The orange sky illuminated the tall buildings in the city, the noisy chatter echoing along the streets.
In one corner of the city, a house with a large yard, complete with a small slide and a swing, was filled with the laughter of little children.
They ran around together with a grown woman.
"Come on, Sister Maya, let's play again!"
"Are you tired, Sister Maya?"
Maya danced as she took a deep breath and let it out.
She smiled as she looked at the children who kept inviting her to play.
"I want to rest first, you're all too agile and cute. I can't keep up."
The children giggled and went back to playing together.
Maya smiled faintly, wiping the sweat from her forehead as she loosened her hair tie.
Her short black hair swayed as she shook her head.
She walked toward the small swing and sat there,
watching the children play.
Maya moved her legs, causing the swing to sway slightly.
The orange light also reached the house door.
Maya let out a sigh, her thoughts in turmoil.
'It's been almost a month since I've been here, but nothing has happened.'
Maya cracked the joints in her fingers.
'Was that just the princess's worry?'
Maya smiled faintly.
'Well…whatever it is, I'll just treat it like a vacation.'
The house door opened, and Maya looked toward it.
A woman much older than Maya appeared, her long white hair tied in a ponytail, wrinkles visible on her face.
As the woman walked out, the children ran toward her happily.
The woman smiled.
"Mom… mom… Sister Maya is tired after playing with us."
One of the children showed his arm, trying to show off his muscles.
"Are we stronger than Sister Maya, Mom?"
The woman chuckled and patted each child's head.
"Yes… yes… you're all stronger than Sister Maya."
The children smiled with excitement.
"Go play again, we'll have dinner soon."
The children returned to playing.
The woman looked at Maya, who was sitting on one of the swings.
Maya nodded her head.
The woman walked toward Maya and sat on the swing beside her.
She turned to look at Maya.
"Is it hard playing with children?"
Maya chuckled.
"Of course it's hard, they all have endless stamina."
The woman chuckled.
"No one would believe those words coming from an A-rank like you, Maya."
Maya laughed and looked at her.
"I'm actually amazed by you, Mrs. Teresa. You retired from the front lines and instead built an orphanage."
Teresa let out a sigh and looked at the orange sky.
"Yes… it has been my dream since I was young. I wanted to create a place where children who lost their parents could still have a home to shelter in and a place to return to."
Maya looked at Teresa.
"But why are you hiding? I mean, you would surely get more support if the king or the previous queen knew you built an orphanage."
Maya chuckled.
"That would be troublesome. I just want to truly live a relaxed life, though it's actually very hard to stay calm, being in that old Adams' territory."
Maya looked at Teresa with admiration.
"No one would refer to Tony Adams, the Black Sword, like that."
Teresa chuckled, then looked at Maya again, this time more seriously.
"What about you? Why did you suddenly come here and want to stay?"
Maya swallowed.
"Well… I don't know if I'm allowed to say this, but since you own this orphanage, I'll tell you."
One of Teresa's eyebrows rose.
"Actually, my team and I were ordered by Princess Katarina to guard this place."
Teresa's face turned confused.
"Princess Katarina? Guarding here? What's actually going on?"
Maya shrugged.
"I'm not sure, but Princess Katarina is in the same class as Aril. He's one of your adopted children, right?"
Teresa smiled widely.
"I didn't expect Aril to be close to the princess, to the point he sent you here."
Teresa chuckled.
"Aril really cares about his younger siblings and me. He helps me manage this orphanage…"
Teresa laughed freely under the orange sky that slowly darkened.
"I didn't expect he would have connections with the princess, hahaha."
Teresa's laughter suddenly stopped as she looked at Maya.
"But, Maya. Is Princess Katarina really like that? I've met her before, but she seemed a bit indifferent to her surroundings."
Maya nodded.
"Yes… I was also surprised when she told me to do this, but after meeting you here, I don't mind."
They both laughed and talked about other things.
Maya looked at Teresa.
"By the way, does Aril know your true identity?"
