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Suddenly! Something flew towards Viba's cheek! Startled, he instinctively raised his arm to block. With a "ding" sound, the object was deflected into the air. A petite figure then swiftly charged forward, rapidly climbing up his knee, waist, and shoulder using his clothes. Finally, at his shoulder, she leaped powerfully, grabbing the deflected object! She turned around, holding the object and sliced it towards Viba's spine!

"Screech ahhhhhhhhhh!"

After a sound as grating as nails on a chalkboard, the figure passed by Viba's feet, holding a Silver Moon dagger, and stood firmly in front of Edward...

Long hair down to her waist, a simple white headband and hair clip, an attractive figure under plain farm clothes, and a face so beautiful it evoked sympathy... Needless to say, it was Mengdie, who had rested for fifteen minutes and recovered some strength.

"Is... is it you...?"

Enduring the pain, Edward managed to speak these words with all his might, coughing up blood.

Mengdie nodded softly, softly replying in appreciation of his managing to hold on for fifteen minutes —

"Yes, Labona."

※※※

The poor leader was mentally frozen.

Mengdie, unaware of her language mistake, held the dagger ready for combat. She had witnessed the recent events and was well aware of the kind of enemy she now faced – a being whose entire body was like steel, where even a deep cut with a dagger felt like striking metal. How could she fight him with her current physical state?

"Hmph, rat. Can't win, so you hide behind a woman for protection? Pretty boy!"

While he spoke, Viba's black skin returned to normal. He stood tall before them, scoffing. The surrounding bandits echoed his mockery, their laughter filled with derision towards Edward and lewd comments about Mengdie.

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Edward's face turned ashen. Wiping the blood from his mouth, he struggled to stand up with the support of his sword, gasping heavily, attempting to position himself in front of Mengdie as a shield. But Mengdie gently stopped him.

"Let me... let me do it! I will... protect you, I won't let... you get hurt!"

Mengdie was genuinely touched by Edward's persistence. Perhaps he just wanted to play the hero in front of a female Mengdie? Would he still be so determined if Mengdie were a man? Regardless, she appreciated his sentiment.

"Don't be reckless. Can you still fight?" Mengdie asked softly.

Edward, clutching the dented armor over his chest, twisted with pain. Still, he bit his teeth —

"Alana!"

Mengdie didn't immediately understand what he meant. After a moment of thought, she remembered the meaning of "Alana." She nodded and said to Viba softly, "Since you can still fight, follow my command. Don't be impulsive."

Edward took a deep breath, stood beside and slightly behind Mengdie on the left, nodding heavily.

"Hey! You—! Dare you fight us two, without calling your men for help!"

Just as Mengdie finished speaking, Viba stomped heavily on the ground. The earth shook violently! He laughed maniacally, lowered his head, and glared at Mengdie, "Provoking me? Hmph! No need for your provocation, I've already thought of it! Come on, how will you, a little woman only good for being pressed under someone in bed, fight me? Are you going to punch my chest with your little fists?!"

The ruffians erupted into laughter again.

Viba's mocking and lewd eyes were close, making Mengdie feel sick. She snorted, raised the Silver Moon dagger towards Viba's right eye, and coldly retorted, "Big guy, your gaze is very annoying. I've set my sights on this right eye!"

"Fine! If you're capable, come and take it! But before that, I'll kill your man and then crush you under me!"

Having said that, Viba took out a green pill from his chest and swallowed it. He clenched his arms against his chest, letting out a roar! Instantly, his human skin turned a plant-like yellow-green color, with layered textures, transforming him into a walking tree trunk! He laughed loudly, his right arm swinging towards Mengdie and Edward! His fingers intertwined like fast-growing tree branches, forming a roughly five-meter long branch, sweeping at Mengdie and Edward's waist!

"Get down!"

Mengdie shouted, and they both immediately lay flat. The thick branch passed over their heads, and after the strike, it split back into five fingers. Viba, looking at Mengdie and Edward's disheveled appearance, became even more smug. After retracting his hand, he intertwined his left fingers into a spiked branch and thrust it towards Edward's back as he lay on the ground.

Edward, already as fragile as a candle in the wind, was unable to move after lying down. Just as the branch was about to pierce through him, Mengdie kicked his shoulder hard, causing them to split to the left and right. The branch pierced into the rock, and the shattered stone pieces stung their faces. Viba, frustrated by another miss, retracted his arm, preparing for another attack.

"Trying to escape?!"

Mengdie seized the moment the branch retracted to spring up from the ground, thrusting the dagger hard into the trunk! Using Viba's retracting force, she stepped on his arm and charged at him! As she neared, she pulled out the dagger and kicked again! She leaped high, flipping the dagger towards Viba's throat!

Viba was shocked, knowing the tree-like barrier on his skin wasn't very thick. If the dagger penetrated, his throat would be pierced! He hurriedly raised his hand to grab Mengdie, who was inconveniently mid-air.

Mengdie seemed oblivious to her danger, focusing intently on Viba's throat. But as his fingers almost grasped Mengdie's waist, she suddenly flipped in the air! She barely stepped on his approaching index finger and leaped again! For the first time, she was eye-level with Viba, staring straight at him!

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