<h4>Chapter 59: Chapter 58: Dark God''s Territory (5)</h4>


    A red de filled the entire field of vision.


    Focusing, Seratiunched a counterattack.


    Boom!


    The sh of battle aura sent shockwaves in all directions.


    The impact caused the trees to shake, and the ground to crack, sending up clouds of dust.


    Through the thick dust, a red-haired woman emerged, panting heavily.


    "Huff, huff..."


    The vampire aura user, Durald with the red eyes, muttered in admiration.


    "Quite the skill for someone so young."


    His praise was nothing more than the indulgence of someone in a favorable position.


    "But you''re still no match for me!"


    Once again, the aura de came flying at her.


    Serati narrowly avoided it, gritting her teeth.


    <i>''What''s with this talk about age? He doesn''t even look that experienced.''</i>


    They had already shed several times. Thanks to that, she had gauged her opponent''s skill.


    In terms of aura, there wasn''t much difference. In fact, she even had a slight advantage.


    Swordsmanship? She could hold her own.


    As for age, Durald was more than 10 years older than Serati, but when it came to experience, there wasn''t much of a gap.


    He had only fought in limited scenarios as a knight of the count family.


    On the other hand, Serati was an adventurer.


    Even though her time was short, she had experienced far more varied battles.


    Especially recently, she had gained a lot of experience fighting several necromancers.


    As an aura user, there was nothing where Seratigged behind Durald.


    Yet she was being overwhelmed.


    Simply because of his superior strength and speed.


    "Hah!"


    With a shout, Durald swung his aura sword down.


    It was a simple strike. Normally, she would have blocked it and countered right away.


    But Serati could only struggle to hold her ground.


    "Grr!"


    The moment she blocked, an immense force pressed down on both her shoulders.


    Durald immediatelyunched a series of strikes. The aura sword danced as it pierced left and right.


    "Take this!"


    This time, Serati barely managed to dodge.


    But all she could do was avoid the attacks, without finding any chance to counter.


    <i>''If I try to counter, I''ll get hit.''</i>


    Feeling constantly pressured, she ground her teeth.


    She could see where he was aiming, but she was still overwhelmed by his strength.


    She knew the trajectory of the next attack, but the speed left her unable to react.


    <i>''Damn vampires, they''re so annoying...''</i>


    With the physical abilities of a vampire enhanced by the power of aura, it created a destructive force that wouldn''t be possible for a normal red-tier aura user.


    So why couldn''t a Red Knight produce such destructive power?


    Because the moment someone could do that, they were already beyond a Red Knight—they were at the level of a Blue Knight.


    But then, was Durald at the level of a Blue Knight? Not really.


    He couldn''t masterfully wield the techniques like a blue-level aura user. His skills were just average.


    <i>''My swordsmanship isn''tcking, but I''m being overpowered by his strength!''</i>


    She was now experiencing firsthand what the ordinary knights she had fought must have felt.


    Seizing the upper hand, Durald shouted triumphantly.


    "Taste the power bestowed upon me by Tesranak!"


    "You''re just a vampire who got stronger, how is that divine power?"


    "Even as I be a vampire, my aura shines! If this isn''t divine power, then what is?"


    "Oh, well, that does sound somewhat convincing..."


    Muttering absently, Serati shook her head.


    <i>''This isn''t the time to be persuaded.''</i>


    Anyway, she was in trouble.


    Fortunately, her otherrades seemed to be fighting well, but it didn''t mean much.


    If it''s the current Durald, he could probably take on Tarman''s group, the hidden strength of Karnak, and even Baros. If Serati lost, herrades would be in danger too.


    Of course, if it came to that, Karnak would reveal his true power and take down Durald...


    <i>''But then Tarman''s group would all die anyway!''</i>


    Even if they didn''t die, they''d likely suffer severe mental trauma.


    It was a situation where she absolutely couldn''t afford to lose, for the sake of Tarman''s group.


    Sweat slowly began to soak Serati''s back.


    ''What should I do?''


    ***


    Karnak, observing the situation, sent a magic message.


    [Hey, Baros. If this continues, Serati is going to lose, isn''t she?]


