CHAPTER 209: DARKER
Aurora stepped through the portal and arrived at where the raiding party from the Falion Empire’s side was located.
As soon as her vision stabilized, she could tell that the battle was raging on a large scale.
An S-rank goblin shaman was fighting a paladin of the same rank and both had an overwhelming experience, making the battle even and hectic.
On the other side, an archer was firing swiftly while being chased by a small goblin.
However, just because it was small didn’t make it equal to the common little devils... This one was an S-Rank with a dagger that released poison and a high speed.
“Alice to the small goblin. I’m going to help the paladin... Aurora and the others support the soldiers.” Alros ordered immediately.
The team of Alros and the two of them came to offer support, leaving the mission of searching for an S-rank to the team led by Siba and Meden.
The group was always prepared to split into several teams and support each other, even though they now had to support the team that would generate pressure, it didn’t matter too much because generating more pressure here would give others a chance to accomplish the mission.
*BOOM*
As Aurora landed like a meteorite in the middle of a paladin and several A-Rank hobgoblins, Alros, with two curved swords charged towards the shaman.
Leaving Alice with her black arms, go against the little devil to support the archer.
Aurora put all her thoughts aside and focused on the battle.
Without giving her enemy time to react, Aurora charged at the A-Rank hobgoblin and, dodging the sword slash, hit the creature’s stomach with all her might.
“GUgg...”
The hobgoblin let out a grunt of pain as it failed to dodge the speed that exceeded its expectation and Aurora, without giving it time to breathe, released the lightning bolts that were in her gauntlet.
“AHHHH!”
The goblin screamed as the lightning bolts spread across the metal armor, burning and electrocuting most of the body.
Aurora could smell the stench of burning flesh and she, with a cold expression, grabbed the goblin’s arm and threw it against another group of goblins that were bothering her companions.
Out of the corner of her eye, she could see that the situation was unfavorable for her group and several soldiers were being pressured and were getting hurt.
If things continued in this way, some would die and at such an idea, she stopped hesitating as she made her sword appear in her hand.
Releasing a slash at a pair of goblins that were falling from the air above her, both fell split in half as an aura cut off the vision in front of her.
Now she had no time to hesitate... And she did what she had to do to defend her allies.
Watching out of the corner of her eye as several soldiers were critically wounded made her realize that the situation was completely out of her control.
Moving like a machine, Aurora advanced forward, dodging the arrows of the archers and swinging her sword again, a thin line cut those archers shooting from a building.
*BOOM*
Seeing that she was no longer holding back and going all out, Alice also did the same.
She went down to the ground and extended her shadow to protect the soldiers and swallowed the severely wounded in her shadow to protect them, carrying several priests who were released in a safe place after casting the healing spell.
Alice’s shadow stretched out, covering over thirty meters as she moved into the buildings, devouring the goblins with her darkness.
Dozens of arms became hundreds as they emerged from the darkness trapping all the enemies she found around her and other clawed arms chased the S-ranked little devil that was slashing at the black arms trying to poison her to no avail.
Alice didn’t even flinch as the arms caught and tore the goblins part by part or pierced them with arms turned into spears.
Aurora, for her part, moved through that darkness with her sword in hand.
It was a long sword, without any remarkable detail, and in her hands, it was a ruthless weapon.
Her movements were fast and with every step, her speed increased... Already a A-Rank fighter, she had a strong body and that was because she was an S-Rank swordsman.
However, her speed was always the highest and now that she was training with her master during her time at the academy, her movements got more polished.
She advanced, dodged attacks, and slashed with her sword, not looking at the bodies falling behind her back and always being ruthless, attacking vital points.
Blood stained her fighter’s clothes, and the sword began to drip with blood, all while her expression grew colder.
What was the difference between killing an intelligent magical beast, a human, or, in this case, a goblin?
Strangely, the blood of all of them was red... In the end, she was not a heroine with high values; she was simply a human with her own flaws and qualities, willing to do what she had to do.
And if that meant, if she had to stain her hands with blood, then, even if her hand trembled or she hesitated, she would do it.
Now she moved towards a hobgoblin and tried to cut it with her sword.
