Chapter 56: The Maiden’s Challenge

Ketia furrowed his brow as he gazed at the smiling Maiden. ‘Ask the Queen for something? What, exactly?’

“Could you please step aside? I don’t wish for unnecessary bloodshed.”

The Maiden’s smile faded, and she pouted, her eyes pleading as she looked at Ketia. But to Ketia, this was a provocation.

After a moment of silence, Ketia clasped his hands together, summoning magic that coalesced into a sword with a wolf totem carved into its blade.

“Everyone, stand back!”

With sword in hand and an aura of invincibility, Ketia addressed the guards surrounding the Maiden.

In truth, the guards had already retreated several dozen meters, forming a circle, the moment Ketia summoned his sword.

Standing on the now-open cobblestone, Ketia pointed his sword at the Maiden.

“It seems we can’t avoid this, can we?”

The Maiden’s drooping eyelids lifted, revealing a deadly intent in her eyes.

Feeling the Maiden’s killing aura, as if she had experienced countless battles, Ketia’s expression grew serious.

“Haa!”

The Maiden let out a piercing scream, and a five-meter-long purple serpentine creature erupted from behind her.

What was that? Ketia watched the unfamiliar creature coil and ready itself, his focus intensifying.

He sensed that he might be defeated.

Gritting his teeth, Ketia conjured a hexagram beneath his feet.

“Rejuvenation! Heal!”

He whispered the incantation, and as the magic array shrunk and merged with his body, he charged at the Maiden with sword in hand.

Seeing the charging figure, the Maiden let out a sharp scream.

The serpentine creature, which had been hovering, suddenly rose and lunged at Ketia.

Ketia swung his sword at the unknown creature.

Clang! Ketia’s brow furrowed slightly as the creature opened a mouth full of fangs and bit his sword.

With a slight twist, Ketia vibrated the sword and pulled it free from the creature’s jaws.

The creature, now slightly displaced by the vibration, flickered its tongue and stared intently at Ketia.

Examining the creature closely, Ketia realized it was a snake with no eyes or nose, only a large, fang-filled maw.

With both hands gripping the sword, Ketia raised it high above his head.

“Flame, Cross-Cutting Gale!”

Magic surged from Ketia’s body into the sword’s blade, connecting with the elements of the earth.

A fierce wind enveloped the sword, and within the wind, flames danced and roared.

Ketia slashed down with the sword.

A cross-shaped blade of red and green energy tore through the snake and the Maiden behind it, like a knife through butter.

“Hissss!”

The snake, startled, slithered back to the Maiden and coiled around her protectively.

The cross-slash struck its mark with a deafening boom, and the shockwave rippled through the area, affecting everyone present.

While the guards around them swayed, Ketia stood firm, his eyes fixed on the explosion’s center.

As the smoke cleared, Ketia’s gaze fell upon the snake. Its once-purple skin was now charred black, with raw, sizzling flesh exposed.

Ketia felt no desire to consume the meat, and in fact, felt a wave of nausea as he saw the wriggling flesh beneath the skin, like maggots.

With a crack, the snake’s skin split and fell away, revealing a new layer beneath.

The snake shook off the remaining charred skin and uncoiled, revealing the Maiden it had been protecting.

The Maiden brushed off imaginary dust from her robes and licked her lips, her eyes locked on Ketia.

“You… you’re just like them. You’re strong.”

Her excitement caused her speech to stutter.

Ketia said nothing, tightening his grip on the sword and holding it in front of him, ready for the Maiden’s next move.

The Maiden reached out to touch the snake, her expression serene.

Suddenly, with a ripping sound, the Maiden tore off what appeared to be the snake’s head.

The snake thrashed wildly, spewing black liquid from its severed end.

Thud! The snake’s body hit the ground.

Ketia watched in silence as the Maiden tore off the snake’s head and began to devour it.

The guards around them, witnessing this gruesome sight, turned away in disgust.

Crunch, crunch. The Maiden wiped the black blood from her mouth with her hand.

A bloody smile spread across her face as she lunged at Ketia.

Seeing the Maiden approach, Ketia seized the moment and swung down with his sword.

Clang! The Maiden caught the sword with her bare hands.

Whether due to the black blood or not, Ketia couldn’t tell if her hands were bleeding.

Ketia’s sharp eyes met the Maiden’s, and he knew something was wrong.

But it was too late.

The Maiden kicked Ketia hard in the abdomen.

Ketia’s expression didn’t change, but a muffled grunt escaped his lips.

The force of the kick sent a gust of wind that pushed the Maiden back. Ketia glanced at his abdomen, where the armor was dented, showing the power behind the Maiden’s kick.

“You’re strong!”

After a moment of silence, Ketia quietly watched the Maiden and spoke.

“Hehe, thanks for the compliment!”

The Maiden giggled, her hands propping up her cheeks.

In that instant, Ketia threw his sword at the Maiden.

The Maiden caught the flying sword with both hands.

Seizing the opportunity, Ketia kicked her chest with all his might, sending her flying several meters before she skidded to a halt.

“Here’s your sword back.”

Ketia smiled as he saw the Maiden spit up blood and stand.

The guards cheered, having enjoyed the spectacle.

“Cough, cough, you really know how to kick, you’ve hurt me!”

The Maiden stood, rubbing her bruised chest with a grin.

Ketia didn’t respond, instead preparing to summon his sword back.

But quickly, he realized something was wrong.

The seemingly lifeless purple snake had somehow wrapped itself around him.

Struggling to free himself, Ketia found the snake’s grip only tightening, making it hard to breathe.

“How’s that? Fun, isn’t it?”

The Maiden approached, her legs spread wide and her hand on Ketia’s face.

A putrid, foul stench filled Ketia’s nostrils, and he glared at the Maiden.

Was she treating him like a plaything?

The constricting sensation grew stronger, and Ketia felt his bones beginning to break.

Anger surged within him, and he clenched his fists.

For the first time in his many battles, he felt the sting of humiliation.

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