Ralph vs Grim [Dark Forest War - Part VII]

-- POV Grim --

I was still asleep when suddenly I was awakened by the screams of my men. They were shouting that we were under attack, running in all directions. As I emerged from my small tent, I saw several half-human women advancing toward the adventurers that I had never seen before. Their combined auras were not to be taken lightly and as I drew my sword to fight a frightening wolf howl echoed through the forest.

*What...Jessica what is going on !!?"

Jessica was at my side. She seemed as stunned as I was and could only give me an idea of the situation.

"I..I don't know. Arrows of fire suddenly flew into the clearing, setting the adventurer tent on fire. They are currently fighting four half-humans while four others are heading towards us !"

At my right-hand woman's announcement I couldn't help but laugh at the thought of panicking for even a moment.

"Only four for us ? Hahaha~ they should have come with an army to fight us. Capture them and once that's over we're going home !"

As I giggled, a hot sensation was felt in my thigh. The pain was unbearable as I turned around to see who could have hurt me. In front of me was a red-eyed half-human wolf growling and threatening. Her hands were covered in lava and ready to fight.

"You ! You dirty dog !!!"

Jessica had also been suddenly attacked by what appeared to be another cat-eared scum with a huge sword. The rest of my men were also busy containing the onslaught of the other vicious animal filth.

"I'll make you regret what you did !"

How had a filthy scum hurt me ? How had she dared ? The beast in front of me was still snarling at me with a crazed look and staring at my cloak when she spoke.

"Human, it is you who will regret coming here, you who dare to wear the skin of our comrades, know that your end will not be without pain. My mission is to immobilize you until my Empress comes to take care of you all, so let's have some fun, shall we ?"

*Empress...what ?*

I was thinking that she was definitely not normal as she threw herself at me with a continuous frenzy and palpable hatred. Her fists passing within inches of me made my clothes and sometimes even my skin burn. How could she be so fast, so precise ?

*I'm level 25 and the leader of the mercenaries, I can't lose !*

As I concentrated, screams were heard throughout the clearing, no one knew who was alive and who was not...it was total confusion. My weakest men were falling despite our numbers and facing only four women.

"Wha...what is your level ?? No one told us that there would be A-rank monsters here !"

"We are level 15..."

I couldn't believe my ears, how could such creatures stand up to us like that ? My mind was confused, but I certainly wasn't going to let animals overpower and kill me. As I got into position, a beastly smile appeared on my opponent's face.

My sword whirled in the air as we threw ourselves at each other. Despite the difference in level, the fight was almost equal, even without a weapon, with her reflexes, her speed, her inhuman strength and her element, it was difficult for me to deliver a fatal blow. The blows were raining down while we were fighting with a huge intensity.

"You animal !"

I was beside myself as the blows rained down in all directions. The half-human had a formidable fighting style based on brute force and didn't let me rest. But I needed more to fall. With a powerful movement, I threw my arm holding the sword to decapitate her but she jumped in the air to dodge, I could see her hands grab my wrist to send me against a rock pillar making me spit blood.

*What strength ! I have to get rid of her quickly to help my men ! *

Although she was a B-rank mage, her lava was not as powerful as it looked, so it was easy to block her fists with my sword that was forged to counter low-level magic. Iron and lava fought valiantly while around me were the bodies of some of my subordinates, injured or dead.

Her kicks aimed at my face were numerous but I always managed to block and push her away while the rage was growing in me. I then decided to use my famous feint which consisted in creating an opening in my guard to incite her to attack me in order to target her vital points afterwards.

"Bring it on dog ! I'll show you what it's like to fight a human !"

Pretending to inadvertently drop my sword and bend down to retrieve it, the half-human rushed at me with a smile to send her claws across my body. She no longer had her lava fists and was trying to tear me apart rather than burn me.

*It worked !*

Turning 180 degrees, my foot met her belly to send her waltzing into a tree, stunned by the blow she hadn't seen coming. She was resistant but the difference in level was beginning to be felt as she stood up breathless and much more injured than me. Her eyes were only full of hatred and resentment as she wiped the blood that had spilled from her mouth.

"So ? Do you still want to fight me ? I was planning to leave you alive but I changed my mind ! Once I've had my fun with you, I'll let my men do with you what they want. Don't blame me, we've been stuck in this forest for a long time. The warmth of a woman even a b*tch like you might cheer them up haha~"

As I finished my sentence, I could see her hair bristle as the half-human growled louder.

"You only know how to growl ? Come on, come to me girl !"

She then moved into an attack position but this time she was on all fours like a wild beast. I didn't have time to wonder as the creature was already charging at me with a higher speed than before. Her attacks had become much lower than before and I could only dodge without finding the moment to strike.

The half-human on the ground was making me move backwards more and more, her arms and legs were moving perfectly coordinated and precise. Several minutes had already passed and I had in front of me a wild beast enraged and ready to do anything to kill me. She was circling around me while attacking me from both sides while a blow finally managed to reach me and in the leg.

"Wha..."

My bones cracked as intense pain invaded the area.

"Aaaarg !!!"

The blow had been so powerful that my bones had probably fractured on impact. Ignoring the pain it was my turn to strike back, this had gone on far too long and I couldn't afford to lose.

Without thinking, I threw my weapon at her who was surprised, managing to wound her in the stomach. My sword had inflicted a rather important cut on her, which made her lose blood.

*That's it ! That's how it should be. Dogs will never beat humans.*

The half-human was injured and bleeding, while I had a broken leg and no weapons. I never thought in my life that I would have to fight so intensely with a half-human, and a level 15 one at that. How had she acquired this power ?

"You ! How is it that you are so powerful ?"

I really wanted to know because the more I thought about it, the more fear began to take over me. It could be that there were even more powerful ones hiding in the forest without our knowledge. If that was the case, even if I were to defeat the beast in front of me, there was no guarantee that I would get out of here alive. My mind was filled with doubt, anger and incomprehension.

*I...I must get out of this forest even if I have to leave my men behind. I could easily find others but I only have one life !*

In my heart I had made my decision. I would kill this woman and escape immediately, leaving the battlefield behind. My body was shaking despite myself and I couldn't help the visceral fear that was growing in my mind. Remembering the beginning of the battle, I realized that there had been a powerful and frightening wolf's cry but I couldn't see that wolf anywhere.

"Who are you looking for human ? I'm right here !"

Ignoring the pain and slipping her legs around mine, the half-human made an immobilizing hold on me as she spun around my body without giving me time to retaliate. Her legs were around my neck and I could not move. My leg was in excruciating pain as I strained to throw my foot towards her shoulder. The toe of my boot hid a small dagger in it that sank into her arm as she let out a scream as she released her grip.

"Aaah !"

A smile appeared on my face as I saw the blood dripping from her almost unusable arm.

*Hehe~ you'll pay for this you trash !

We were both out of breath and hurt but this was not the time to think about it because we were not going to stop until one of us was dead or unable to fight.

Seeing that the wild beast that was my opponent was immobile because of the pain I launched myself as best I could to give her a powerful punch in her wound. While I was almost there, an arrow suddenly planted itself a few centimeters away from my foot making me step back and abandon my attack. Looking up I could see a woman with large gray wings aiming at me with her bow and arrow.

"This...this isn't fair ! Fight like a warrior without anyone's help, where is your honor !?!"

These words had come out without me even being able to control them. I was about to finish her off and another flying filth arrived to help her in our fair fight. My rage was at its peak, I already had to endure the pain, the humiliation and on top of that I had to face a filthy beast that didn't even know the concept of honor.

"Human..."

The wounded half-human in front of me slowly raised her head as she heard my words, seeing the murderous look I gave her ally in the skies.

"You don't know what honor is. Don't you dare talk about it in front of me while you murder innocent people, slaughter entire clans and destroy without mercy. You don't even have an ounce of honor, you are just the dark side of humanity and its cruelty. You'll come and talk to me about honor when you've risked your life for someone other than your little self."

This filthy b*tch dared to lecture me and talk to me about honor with her superior air and disdainful tone. Turning my head to assess the battlefield, I could see that everyone was busy, even Jessica was struggling and still fighting the other cat-eared bug.

"You persist in despising and hating us, but who are the most despicable among us ? Who kills the old, beats the children, rapes the women and kills the men? Who really deserves to be hated ?"

Her words resonated within me like daggers to the heart.

"How dare you ? You slave !!! A human should not justify his actions when it concerns inferior beings like you !!!!"

My muscles twitched with anger as my face turned red. I didn't want to listen to her and her bullshit anymore, I wanted to kill her, dismember her and hang her limbs for all to see. How dare she talk to me like that ? How dare she lecture me, the great Grim ! I had to defeat her and make her regret her words. We were both in a bad state and tired from this long lasting fight. As we stood face to face for the last time, we knew that this would be our last attack. One of us was going to fall...it was time to find out which of us would win.

No one else existed but this woman who had hurt me so much, I was focused only on her and my desire to kill her. As the gong of attack sounded in my mind, I launched myself in her direction with the goal of driving the dagger of my boot deep into her heart in a final kick that would contain all the last of my remaining strength. As I soon reached her level, I could see that she didn't even move and smiled.

*What...*

Suddenly an arrow of fire shot through my shoulder as something wrapped around my ankles. I only had time to look down to see brambles twisting around my legs before I fell and lost consciousness.

I didn't know it yet, but when i woke up i would be facing their Empress, and if i had known it...I would have wanted to die by the hand of this half-human a long time ago.

_____

FULL STATUS

Name : Freya

Age : 0 years / Mentally : 25 years

Sex : Female

Course : Ice Demon Wolf of chaos - Adult

Race : Major Demon

Titles : Blessed by Titania, Goddess of endless Chaos and eternal frozen Hell.

Dragon tamer

Ruthless slayer

Level : 32/70

Exp required for next level: 2 000 / 33 000

HP : 90 000 / 90 000 MP : 45 000 / 45 000

Strength : 340

Defense : 336

Agility : 350

Stamina : 353

Speed : 342

Intelligence : 340

Charisma : 410 (imperial she-wolf)

Attribute points to allocate : 100

Married to: Gaya

Daughter : Shiro

Kingdom (menu)

Subordinates : 133

Humans killed : 128

Elements: Ice / Chaos

Skills (all):

Attack - Demon Claws (Lvl 5)

- Bite of hell (Lvl 5)

- Infernal ice spikes (Lvl 5)

- Fighting techniques (lvl max)

- Mastery of the katana (lvl max)

- Demonic aura of the empress (lvl 3)

Defense - Ice demon wall (lvl 4)

- Demonic cloak (lvl 5)

Pain Resistance (lvl 3)

Attack/Defense - Domain of the Ice Empress "frozen wrath" (lvl 1) - (under condition)

Others - Humanoid form

- Ice creation (Lvl 4)

- Storage of chaos (Lvl 3)

- Devouring chaos (Lvl 4)

- Analysis

- Second soul (Lvl max) - unique

- Telepathy

Passives - Commander (lvl max)

- Natural Aura of the Ice Empress ]