    Just because he was a novice in swordsmanship didn''t mean he was a novice in battle.


    With all the battles he had experienced in his previous life, he could roughly assess the situation just by looking.


    [It''s good to let Serati develop her skills, but isn''t it about time to switch out?]


    Baros shook his head.


    [It''s impossible.]


    But it wasn''t as if he had intentionally pushed Durald onto Serati.


    [If I go up against him, I''ll definitely lose. Didn''t you see what happened when I fought Maz-nun?]


    [Then isn''t that a problem? Even if you would lose, Serati doesn''t stand a chance. She''s weaker than you.]


    [But Serati''s physical abilities aren''t ascking as mine, right?]


    The gap that Baros could currently handle was just about the same as Serati''s. If it widened any further, even his techniques would be ineffective.


    [That''s why you held back when I fought Randolph before, wasn''t it?]


    At that time, he had just recently regressed. While he had all the skills and experience in his head, it was impossible to utilize them with an untrained body.


    It was the same when fighting the demon Maz-nun.


    By then, he had trained quite a bit, so he could execute all his techniques, but he was so overwhelmingly outmatched physically that he couldn''t do anything.


    [Instead of wless techniques that won''t work, there''s a higher chance of victory with crude techniques that at least have a chance.]


    [And what if you lose? Are you going to make me use necromancy again?]


    [We have a safer method. Let''s use n P, n P.]


    [Oh, right, that''s an option.]


    Finally, Karnak sighed in relief.


    Indeed, if it was just a matter of having Baros possess Serati, it could be done without Tarman''s group noticing.


    Of course, this would have serious consequences for Serati''s mental health...


    [She''ll go mad after about three times, so there''s still some leeway with one more use.]


    For the record, Karnak and Baros weren''t the only ones in this "secret magicmunication."


    Serati, who had been fighting desperately, shuddered.


    [Excuse me! I can hear everything!]


    They had warned her she might go mad, and now they were casually discussing doing it again?


    Karnak tried to soothe her.


    [It''s okay. You''ve got one more use left.]


    [But weren''t you saving it for a real emergency!]


    [This looks pretty urgent to me.]


    Serati gritted her teeth. Her mind sharpened with determination.


    A moment ago, she was only worried about the safety of Tarman''s group, but now it had be her own problem.


    <i>''I have to win! I absolutely can''t lose!''</i>


    Serati''s resolve intensified.


    Two times might be okay? How could she trust that? It''sing from someone who''s totally untrustworthy!


    <i>''If I lose here, I might end up mentally broken!''</i>


    Her battle aura sharpened like a de, and a fierce determination surged through her entire body.


    Seeing her sudden shift, Durald''s expression changed as well.


    <i>''What''s this? She''s not just determined, she''s fighting like her life depends on it!''</i>


    ***


    Serati fought desperately, again and again.


    "Hah! Haa!"


    Earlier, "desperately" was just a figure of speech, but now it was truly a life-or-death situation.


    You might think that going mad doesn''t mean losing your life, but...


    <i>''There''s no way that guy would take care of a servant who''s no longer useful!''</i>


    Given what she knew of Karnak''s personality, he was very likely to discard her immediately!


    "Aaaaaaah!"


    In the face of her terrifying resolve, Durald could no longer move as confidently as before.


    <i>''Why did she suddenly change like this!''</i>


    Thanks to this, what had been a one-sided situation turned into a fierce, evenly-matched battle.


    Serati and Durald exchanged blows with their aura swords, neither side yielding an inch.


    Boom! Boom! Boom!


    Even so, victory still seemed unlikely.


    Though she barely managed to maintain a bnced fight, it wasn''t enough to overturn the situation. At this rate, she would eventually be pushed back again.


    <i>''Ahhhh...''</i>


    Serati''s face grew pale as she swung her aura sword.


    <i>''Am I really going to have my body taken over again?''</i>


    For a moment, she even thought that might not be so bad.


    In fact, she had often wanted to feel that sensation again.


    <i>''No! Get a grip, Serati! Just thinking like that is dangerous!''</i>


    And then it happened.


