Chapter 44: The Valkyrie’s Last Stand

Colossal waves crashed and a furious gale howled as blood-soaked monsters roared, their cries echoing across the crimson sea. They churned the waters, sending towering columns skyward, all the while chanting blasphemous verses amidst the gore-stained expanse.

“Spear of Glory—” Amidst the colossal, pillar-like spouts of water, Thrud’s diminutive figure darted across the ocean’s surface. A radiant light coalesced into a long spear, clutched firmly in her grasp, as she ceaselessly severed the pale, grasping arms that lunged at her.

In a world consumed by darkness and the crimson hue of blood, her singular radiance shone with a dazzling, almost sacred brilliance.

“Haaah—” Thrud bellowed, sidestepping a thick tentacle that lashed out at her. With her swift movement, the tip of her spear carved a long, thin gash across the limb. Light erupted from the wound, surging along its length before detonating with a deafening roar from the tentacle. One after another, massive pillars of light shot into the heavens, unleashing yet another ferocious tsunami.

She had long since lost track of how many days she had spent battling these monstrosities—one, two, three, or perhaps even more; the concept of time had blurred. All she knew was the relentless drain on her stamina. The monsters, however, seemed to multiply endlessly, each one slain replaced by another, each group decimated by a fresh wave, their sheer numbers a source of profound despair.

It felt as though their eradication was an impossible, eternal task.

Just as the tentacle behind her exploded into morbid blossoms of black blood, Thrud abruptly vaulted into the air. In the same instant, countless iridescent bubbles surged from beneath her feet, hurtling directly towards her. Instead of pressing forward, Thrud deftly retreated, gripping the middle of her spear and spinning it with a single hand.

The violent whirlwind instantly dispersed the onslaught of bubbles, transforming wisps of air into sharp, piercing arrows that shattered each one before they could fully scatter.

As the bubbles burst, several more eyes erupted from the sea, lunging directly at Thrud’s back. From these grotesque orbs, spikes wreathed in black mist shot forth, whistling through the air as they aimed for the nape of her neck.

In the split second before the spikes could strike, Thrud caught their reflection in her spear. A surge of energy instantly coursed to her nape, and just as the barbs threatened to pierce her skin, a golden burst of power repelled the attacking eyes.

“Hoo—” Thrud exhaled a long breath. The instant the eyes recoiled, she spun around, her spear flashing out, trailing a slender ribbon of light that tore through the air and hurtled furiously into the distance.

Seconds later, a violent explosion ripped through the distant sea, casting several monstrous corpses onto the waves. As the concussive force struck and the sound of the blast gradually faded, the spear rematerialized in Thrud’s hand.

Before she could even catch her breath, another barrage of arrows descended upon Thrud from above. Though she attempted to evade, one sharp arrow brushed past her the instant she moved. Thrud let out a pained grunt, lowering her gaze to find faint trickles of blood seeping from her skin.

As droplets of blood scattered, their potent, metallic scent incited the monsters to even greater ferocity. Earth-shattering roars reverberated across the waters, and a chorus of ominous, majestic chants pressed down from the distant heavens.

Thrud immediately planted her feet, standing resolute upon the ocean’s surface. Raising a hand skyward, a surge of potent energy instantly expanded, transforming into a colossal, circular shield of golden light that repelled the overwhelming torrent of purple poison arrows.

These arrows, conjured from the tentacles’ venomous gases, possessed astonishing destructive power. Each one that struck the sea around Thrud released a plume of noxious black gas.

A golden protective barrier instantly enveloped Thrud, completely warding off the toxic gases and preventing them from encroaching even a single step closer.

A relentless “pinging and banging” resonated around Thrud as poison arrows and the torrential rain fiercely assailed the shield emblazoned with a lion’s mark. The monsters’ roars seemed ceaseless, an unending chorus of fury. With one hand, Thrud strained to brace the shield, while her other clutched the spear, her gaze constantly sweeping her surroundings.

