Neledia gathered a small group which would make up this small unit.

"I don't have time for explanations so I'll be short and concise and tell you what the purpose of this small unit is." Neledia looked truly serious, even more so than before, her cold seemed to run through every part of everyone present.

Both eyes seemed to judge each of them, as if he were studying them and measuring their abilities. "We have to go and investigate one last area..."

"One slave told us that there were only three areas of confinement." Neledia commented and someone interrupted her, I didn't bother her or anything like that, but answering each question would take time which they don't have. "It's true, there are only three areas of confinement, but apart from that there is an area of pleasure, where you will surely know what you are doing and please no more questions, we do not have time. So let me finish and let's get started right away."

The one who had given the information only mattered feeling somewhat sorry because Neledia was right, had stolen precious time which could be used to end the talk.

Neledia continued "it's likely that we'll find a lot of slaves there, but we don't know what the situation is that they are in and we can't go and look at the place to see if we find enemies or not, we'll just go and take care of everyone, I'm really sorry about that, but it's a truth that we're running out of time."

Just at that moment a strong tremor hit the area. "We don't know if the battle will continue for a long time or will end in the next five seconds, we don't know if our enemies will scatter through the forest or gather here at their base. Let's pray that it's the first option and still not let our guard down."

The boys and everyone nodded with determination reflected in their eyes.

"So now... I will tell you something very important that will have a great influence. It will be only us... Marilio will guide everyone else outwards, while we stay to fulfill this goal."

Although no one had complained or replied, Neledia was able to smell the immense tension in the air. None of them were idiots, they knew how dangerous this new mission or goal was. Go even deeper into the base and this time with a much smaller group.

"There should only be about twenty here." The comment came out like a thin thread as Christopher looked around him.

Neledia continued, "and many look tired," she focused her eyes on a woman who appeared to be injured, as the scar that now ran down her cheek was an unmistakable sign of a great fight from which she apparently emerged victorious.

"I really want to propose that you leave if you don't feel strong enough for this last objective, but, unfortunately, it is not an option, so I will tell you what would be the way to go."

With her fingers he began to count and dictate the plan.

"We don't have any foolproof plan or any way to sneak out and get to the outside faster, so once we free everyone we'll split into three teams, one will go to the front and take care of any enemies that appear, whoever it is... Even some powerful magical beast, the other one will be in the middle and protect the people and the last one will be at the end and protect the rearguard."

Everyone nodded.

"So, without further ado, let's fulfill this last objective and return to our city," before shooting off the boys looked at each other, Neledia took them, after all she trusted this team, although something inside her indicated that she shouldn't have done that.

They nodded their heads, their faces full of conviction, clenching their fists. It was as if they had become different people.

They were no longer the same boys who in the morning were full of nerves or anything like that, they were strong adventurers who, despite being inexperienced, had a will that drove them to move forward, they had promised themselves that they would go to the end of everything.

"I hope they can all come back alive," Marilio thought, watching as that improvised group marched and disappeared into that long corridor, "I hope you understand me."

He focused his gaze and attention on this gigantic group, noticing that many familiar faces were missing. "I'm so sorry... I swear to you that I will dedicate prayers to the Gods in your name so that you can rest in peace..."

He sighed, then he could lament, now it was time to continue with the mission "listen to me everyone, once you finish with the task let's get out of here."

…

BOOOOOOM

A fire explosion occurred across a sea of trees covered in red, raging flames. The forest was perishing, the healthy vegetation was consumed by the violent fire that advanced furiously and without mercy trying to extinguish every last ounce of life that inhabits the place, like a tyrannical monster that intends to conquer and extinguish everything that exists.

And in spite of this horrible and vile state, the battle that was being fought in this place continued without showing any sign of ending.

“Air Elemental Magic: Great Gale.”

Valentina stretched out her arm to the front accumulating a tremendous amount of magical energy in it, then she released a powerful and endless torrent of wind that emerged from her, heading towards the old man who was the enemy.

"Don't make me laugh, stupid Elf" the old man gave a smile that denoted a lot of confidence in himself and his abilities as he dedicated himself to watching the magic attack as if it was nothing to him. "Is that the best thing you have?"