Teresa smiled while stroking her chin.
"Of course… he doesn't."
Teresa smiled.
"It's very cute watching him protect this orphanage whenever people try to disturb it."
One of Maya's eyebrows twitched.
"How could anyone disturb your place? They're looking for death…"
Teresa shrugged.
"They don't know who I am either. I'm just an old fossil now."
A gust of wind blew past them, the swings they sat on still swaying gently.
A burnt smell suddenly reached their noses.
Maya and Teresa's eyes widened as they looked at each other.
A small tremor shook the ground beneath them. In the orange sky that was slowly turning dark, a foreign object fell.
Maya and Teresa looked at it, wrapped in flames. Even the children stopped playing.
The object kept falling and struck something invisible, a transparent dome surrounding the city.
BOOM!
The transparent dome shattered, and the flaming object fell. The shockwave reached the orphanage, shattering its windows.
Crack
The children's cries broke out.
"Mom…"
"Mom…"
Teresa immediately ran to the children and knelt down to hug them.
Maya stood beside her, swallowing as she stared toward where the object had fallen.
"Pon, Martin, Gerrard."
Maya called her team, and they appeared from various places wearing black robes.
"What happened? How could the dome be destroyed?"
They looked at each other, unable to answer.
Another small tremor was felt.
Maya, Teresa, and the others looked at the sky again.
Another foreign object fell, this time without any transparent dome to block it.
It fell freely and landed not far from the first one.
BOOM!
This time, a more powerful explosion erupted, flames shooting high into the orange sky.
The shockwave was stronger than before.
Maya and her team stood in front of Teresa and the children to block the impact.
The children cried louder, and screams of pain echoed everywhere.
The city that was once filled with casual conversations was now filled with agonizing screams.
Maya gritted her teeth.
A ferocious growl diverted everyone's attention.
That terrifying growl came from all directions.
Maya clicked her tongue and looked at Teresa.
Teresa nodded.
"Those are chimeras."
Maya asked Teresa, who was still hugging the crying children,
"Is this the dark side?"
Teresa sighed.
"Most likely."
Maya looked around, people were running through the streets, and smaller explosions occurred accompanied by black smoke.
"We have to get to the academy. Our position is too far on the edge. If we just wait, we won't survive."
Teresa nodded and tried to stand.
She looked at her frightened children, her heart pounding.
Gerrard, Pon, and Martin each carried two children.
"Mom… Mom, I'm scared…"
Teresa was about to carry one as well when a building collapsed not far from the orphanage.
Boom!
They all turned. From that direction came a woman carrying her child along with several civilians being chased by chimeras.
Maya gritted her teeth.
"Pon, Gerrard, Martin. Stay here!"
Maya channeled mana throughout her body, her form turning into mist.
The chimera had the arms of a gorilla, the legs of a lion, a scorpion's tail, and the face of an elephant complete with a trunk, its body stitched together with visible seams.
One of the civilians tripped.
Thud
The chimera's hand tried to smash them.
But mist suddenly formed around the chimera, diverting its attention.
The civilian immediately ran to safety and joined the others.
Meanwhile, the mist thickened, covering the upper part of the chimera.
Above it, Maya's form slowly appeared, now holding a glowing sword.
The chimera sensed danger and stepped back.
But Maya, descending from above, was faster.
Slash!
The elephant trunk was cut off.
A shrill scream echoed.
"Arckaaksk"
Maya landed and moved forward to attack again.
The chimera responded by swinging its fist.
Maya's eyes widened.
She slid across the ground to dodge it.
Using all her strength, she slashed the chimera's abdomen.
Slash
Blood burst out, accompanied by a foul smell.
Maya stood up and attacked its hind leg.
Slash!
The leg was severed, causing the chimera to fall.
Thud.
With a disgusted expression, Maya approached its face and thrust her sword where its brain should be.
Slash!
The chimera twitched, then its eyes lost all life.
Maya hurried back to Teresa and her team, now joined by more people.
