Charlotte gripped her greatsword tightly, signaling her response to Kelly.

“You don’t really have to do this. Learn from your ancestors, three hundred years ago, mages and nobles were the best of friends,” Kelly said, attempting to persuade her gently.

“They’re not my ancestors.” Charlotte wasn’t wrong. Her lineage rose to power during the witch-hunting wars that unified the continent under, making them among the earliest knightly nobility.

The nobles Kelly referred to, who once cooperated with mages, were the very enemies Charlotte’s ancestors fought against in those wars.

“Honestly, I’ve never done anything evil. I’m a good mage,” Kelly said, her tone like someone trying to convince a child, clearly stalling for time.

“You killed people, Susan and her child,” Charlotte replied firmly, unmoved and not making any offensive move yet.

“She was a criminal. Everyone in this village is guilty of something; they were all exiled here because of their sins.” A faint red line appeared at the base of Kelly’s neck, where it met her head, but in the dim light, Charlotte didn’t notice.

Charlotte paused, visibly shaken for a moment. “One crime doesn’t justify another. I can’t judge others’ pasts so freely, but the evil before me must be stopped!”

“Where’s your puppet?” Kelly asked.

“To deal with you, I’m enough.”

“So, it’s not here.” Kelly relaxed slightly, stepping slowly toward Charlotte while the tip of the girl’s blade pressed against her chest.

“You know, little girl, I actually like you. Such a shame…” As soon as Kelly finished speaking, her head was suddenly severed, flying through the air alongside a trail of organs. Blood splattered everywhere, and her innards lashed out at Charlotte.

Though Charlotte deflected with her sword, she was still sent flying backward, crashing into a shelf of potions.

...........

The cockatrice reared its upper body, its four claws glinting dangerously.

Its forked tongue flicked out and then back in. Trembling with fury, it hissed aggressively as it slowly advanced. Each step scraped against the stone floor, producing an ear-piercing screech.

In an instant, it lunged forward, its chicken-like head snapping toward Caroline with its beak wide open, aiming to tear into her.

Caroline raised her leg, striking the creature with immense force and sending it flying. This time, it landed on its feet and immediately stabilized itself, now standing on six legs.

It charged at Caroline again, but she sidestepped gracefully, raising her blade high and slashing it into the creature's torso.

The blade sank deep into flesh and bone.

The cockatrice let out its most agonizing cry yet but, despite its pain, whipped its tail like a lash. Caroline retreated nimbly to avoid the strike.

The creature trembled violently while Caroline circled it cautiously, her blade twirling deftly in her fingers, tracing deadly arcs in the air.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

The cockatrice hesitated, its aggression momentarily tempered by exhaustion. The relentless flashes of Caroline’s blade kept it on edge.

Suddenly, the creature froze. Drool dripped from its mouth as it panted heavily, its six legs trembling before it finally collapsed.

Caroline exhaled in relief and moved in to finish the job.

A sense of danger flashed in her mind, and she leapt backward just in time. A surge of energy burst from the cockatrice’s body, withering plants within its radius. Small animals caught in the blast disintegrated into bones.

A grotesque bulge emerged on the monster’s back. The lump burst open, revealing a new chicken head, followed by a neck, sharp claws, and a tail.

The creature’s old body deflated as the new one grew, swelling to nearly two meters in height.

Now standing on five pairs of legs that crushed the stone beneath it, the newly transformed cockatrice swung its tail, nearly demolishing its surroundings.

Its previous injuries were almost entirely healed.

Caroline’s expression turned grim. This was a full-fledged cockatrice, completing its metamorphosis at the worst possible moment.

The creature’s eyes glimmered with malice as it lunged at Caroline, claws outstretched.

Without hesitation, she dashed forward as well, closing the distance rapidly. As its claws came down, she swung her blade with all her strength.

The blade severed one set of claws, but the cockatrice caught the weapon with another pair.

Leaping high, it lashed its tail at her, the air whistling with the force of the strike.

Caroline’s sword liquefied instantly, retreating into safety. She dodged the tail’s deadly arc and drew a short firearm, its alchemical charge igniting as she fired.

The bullet pierced the creature with a deafening crack, sending it crashing to the ground.

The cockatrice, now far stronger after its transformation, recovered quickly, its razor-sharp claws capable of tearing through steel. It moved erratically between the trees and ruins, launching frenzied attacks.

Its speed left Caroline with no openings to counter, and at one point, it nearly struck her from behind with its claws.

For the first time, Caroline felt slightly pressured.

Her full strength required Charlotte’s presence, but she had no regrets. The cockatrice’s venom posed a grave threat to Charlotte, and she couldn’t allow her lady to face such danger.

It was time to get serious.

The runes of fortification across her body lit up once more, this time covering her entirely. The light in her eyes dimmed slightly as she channeled some of the magic that fueled her intellect to fully activate her metal-enhancing runes.

When the cockatrice attacked again, Caroline raised her arm. Its claws struck her limb, sparking on impact but failing to leave a scratch.

The sounds of their clashes echoed as their figures darted through the withered trees and abandoned buildings.

Caroline pressed forward relentlessly.

The cockatrice, enraged, refused to retreat. Her blade swung toward its neck, only to be blocked by its claws. She hurled an alchemical spinning blade, forcing the creature to back off.

The device exploded into flames, which Caroline manipulated with alchemical precision, transforming them into a fiery dragon that engulfed the cockatrice.

The beast shrieked in agony as the flames consumed it, filling the air with the stench of scorched flesh. Despite the pain, it roared defiantly, but Caroline roared louder.

Her voice was sharp, inhuman, filled with a cold, lethal intent.

That intent pierced the cockatrice’s very core.

Terror overtook its fury, and its cries turned into quivering wails as it tried to flee. But Caroline was prepared. She detonated another alchemical blade at its feet, severing its leg bones.

The cockatrice fell, its remaining four legs too weak to support its massive frame.

Caroline drove her blade deep into its body, piercing its heart. With a twist of the blade, she shredded the organ completely.

The cockatrice ceased all movement. Its poisonous blood poured from every pore before evaporating, leaving its body as desiccated as the countless creatures it had poisoned.

The glowing runes on Caroline’s body faded, and the light of wisdom returned to her eyes. She retrieved the broken blade, knowing Charlotte could repair it.

Standing over the fallen creature, Caroline lingered for a moment. It had been three years since she had fought like this; her skills had grown rusty. Yet, she refused to blame her lady for that, no matter what.

She collected the cockatrice’s heart blood and beak, rare materials even in an age shrouded by the mist. Perhaps they would be of use to Charlotte.

Caroline stepped into the forest. By now, her lady was probably asleep. Before she woke, there was still one more task Caroline needed to complete.