“Air Elemental Magic: Warm Supercell Winds).”

He also extended his arm to the front concentrating magical energy and subsequently releasing it, another strong torrent of wind was produced advancing towards the one launched by Valentina.

The magical attacks traveled at breakneck speed, heading to collide with each other and see which one is more powerful and devastating.

They collided and the clash of both magic attacks caused a third wave of wind to blow in all directions, it was so powerful that it managed to drag large masses of land, even lifting it above ground level.

The trees, the vegetation, the bodies of water coming from the streams and streams were not spared from the incessant fury of the winds. The earth cracked and dust rose in large quantities. And not only dirt or dust, some people were trapped in the middle of the chaos and unable to support themselves they were thrown towards who knows where.

The whole place shook, the closest thing to a small-scale earthquake hit the place raising with it a good cloud of dust.

And in the midst of all the chaos and windstorm, there were two figures, Valentina clashing her precious sword against an elderly person, an extremely fit old man.

That man was wearing camouflage-style clothes, with nothing else. The protectors were only on his forearms, knees and boots but nothing.

Dark-toned underwear, in fact, for one of the leaders, this old man did not dress in a flashy way.

Although it wasn't necessary, he was a mercenary, a criminal. It was not necessary to dress in a way that would attract attention. He did not need to wear heavy armor as he always left his strength and be able to speak in his place.

Now, what really caught the eye is, as already mentioned, her incredibly fit and worked body. The musculature of his entire body was marked with the naked eye through his clothes. With each movement his muscles were responsible for providing greater strength to his attacks.

"This old man is not weak at all" Valentina dodged a slash from her opponent's long sword "he is capable of facing me up to this level" she dodged another horizontal cut by bending down and took the opportunity to launch a vertical cut that would hit right all over the old man's face, if connected, it would split his face in two.

The old man noticed Valentina's intentions, so before his time ran out he was able to dodge the onslaught of the beautiful Elf by taking a single step backwards and from there he attacked again.

"Our calculations about the magical strength and energy contained in 'The Woman of Cold Darkness' were extremely wrong." The old man clashed swords with Valentina, the pressure produced by this clash raised a pile of leaves near and far from the place of the fight.

The earth sank to a very shallow depth under the feet of these two.

A lot of sparks flew as they engaged in a very violent frenzy where the cuts and cuts came and went, trying to cut, shoot and split the enemy in front of their eyes.

The incessant wobbling of their hips, the fleeting movements of their arms in total synchrony allowed them to maintain total balance as they try to assassinate their rivals, "This Elf is much stronger and more talented than we thought, and she still seems to be hiding her strength."

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He threw a slash trying to cut her from top to bottom that Valentina dodged by backing up.

"I shouldn't waste any more time," she thought to herself, backing away and evading endless attacks from the old man who was following her with no intention of giving her a single break.

Valentina stepped aside and tried to retreat so that the old man, confident, could advance towards her. What really happened was that Valentina stepped aside, leaving her right arm in total freedom.

From her position, very good position, "The Woman of Cold Darkness" sent a brutal punch to the old man's entire face, injuring him and causing his nose to bleed severely.

She sees herself as a delicate and fine woman, and she is, but at the same time she is a fierce warrior.

Very strong and with a mastery of magic of respect, at the same time and because she is an Elf, one would think again that she would not fight with weapons or much less with her hands. Again a serious mistake, an Elf had already said it regarding that race does not know how to fight hand-to-hand "that is the belief that your race has."

No one is stupid enough to lead this life and not know how to fight with weapons, magic and bare hands. Mastery of martial arts, many styles and magic is truly crucial in this type of life.

"I must get rid of this old man as soon as possible, the others might need my help." Valentina looked much more serious

The old man fell into the distance while Valentina used both hands again, raising the sword with the tip facing the heavens.

"Cold Sword of the Ancient Legends! You who have chosen me to be your teacher, give me your immeasurable power and bathe me in the majesty of your magic. Turn this world into a glacial garden: Liberation."

The sword began to exude magical energy to titanic proportions, the invisible runes began to shine, becoming visible and acquiring the color of snow, little by little the sword was covered with a whitish and frozen mist to the point of covering it completely.