Maya looked at one of the residents.
"What happened? Where did you come from?"
One of the residents wiped the sweat from his face.
"We were on the main road earlier, then suddenly… an explosion happened and chimeras appeared."
Another resident bit his fingernail.
"many people… died instantly."
Maya scratched her head.
Teresa looked at her.
"I think if we go through the main road, we won't survive."
Everyone swallowed nervously as they looked at Teresa.
The screeching sounds of the chimeras still echoed along with the rising black smoke.
Teresa looked around.
"Right now there are 10 adults and 9 children."
Everyone looked at Teresa.
"Adults other than Maya and her team will carry the children, I'll do it too."
Maya looked at Teresa.
"But it's still too difficult to reach the academy, right?"
Teresa nodded.
"That's why we'll go through the secret path underground."
Maya massaged her forehead, thinking of all possibilities.
Teresa patted Maya's shoulder.
"That path is a secret route made by Adams in secret, only he, the king, and the four great families know about it."
Teresa took a deep breath and looked at everyone.
Maya returned her gaze and nodded.
"We'll go through that secret path."
Slowly, the residents helped carry the children, Teresa carried one, while Maya and her team held their weapons.
Teresa headed to a corner of the orphanage yard, followed by the others.
She crouched down and touched the ground.
The ground split open, followed by a mechanical sound.
A staircase stretched downward.
Maya looked down.
"Did the headmaster really make this path specifically for you?"
Teresa shrugged.
"This is just one of the connected paths, he made it because I live here, this path will lead directly into the academy."
The residents looked confused, the woman carrying her child asked.
"The headmaster of Osteria Academy? Do you know him, ma'am?"
Teresa looked at the woman and smiled.
"Of course, haven't you ever heard of Teresa the Silent Mover?"
Everyone's eyes widened, they stared at Teresa from head to toe.
Teresa chuckled.
"Yes… my appearance has changed a lot, and the situation is chaotic right now, so let's leave this place first."
Everyone nodded, this time trust and hope were clearly reflected in their eyes.
Teresa walked first, going down the stairs while carrying a child.
The sound of footsteps echoed.
The child in her arms hugged her tighter.
"I'm scared, mom…"
Teresa gently patted the child.
"Don't worry, this will only be for a while. Once we reach the academy, you'll be safe, there's also lots of ice cream there."
Teresa's words made the other children feel a bit happier amid the chaos they were experiencing.
The group became calmer.
And they reached underground, where there was only a long corridor with lights lining it as the main source of illumination.
Teresa looked at the residents, her voice slightly echoing.
"Ahh… I just remembered."
The residents looked at her.
"This is a secret path, after reaching the academy you will have to go through special procedures. I apologize for the inconvenience as this concerns the academy's security."
The residents did not protest because the one speaking was Teresa the Silent Mover, a hero from the old era in the same category as Tony Adams the Black Sword.
Their footsteps echoed along the corridor.
Tap tap tap
Their breathing sounded rough, but they didn't stop, not when their lives were at stake.
Teresa's heart pounded faster than usual, her breath was ragged, the muscles in her legs screamed, and sweat poured down heavily.
'Damn…. I should have maintained my physical fitness'The child in her arms looked at Teresa.
"Are you okay, mom?"
Teresa smiled.
"Of course… don't worry, this mom is strong, you know."
The little child smiled.
Their footsteps continued to echo.
Teresa felt the pain in her legs building up with every step.
But something else diverted her attention.
She felt that something was wrong.
Teresa turned her head toward Maya.
"Maya…"
Maya nodded.
Slowly, their footsteps began to slow down.
Everyone became more tense than before.
Their footsteps still echoed.
Tok tok tok
But a few steps later, a creepy giggling laughter echoed, making them stop in their tracks.
Maya and Pon immediately took positions while Gerrard and Martin guarded the rear.
Teresa swallowed hard.
There, two black-robed figures could be seen with their backs facing them, one of them was wrapping an arm around the other.
