Chapter 67 : The Moth to the Flame Meets Its End

She had rushed out instinctively.

There was a risk of revealing her identity, but she couldn’t just watch Tifna get hurt.

Fortunately, there was no sharp pain in her back. Her demonic form hadn’t manifested.

So, she could fight without holding back.

After three days of training with Tifna, Milly’s progress had been astonishing. Even without the breathing technique, her body moved naturally.

When she rushed in front of Tifna, the Broken she wielded easily blocked the attack.

But the Shadowblade Beast pressed on, trying to overpower her. Milly wasn’t going to let that happen.

“I know what you’re afraid of.”

Lightning sparked from her fingertips and wrapped around the blade. The moment the crackling sound reached it, the Shadowblade Beast retreated.

It was afraid of electricity.

As it backed away, Milly scooped up Tifna and quickly returned to the others.

“Protect Tifna. I’ll handle this.”

But the team was staring at her, their eyes fixed on Broken.

It was a cool-looking sword, but if it hadn’t torn open her wound when she first summoned it, she wouldn’t have given it such a name.

But their expressions weren’t just curiosity. It was as if they knew this sword.

Idis opened her mouth to say something, but no words came out.

Tifna’s reaction was the most obvious. She stared at Broken, her eyes vacant.

Something was wrong, but there was no time to think. The Shadowblade Beast was still a threat.

When she had blocked the attack, she thought she had heard Tifna call out a name, but it wasn’t hers.

Gripping Broken, Milly charged again. Just as she was about to unleash a bolt of lightning, the beast shrouded itself in black mist.

Trying to obscure her vision?

No.

Two Shadowblade Beasts emerged from the mist, one heading for the unconscious Joseph, the other for the unarmed Tifna.

Damn it, it was trying to divide her attention.

Alva’s shield was broken. Tifna was defenseless. The other three—a mage, a ranger, and a priest—were all vulnerable up close.

She split her lightning, striking both beasts. But the bolts passed right through them.

Fakes?

She whipped around.

“Clang!”

Blade met bone. Sparks flew. The new bone blade was weaker, but the surprise attack sent her stumbling back.

Before she could regain her footing, the Shadowblade Beast leaped into the air, backflipped, and slammed its tail into her sword.

That was cheating.

Broken was nearly knocked from her grasp, the impact jarring her hands.

It hurt, but her body’s self-healing was already at work, the wound closing in a blink.

This human was tougher than it thought. But the Shadowblade was patient. It knew Milly couldn’t keep up with its speed. It would just wear her down.

But that was too slow.

The Shadowblade opened its mouth, and the black mist enveloped Milly.

It was trying to blind her, to attack from the shadows.

She could hear it moving, but it was too fast to pinpoint.

Every time she sensed something flash by, a new cut appeared on her body.

It hurt.

She closed her eyes, enhancing her other senses. When one sense was gone, the others grew stronger.

She listened, adjusted her breathing, and held her breath. The world slowed.

There!

She opened her eyes and thrust backward. A shriek. She channeled lightning through her sword, sending it coursing through the beast’s body.

She felt it tremble in the mist. She retreated and fired another bolt.

And another. It should be immobilized now.

But a bone blade shot out from the mist again, fast. She barely blocked it.

The breathing technique helped, but she couldn’t keep it up forever.

Worse, the mist cleared. The Shadowblade’s dark scales had turned crimson. Its speed and strength had doubled.

Even with her slowed perception, it was still too fast. A single block nearly sent Broken flying.

She could only dodge now, no chance to counterattack.

Under the relentless assault, she began to falter. Her breathing grew ragged, and in that moment of weakness, a bone blade pierced her body.

“Milly!”

Tifna cried out from behind. She didn’t know why Milly had Dawn, but that could wait.

She had to help. But as she saw Milly’s form, her expression froze.

What was that?

The wound in her chest was healing, new flesh writhing, closing the gap at a visible rate.

That wasn’t human.

“Milly…”

The wound healed, but the pain remained.

“That really hurt.”

Her stamina was draining. Her movements grew sluggish. The Shadowblade, however, was only getting faster. It saw its chance and swiped its tail, sending her flying.

“Cough…”

She coughed up blood. It wasn’t as strong as Stacy, but she couldn’t beat it.

But the others were behind her. If she fell, what would happen to them?

She used Broken to push herself up, stumbling. Tifna started to run to her, but Idis grabbed her.

“Captain… look.”

“But Milly…”

Her words died in her throat. Tifna’s eyes widened in disbelief.

That wasn’t real. Tell her it wasn’t real.

A memory flashed in her mind, of a shadow she had seen behind Milly. No… no… it wasn’t real!

At the same time, Milly’s trembling fingers could barely hold Broken, but she still aimed it at the Shadowblade.

“Again.”

Strange, her stamina was returning.

How?

She shouldn’t have been able to dodge, but she easily sidestepped the next attack.

A sense of dread filled her. She knew what it was, but there was no time to think.

Her speed was increasing, matching the Shadowblade’s. The beast, enraged, pushed itself faster. But now, when she held her breath, the world slowed to a crawl.

The Shadowblade was going to die.

Holding her breath, she saw its weak points. Her sword became a blur of lightning, each strike hitting a vital spot.

The Shadowblade, in disbelief, attacked again, but it couldn’t touch her. Broken cut deep, tearing away chunks of flesh.

It tried to flee, shrouding itself in mist.

But a powerful bolt of lightning lit up the darkness, and the beast froze.

Now!

Milly seized the opportunity, her lightning-wreathed blade plunging into the Shadowblade’s fatal weak point.

A blinding flash. A final, weak cry. The beast collapsed.

Broken dissolved into light and returned to her body.

The moment her strength gave out, Milly collapsed, gasping for air. She wouldn’t be able to move for a day or two.

Exhaustion washed over her. In her blurring vision, the team slowly surrounded her.

They should be celebrating, right? Tossing her in the air, cheering.

But… why were their weapons still drawn? Idis, Sion, Layn, Alva, even the newly awakened Joseph—their weapons were all aimed at her, their eyes filled with fear and suspicion.

Why?

They were looking at her as if she were a monster.

“Milly…”

That was Tifna’s voice. She looked at her as she approached, but her face was a mask of struggle and pain.

In the reflection of her eyes, Milly finally understood.

“That’s not real, right, Milly? Tell me, it’s not real!”

The paper that had wrapped the flame had finally burned away. The moth that had flown to the fire had met its end.