Pillar of Flames

Bloed's eyes opened wide. He watched the pool of blood below him in surprise and fear.

However, he did not feel any pain.

"… Regina," Bloed murmured in a daze, and when he turned around, he saw the back of a silver-haired girl.

The Valkyrie had taken the dagger for him.

"Regina!" Bloed shouted. But the silver-haired girl did not reply.

Instead, she grabbed the wrist of the assassin that attacked Bloed and glared at him with eyes filled with killing intent.

"Die!" She spoke.

In the next second, a one-hundred-meter-long blade of light cut the world into two.

"… Impo… sible…" The demigod murmured, and blood flowed out of his mouth.

The blade of light cut everything in its path. It was so fast that the demigod was unable to avoid it.

One second later, his bisected body fell to the ground.

But in the next instant, Regina's vomited a mouthful of blood and kneeled on the ground.

"Regina!" Bloed panicked,

She had been gravely injured by the dagger!

Right then, a gigantic shadow filled with killing intent fell from the sky.

"Regina!" Bloed shouted again in worry and got ready to activate Door of Nothingness, but Regina moved faster.

With a thought, a field of energy appeared around Bloed and her, blocking the giant shadow.

When the shadow disappeared, she glared at the average-looking man in the sky with ice-cold eyes.

"Do you want to die?"

"… What a terrifying woman." The Saint of the Church of Slaughter forced out a smile.

He was filled with wounds all around his body, including a terrifying cut on his abdomen.

Behind him, the demigod that had been fighting Regina with him was panting heavily, and blood was flowing from his severed right arm.

That was the result of the two of them teaming up to fight.

If they would have been fighting her alone, they would have perished before the first minute.

As for Regina, the only wound she suffered was the stab of the dagger.

Moreover, the only reason she received it was to protect Bloed. Otherwise, she would have been uninjured even after killing a demigod and heavily injuring another two.

Unfortunately, Regina's situation was not good.

Although she was not showing it, the wound she just received was very grave.

Regina was not a human, but a Valkyrie. A kind of combat cyborg developed by the Human Confederation.

But as a cyborg, she was part human.

Her blood and most of her internal organs were the same as a normal human. Although some organs such as the heart were replaced when she was turned into a Valkyrie, she could still be injured if her mechanical heart was pierced.

Of course, the wound caused by the dagger was not enough to stop her. She was confident that, even injured, she could kill the other two demigods before long.

However–

"At least three, huh." She muttered with a frown.

She could feel at least another three demigods hidden while observing her.

No, they were not observing her, but her master.

They also wanted to kill him.

Luckily, she had managed to detect them on time, allowing her to attack them with her energy weapons and force them to retreat.

But she failed to stop one of them, and he was the one that attacked Bloed.

Regina furrowed her brows. These demigods were not very powerful, and even the three of them together were inferior to her. In fact, even if the two demigods in the sky were added to the equation, she still believed she could win.

But–

'… It will be hard to protect master.'

Regina looked at Bloed behind her with a concerned expression.

She hesitated briefly about what to do. But eventually, she made her choice.

"Master, get Leto ready to escape."

Bloed was startled. But he understood her intentions quickly.

However, he soon shook his head.

"… Impossible. They are here to kill me. They will not let Leto take flight."

Bloed had also felt the other three demigods. He could feel they were here to kill him.

Leto's flight speed was very fast, but it needed a bit of time to reach its maximum speed. Plus, even at maximum speed, it was not faster than powerful demigods.

Of course, most demigods could not keep that speed for a long while. But it was enough to intercept Bloed's flight.

Regina, however, was already aware of that.

"Don't worry, I will stop them."

"You…" Bloed's eyes opened wide, and in the next instant, his eyes were filled with anger. "What are you planning?"

"… My mission is to protect you, master. Regardless of my safety."

Bloed's expression changed. "You…"

Then, he smiled bitterly.

"Do you truly think that I can leave knowing that you could die?"

Regina did not reply.

She was strong, perhaps stronger than the five enemy demigods if she went all out.

But it was a different story if she had to protect Bloed while fighting them.

Protecting him while Leto took flight meant restricting her movements and forcing her to receive attacks that otherwise she could avoid.

Bloed understood that, and Regina as well.

Right now, she was ready to give her life for him.

Bloed closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

"… Ten seconds. I used Imaginary Slash once, so I can use [Overdrive] only for that long."

"Master?"

"How many of them can you kill in that time?"

"… It's too risky. You will be unconscious after that, master. The best option to ensure your safety i–"

"Regina, I'll ask you again. How many of them can you kill in that time?"

Regina hesitated and frowned.

"… Two. No, I'll kill three of them."

"Good. That is the plan then." Bloed grinned and took a deep breath. He could feel that the hidden demigods were becoming impatient.

They were going to attack soon.

The next ten seconds were going to determine his life and death.

But just then –

*BOOMMM!!!*

An enormous explosion came from the place where the girls were fighting!

Bloed and Regina were surprised. They hurriedly looked in the direction of the explosion and were shocked to see a pillar of transparent flames rising to the sky!

Then, a beautiful black-haired girl with eyes as dark as the night itself left the pillar of flames while holding a severed head on her right hand and a sword on her left.

"King's Shadows!" She snarled. "How do you dare to attack my brother!"

Flames appeared on her right hand, burning the head belonging to the demigod she just killed to ashes. Then, she walked towards Bloed, standing in front of him protectively.

"Who dares to kill my brother with me here!" She shouted.

Her name was Eres Skysword.

Also known as World Burning Princess Witch.

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