"Kikikikikik"
The figure who was holding the other turned his head back toward the group.
His eyes curved into a wide smile, followed by a grin that revealed his yellow teeth.
"Kikikikik, so it really is true that this is a secret path."
The robed figure looked at Teresa.
"And look at this…. one of humanity's heroes has appeared here, Teresa who has disappeared."
Teresa's expression turned serious.
The children became frightened again and almost cried upon seeing the robed figure.
Maya gritted her teeth.
"The Blood Scythe, dark side? Are you the ones attacking the city?"
The Blood Scythe chuckled as he turned his body, leaving the other figure who was still facing away from the group.
"Who knows? I'm just here for fun, my friend and his other friends are the ones attacking the city."
One of Maya's eyebrows raised.
Slowly, the other robed figure turned his body.
His expressionless face was revealed, with a bit of his yellow hair showing.
Maya and her team's eyes widened.
"Ophi? What are you doing here, why are you with the dark side?"
Everyone's faces turned shocked, even the residents showed their surprise.
But Ophi did not respond.
Maya shifted into a ready stance.
"What are you doing, Ophi?! Has the Clay Overmas family truly betrayed us?!"
Ophi did not respond, his gaze remained empty, only the giggling of the Blood Scythe could be heard.
Teresa let out a breath, her hands trembling slightly.
'Just a little more, just a little more, why is a subordinate of the Clay family here? Has he also been tempted by demons?'
Teresa's heart almost stopped thinking that one of the great families had betrayed them, it would be a devastating blow and the balance in the human territory would collapse.
A little girl's voice was heard by Teresa, she turned and saw a little girl being carried by her mother.
"Mom… I'm scared, are we going to be okay?"
The woman stroked her daughter's head.
"We will be okay… I promise."
Teresa swallowed hard.
Maya's shout made her ears ring.
"DON'T YOU REMEMBER ME, OPHI?! HAVE YOU AND THE CLAY OVERMAS FAMILY TRULY BETRAYED US?!"
Ophi did not respond.
Only the sound of clapping from the Blood Scythe echoed.
Clap clap clap
The veins on Maya's forehead bulged.They and Pon prepared to move forward.
But a hand stopped her.
Maya looked toward that hand.
"Mrs. Teresa"
Teresa looked deeply at Maya, then handed the child she was carrying to Maya.
Maya received her in confusion.
Teresa smiled and cracked her knuckles.
Crack crack.
"Go, Maya, protect the others, the academy is close."
Maya's eyes widened.
Before she could respond, the sound of children crying broke out.
"Mom…."
"Where are you going, mom?"
"Why aren't you going with us…"
Teresa's face grimaced.
"I'll follow you, I'm just stopping for a moment, I'm old so I feel tired…."
The crying did not stop.
Teresa kissed each of her children one by one.
"You all have to go first, otherwise you'll run out of ice cream"
Tears fell from Teresa's face.
She patted the shoulder of the woman carrying her child and stroked the child's head.
The woman's face also grimaced.
Teresa took a deep breath and wiped her tears.
She stood beside Maya and stared straight at Blood Scythe and Ophi.
A whispering voice was heard.
"You must lead the others to the academy, Maya"
"Just go straight and turn at the third corner"
Maya looked at Teresa, her heart beating fast.
Teresa let out a breath.
"I will open a path and…"
Teresa looked at Maya.
"Thank you for coming and staying at my place, without you and your friends I would have struggled. Please also convey my thanks to the princess"
Maya was about to respond, but Teresa walked away.
Teresa smiled widely, her white hair still tied in a ponytail swayed.
Teresa channeled mana throughout her body.
Blood Scythe smiled and prepared himself.
Meanwhile, Ophi remained expressionless as before.
One of Teresa's steps touched the ground, but something else happened.
That step caused the ground beneath her to shift rapidly toward Blood Scythe and Ophi.
Sreet.
In an instant, Teresa was in front of Blood Scythe and Ophi.
Blood Scythe's eyes widened, his body twitched as he tried to react but Teresa moved first.
