V3 Chapter 55

"... ..."

Oriel and Julian stared at the masked woman that suddenly appeared out of nowhere and attack Sorrieta with wide eyes.

Who the hell is she?

Silence covered the area.

Suddenly-

“You Bastard! How dare you!!”

Snapping from the shock and surprise, Julian let out a loud roar and charged toward the masked woman in anger.

Flames blazed on his trail as his figure shot towards the black-clothed, masked woman.

“Oh my,”

However, the masked woman doesn’t seem apprehensive, nor showed any kind of anxiety from the thick murderous intention of the charging blazing Minotaur. Instead, she was still smiling as she watched the opponent charge at her with clear amusement.

“How scary,”

“I will kill you!!”

Julian cried out in rage.

The flames around his body burn stronger that he almost looks like a figure made of flames.

“...he’s mine!”

But this time, another figure in black suddenly appeared just behind the masked woman. And then just as it appears, the black figure rushed towards Julian without hesitation.

"Flash!"

The silhouette flickered, moving with incredible speed as if she was running, just like how Julian was doing with the help of his [Boots of Icarus].

But this kind of magic item should be one of a kind. And, so the second black figure should not have the same item he had. But if not due to the item, then how is she able to run in thin air?

The figure was running in the air, no, rather she seemed to be kicking the air to move in the sky, giving the appearance of flight.

However, Julian was too enraged to care about the opponent’s skills and charged head-on.

When the distance was closer, the black figure let out a menacing grin and raised her arm, her hand assaulted Julian’s direction. It contained a terrifying energy and whistling sounds were spreading in the air.

A hurricane started up as the space became completely distorted.

“Fight me!”

The black clothe figure cried out.

Julian responded with a loud roar, and his ax came swinging down from above.

Booom!

A thunderous explosion rang out as the flame clad axe met the opponent’s hand directly.

The blade had hit the skin and yet it’s like hitting a metal, as only a metallic clang resounded.

What kind of hand is that!

Julian was flabbergasted upon seeing his beloved axe was caught by that hand, without it turning into a messy pulp of flesh and blood.

How is this possible?!

Looking at it closely, the hand was dyed grey, like a metallic claw.

It was gripping on the blazing blade of his axe like a vise, seemly not afraid of being burned.

"Impossible!"

"...is that so?"

Under his axe, the black figure was glaring at him from the eyeholes of her mask while both of her hands crossed above her head, blocking his blazing weapon.

Looking at her much closer, Julian finally could make out the features of his new opponent. Though, her whole face remained unseen for the black mask covered her entire face, the curve of her body is clearly that of a woman.

Not only that, standing above the amber-coloured hair, was a pair of wolf ears, displaying the obvious race of the black-clothed figure.

A Beastman!

Julian stared aghast.

The masked woman who had attacked Sorietta just now had been a Demon, not to mention from the tail and her wings, she was clearly from the succubus race. And yet, the second masked person that had appeared was actually none other than a Beastman.

Unlike them, who were half-blood, the person before him was a complete, genuine beastman.

But why is she here in the Demon Empire?!

And why did she interfered with their fight, saving the Demon Princess in the process?

When did the Beastmen and the Demon so friendly with each other?

“Who are you?!”

“.…before that, you should show me if you are qualified to know my name, Mister Fireeater, yo!”

The masked woman muttered with a cold, but somewhat excited voice.

“I heard so much about your reputation, now I want you to show me that all of it was not just an exaggeration... after finally coming this far just to meet you, Fireeater!”

While saying that, Julian felt a pushing force coming from the hand that had caught his axe bare-handedly.

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He was actually being pushed back?!

Despite her quivering, tiny body, to think she was able to push him back- just how strong is this woman?!

Julian was now surprised. At the same time, was anxiety…and excitement surging through his insides, seemly infected by the incredible fighting spirit the masked woman was releasing.

This woman…she’s strong!

“Come, let’s fight!”

The masked woman let out a thunderous cry and pushed back the blazing axe with the surging force of her strength. Through the eyeholes of her mask, the pair of amber-coloured eyes seemed to shine with bright, bloodthirsty eyes like a beast that had found its prey.

"...?!"

Even Julian felt alarmed by the beastliness of the masked woman.

It was like being stared at by a predator, paralyzing and with that effect of taking the air out of someone.

Time seemed to slow down for Julian.

With his axe knocked back, he then saw the masked woman clenched her fist.

The Minotaur tried to pull back the axe, but it would not make it in time with how close they are, and thus, he could only bring up his left arm to try blocking the incoming strike. He was confident in his physique. Even if she's strong, she could never hurt him.

His body is as hard as a rock, resilient as metal.

Even blades could never penetrate through his skin.

Much less, a bare, slender fist of a tiny creature.

That's what he thought.

However, when the masked woman’s small fist connected with his arm, Julian had to bite back a yelp of pain.

This is...?!

His confident hide seemed to have become soft as the small fist embed itself on his arm.

When time flowed back again, Julian couldn’t even yelp when once again, the masked woman’s leg collided with his ribcage, kicking the air out of his lungs.

Before he could react, he was already flying back toward the ground with a look of shock on his face.

Booom!

Julian’s body crash-landed on the ground.