In the time it took her to fend off the arrow storm, the surrounding sea had become choked with colossal tentacles. Like insurmountable walls of brass and iron, they had encircled Thrud, relentlessly firing arrows while slowly closing in. The wailing, eye-studded tips of the tentacles gradually drew together above her, forming a living cage designed to entrap Thrud completely, leaving her at their mercy.

“Ugh…” Thrud gritted her teeth, struggling against the relentless arrow shower. Simultaneously, countless smaller tentacles and ghastly pale arms erupted from the sea around her, closing in.

A furious “sizzle, sizzle, sizzle” erupted as the arms made contact with the shield, instantly burning to charcoal. They dissolved into dust before even a single shriek could escape them, then were swallowed by the voracious waves.

Yet, despite this, the tentacles and arms continued their desperate assault on the protective barrier, lunging one after another. As one incinerated to charcoal, another immediately took its place, plugging the void. In less than a minute, a horrifying tapestry of bloody, wildly thrashing tentacles and arms completely covered the shield, utterly enveloping Thrud.

Above her, the arrow storm raged; around her, a forest of tentacles writhed. Maddening chants pierced her eardrums, burrowing deep into Thrud’s mind, tormenting her very nerves.

“Since it has come to this…” With a surge of strength, Thrud heaved her shield upwards. As she cried out, energy rippled through her eyes like waves, transforming her gaze into a reflection of the tumultuous ocean around her—a tempest of crashing waves and howling gales.

“Grant me strength, Lord Odin, I swear upon the name of Thrud, the Valkyrie—”

As Thrud’s fervent prayer echoed, the mark of a roaring lion manifested in her eyes. Golden light pulsed and flowed, and her colossal shield began to unfurl intricate magic arrays, each layer grander than the last. By the seventh layer, the array had expanded to twice the shield’s size. The radiant lion roared, its thunderous cry piercing the clouds and drowning out the rumbling of the storm. For a moment, only the lion’s furious bellow resonated between heaven and earth.

“Odin, I beseech your divine protection!”

From an external vantage point, several streaks of golden radiance suddenly erupted from the dense, dark mass of monsters. They spun amidst the creatures’ agonizing shrieks, cleaving through one monstrous body after another, before coalescing into a cross that expanded in four cardinal directions. The searing light scorched the ocean, causing pure white steam to billow upwards as the seawater began to boil furiously. The scalding temperature forced the remaining arms still floundering in the depths to emit sky-piercing wails, their pallid skin sloughing off to reveal gruesome, putrefied muscle beneath.

“Radiant Cross!” A sky-shattering cry accompanied the colossal pillar of light that surged heavenward. Its unparalleled heat instantly vaporized every monster surrounding Thrud. The poison arrows, plummeting from the heavens, dissolved into wisps of smoke before even touching the light. The dazzling radiance melted the gargantuan creatures, their immense energies intertwining and coalescing into a magnificent, luminous lion. Light formed its mane, the furious wind its limbs, and the torrential rain its eyes, as it galloped across the dim expanse between heaven and earth.

The luminous lion charged forth, roaring fiercely, tearing through the cloud cover and piercing the very firmament. Its sun-like brilliance expanded relentlessly, spreading across the surrounding sea.

Above the thundering firmament, where lightning serpents writhed, warm tendrils of light pierced through the dark clouds. Like rays of sunlight, they plunged towards the earth, transforming into countless sharp blades that rained down upon the ocean.

Then, the oppressive gloom began to dissipate, as a colossal sword forged of pure energy ripped open a chasm in the sky. Viewed up close, its hilt formed the majestic head of a lion, its blade impossibly sharp. The ethereal sword-qi, like a lion’s flowing mane, billowed around the blade, transforming into smaller, razor-sharp projectiles that fanned out from the great sword in a vast circle, filling the entire sky.

This was the very essence of a demigod’s might, the power of a Valkyrie.

Thrud raised her spear skyward, an endless current of energy converging upon it. Her gaze fixed on the colossal sword, and golden brilliance erupted from her eyes.

“FALL!!!!”