Teresa pointed at the ground where Blood Scythe and Ophi stood, then directed her hand toward the surrounding wall.
Sreet.
Blood Scythe and Ophi were slammed against the wall in an instant.
Teresa's hands were still directed at each of them.
Teresa clenched her hand.
The wall that held Blood Scythe and Ophi swallowed their bodies. A groan of pain came from Blood Scythe as he struggled.
"Arghh.."
Teresa shouted.
"Hurry, Maya!"
Maya gritted her teeth and ran past Teresa, whose position remained the same.
Everyone followed, the children's cries echoed through the corridor.
Teresa smiled.
She imagined someone, a child with a large body, even much bigger than children his age.
Teresa shouted after they passed her.
"Don't look back! Deliver my message to Aril, Maya!"
"Don't forget to eat! Don't forget to keep training!"
Teresa smiled, her clenched hands trembling.
"Don't be too sad, I will follow and meet him!"
Maya and the others did not turn back, Teresa smiled.
As Maya and the others disappeared, the smile on Teresa's face also vanished.
Ophi channeled his mana throughout his body.
Krek
The wall that swallowed him shattered.
The same happened to Blood Scythe.
Krek.
Ophi looked at Teresa and rushed forward.
Channeling mana into his right hand, his right hand turned black.
His black hand moved toward Teresa.
One of Teresa's eyebrows raised.
She stepped back, the ground beneath her carried her backward.
Fwosh
Ophi only hit the air.
Ophi looked at Teresa.
Teresa directed her hand to the wall on Ophi's right side.
Crack
The ground protruded from the wall and shot toward the opposite wall.
Ophi lowered his body.
Meanwhile, Blood Scythe smiled.
He bit both of his fingers.
Slash
A foul smell emerged.
Blood flowed and formed blood scythes in both of his hands.
Blood Scythe lunged, jumping over the earth barrier that blocked him.
Buk
He swung both of his scythes vertically to slash Teresa.
Teresa clicked her tongue.
Her hand pointed at Blood Scythe's footing.
The ground shifted away, causing Blood Scythe to lose his balance, his face hitting the ground.
Buk.
Blood Scythe growled as he looked at Teresa from below.
Teresa pointed at the upper wall where Blood Scythe had fallen.
The ground descended downward.
Blood Scythe rolled to the left, avoiding the falling ground.
Buk.
From behind the collapsing ground, Ophi appeared again.
He made the same movement, trying to touch Teresa with his black hand.
Teresa slightly avoided it by twisting her body.
But the black hand managed to touch her clothes and a bit of the skin on her abdomen.
Woom
Slash
The clothes touched by Ophi's black hand disappeared, along with her skin.
Blood poured from the wound, now only flesh was visible.
Teresa stepped back slowly while holding her stomach, her face grimacing, sweat appearing on her forehead.
Her heart beat rapidly.
'Yes…that kid's talent is indeed troublesome'
Teresa exhaled.
Blood Scythe stood side by side with Ophi, a terrifying smile still plastered on his face.
He took out three glass spheres from his robe.
Teresa's eyebrow twitched.
"Isn't that a bit excessive?, especially just to fight one old woman?"
Blood Scythe chuckled as he channeled mana into the three glass spheres he held.
The spheres glowed faintly.
"Isn't this still lacking for the legendary Teresa?"
Teresa clicked her tongue.
Blood Scythe threw the three glass spheres toward Teresa, she just stood still.
The spheres passed her.
Fwosh
The sound of three glass shatters was heard behind Teresa.
A burning smell spread throughout the tunnel.
Behind Teresa appeared three chimeras.
The first had a monkey's body the size of a human, but with a lion's head.
The second had a kangaroo's body, with gorilla arms, and a goat's head.
And the third had a bull's body with wolf legs.
Growls emerged from behind Teresa.
Teresa's ears rang, her body became slightly stiff.
'Fighting two S-rank alone is already troublesome…'
Teresa glanced back.