It was as if the sword itself had turned into mist.

The entire battlefield went from being a hell to being in an ice age.

The old man, now composed, observed his surroundings and how now the frozen breath came out through his mouth. He felt cold, very cold, unlike Valentina who looked as if nothing had happened.

"All this was caused by that sword," the strong old man narrowed his eyes and meticulously analyzed the sword that lay in Valentina's hands, he could see the precise moment when something resembling a cold vapor, mist or air emanated from the sword itself.

The tremendous wave of magical energy gave him goosebumps, it was tremendous, too much for his taste and all that added to the excessive drop in temperature.

And despite being in such a disadvantageous situation, he began to laugh under his breath.

"So it was true," a drop of sweat froze as it rolled down his forehead. "I don't intend to freeze to death, luckily, I've prepared myself in advance in case I have to face this Elf."

He did the same, affirming the grip of his own sword sending magical energy gushing towards it, causing it to glow a carmine hue.

Valentina's eyes were not impressed, because that sword was not like hers, it was much weaker and simpler.

"Unlike yours, this is a simple magic sword made by a blacksmith." The old man said.

Valentina just remained silent and totally unmoved.

It was true, that sword could neither make light nor shadow to her very powerful legendary sword. She kept looking at the old man.

The old man smiled again as he had his defense aloft: "Answer me something, 'Woman of the Cold Darkness,' that sword is 'The Sword of the Blizzard,' isn't it?."

Valentina raised her eyebrows and her already cold gaze turned to one of death and the cold weather only helped to highlight her more, she was so sharp that one could feel how her eyes cut her existence.

"There are not many people who know about my sword, hardly anyone outside my family and friendship circle knows" and she said it and in a very bad way, she was not happy with the leak of information. Then she opened her eyes in utter surprise, knowing that there is still a way to know about her sword.

The Origin of this sword.

"You," he called it serialized and moody than ever, "possess one of the 'Ancestral Books' or perhaps one of 'The Heroic Books' that date to the lives of the past heroes of KOSMOS, those who have come from a world different from ours."

"You got it right, Young Lady, or should I say, old woman?" He smiled, trying to provoke her, and at no time did he stop sending magical energy towards the sword: "The book, which we got some years ago, was written by an Elven hero who carried one of the many "Legendary Heroic Weapons": The Sword of the Blizzard."

"All the heroic books dating back to the lives of the Elven Heroes of the past can only be found in the 'Library of Infinite Wisdom' in Elf-Land, that you possess only one means."

"It can mean a lot of things, don't you think," the old man replied with a smile, "it could be that we kidnapped one of the Elves who might have information about it, or maybe we found one who specifically talked about that sword."

"But they didn't find him" Valentina spun every word that came out of the old man's dirty mouth, which was leading her to an unpleasant conclusion.

"Exactly," replied the old man, "and I'm sure you already suspect it, so let me just tell you that the governments of all empires have something in common..."

The old man smiled again in a very malicious way, as if what he was about to say was something very funny "and they will never be able to free themselves from the corruption that brings the dark ambitions of the powerful..."

Imperceptibly, Valentina's lips proceeded to tremble: "they sold the book that talks about the Elven hero who owns the "Legendary Sword of the Blizzard."

"Yes," replied the old man, somewhat warmer thanks to his magic weapon, "the one who founded your house, the Elf hero and now deceased, Bonum Cor."

Valentina's eyes widened not believing what she heard. That was the story of the one who built the foundations of his lineage, the Bonum Cor house and hearing it from a human other than Alexander must be unthinkable.

"And now, before me stands one of the few Elves who carry this prestigious blood, Valentina Hope or rather Valent Bonum Cor. Fourth daughter of the current leader of the Bonum Cor house, hated by her own family"

"Cursed by your own parents when you were born with that eye and with half of your hair black, being that within your family it is a pride and a blessing to be born with the likeness of the ancient Elven hero, with whitish hair and blue eyes."

"But you," he pointed out, "are an abomination and an insult to your own family, after all, you were born with that eye and half of your hair with the dark hue. A real blasphemy in the eyes of your father, an insult to your house."

"Hated by your own father for believing that you are the fruit of infidelity."

