6 Efforts

The Cross household is known far and wide as one of the most powerful defenders of the kingdom since its founding. They're the most loyal vassals and were given the rightful authority from the king himself. Even up until now, all with the Cross blood flowing through them is obliged to serve the kingdom and all of them produced good results.

Then I came.

At first they just shrugged about it and looked at me bearing an unfortunate fate—a fate that permanently sealed me from getting a high-ranked position if ever I finished my knighthood schooling.

They thought that I am useless, but I persevered during my life in the academy and eventually made a reputation of myself, something that is unbounded by my lineage. Since I lacked, or to be precise, have no such thing as mana system in my body, I've been ridiculed many times by anonymous people.

I didn't pay attention to their idiotic schemes at all.

Then, I bounced on unfamiliar ground—science. I indulged myself learning scientific theories and enjoyed experimenting and creating equipment by utilizing all my learning to the fullest. With that, I created "Onslaught", a sword with an embedded gem-like energy source—compounded and refined by a method only I could pull off, making the sword indestructible whatsoever. I then further accomplished more achievements. The greatest achievement of all is to graduate early than anticipated.

It was that moment I saw envy on my parents' eyes.

***

"You'll regret underestimating me fool."

Avy just shook her head and pointed her sword on Grave.

"No father, it would be you. You'll regret not disposing all my tools for crafting father. I'll show you how someone who doesn't possess mana like me defeat power-driven magic knights such as you."

"What did you say!?"

"Nothing… I'm just poking your bitter spots."

To put it bluntly, their magic power is a waste—they just swing powerful magical strikes just like what father did earlier. The neighboring kingdom is much better in using magical power.

Father started to became more agitated.

Is seeing me alive made him that pissed off?

I mean, his face says it all.

My remarks aside, the reason why I'm confident enough to state those words earlier is because I already defeated a lot of people who boasts their magical power even much more powerful than father's. The reason why I'm able to identify it is because I inherited something from my grandmother. I'm a sensory-type and honed this ability since this is one of my lifelines if I engaged in combat with magic involved. Being a person without a mana system, this ability from my grandmother is bliss.

"Are you ready to face defeat father?"

"Don't get cocky brat!"

Ah…

What a muscle head. Oh, since it involves magic so, magic head?

Oh well.

I was about to sprint when I noticed that he used [Earth Bind] on me. My feet are stuck in place.

Here he comes!

"HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"

"Whoa there..."

My father unleashed a devastating horizontal fiery slash and is now flying towards me.

"KUHAHAHAHAHA! You can't parry that with your puny sword. You're doomed! That is my most powerful slash—[Flare Slash]! It is an attack that will obliterate anything on its path! You have nowhere to run you pipsqueak! HAHAHAHA… Huh? What just happened?"

I did nothing but to slash the projectile coming towards me—nothing more, nothing less.

"What did you do you shit!?"

"…"

"Heh, so that's how it is? You definitely possess some kind of magic power but you chose to hide it. What compelled you to do it?"

"Father, would you stop averting your eyes from the truth? And no, why would I lie about something? You know what, I've had enough. Let's end this."

I fixed my stance by pummeling my sword to the clog of earth holding my feet. I did it in a careful manner—not to hit myself. Father perhaps saw it as an opportunity and unleashed another fiery slash. This time it's more powerful and if confronted by any other man, death is certainly inevitable.

However, his opponent is me. As a person without mana, being attacked with an exemplary offensive technique is an honor. I feel sorry for him though, since these kinds of attacks are ineffective against me.

"Let's go, 'Onslaught'."

With a sprint, I plunged an attack to my father— a swift triple roundhouse slashes after a decent feint attack that made me like a spinning top. The trajectory with each strike, however, is changed abruptly to hit the area that I exactly want to hit—the end part of the blade near the hilt.

Father didn't notice my objective. And apparently he's just blocking each and every attack every now and then as continued our clash. Since our fight is so curiosity-inducing people now gathered and spectating every move we make, that is if they can follow our movements.

"Isn't that Lady Avy?"

"Since she's vanished…maybe she's here to payback?"

"That girl won't last long."

"Hah! You bet!"

The people just won't hide their true personalities huh?

However, I spotted some familiar folks at the increasing crowd. The people aren't just from the household or some other gossipers around the area; the spectators also included some knights who were on duty and just saw this by chance. As knight on patrol, it's their sole duties to maintain peace and all. However, they know me and my personality and of course, my strength—that knowledge alone made them pitied my opponent, even if it's the so-called "Strongest Flame User".

As I am merely deflecting my father's attacks flawlessly the crowd changed their delight into irritation.

"Finish her off already!"

"Dispose of her!"

And several more yada yada complaints came from the crowd.

I am a lady born from a great noble household, yes. But my heart isn't tainted with power, since my grandmother taught me to not let power and greed get ahead of me. And yet here I am, fighting against my own family, a person that should've lived up to our lineage's creed. Cross are meant to cleanse the society within the kingdom, not to become the ones that needed to be cleansed.

After several more clangs against my sword, my father's sword and the family heirloom eventually shattered beyond repair.