'....Plus three chimeras'
Teresa exhaled.
Her stance now changed into a battle-ready position.
'Damn this body… I should have maintained my fitness'
Blood Scythe chuckled, licking his scythes.
They attacked simultaneously, from the front and behind Teresa.
Teresa shifted her body and looked at the wall.
Her right hand pointed at the chimeras, a wall appeared blocking the tunnel.
Boom!
There was only a loud crash as the wall collided with the chimeras.
Teresa took a breath.
She shifted her body again, now facing Blood Scythe and Ophi.Ophi attacked first, her black hand aiming for Teresa's head.
Teresa dodged with a narrow margin.
And grabbed Ophi's right arm and shoulder.
Blood Scythe charged right behind Ophi.
He swung both of his scythes.
But Teresa twisted Ophi's body.
"I'm sorry, Ophi…"
Slash
Blood Scythe's attack lashed across Ophi's back, fresh blood splattering.
But Ophi did not scream in pain, she simply fell to the ground.
Blood Scythe lost momentum because Ophi's body blocked him.
Teresa stepped back, the ground beneath her feet carrying her into Blood Scythe's range in an instant.
Sreet.
Blood Scythe's eyes widened as he swung a vertical strike with the scythe in his right hand.
Teresa dodged to the right.
She channeled mana into her right hand, forming a fist, and drove it toward Blood Scythe's face.
Buk
Blood Scythe was thrown backward, blood streaming from his nose.
Meanwhile, Ophi tried to stand, but Teresa kicked her in the stomach.
Buk.
The kick sent Ophi crashing back to the ground.
The booming sounds of the chimera trying to break the wall were still echoing.
Teresa pointed at the ground where Ophi had fallen and directed it upward.
The ground protruded, carrying Ophi up to the tunnel's ceiling.
Bar.
Ophi was pinned against the tunnel ceiling.
Pain spread throughout Teresa's body, her ears ringing again.
That made her unable to hear that the barrier wall she had created had collapsed.
Boom!
From there, a bull chimera charged out.
Teresa reacted too late. When she turned, the bull chimera was already close to her.
She could only cover her face with her right hand.
Buk
Krek
The sound of Teresa's bones could be heard as the bull chimera slammed into her.
Teresa was thrown and hit the ground.
A groan escaped her lips.
"Argh…"
Her body screamed in pain.
When her vision refocused, Blood Scythe was already above her, trying to strike her with a vertical slash.
Teresa's eyes widened. She rolled to the left, but the slash caught her tied hair.
Slash.
Teresa tried to stand, her white hair now falling freely around her pained face.
Blood Scythe charged again, this time a horizontal slash aimed at Teresa's neck.
Teresa growled.
She rolled to the left to get away.
Slash
Blood Scythe's slash only cut strands of Teresa's hair.
As Teresa finished rolling—
From the tunnel ceiling, a monkey chimera could be seen hanging, staring at her.
The chimera lunged downward.
Teresa's eyes widened, she directed her hand toward the tunnel ceiling.
The ground swallowed the monkey chimera's legs, leaving it hanging.
Teresa almost let out a sigh of relief, before a gust of wind struck her.
Teresa swallowed hard.
A fist shot out from a kangaroo chimera with gorilla arms, aiming for Teresa's face.
Teresa barely dodged.
Her face winced as the fist passed by.
Teresa raised her fist and punched the chimera's left rib.
Krek
The sound of bones cracking echoed from the chimera.
Teresa shouted as she raised her fist again, striking the left side of the chimera's face.
"Argh…."
Buk
The chimera staggered.
The chimera leaped with its kangaroo legs and kicked Teresa's body.
Buk
A choked sound escaped Teresa.
She was thrown again, her back slamming against the tunnel wall.
Buk
Blood Scythe approached, Ophi—who had freed herself—also approached again, followed by the bull chimera.
Teresa's face fell into silence.
'This…is too much for someone my age'
Teresa took a deeper breath than before.