“...”
The hobgoblin parried her sword with his own weapon, but the pale expression he gave as he lost to the force made it obvious that he was surprised.
Aurora, instead of giving it time with her right hand, struck the hobgoblin’s uncovered face, managing to knock it back.
Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.
The green nose of the creature broke before the strength of a Rank A fighter and when that creature took distance, Aurora cut it with all her strength.
A ferocious slash sliced through the creature’s chest, cutting through the armor and Aurora, without pausing to watch her foe fall, moved on to the next enemy.
Like a well-oiled machine, she killed quickly and relentlessly, without hesitation.
The reinforcement team reduced the pressure on the main group and as the two goblin S-ranks were stopped, they began to flank and morale dropped.
“Anyone available? We need some support,” Siba’s voice rang over the small group’s communication system.
Aurora looked at the others.
Alice had extended her shadow and was now advancing to where the tunnel was underground and from where those creatures were still coming out.
Elsewhere, Alros and the paladin had a tough fight going against the goblin shaman, even though it was two against one, the battle was going to drag on.
Alros gave her a sign allowing her to go and Aurora looked at the military group and realized that they could handle their enemies.
Without hesitation, she pulled from the space ring a scroll connecting to the other team and tore it up
Her surroundings distorted and when she appeared in the designated position, she realized that the group of Meden, Siba, and the accompanying military group were in trouble.
The Romanian military group was in the most trouble because they were B-Rank and while they had better equipment, the enemies were strong, experienced, and savage.
Meden and Siba were fighting two S-Rank goblins each... In fierce combat, while their teams of ten Terranovians were fighting tenaciously with a large group of enemies.
Before Aurora could move, she noticed how an S-Rank releasing a large presence fell fiercely in the middle of the military group.
It was larger than the other hobgoblins and was also muscular.
What stood out was not only the scar on his eye that gave the impression of a veteran, but the huge two-handed sword.
Swinging the greatsword, he slashed the arm of a Rank A mechanic without the latter realizing what had happened and Aurora, without hesitation, blinked in front of the mechanic before he received the final blow.
*Clang*
*BOOM*
Aurora received the greatsword squarely, realizing that this goblin’s muscles weren’t just for show.
Her hand was numb and the good thing was that the big goblin was surprised that someone smaller than him would withstand the blow directly.
Thin and weak as she looked, Aurora was an A-Rank fighter focused on strength... Now with her sword, that strength was transformed into power that made her already dangerous weapon even more lethal.
“Go away!” ordered Aurora, dodging the greatsword that cleaved the ground to where she had been.
The mechanic gritted his teeth and, taking his cleanly severed arm; he used the blink of his armor and reached the center of the A-Rank group where a mage made it stop bleeding.
*BOOM*
Aurora focused on her opponent and dodged with nimble steps the goblin’s slashes, whose speed was matched by his enormous strength... Too terrifying.
Behind her back, she heard explosions of the goblin’s slashes hitting the buildings and abandoned cars behind her.
*Clang*
Sword clashing again, the ground beneath Aurora’s feet cracked from the goblin’s force.
Then Aurora sensed a huge presence overhead, and they both took distance looking up at the sky.
High above, Duke Kristoph gazed at the abyssal portal while beside him, the magical energy changed shape at his mere presence, giving him an atmosphere of darkness.
Near him stood Cardinal Auguste, releasing an equally terrifying presence, while the psionic energy caused those looking on to hear distant voices and strange ravings.
As a psionic focused on mental attacks, his very presence affected the people who looked at him.
In front of them, there were four goblins.
The first one was the one who came out of the abyssal portal, tall, big, and muscular, the green skin was remarkable, while his yellowish teeth gave him a predatory touch.
His eyes released intelligence and cunning worthy of a leader.
Beside him stood three other goblins.
One was a small ‘little devil’ just like the one the archer was facing, only this one had a more savage and fierce look, while his face bore red tribal paint.
All over his body were small daggers to be thrown.
The other was like the one he was now facing, a tall, muscular hobgoblin with a fierce face, but it was the last of them who caught the eye.
