Diosia, Part Twelve

It was frustrating to hear this, but if the Inquisitors were actually that strong, then Liri would need to be careful around them.

Apparently, she'd come face to face with one earlier but hadn't scanned her Soul Rating. She wished she'd done so.

"Come on," she stated, however. "Let's go."

"Huh? Did you hear that?" One of the two guards asked at the top of the stairs, turning around toward the cells. "Kinda sounded like-"

Those were his last words before Liri slammed her fist into the back of his head. The man went down, knocked out instantly. Before his partner could react, Liri punched him in the head as well, holding onto his arm, though, so that he wouldn't go flying into a wall or anything.

She nearly kept going, but, just before entering the hallway, she looked back down at both unconscious enemies.

[... I should. They wouldn't treat me any different if they had the chance.]

After hesitating for just a moment, she stomped on both their necks.

Soul Rating Gained: 50

Soul Rating Gained: 50

Soul Rating: 3250

Doing so made her feel cold, but she tried to push the thought out of her mind.

[They're enemies. Maybe I can end this war somehow, maybe one day they won't be, but right now they are.]

The three of them walked out, with Liri leading them all.

There was no one in sight.

"I can use my hymns just yet. Maybe we need to be out of the manor entirely?" Caitlyn asked.

"Best to not waste any time, then," Liri muttered.

"Ugh," Arisa said, covering her nose. "I can smell humans up ahead. That way," she said, pointing ahead.

"Got it."

"Are drasen senses truly so sharp?" Caitlyn asked, looking back at her. "You may be more useful than I initially believed."

"I am flattered to receive such a compliment, but you're wasting your time."

"Huh?"

"I already have a lover."

Caitlyn rolled her eyes.

"You fool, I wasn't-"

"Hey!" Liri silently yelled back at them. "We're in the middle of a dangerous situation, stay focused!"

"Right, I apologize," Caitlyn replied. "Let's pick up the pace."

As they rounded the corner, Liri peeked from behind a wall.

There was a staircase in front of them, leading down to the manor's lobby. From there, they would be able to escape. However, there were far too many guards, all of them armed with modern weapons, for Liri to be able to guarantee her allies' safety.

[Ah... What do I do?] She wondered for a moment.

"All we need is to reach the outside, no? From there, Arisa can fly us to safety."

"Ah, I am afraid that's not possible. My wings can barely carry my own body."

"... I take it back, you *are* about as useful as I believed." Caitlyn sighed. "Agh, if I had Charming bombs..."

"Wait," Liri said, as she realized something. Something had changed as soon as she walked out of the dungeons, and the Duchess's bedroom. "Wait, wait, wait! I... I can feel the Mother Tree in the distance. The one we activated before coming here!"

"Mother Tree?" Caitlyn asked, tilting her head.

Liri had no time to explain. It was a miracle they hadn't been noticed yet. She needed to test her Mantras out.

"Juvin melnir, na coran!"

Suddenly, Liri's body was wrapped in wooden armor that emerged from her core and spread across her limbs, leaving only her head uncovered.

"It worked!"

"What is this?" Caitlyn asked, looking up and down Liri's body. "H-How did you...?"

[Maybe the Mother Tree is countering whatever stopped me from using Mantras in the dungeon? If so, I'm glad I took the time to activate it!]

"Stay behind me," Liri said. "I think we should make a break for it."

She hadn't wanted to test her wooden armor against the gunfire humans could throw out at her, but it felt like this was the time.

"Move as fast as you can. I'll try to block their gunshots from behind."

[If that's even possible.]

"I... I will have to place my faith in you," Caitlyn replied. "If we make it, once we are outside, follow me. I will take us straight to the Elven Stronghold."

"Got it... Here goes nothing."

On that slightly nervous note, Liri walked out from the corner.

There were a total of eight guards, all of which were looking toward the manor's entrance, not thinking that an attack could come from within.

Gauging their distance from the stairs, Liri could take out around 4 of them before a fight truly broke out. The other 4, however, would likely be able to get at least a few shots off before Liri would be able to eliminate them as well.

[... Alteria said that having sex would make me stronger, or something. If that applies to my abilities too, then I might just be powerful enough to take down all 8 guards before they can hurt Arisa and Cait. I hope I can, I really hope I can.]

They could stall no longer.

Liri was, of course, the first to move, running down the steps and kicking a man in the head.

His head went flying, taken clean off his shoulders. Before the guy next to him could react, Liri punched his face in, with one solid blow.

To her right, Caitlyn took a guard down, choking him from behind. She struggled but kept that hold as Liri continued.

"Huh!? Stop!" One guy yelled. They noticed her.

Dashing toward the next guard, Liri punched him twice. Once in the stomach, and again in the chest. He was launched toward the wall, slamming into it.

Finally, Liri moved toward the guard nearest to him, just as he was raising his rifle. She took it and crashed the back of it into the man's head, knocking him out.

It was slightly awkward as her hands were bulkier thanks to the armor, but Liri then quickly aimed the rifle at the remaining 3 guards.

"No!"

A few shots rang out from both sides. All 3 guards fired at her, understandably, given that she was clearly the biggest threat.

Liri's armor protected her, though each bullet felt like a hard punch to her body.

Liri returned fire, and all 3 guards were shot down.

Soul Rating Gained: 350

Soul Rating: 3600

Just then, Caitlyn snapped the neck of the guard she'd been choking, and all 8 guards were eliminated.

As Caitlyn stood up, she took in the scene before her. Her jaw fell to the ground.

"Y-You..."

"Come on," Liri said, cutting her off. "We're not safe just yet, and my armor won't last forever."