Her face shifted back into focus in an instant.
Her right hand pointed toward the bull chimera.
The tunnel compressed, swallowing the bull chimera's body. A groan was heard along with the sound of its body being crushed.
Not long after, the tunnel returned to normal, leaving only bloodstains where the bull chimera had been.
Teresa's back was still pressed against the wall.
Ophi and Blood Scythe seemed unaffected.
Ophi thrust her black hand forward.
Teresa barely dodged.
Ophi's hand pierced through the wall.
Teresa kicked Ophi's ribs.
Buk
Ophi staggered backward, her hand pulled out, leaving a hole in the wall.
Blood Scythe gave Teresa no room to breathe.
Blood Scythe launched a barrage of attacks.
Teresa was pushed back.
A cracking sound was heard, the monkey chimera managed to break free from the tunnel ceiling.
And the kangaroo chimera joined Blood Scythe and the monkey chimera to attack Teresa.
Teresa's breath was ragged, her heart nearly bursting.
Teresa pointed her finger toward the monkey chimera's footing, causing its lower body to be buried.
Bruk
"Arakakak"
Blood Scythe took advantage of the opening when Teresa's defense was exposed.
Slash!
Blood Scythe's slash was carved across Teresa's body.
Teresa staggered backward.
Blood spurted from her mouth.
"Blurgh"
The kangaroo chimera leaped high, its fist raised.
Teresa's gaze lifted upward.
She stepped to the right, the ground shifted, causing Teresa to slide to the right.
Boom
The chimera's punch struck the empty floor.
Teresa saw Blood Scythe in front of her trying to attack.
But the hairs on the back of her neck stood up, her back felt cold.
From behind, Ophi attacked with her black right hand.
Teresa realized too late, she turned around.
But in front of her, she only saw a black palm.
Teresa's eyes widened.
She used all her ability to dodge.
Slash.
Her right ear disappeared, along with strands of hair that were struck by that black hand.
Blood spurted from Teresa's missing ear, a metallic stench accompanying it.
Teresa's eyes widened, something else followed, something with a stronger smell than the metallic scent of blood.
Teresa swallowed.
'Demonic energy?'
Teresa immediately came to her senses.
Ophi directed her black hand toward Teresa's face.
Teresa ducked down, and hugged Ophi's waist.
"Huaargh"
With her strength, Teresa slammed Ophi backward.
Buk.
Teresa fell to the ground.
Buk
But she tried to stand and staggered forward.
'That smell… demonic energy… something is happening'
Teresa's ears rang, her right ear hole now covered in blood.
Blood Scythe chuckled as he threw his scythe toward Teresa's back.
Slash!
The scythe pierced Teresa's shoulder.
"Argh.."
Blood Scythe pulled his scythe back, blood gushing out again from Teresa's body.
Cold sweat poured down, Teresa's vision blurred.
She fell.
Buk.
Two footsteps and one leap approached her.
Tok tok tok
Teresa tried to get up, her blurred vision fixed on three figures.
Heavy breathing, blood came out before her voice, her white hair disheveled.
"Demonic energy...you…what did you do to Ophi?"
Blood Scythe chuckled, licking Teresa's blood off his scythe.
"How is it? Does it catch your interest?"
Teresa's body trembled, her mana nearly depleted.
"How can that energy affect someone who has mana? What did you do to her?!"
Veins bulged on Teresa's forehead, her eyes turned furious.
"Who is behind all of this?!"
Blood Scythe chuckled.
He placed his index finger on his lips.
"Sssttt… a soon-to-be corpse doesn't need to know anything"
Blood Scythe chuckled, his smile widening.
"But I'll tell you one thing"
The ringing in Teresa's ears did not stop, but she could still hear Blood Scythe's words.
"Soon, there will be a much greater bloodshed! You all will be destroyed from within and without!"
Teresa took a deep breath, her body now turning cold.
'The one who was trying to protect, now must deliver crucial information? This was never on my retirement list'
Teresa brushed her hair with her left hand, she slowly rose, trembling.
