Chapter 125: Reunion
The wind howled like a banshee, and all I heard was a loud KABOOM right before everything spun into chaos.
The impact was unlike anything I’d ever felt—like a mountain smashing into me, heavy enough to take my breath away. For a fleeting moment, all I could do was haphazardly cover myself with a frost shield while plummeting downwards, trying to adjust my falling position while casting a chilly gust of air to slow my descent.
“Um… ugh…”
My cheeks turned crimson, and I struggled to catch my breath. My vision cleared, but all I could hear was the roar of the wind. A moment later, in the brief return to clarity, I realized one dreadful thing…
My skirt was a wreck, completely burnt to a crisp, leaving my pumpkin pants peeking out in all their glory.
Ugh!
Thank goodness it wasn’t a full-on wardrobe malfunction; at least my most private layers were still hidden. Still, I instinctively reached down to cover up, a reflex that, of course, meant I could no longer spray ice mist with my palm.
So, down I went, accelerating toward the ground, swaying like a leaf in the high-altitude chaos. The burning city below, with its tightly packed buildings and ruins, drew nearer with alarming speed. My mind blanked for a moment before it kicked back in, one hand clutching my shorts, the other booming out ICE MIST like a machine g*n—
BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG!
With each icy blast, my descent slowed slightly, only for me to pick up speed again, constantly repeating this, the north side of the city getting closer each time.
Whooooosh—
“Hey, hey, hey… oh no!”
BAM!
The wind was relentless, swirling me around like a rag doll, and despite my best attempts to kick my legs and flap my arms like a madbird, I just couldn’t stabilize my landing.
With a muffled thud, my dazed brain was knocked back into confusion, my ears ringing like a broken bell, and as dirt flew everywhere, a sensation shot through my backside, promptly transforming into a tearing pain that rocketed up my spine.
“Ah… hiss…”
I split open…
My arms hung in the air as I grinned and bared it, so painful I could barely move.
Darn it…
I didn’t expect that sixth council member to pull a sneaky on me in this way…
Ouch!!
After what felt like an eternity, the intense pain began to recede, and finally, I could take a deep breath, opening my mouth wide for air before gradually exhaling. Bracing myself on the ground, I slowly stood up, straightened my back, and just froze there.
Still too scared to move.
I rubbed my sore backside with one hand while the other tugged at my tattered skirt, frowning seriously. I raised my head to the sky, feeling the lingering ache.
The swirling flames had died down, with thick black smoke hanging beneath the clouds, transforming into a massive dark mass. Scattered embers fell from the night sky, hitting the charred streets and chaotic ruins, one landing at my feet, igniting briefly before I kicked it away, grimacing.
Owie owie owie…
I stood still, pretending to contemplate the night sky.
As the black cloud slowly began to dissipate, the pain lingered like a bad joke on a bad sitcom.
Above, there was no trace of the sixth council member anymore.
…Dying like that felt a tad too merciful for him.
“Hmph.”
I couldn’t help but pout, feeling annoyed while secretly relieved.
The explosion from the ‘bl**d sacrifice’ phase was even more terrifying than I imagined. If I hadn’t had pure, powerful infernal fire on my side, I probably would’ve been blown to smithereens with half of Alectine City. I’d have been forced to unleash chaotic powers just to survive.
Thank goodness that s*icide attack ended up being a bust…
Looking back on it, I still shiver at the thought.
The pain in my backside finally subsided.
I sighed and dusted off my chest and skirt while moving my legs, glancing down at my wardrobe situation… there were holes galore at the waist of my skirt, exposing my stomach and giving a cheeky peek at my pants. Not exactly the best look…
At least my top half was still decent—nothing scandalous was showing. Otherwise, I’d have to make a beeline for the nearest exit… or conjure up some black armor. But that might lead to exposing the power of the Abyss…
Just then, I heard rapid hoofbeats approaching from my left.
“Lady Silvya—”
A voice shouted my name.
I turned to find a group of Golden Armored Knights thundering towards me from the wreckage-strewn streets, led by the very eager Safiros, his armor splattered with bl**d, clearly having seen better days. He bore down on me with a sword in hand, concern etched across his face.
“Are you okay?! Did you get hurt?!”
“I…”
“DON’T YOU DARE SAY NO!”
