4 Barbarian Queen

'Give me a break, not even a day into my new life and I've already been betrayed.'

Ai took a step back, holding her sword between her and Jesamine when an arm shot up in front of Ai.

"What the hell is this Jes? Turning to 'those' people for such a little girl?" Lia snapped at Jes who was slightly taken aback but kept a cold expression.

"This 'little girl' Is more than she seems. She has more abilities than a Level 1 should have and she has multiple classes." Jesamine took a step toward Ai.

Sebastian stood in front of Ai, glaring at Jesamine.

"This girl is now under the protection of the Protectorate. Cease your hostility this instant Jes."

A large golden magic circle appeared on the ground beneath everyone's feet. Runes appeared quickly as a second layer began to form around the first, and then a third around the second.

"Tch. Sebastian, you've heard the rumors of the prophecy right?" Jesamine said as she leaned against her staff, she was growing visibly fatigued, as were the men in black.

"That doesn't matter right now, this girl is only level 1, and besides, the Narud'Ahk is said to be a man of high level."

"I'm not talking about the Narud'Ahk, Sebastian, I'm talking about the Empress."

"The Empress has already been spotted in the Eastern Continent. This girl is different, she will return with the Protectorate and we will speak with her at the Cathedral. So stand down."

Jesamine's eyes glowed faintly as the cold left her expression, replaced by the usual warm smile.

Ai sensed danger from behind, a blade coming just above her shoulder.

'Shit!'

Ai twisted her body and deflected a shortsword with all of her might as it was mere inches away from Sebastian's back.

A notification popped up in Ai's peripheral but she decided to ignore it for now as she sensed danger coming once more, this time for her.

A dagger shot out from underneath the cloak of the fifth party member, using the momentum from deflecting the sword, Ai shot the pommel of her sword down as fast as she could, barely deflecting the dagger in time.

The dagger, although deflected, still cut across Ai's stomach.

[Poison detected: Paralysis Poison. Estimated time for effect: 36 Seconds | Estimated Duration: 2 hours]

'Shit!'

As the pommel reached the lowest point after deflecting the dagger, Ai reversed the momentum once again, sending the tip of the blade towards her assailant at a blurring speed.

But the difference in levels was made obvious when the cloaked man dodged out of the way with a blur, he flipped back with a look of shock on his face.

"Quit fucking around and capture that little shit!" Jesamine roared as she conjured a small ball of fire and launched it at Sebastian.

"[Counter-Spell]!"

Lia chanted as the firebolt disappeared into a magic circle and reappeared headed straight back at Jesamine.

"Tch, fuck off, [Shield]."

A magic circle appeared as a dome around Jesamine, the firebolt struck and fizzled out against the dome.

Ai tried to watch but was busy with her own confrontation to pay any attention to the mage battle happening behind her.

The sword and dagger combo came in fast as the cloaked figure dashed toward Ai at lightning speed.

'Fuck, again?'

She raised her sword into a defensive stance but before the cloaked figure could get closer, a large half-orc foot shot out and kicked the cloaked figure with a loud *CRACK* as the figure flew into a tree.

"You alright little girl?" The half-orc was now a hulking mass of muscle after activating his [Rage] skill.

"Ah, yeah, thanks." Ai nodded as she conjured up a small circle in her hand.

"I've got this bastard. Either get to safety or wiggle those fingers of yours and throw some shit at that bitch." Damian pulled a large axe out of his inventory and charged at the cloaked man.

'4 against 4, we can do this! Maybe?'

"[Magic Missile]!"

Ai gathered mana into a small spike and launched it towards one of the hooded assailants. He had tried to block the missile but it phased through the scimitar and struck him in the chest.

He stood still like he was shocked but then charged at Sebastian.

"Oh no you don't, Ai hasn't had her fun yet!"

False confidence filled Ai again, she was aware that it was false but she didn't care.

Obviously the missile did negligible damage to the assailant but she was confident that she could at least block his attacks against Sebastian.

The scimitar swung out at Sebastian's neck as Ai put all of her weight into striking the blade away. The scimitar was knocked just above Sebastian's head.

'Yes! I can do this!'

The large circle under everyone started to shine brightly.

"Enough, everyone go to [Sle--- Guah!"

The assailant dropped his scimitar, grabbed Agony by the blade, and punched Sebastian in the face before he could finish the spell, knocking him out in one punch.

'Shit! It's over!'

The other assailant threw a fist full of powder at Lia as she stumbled and fell to her knees.

Lia attempted to cast another spell but the lingering powder caused the spell to fizzle.

"Damnit, anti-magic pow- Ooof!" Her assailant had launched a knee into Lia's stomach, knocking her unconscious.

The half-orc swung his axe in massive arcs but the cloaked figure ducked beneath every time, slashing at his torso.

"Stand still you little..." Damian reached out and caught the figure by the throat, he lifted him into the air.

"[Shadowblade Dance]!" The man managed to speak out through Damian's crushing grip.

Several copies of the man leaped out of the shadows of Damian and the surrounding trees, they cut, slashed, and stabbed repeatedly at Damian relentlessly, meanwhile, Damian was attempting to swing his axe around wildly, but the axe phased right through the shadows.

The man finally managed to stab the dagger deep into the arm of Damian's hulking form and, with the full force of his poison, caused Damian to collapse down onto the ground.

As everyone began to fall, one by one, the poison had finally hit as Ai collapsed onto the ground, only able to watch in horror.

Suddenly a tree flew just past Ai, hitting and crushing one of the assailants killing him instantly.

"Shit! It's the Barbarian Queen! Run!" The other assailant shouted out in shock as he started to sprint down the trail.

"Oi! What the fuck are you doing to my little sis you bastards!?"