"Hated by your own mother because of your peculiarity, she was accused of committing infidelity."

"Hated by your older siblings for being the supposed cause of their parents' discord and separation."

"Exiled from the Bonum Cor house, having to spend her life on the streets, begging for water and food.

Valentina knew how to hide very well, in all this time she only showed her expressionless and cold look, as if she didn't care at all about what she was saying, but inside she was bursting with rage, even more so because the old man made her remember how it felt to not be loved by anyone.

That horrible feeling. And not only that, but also that period of time where he had to live on the streets and had to beg for some alms to be able to eat.

"And lastly, hated by all other members of the Bonum Cor house because the 'Legendary Blizzard Sword' has chosen you, an exiled and hated Elf, to be its mistress and bearer and not the others who have been prepared to receive it."

There was a moment of silence where neither of them had said anything else, The old man smiled wanting to know what the Lady's reaction would be for all the information he handles about him.

On the other hand, Valentina dedicated herself to looking at the old man analytically.

"I see," Valentina said, "not only have they sold you one of the very important books about the hero Bonum Cor, but they have also leaked information about my past."

"Are you angry?" the old man asked, hoping that this would help him to have some advantage against Valentina: "Maybe your parents or one of your siblings were the ones who didn't provide the information."

"I think you're misunderstanding something," Valentina replied coldly, "it's true that I can't deny my past, but currently, that's something that doesn't matter to me in the least."

Her gaze was serious, her eyes cold as ice, and every word seemed to cut through the air.

"My old family, or rather, those people are nothing to me, I have always seen them as strangers. My real family, my real brothers and my true friends are here in Gignit. I don't care what you intend to do with all the information you may have about that house, I'm not interested in it in the least. My name is and always will be Courage Hope, the all-powerful Lady of Gignit."

The old man opened his eyes, his plan didn't work while Valentina continued "if you want to kill my old family, do it. If you want to kidnap them, do it. If you want to sell them, do so. I don't care, but the only thing that does matter to me and has me angry is that they have attacked my city and my people."

"You have made a grave mistake in considering Gignit as a place to hunt, so right now, all of you have only to die, no matter what plan you have in mind, but in the name of my city I will finish you off."

Valentina gripped the handle of the "Legendary Sword of the Blizzard" tighter as it again released another wave of indescribable magical energy.

The cold and snowy aura exploded, rising into the heavens like a pillar of light, both of Valentina's eyes shone and again particles of magical energy of darkness and ice flew to the surroundings "you have messed with my city, so now refrain from the consequences and prepare to go to hell."

Sensing the new and extraordinary wave of magical energy coming from Valentina, the old man had no choice but to do the same. He sent all the magical energy he could into his magic sword, but there was a difference, the one Valentina had produced her own energy and was monstrous.

Now if she was sweating with nervousness, she wanted to try to make Valentina uncomfortable with the truths she knew about her, thinking that perhaps in this way she would lose her concentration.

Who would have thought that nothing would go as planned.

"Don't think you're superior, Elf" despite the fact that she wanted to look defiant, it was impossible.

The old man spilled a few drops of sweat which crashed sharply against the ground. "No matter if you wield a Sword of Legends, one way or another, you, Elf, will fall before me."

Valentina did not flinch

"We will make you the biggest attraction of VARANUS, you will settle in the largest brothel in our charge and we will prostitute you for large amounts of gold, we will make you the most sought-after prostitute in the world."

"Will you make me a prostitute? No one can beat me, the only worthy human who is capable of giving me pleasure is my beloved husband" Valentina gave him a look of death. "Stupid human, I'll make sure to shut that mouth forever."

The old leader of VARANUS's magic sword shone even brighter with that characteristic Carmine hue. "This magic sword of fire will be the one to finish you off."

But the comparison with the "Legendary Sword of the Blizzard" was nothing.

"Don't make me laugh, human," Valentina said it mockingly, "all you have to do is die, so get ready."

Unfortunately there were no witnesses nearby, although at the same time that was good, otherwise they would have been involved in a tremendous explosion that devastated the area.

From afar, an explosive dome was easily visible that extended into colors of whitish tones like snow and some carmine in it.