KABOOM—
A massive figure cloaked in radiant light leaped from behind the fiery wreckage, crashing down with the force of a meteor, pulverizing the ground beneath. He approached us, bl**d-splattered face glancing around. He looked up and asked, “Is the one who made that fog dead?”
“Yup.”
I nodded.
“HA-HAAAA!” Isaac burst into wild laughter, closing the distance and giving me an overzealous once-over before clapping a hand on my shoulder like a bear. “Wow! You really forced that guy to self-destruct, and you walked away! My ears are still ringing, top-notch work!”
“Ow! That hurt!”
WHAM—I punched Isaac in the waist, and he stumbled back two steps, cackling all the while, “Ha! So, you’re not hurt, right?! You look completely frazzled… your bloomers are practically out for everyone to see!”
!!!
As soon as the bald goof said that, the knights around us erupted in laughter, some turning their heads away but still sneaking glances… Ah, I caught sight of Safiros struggling not to crack up.
“THIS IS NOT DISGRACEFUL! IT’S AN… EMERGENCY PANTY!”
I shot forward, indignant, kicking him in the shins. BAM! He tumbled over, hitting the ground with a spectacular thud.
“BAHAHAHA—”
Laughter erupted around me.
THUMP THUMP THUMP…
From the rubble, more hoofbeats were coming closer.
The golden lights of the northern city shone brightly while scattered heretics tried to flee through dark alleys only to be swiftly caught and taken down. Cheers rang out as bits of infernal fire extinguished under the onslaught. What started off as an intense fight gradually morphed into a one-sided chase, as the surviving heretics scuttled through the city, desperately evading the relentless knights.
Most of the heretics, witnessing that jaw-dropping explosion in the sky, had already lost any will to fight—they understood what those flames meant: the defeat and d*ath of the sixth council member.
The tide of battle was irreversible.
In the dark, a young knight named Barry raced down several streets, holding Lilith’s hand, sprinting towards the sound of cheers. Arriving at the street’s edge, he spotted a familiar petite figure surrounded by the knights.
For reasons unknown to him, tears welled up in Barry’s eyes.
“Silvya… sister…”
He stood at the edge of the street, emotions boiling over as he trembled, wanting to shout her name and rush forward to embrace her warmth.
He pictured that moment vividly in his mind.
But his legs felt glued to the ground, unwilling to budge.
Among the cheering crowd, the excited knights, and clerics displayed stern expressions, but their faces shone with unmistakable delight. All eyes were on the small, familiar, beautiful girl in the center, drawing the same adoration from everyone as Barry’s—eyes filled with an intense yearning for their beloved heroine.
It was as if they were witnessing a long-awaited hero.
“Barry…”
A woman behind him seemed to call out, saying something, but he couldn’t focus on her words at all.
His lips trembled, and his hands shook uncontrollably.
Over that year, he’d envisioned countless reunions, dreaming of the day he’d stride into her view dressed in shining armor atop a magnificent steed, presenting himself as a valiant knight—perhaps earning her gaze.
Maybe then, she’d notice him.
With quivering lips, he scanned the crowd, fixated on her—the girl he’d once spent every day with—his Silvya, surrounded by mighty warriors of the First Knights Order, true heroes capable of driving out heretics from the city, treating her with reverence.
He watched as a hulking figure cloaked in Pope Knight armor picked her up and tossed her into the air. She frantically tugged at her skirt, shouting something that got drowned out in the waves of cheers from the knights, who raised their arms high, lost in exhilaration.
In that triumphant atmosphere, the broken city turned alive, mirrored in the fiery hearts of all present.
Barry clenched his fists, standing on the opposite side of the street, feeling a tinge of red in his eyes as he watched from a distance.
At this moment, he and the girl he longed for, Koer, were scarcely a street apart.
Yet he suddenly felt hopelessly distant, like he might never reach her side.
“Hey…”
A knight clad in gold armor approached, glancing back at Barry. He paused.
The knight seemed to notice Barry’s armor style and furrowed his brow, asking, “Are you… from the Third Knights Order? Are you okay, brother? Are you alone? Did you get hurt? What’s your name?”
Barry dazedly shook his head.
The knight walked closer. “Which squad are you from? What are you doing here? Just you? Are you hurt? What’s your name?”
“…Barry.”
“Oh.”
Upon hearing the young knight’s name, the knight’s eyes widened in surprise.
“What did you say your name was?”