In that instant, blade after blade tore through the bodies of the gargantuan beasts. The agonizing shrieks of countless monsters became an incessant chorus, as black blood nearly submerged the crimson ocean. Myriads of corpses floated upon the waves, and a pungent, foul stench permeated every corner of the vast sea.

Meanwhile, the colossal sword descended slowly towards the ocean with world-shattering force. A fierce tempest bore down upon the sea’s surface, while the frenzied colossal waves transformed into countless water dragons that soared through the sky, either spiraling around the great sword or gliding across the firmament, devouring the scattering, fleeing monsters.

“Hah… hah… hah…”

Shielded by the myriad blades, Thrud finally found a fleeting moment to catch her breath. She seized the opportunity to examine her arm, where the purple venom had already begun to infiltrate deep into her muscles, causing the surrounding skin to fester and emit a putrid stench that assaulted her nostrils.

A searing, piercing pain immediately coursed through Thrud’s body, bringing with it a wave of intense nausea. Her stomach churned violently, and her throat constricted in an uncontrollable spasm.

Black liquid dripped from Thrud’s lips, and a soul-shattering anguish pressed down upon her spirit.

“Hah… hah… hah…”

Clutching her throat and gripping her spear with one hand, Thrud struggled to remain standing. Though she still possessed enough energy for a brief respite, her only hope now was that assistance would arrive before her power completely waned.

Yet, even Thrud harbored no certainty that anyone would come to her rescue.

Aldoran lay unconscious, Qing Yu possessed no combat capabilities whatsoever, and Liliya’s whereabouts remained a mystery. The entire town’s populace had vanished. In that mist-shrouded settlement, no one would even realize she had disappeared, much less come to her aid.

Nevertheless, Thrud refused to relinquish hope. It was this singular conviction that sustained her relentless struggle against the monstrous horde.

After a rudimentary self-healing with her power, Thrud subtly lifted her head, intent on re-evaluating the monsters’ positions.

At that very moment, a faint, pale pink glow captured Thrud’s attention. Amidst the overwhelming golden brilliance, that delicate pink stood out with striking singularity.

“Could that be…”

Thrud squinted, searching for the source of the light, which seemed to emanate from deep within a cloud bank.

A pale pink glow—

Flowers, Thrud recalled. Those two flowers, the ones that had infused Liliya’s body, emitted precisely this pink radiance.

“Liliya?”

A fierce wind howled as the colossal sword continued its descent towards the ocean, its furious gales already pressing down upon the sea’s surface. Light surged from the abyss, meeting the aurora descending from the sky.

Guided by the dazzling glow, Thrud frantically searched within the cloud bank where the pale pink light originated.

Her energy steadily drained, and her stamina rapidly dwindled. She forced her weary body onward, searching for Liliya’s figure.

“Liliya, Liliya…”

****

“Hey, is it really safe here?” While Thrud fought desperately, Qing Yu, Roalsa, and the others cautiously made their way through the mist. Everyone hugged the walls of the houses lining the street, moving forward inch by painstaking inch.

A faint pink glow enveloped each person, shielding them from psychic attacks.

“Don’t worry, it’s very safe here,” Roalsa, leading the group, responded in a low voice.

Jess held Aldoran tightly, while Kills followed closely behind Jess, meticulously observing changes in their surroundings. Qing Yu, meanwhile, trailed behind Roalsa, the strongest fighter in the knight order, keeping watch for any suspicious movements. The remaining knights took up the rear.

“Slowly now,” Roalsa cautioned the group, continuously scanning her surroundings.

Returning safely to camp without encountering any combat would, naturally, be ideal.

However, things rarely unfold so smoothly. Misfortune often arrives precisely when people believe everything is perfectly fine.

“Captain, did you hear something?” One of the knights, their voice hushed, asked this question as they advanced.

Roalsa immediately froze, her alertness piqued.

She gestured for silence behind her, then pressed her ear against the wall, listening intently. The others followed suit, carefully gathering sounds from their surroundings.

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