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‘Are Bella’s flames made from magic?’
It was simply curiosity.
‘Huh?’
‘You know that flame Bella always uses, is that a type of magic?’
‘Well, technically it’s not magic, is it?’
‘Then how does the fire come about?’
‘How should I explain it… But why is our Lane suddenly asking such a question?’
‘Just curious! Is it something you can’t talk about?’
‘Of course not.’
Smiling gently, Bella said that she could answer Elaine’s questions if she wanted to. She was the sweetest and warmest person in the world, always acting as if she would do anything and give anything.
‘I’m only telling this to Lane…’
The way she bowed her head, the mischievous twinkle in her eye, the clarity of her voice, as if she was telling Elaine something intimate.
So, this was…
‘Burning mana.’
Ki-e-e-e-!
The swarm of monsters that covered the entire area let out a piercing scream amid bright blue flames.
A witch who received mana’s love could use mana infinitely and could manipulate it as easily as breathing and turn it into blazing flames.
It was a witch’s power from the beginning of time.
Elaine looked ahead with unwavering eyes.
The flames that started around her quickly covered the entire area like burning oil and spread throughout the monster’s nest.
The bright blue flames burned the grass and trees and engulfed the monsters that were infesting the mountain. Bone and hide melted in the flames as they flooded toward the castle walls. A horrific screech shook the sky.
Kyaaaaaaa!
A place that has been the fear of the continent since before the kingdom’s birth. A monstrous mountain that no one dared to set foot on because of its notoriety alone.
Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of monsters spawned there, howling in the face of a single human.
It was a violent and overwhelming sight.
But it wasn’t over yet. The great shadow over Elaine’s head moved slowly.
The legendary golem stood tall, undaunted by the witch’s flames.
It was much sturdier than an ordinary golem and its height was as steep as a cliff. Even when the surface of its body was assaulted by the flames, the giant was still huge and felt no pain.
Agractus walked towards the walls of Killiard.
“Not there.”
A huge pillar of fire blocked the giant’s path.
“You can’t move even one step from here.”
She would never let it go to where Ash was. Her icy gaze glared at the creature.
The giant turned slowly toward her, and in the next instant, a leg the size of a castle slammed down on her head.
Kwaaang-!
As if a bomb had hit, dirt erupted in all directions and the ground in the area collapsed. Elaine had already jumped up to avoid the attack. The attack was so wide that she barely dodged it even though she’d jumped so far.
The giant’s fist slammed into Elaine as she leapt, sending her crashing through the trees. Its other fist the size of a house slammed into the mountain.
The high peak shattered like a toy and a huge pile of dirt rained down on her.
She created a shield of flame to block it. The mound of dirt, enough to bury a man, turned into ashes and scattered in the air.
It would take a fire as strong as the one that burned the nest to bring it down.
‘But…’
Elaine crouched down onto the floor and took a deep breath. She bit down on the flesh in her mouth to stave off the growing pain.
Even if a witch can use infinite mana, the number of monsters in the nest that have been breeding for hundreds of years was immeasurable. The mana near her heart swirled frantically, igniting the flames that would consume them all.
‘It’s hot.’
Her heart was so hot it felt like it was on fire. If she created a bigger flame here, would it really burn her heart?
She turned her head and looked at the city walls. She recalled the people beyond them.
Sophia and Cezanne, Lowell and Hilaire. People who were fighting desperately to protect this castle, the new connections she’d formed here. And…
‘Ash.’
Killiard was his home. The miracles he created, the effort he’s put in, and the position he made for himself.
The way the people looked at him with gratitude and respect, not curses. She knew what Killiard meant to him.
She would never let it be destroyed.
Nothing that was dear to her, including Ash.
Even if it meant sacrificing this heart.
Agractus threw his arms up into the air as Elaine stretched out her hand toward the giant.
Once again, a strong flame erupted. Hotter and more fierce. A fire that would burn down everything in its path.
* * *
It’s really over now.
The moment Agractus appeared, that one sentence engulfed the people’s minds.
A legendary golem of overwhelming size and power.
Thud.
The giant took a step toward the city walls. A thunderous crack rang out, causing the creatures beneath its feet to burst like insects.
With one swing of its fist, the walls would collapse and the city would be devastated.
The soldiers went pale, and the knights looked defeated. Ash bit his lip until it bled.
“Argh!”
Meanwhile, the monsters continued to surge forward.
They rushed through the gap in the shield that had widened even further. They gritted their teeth and fought, but as their physical strength reached its limit, they fell one by one. Ash’s eyes narrowed.
They were all swinging their swords desperately, but he could see the despair on their faces.
They, and the people of the territory, were caught up in a disaster because of him. Still, there was nothing he could do.
Can I protect them?
“Oh, no, the shield…!”
As if in answer, a crackling sound pierced his ears, and the shield began to splinter like a spider’s web.
The end was nearer than the giant approach. Nothing could stop it.
Cracks spread all around.
Jang-!
Kyaaaaa!
A sharp burst erupted, like a scream, and with it, the translucent shield shattered. The wave of monsters immediately crashed against the city walls.
The next moments played in slow motion.
A blinding flame erupted, and the flames consumed the wave of black monsters.
No one understood what’d just happened. The blue flames were blazing hot. Countless monsters were screaming in the flames.
As if a line had been drawn, the flames didn’t cross the city walls in the slightest. Not a single monster was allowed to pass.
Like a receding tide, the black waves of monsters were reduced to ash and erased. Beyond it, the monster’s nest burned blue.
The power of the flames was unmistakable, and everyone knew whose symbol the blue color was.
“Witch…?”
Someone spoke up in a trembling voice. Everyone was looking at the same scene.
Not just those on the walls, but everyone in Killiard.
The countless residents of the territory who were taking refuge from the monsters, the guards and knights who evacuated them, and the people who’d lost the will to run away and were waiting for death.
Ah-
Flames burning like they were dealing judgment covered the mountain of monsters and soon engulf even the mighty giant. The giant’s struggling body melted in the lava-like flames. The sight of the ancient monster collapsing didn’t seem realistic.
“Ahhh…”
It was a terrifying and overwhelming sight, but strangely enough, it didn’t fill them with fear. Rather, it filled them with…
“Oh, my God…”
Awe.
As the flames slowly died down, like the scythe of judgment being withdrawn, there were murmurs of wonder and sighs of relief flowing from everywhere. A few people slumped back onto the ground, weak.
“Oh, my God, the witch saved us!”
“No way…!”
“How did this happen?”
“But we’re alive, we lived!”
“It’s a miracle!”
The thrill of survival swept through.
Hilaire watched the scene, still in disbelief. She turned her head toward Ash.
“…Your Grace?”
But he wasn’t there.
He’d long since left in search of something.