    [Looks like we won''t need n P after all.]


    Karnak''s rxed voice came through the magicmunication.


    [At this rate, she''ll win.]


    Baros had a simr reaction.


    [Exactly. It seems all that training paid off.]


    Serati was taken aback.


    <i>''I''m going to win?''</i>


    Why were they so confident that she would win? Serati herself couldn''t see a way out of this situation at all!


    <i>''What do they mean it was worth all the training?''</i>


    While she was lost in such confusion, Serati''s aura sword unexpectedly slipped through Durald''s barrage.


    Even Serati herself didn''t understand why she had moved that way...


    "Huh!"


    Durald recoiled in fright.


    By sheer chance, her attack had perfectly targeted the moment he was adjusting his stance.


    As a result, the previously even battle flow waspletely disrupted.


    "Huh?"


    Though confused, Serati immediatelyunched a counterattack.


    The red aura snaked around, aiming at Durald from all directions.


    Having been pushed back once, Durald''s movements suddenly became sluggish. He retreated in a panic, gritting his teeth.


    "Damn, did she have a hidden move?"


    <i>''...A hidden move?''</i>


    Her mind was in chaos, but her body continued executing the next actions wlessly.


    Serati''s consecutive thrusts targeted Durald''s left side. Once again, her aura sword slipped perfectly through his defenses.


    "...Huh?"


    Only a momentter did she realize what she had done.


    "Oh..."


    This was it.


    This was why Baros, even without having fully awakened his own aura, could toy with Serati, an aura user.


    No matter how strong or fast Durald''s attacks were, the speed of the stance changes that initiated those attacks couldn''t match.


    So the key wasn''t to aim at the oing de or Durald''s body, but at Durald''s very intent.


    <i>''So this was it...''</i>


    With this realization, Serati''s movements became more fluid.


    Her aura sword smoothly traced circles, continuously attacking Durald from all sides.


    And yet, she kept feeling a sense of doubt...


    "Huh?"


    And with each doubt came an answer.


    "Oh..."


    Meanwhile, Durald was on the verge of losing his mind.


    <i>''What is this?''</i>


    The opponent he had been underestimating had suddenly be strangely powerful, uttering weird sounds andunching bizarre counterattacks.


    <i>''What the hell? Is it a spell? Or some kind of sorcery?''</i>


    Why were these strange mutterings apanied by such eerie counterattacks?


    Again, Serati''s aura sword pierced through his defenses.


    "Huh?"


    Just as he tried to block it, he was hit by another unstoppable flurry of strikes.


    "Oh..."


    Blood began to stter from Durald''s body.


    These were injuries inflicted by aura that even his vampire physique couldn''t withstand.


    <i>''This can''t be happening!''</i>


    The arrogance on his face twisted into a grimace.


    <i>''This can''t be happening!''</i>


    Despair began to cloud the face of the once-proud fallen knight.


    <i>''Tesranak granted me this new power!''</i>


    Durald raised his sword high above his head, channeling all his aura into it. Ignoring his own safety, he prepared to unleash a desperate, final strike.


    "Gahhhh."


    Seeing this, Serati frowned.


    <i>''Wow, how dirty!''</i>


    His actions screamed, ''If I go down, you''reing with me! But I''m a vampire, so I won''t actually die!''


    If she tried to exploit an opening like before, she would likely lose an arm.


    So should she back off? Should she give up the hard-won advantage?


    At that moment, her eyes calmed.


    <i>''Do I really need to?''</i>


    She didn''t think it was necessary.


    ''I''m an evil necromancer''s subject now, aren''t I?''


    Thanks to bing a subject, she had regained the arms she once lost.


    <i>''So what if I lose an arm? He will just reattach it anyway!''</i>


    With a cold smile, she stepped forward, swinging her aura sword in a horizontal sh.


    Both sides abandoned concern for their own safety in a mad sh of strikes.


    Swish!


    The battle was decided.


    Durald''s red de sank halfway into Serati''s right arm, spraying blood...


    Drip, drip, drip...


    At the same time, her sword sliced cleanly through his neck.


    Schk!


    Durald''s head flew into the air with a chilling sound.


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