The Minotaur then spat a mouthful of blood, his shock expression turned into one of anger. His prided hide was actually pierced through by her fist so easily! How is that even possible!?

With a loud roar, the flames on his body once again. He raised his head, looking for his opponent, but the masked woman was nowhere in sight.

Where?

But then danger was felt from behind him.

"Your aura's too fragile, Fireeater yo~! My iron fist can break even a mountain!"

A cold voice reached his ears.

Without hesitation, Julian turned his waist and raised the axe vertically in front of him.

Claaang!

A slender foot that was dyed in grey hit the flat head of the axe. The force of the kick was strong enough to push him a few inches away from where he stood.

“You pest!!!”

Julian let out a roar and forcefully swung his axe sideways.

Followed by that was the ground shaking.

"......Ha! This is it! I wanted to enjoy it a little bit more, and in the end, you changed it to match my preferences! Makes me really happy, right? Fireeater!"

The masked woman, laughing with ‘Kaka’ somersaulted back, dodging the blazing axe.

Her laughter echoed in the area, but the humour didn’t reach Julian, as the boisterous laughter only enraged the Minotaur, and relentlessly chased after her, swinging his blazing massive axe in hysteria.

Each swing of the axe seemed to cut the air, and tear the ground, creating burned fissures wherever the axe flashed.

Noticing the abrupt increase in strength, the masked woman exposed an arrogant smile beneath her mask.

This is what I love!

This bloodthirst is intoxicating!!

… …

“That idiot Settimo,”

Floating in the sky, the other masked woman watched as the battle heated.

Looking at the numeral 'IX' engraved on the mask she was wearing, one can instantly recognize her; Nono, the Ninth Seat Holder, and the Ninth Keeper of the Garden bearing the title [The Greedy].

Nono's gaze turned towards her comrade, and a smirk appeared on her face.

She seemed to be having so much fun, just look at that face and that grin.

Like a wild beast that had found prey, the sheer aura Settimo was emitting at this moment is already enough to make one feel cold.

Just like her name.

[Settimo - The Beast] sitting on the seventh seat of the Garden. The Seventh Keeper. She holds the purpose of eliminating any beings who posed a threat to the Garden. Thus, making her the leader of the Assassination Group. At the same time, she's a Warmonger, which has an almost endless thirst for battle.

She’s a true personification of a beast.

Though, seemly short for a description, but it was the only word to properly describe her.

Much like the common personality of any beastmen, Settimo can be considered a muscle head, always looking for a good fight that will satisfy her blood lust.

Sometimes matured and a reliable comrade, but she’s often immature, even trying to pick a fight against the other [Numbers] just to satiate her thirst for battle. Though they often butt heads, Nono would never dare fight against her in a true battle.

Just like this.

Once Settimo locked on a target, she would chase him until she had devoured her enemy entirely.

She would never stop unless commanded by their Master... or Terzo for that matter. They are the only ones capable of stopping her whenever she started her rampage.

Nono had never met or encountered any beastmen who were true to their blood as much as her.

Though often she may appear dumb or stupid, if you fight against her, you will surely feel as you are facing a wild beast that could tear your head in an instant.

“...now then, what should we do next, Terzo,”

She let out a sigh.

Whatever happens, it's not her fault. Not like she can stop Settimo when she's in this state, anyway.

"Oh well, whatever... protecting the princess is the real mission, anyway,"

… …

The battle between Julian and Settimo was incredibly intense.

Explosions after explosions occurred, as they exchange blows.

Their combat styles seemed to be a match, as neither of them pulls back and instead met their opponents in a head-on clash.

The metallic-like claws of the masked woman, against the blazing axe of a Minotaur, clashed against each other in an incredible epic battle. But neither of them took advantage.

“Too slow!”

Settimo caught the minotaur's flame covered punch.

“Impressive, Fire eater yo,” impressed, Settimo called out while staring at her opponent.

“You’ve given me fight more than I expected.”

She pulled his fist back.

“...But still, you’re too slow,”

She then punched Julian in the face- so hard and fast that a sonic boom seemed to appear on her elbow, sending the Minotaur flying backwards.

However, Julian’s toughness was not for show either, as he casually landed on his feet and glared at the third seat of the Garden. Then, he suddenly opened his mouth and launched a column of fire, swirling like a vortex toward his accursed opponent.

“Flash!”

Settimo cried out, disappearing from sight.

The column of flames hitting empty air.

Julian’s expression darkened, as he watched Settimo dodged his attack with unbelievable speed.

Was that a teleportation skill?

No, it’s not like that. With his senses, he can still perceive, albeit barely his opponent’s movement. She’s just moving at an incredibly high speed that she seemed to have vanished in sight.

What a strange, but incredible technique… utilizing speed to the utmost limit to the point as if they have vanished.

Julian assessed his opponent’s skills, when suddenly, at this moment, Settimo had appeared behind his back.

With claws giving off a metallic shine, she slashed it on the minotaur’s back. However, Julian was able to sense it as she appeared, and hurriedly dodged, a metallic noise of metals screeching echoed in the area, as Settimo’s claws hit Julian’s back.

Still, the attack was successfully avoided, with only much a scratch.