'About that demonic energy… it must be conveyed… at least Adams has to know'
Teresa took a deep breath.
'This tunnel is too narrow'
She looked at the tunnel ceiling.
Blood Scythe only stared at her, preparing to launch the final attack, on both sides of him were the kangaroo chimera and Ophi whose face remained expressionless.
Teresa shifted her gaze to the three figures.
Her smile widened, a smile she had never shown after retirement.
Blood Scythe, Ophi, and the kangaroo chimera dashed forward.
Teresa burned her mana to its maximum limit.
Her hand pointed at their footing.
Sreett
Their footing moved away, causing the three of them to fall.
Buk.
Blood Scythe looked at Teresa who was still standing.
Teresa took a deep breath.
She raised her hand upward, toward the tunnel ceiling.
Buk
The tunnel ceiling lifted in a square pattern.
On the surface, in the middle of the dark city illuminated by moonlight, with the backdrop of battles everywhere, a square-shaped mass of earth shot up into the sky, the ground rose.
And then fell.
Buk
From that hole, Teresa with long white hair could be seen looking at the night sky.
Teresa smiled, she looked at Blood Scythe who was still fallen.
She pointed at the ground beneath her, and the ground surged upward, piercing through the hole in the tunnel ceiling.
Buk buk buk
Teresa began to rise to the surface.
Blood Scythe clicked his tongue, he stood and attacked the ground that was trying to rise high to the surface.
Slash slash
Ophi approached and touched the ground with her black hand.
With every touch, the ground disappeared.
The kangaroo chimera also punched the rising ground.
Teresa looked at the night sky. Her ground kept moving toward the surface.
'Just a little more… I can meet the children again'
Her face grimaced.
'Just a little more… I can deliver that information'
Tears fell unconsciously from Teresa's face, her hand lifted trying to reach the night sky.
The night wind gently brushed against her skin.
But the ground beneath her slowly stopped, and slowly descended.
Teresa grimaced.
'Damn….'
Veins bulged on Teresa's forehead.
"ARGHHH…..DAMN ALL OF YOU!"
Teresa burned her last mana, channeling it into both of her legs.
She bent her knees, and shot toward the night sky, out of the hole.
Buk.
The night wind brushed against her skin, the moonlight shone across the night sky.
Teresa's gaze took in her surroundings for a moment.
The dark city lay before her, smoke rising everywhere, and the sounds of battle echoed in all directions.
Slowly, Teresa fell.
Buk
Her face hit the ground, her strength was gone, her body screamed, the pain slowly faded as her body no longer responded.
Teresa vomited blood.
"Blurgh"
She turned her body, looking at the night sky once more, her ears ringing.
Teresa swallowed, her tears flowing heavily.
Teresa carved something into the ground, the dust rising high, leaving her.
"Damn…"
An explosion sound came from the tunnel hole.
Blood Scythe and Ophi emerged to the surface.
Teresa no longer cared, she just lay there.
"I should have been relaxing with the children right now…"
A small laugh escaped Teresa's blood-filled lips.
"Today really is a terrible day… I have to remember this day"
Teresa's eyes closed, slowly she remembered her children when they were still small, and she also remembered Aril.
A smile formed on her face.
Her hand clenched the ground, she took a deep breath.
"ADAMSSSSS!....."
Her scream echoed throughout the entire city, momentarily halting the ongoing battles, the professors, the students, and the security forces all turned toward the sound.
That scream was carried by the night wind, reaching an old man who was flying using a black sword.
His eyes widened, dust hitting his face.
Veins bulged on his forehead.
"So that's it, Teresa…"
The old man released all of his full power, mana surged from his body.
He surfed on his black sword, cutting through the night sky toward the voice he knew.
Meanwhile, Teresa's vision became blurred, and slowly darkened.
The last image she saw was a figure descending from the sky with a large black sword.
'Why are you always late… damn it'
Teresa's eyes closed, a faint smile etched on her face.