The size was not as tall as his hobgoblin companion, but not short like the little devil either, still, he stood out more because of his hood and the gaze full of wisdom.
“Gugurua...” The leader’s voice echoed and looking at the two SS Rank who could be considered walking calamities, he gave a smile.
The shaman pulled out a black sphere, and it began to glow.
The barrier covering the abyssal portal trembled, dissolving and releasing a ripple that spread everywhere.
The SS Ranks did not move as they saw the Abyssal Portal trembling at the instability of the battle that had taken place far away and especially the enemies in front of them.
That artifact caused something to spread, affecting all the goblins and, just like Aurora, whose opponent had an increase in his aura, those above facing two SS Ranks were also the same.
The auras of those bosses were subtly raised, making them feel powerful and overwhelming, managing to make the SS Ranks look seriously at their current opponents.
“GURURUAA!”
Without giving Aurora a chance to continue watching, her opponent growled angrily and as his eyes reddened madly, he began to attack, as did all the goblins in the area.
*Clang*
“Ugh...”
Only this time it was different from before, and Aurora, upon receiving the goblin’s sword, let out a slight groan due to the strength that had increased.
The goblin’s speed also increased, and the attacks became more powerful, making Aurora start to speed up her movements to dodge, avoiding facing a direct attack.
Trying to prevent it from fleeing, Aurora had to take another direct hit from that creature and her arms trembled as she felt the force of the blow.
Whatever that shaman did ended up giving the entire race a boost of strength... Causing everyone’s expressions to change.
Before she could get any distance, Aurora, out of the corner of her eye, could see that she was close to the Abyssal Portal and as the barrier had dissipated, she could see what was on the other side.
Surrounding the Abyssal Portal was a magic circle that stabilized the portal, allowing other goblins to exit.
Among them were not only a few individuals bringing in all sorts of supplies, but there were some small creatures.
They were not the ‘little devils’, they were little goblin children coming out into the arms of other female goblins.
The slightly malnourished bodies and numb, but slightly desperate, looks made Aurora find the answer to her question instinctively.
Was this an invasion?
No, that look and numb expression of those who lost everything was not a look that carried an ‘invader’... They were fleeing.
Just like the tens of thousands of refugees she had rescued during her time in Africa.
Those looks of fear, dread of a new fate, yet desperation and no choice, made her realize that they were fleeing in search of something better.
Whatever was on the other side of the Abyssal Portal was worse than a war where their people were dying.
*BOOM*
Taking advantage of the moment when she was distracted, her opponent kicked her in the chest and Aurora flew through the air, smashing through the wall of a building.
“Ugg...”
Crashing into the fridge inside, Aurora spat blood and immediately took a potion that lessened the pain in her chest.
“We have completed target.”
Before she could get up, a warning echoed over the general communication system and after a second, a roar resounded.
“Withdraw.” Duke Kristoph ordered over the comm system.
“Fuck off, you fuckers!”
*BOOM*
Stepping out of the building, she noticed Meden slammed the large hammer that was taller than her into a building.
The huge blow managed to crack the foundation of the four-plus floor building, and cracks spread all over the pillars that held it up.
Opening her eyes slightly in surprise, Aurora watched as that huge building shattered, falling to where the goblins were.
*BOOM*
A cloud of dust, along with a thunderous sound, echoed as the building fell into the main street, shattering another small building.
“Are you okay?” Siba asked after creating a huge fire barrier, keeping the dust and debris from touching the group.
“Yeah... My suit withstood some of the impact,” Aurora replied calmly.
She didn’t lie completely, the attack was so fast that her barrier couldn’t activate, and she had suffered the impact directly.
The combat suit reduced some of the impact, but it wasn’t enough in the face of the kick delivered directly by an S-Rank dedicated to strength.
While she was an S-Rank swordsman, her body was only at the higher level of an A-Rank because, as a swordsman, she focused on speed.
Leaving the scene, Aurora looked back as she watched the SS Ranks cover the retreat of all the allied forces.
Behind her back, they left corpses of creatures, while they carried the wounded on their shoulders.
Stowing her sword in her space ring, Aurora let out a long, turbulent sigh.
Felt that her path was darker than she had expected.