"…"
Artoria hadn't expected Hinata to catch on so quickly.
"Artoria-chan, if you keep talking, you'll leak all our secrets," Treyni appeared beside Artoria, her sudden presence instantly putting Hinata and the six Saints on high alert.
"Another one!"
"When did she…?"
"Who is she?"
"How did she get in?"
"…"
"Demon Lord!"
As expected of Hinata, she immediately discerned Treyni's strength.
Like Artoria, this newcomer was also a powerhouse who had stepped into the Demon Lord realm.
But this was almost too shocking!
Two True Demon Lords!
And ones Hinata had never heard of, appearing simultaneously in the Great Jura Forest.
Most importantly, these two seemed to be on the same side.
"Sorry," Artoria nodded slightly. "I met someone intriguing by chance and couldn't hold back."
"Couldn't hold back, huh?" Treyni didn't even want to call Artoria out.
She was clearly guiding Hinata, trying to prevent her from making the wrong choice.
Not just now.
Even earlier, when Artoria took Disintegration head-on with her body, it was her way of preserving the Crusader Order.
"Aren't you afraid that person will get angry?" Treyni asked.
"…"
Artoria was silent for a moment before saying firmly, "I'll apologize to him."
"Fine," Treyni smiled. "Then, mind if I tell them the second option?"
"Go ahead."
With Artoria's approval, Treyni scanned the crowd and said, "If you refuse to surrender, that's fine too."
"Artoria-chan will personally beat you all to your knees!"
"…"
Beating them to their knees wasn't just an insult... it was outright disdain, as if they weren't even worth considering!
"Oh, what was that line that person said?" Treyni looked at her close friend.
Artoria sighed, "To step over ants without harming them requires delicate control."
"Exactly!" Treyni smiled. "So, I hope you all can be sensible…"
"You're saying that," Artoria said, exasperated, "and you think they'll still surrender?"
However, Artoria didn't find it troublesome.
She knew exactly what Treyni's sudden appearance meant.
It was a reminder from Damien.
No more holding back... take down these invaders now!
"Whatever," Artoria gripped her Sword of Promised Victory tightly. "The battle will end quickly anyway."
And so, under Treyni's watchful gaze and Hinata's shocked eyes, a war of 1 versus 3,000 erupted.
The six Saints, alongside Hinata, 111 Temple Knights, and 3,000 Crusaders, were utterly overwhelmed by one person with devastating force!
Unstoppable!
Not a single one could match her!
The only ones who could exchange a few blows with Artoria were Hinata and the six Saints.
But even they, faced with Artoria's swordsmanship, fell unwillingly one by one.
"Litus!"
"Leonard!"
"Bacchus!"
One after another, her teammates were cut down by Artoria.
They weren't in mortal danger but had lost all combat ability, lying helplessly on the ground, watching unwillingly as Artoria charged toward their comrades.
In less than ten minutes, the only one left standing around Artoria was Hinata.
But even Hinata was now covered in wounds.
If not for her indomitable will, her fate wouldn't have been much better than the other Saints.
"Monster…"
Hinata considered herself formidable, believing she could even stand a chance against a True Demon Lord.
But Artoria's appearance was like a slap to her face, waking her up.
The so-called strongest human?
The knight before her hadn't even used a Unique Skill.
With just her physical prowess and terrifying swordsmanship, she had crushed the entire Crusader Order, including Hinata.
Step! Step! Step!
Artoria walked toward Hinata.
Each step echoed like a hammer striking Hinata's heart.
'Is this… despair?'
She recalled Artoria's earlier words.
"No!"
"It's not over yet!!"
Faced with a hopeless situation, Hinata didn't give up but instead steeled her resolve.
"Hm?" Artoria was slightly surprised.
But this only made her more intrigued by Hinata's potential.
After all, if Damien could recruit Luminous, then Hinata and the Crusader Order under her would likely fall under Artoria's command.
For her future subordinate, perhaps even her right-hand woman, Artoria naturally hoped she'd be as strong as possible.
"In my name, I summon you... come forth, spirits!"
The second power of Usurper was to summon spirits from the spiritual world and wield their power against enemies.
In an instant, crimson flames, azure water, and emerald winds appeared around Hinata.
Under the girl's control, these forces merged into her, massively boosting her magicules!
[Sakaguchi Hinata]
Magicules: 1.1 million EP → 1.5 million EP
An increase of 400,000 magicules... enough to rival a Clayman!
Hinata's appearance transformed.
Her armor turned into a flowing, sheer dress, and three pairs of wing-like prisms of light spread behind her, making her look like a spirit from another world.
"Spirit Avatar?" Treyni, familiar with such things, instantly recognized Hinata's state.
"Still resisting?" Artoria shook her head. She had already seen through Hinata.
1.1 million or 1.5 million... what difference did it make to her?
"There's no such word as 'surrender' in my dictionary!"
Hinata raised her Seven Days Sword, now infused with spirit power, surpassing an ordinary divine weapon.
But it still wasn't enough!
Avalon's defense couldn't be breached without the magicules of a Catastrophe-class or an Ultimate Skill.
"It seems you still haven't felt despair."
In the next moment, their figures clashed.
Hinata erupted with combat power far beyond her magicule count, giving Artoria quite a surprise.
The six Saints and the other Crusaders who were still conscious watched their captain's desperate struggle, moved yet frustrated by their own powerlessness.
***
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