm and Michaela’s lost eyes were gone for good.
“We dragged this out too long,” Michael said grimly. “Seems like… my little sister really is gone.”
“Hahaha! You’re saying you’ve been holding back? Arrogant bastard. If you want to end it, do it—but don’t think I’ll let you!”14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwhUHjcwACM
