Chapter 223: The Clash of the Wind: Altria vs. Melusine

Arrows began raining down in torrents, showering the ground occupied by the fairies. The Wind Clan, still recovering from the initial shock, found themselves unprepared for this renewed assault. As the hail of arrows pierced through their defenses, the fairies suffered devastating losses.

The chief of the Wind Clan, already seething with anger, became even more furious at the sight of her people being overwhelmed. She grabbed Melusine's arm and shouted, her voice laced with desperation, "Melusine, go and take them down now!"

"Understood," Melusine replied with a resigned nod. Though she was exasperated by the chief's demands, she had no choice but to obey.

Pushing off forcefully from the ground, Melusine soared into the sky. As a descendant of the Dragon of Albion, she possessed the ability to fly. From her vantage point, she scanned the battlefield, her sharp eyes locking onto Altria, who stood at the head of her forces, sword in hand.

Altria's calm demeanor and commanding presence marked her as the leader. Determined, Melusine set her sights on her and charged.

"Ah!" With a fierce cry, Melusine swung her sword down from above, aiming to cut Altria in half. Her descent did not go unnoticed; archers quickly aimed their bows skyward and unleashed a volley of arrows at her.

The air was filled with the whistling of arrows as they flew towards Melusine, intending to turn her into a pincushion. But she was no ordinary target. With both swords in hand, Melusine deftly deflected the arrows, sending them spinning away. Her movements were swift and fluid, showing no signs of slowing down.

She landed in front of Altria, who was already prepared. As Melusine's blade swung towards her, Altria raised her sword to block. Their swords clashed with a resonant clang, and the force of the impact sent Altria skidding backward.

Despite the ferocity of her opponent's attack, Altria managed to keep her footing. She was taken aback; Melusine's strength was greater than she had anticipated. While she was unaware of her own Red Dragon bloodline, Altria knew her capabilities. In previous battles, neither Kay, Galahad, nor even Lancelot had managed to overpower her.

Aside from Vortigern, the formidable king who once matched her in strength, Altria had never faced an opponent who could so effortlessly contend with her power. Yet here she was, facing another opponent who seemed to surpass her strength.

However, it wasn't by much. She could manage this, Altria thought confidently. She drew Caliburn, its blade gleaming in the light.

"Come on, let's keep fighting!" Altria challenged, her voice steady and resolute.

She charged forward, swords clashing once more. The sound of metal against metal filled the air as their blades collided, sparks flying from each strike. Melusine's lips curled into a smile, her eyes gleaming with excitement.

"A worthy opponent!" she exclaimed, her voice brimming with exhilaration.

Their swords continued to clash, each blow struck with precision and power. Both combatants were relentless, their movements swift and deadly. Melusine's strength, however, was clearly superior. Not only was she physically stronger, but her combat skills, reminiscent of Lancelot's legendary prowess, were exceptional.

Despite her best efforts, Altria found herself gradually being pushed back. Melusine's attacks were relentless, each strike more powerful than the last. Altria relied on her finely-honed instincts, the 'intuition' that had guided her through countless battles, to narrowly avoid being overwhelmed.

But she knew she couldn't keep this up forever. If things continued like this, she would be defeated.

Nearby, Guinevere watched the battle anxiously. Seeing Altria struggle, she felt a surge of determination. "I have to help Altria," she thought urgently.

Her gaze shifted to the Wind Clan leader, who stood behind the lines, issuing orders. Without hesitation, Guinevere turned to the knights around her and commanded, "Charge! Go for the Wind Clan leader!"

"Yes, my lady!" The knights raised their lances and spurred their horses forward, charging towards the Wind Clan leader.

Had all six fairy clans been present, the powerful Tooth Clan could have repelled the knights' charge. But with only the Wind Clan in their path, their small and fragile bodies were no match for the knights' overwhelming force.

As the knights bore down on her, the Wind Clan leader's face paled with fear. She turned and screamed, "Melusine, save me!"

Was the situation that dire for the Wind Clan leader? In truth, she still possessed considerable strength. Despite suffering heavy losses from Altria's initial attack and the relentless rain of arrows, the Wind Clan's remaining forces were still formidable.

She could have used her powerful magic to defend against the knights, but her fear and anxiety got the better of her. Instead of taking action, she panicked and called out for Melusine.

Melusine heard the leader's desperate cries and sighed inwardly, but she turned back, rushing to her aid.

Seeing Melusine retreat, Altria quickly signaled her knights to fall back. She knew that a direct confrontation with Melusine would result in heavy casualties for her side.

"Retreat!" Altria commanded, her voice carrying over the battlefield.

The knights pulled back just as Melusine arrived, her swords ready to strike. Seeing the knights retreat, she halted, watching them disappear into the distance.

"Don't be so reckless next time," the Wind Clan leader chided Melusine, visibly relieved. "You could have been killed!"

"Understood," Melusine replied quietly, suppressing her irritation. Despite the leader's relief, Melusine couldn't help but feel frustrated. If the leader had been more decisive, they could have turned the tide of the battle.

"What should we do next?" Melusine asked.

"We'll rest tonight and tomorrow, we'll annihilate those humans who dare to stand against us," the Wind Clan leader declared, her voice filled with determination.

Melusine nodded. But deep down, she doubted the leader's plan. If it weren't for the leader's poor decisions, she could have defeated Altria earlier.

"I hope you'll be more careful tomorrow," Melusine said, unable to keep the concern from her voice.

"Are you doubting me?" the Wind Clan leader snapped, her eyes narrowing.

"No, of course not," Melusine replied, bowing her head in submission. Yet in her heart, she was certain: the Wind Clan leader's shortcomings would be a serious obstacle in the coming battle.

"I'll just have to try harder tomorrow," Melusine thought resolutely. Despite the challenges, this was her opportunity to prove her strength, even if it meant carrying the weight of the Wind Clan's failures.