Chapter 36: Nice to Meet You

A collision of immense force.
A dull thud accompanied the spreading shockwave, splashing water high into the air.
The monster was sent flying backward by Elvira’s blow, crashing directly into the wreckage of a ship in the distance.

But Elvira didn’t seem to have it easy either.
The immense force shook her, and she had to take three consecutive steps back to stabilize herself.
I saw Elvira’s right leg lift and then fall, as if it had gone numb from the shock and she was trying to get the feeling back.

How is that possible?
This was the first time I had seen Elvira at a disadvantage in terms of physical strength.
Even the Grand Inquisitor of the church, that steel giant over three meters tall, couldn’t completely overpower Elvira physically.
At most, they were evenly matched.

What is the origin of this monster?!

“Elvira, are you okay? Anyway, the eye is back now.
Why don’t we just leave?
There’s no need to continue fighting with that monster.”

“Something’s not right around here. I’m afraid we won’t be able to leave for a while,” Elvira looked back at me, her pupils shining with a brilliant light like molten gold.
“Verona, I’ve said it before. Please, trust me.”

In my line of sight, from the wreckage of the ship the monster had crashed into, several thick wooden pillars shot out like arrows, their targets clearly being me and Elvira.

My worried expression froze on my face.
I watched as the wooden pillars got closer and closer.
Just as they were about to hit Elvira, the next moment, she moved.

With a wave of her hand, lightning thicker than the pillars shot across the beach.
After a series of crackling sounds, the pillars shattered into flying splinters, and the monster’s figure emerged.

It actually used the attack to hide itself?!
This monster has a brain??

The intelligence displayed by the monster shocked me, but Elvira wouldn’t drop the ball at a time like this.

I saw her raise her jade-like hand and make a grasping motion.
A bolt of crimson lightning fell from the gray sky into Elvira’s hand, instantly forming a lightning spear.
With a forceful throw, the lightning spear accurately hit the monster.

The twisted humanoid figure was shot down.
It immediately leaped back, creating a distance of several tens of meters, and crouched in the distance, staring at us.

“Find a place to hide. It’ll be over soon,” Elvira said, then leaned forward, her knees slightly bent.
The next moment, she shot out like an arrow from a bow, straight towards the monster.

In an instant, the monster’s long, grotesque cries and the roar of lightning echoed across the entire beach.
The two figures flashed and moved, exchanging blows no less than ten times in just a few seconds.

For now, Elvira showed no signs of fatigue, but I couldn’t just stand by and watch.
I had to do something…
Elvira said something was not right around here just now… What did she mean?

I looked around.
The scenery was the same as when we arrived, with no changes.
I gritted my teeth and quickly walked in the direction we came from, but unexpectedly, I bumped into something after just two steps.

“Ugh!”

A cry of pain escaped my lips.
My weak body was knocked to the ground by the impact, and I fell hard.
The seawater soaked my leggings, skirt hem, and sleeves, chilling me to the bone.

This was no time to cry out in pain.
I struggled to get up without a pause and looked up at the spot where I had bumped into something, but I found nothing.

…Could it be.

With a probing mind, I reached out my hand.
As expected, in front of what seemed to be empty space, I touched a wall.
This wall was completely invisible, and no matter how hard I pushed, I couldn’t move it an inch.

A transparent barrier??
This thing wasn’t here just now…
Does that monster also know how to set traps to lure its enemies in?

I looked back, worried that the monster had other traps.
If so, Elvira would be in danger.
But their battlefield seemed to be getting farther and farther away, and I couldn’t see clearly…
So I squinted my eyes and craned my neck.

Suddenly, at the far edge of the coast, a chilling white light flickered continuously, emitting a strange aura.
I had a feeling in my heart that the formation of this barrier was inseparable from it.

Instead of guessing and probing randomly, it would be better to go over and see.
What if… that white light is really the energy source of the barrier?

After making up my mind, I began to move towards the edge of the coast, trying my best to avoid Elvira and the monster’s battlefield.
I used the scattered wreckage of the ships as cover and slowly approached the white light.

The process was smooth.
The monster didn’t notice me, but my body was disappointingly weak, causing my legs to feel as heavy as lead.
Naturally, my speed was also very slow.

After an unknown amount of time, the sound of the fight grew more and more intense.
Lightning flashed and roars shook the heavens.
I was only a few steps away from the edge of the coast.
After one last look at Elvira to confirm that she was okay, I ran out of the wreckage with all my might and knelt down beside the white light.

At this distance, the chilling white light was very dazzling, like a needle piercing my eye sockets.
Tears flowed out uncontrollably, but even so, I still saw the true face of the white light.

A small, white baby’s skull, so white it was unsettling.
The shape of the skull was strange.
At a glance, it was hard to believe that it was a human skull.

This is the thing, right…

Shing—

The short knife was unsheathed.
I gritted my teeth and held the short blade Elvira gave me in a reverse grip, and stabbed straight down at the skull!

Clang—!

Unexpectedly, under my full-force strike, the skull was unharmed, but my hand went numb from the shock.

Damn it… my body, I need more strength.

Undeterred, I stabbed the skull several more times, but to no avail.
I couldn’t even leave a scratch.

“Awoooooooh!!”

Suddenly, a grotesque and strange roar shook the heavens and the earth.
I hurriedly turned around and saw the monster leap into the air and quickly towards me.
Its two hook-like claws were spread open, as if it wanted to swallow me whole.

“Verona! Get out of the way!”

Elvira’s panicked voice came at almost the same time, but I knew that even if I moved, it would be useless.
Instead…

I’ll take the risk.

“Ugh! Ugh, ah!!”

I stabbed the skull again and again, as if my life depended on it.
The sound of the monster cutting through the air got closer and closer, as if the next second it would appear behind me and take my life.

Looking at the still intact skull in front of me, I made a firm decision.

So, I turned the short blade and slashed my wrist.
Blood flowed out and turned into black and red thorns, wrapping around the blade.
I took a deep breath and poured all my strength into this one blow.

All or nothing, break for me!

Crack, crack— crack—

The short knife fell, and the skull shattered with a sound.
At the same time, the surrounding environment was like a shattered mirror, and the dim yellow moon also shattered and dissipated along with it.

I was overjoyed.

“Great! Elvira, I did—”

The moment I turned my head, a pair of rolled-back white eyes entered my vision.
In the whites of its eyes, I saw my own panicked and helpless face.
A foul stench assaulted my sense of smell.
My body was as if gripped by invisible hands, unable to move.

The sharp claws spread open and slammed down.

Looking at the claws that were constantly enlarging in my vision, my mind went blank.
Only one thought appeared in my heart.

It’s over…

“Dragon Language: Blazing Thunder!”

The night sky lit up, reflecting a slender figure with wings.
She stood between heaven and earth, surrounded by crimson lightning, like a god descending.
Her brilliant golden eyes were like those of a reigning monarch.

The next moment, her figure turned into a golden-red flash of lightning and dived down.
In an instant, she pierced through the monster’s body, impaling the twisted creature.
Countless more bolts of lightning fell from the sky, striking the monster.

Finally, red lightning gathered behind Elvira, forming a towering dragon’s shadow.
With an unparalleled, army-breaking momentum, it submerged the monster, sinking it to the bottom of the sea and stirring up a monstrous wave.

My body sank into softness.
Inky black dragon wings served as an umbrella, shielding me from the seawater.
Elvira and I held each other tightly.
Through her body and clothes, I could hear her heavy and anxious heartbeat.

Her breathing was heavy, and her full chest heaved violently.
Her golden pupils trembled, full of post-panic fear.

“Cough, cough… Verona, are you okay? Are you injured…”

“I’m fi—Elvira, you’re bleeding!”

Her crimson lips were pale, and the corners of her mouth were red.
Elvira’s complexion at this moment was on par with mine.

“It’s not serious, just a side effect of that last blow.
As long as you’re okay… as long as you’re okay.”

After the fierce battle, Elvira’s scent was strong.
She held me and buried her head in my chest.
Her breath tickled me.
This grown person was now like Little Nia.
I also stroked her back to soothe her emotions.

After that terrifying blow, the sea was calm.
All the wreckage had been swept away by the towering crimson lightning.
The tranquility after the storm was like the peace after the rain.

After my constant comforting, Elvira’s breathing gradually calmed down, and her emotions also stabilized.
But she still held on to her original posture, unwilling to let go.

“Feeling better?” I asked softly.
“If you’re feeling better, let’s go. Let’s get out of this wretched place quickly.”

“Mm…” Elvira’s voice was muffled.
The head buried in my soft flesh nodded, which made me quite embarrassed.
If it weren’t for what had just happened, I would have thought she was taking advantage of me.

However, the next part of our journey will most likely be even more arduous.
Needless to say, my condition is bad.
Now Elvira has also suffered considerable trauma.
With our combat power greatly reduced, we have to be careful with every step…

While thinking about random things, I looked back at the sea, gazing at the horizon.
The moonlight spread over it, paving a pure white staircase.
The staircase was as if sprinkled with a layer of salt…
Suddenly, the sea exploded!
A horrifyingly huge maw burst out of the water.
The barbs in its mouth were like sharp knives, stabbing towards us…

The monster isn’t dead?! How is that possible?!
No… I can’t dodge.

I don’t know how ugly my expression is right now.
Elvira in my arms had just managed to lift her head.
Her red, swollen eyes had not yet captured the deadly killing intent.

The world slowed down at this moment.

My body was filled with unprecedented strength.
This was the first time I had overpowered Elvira physically.
I ripped off her arms that were holding me, and then pushed with all my might.
Her devastatingly beautiful face, full of confusion, flew backward.

The rotten, foul smell from the giant maw had already rushed into my nostrils.
Without thinking, I held the short blade to my neck.
I looked at Elvira, gave a light smile, and performed a parting ritual.

“It was nice to meet you, Elvira… goodbye.”

The next moment, with a forceful movement of my arm, the short knife slit my throat.
The act of suicide and the giant maw fell at almost the same time…