My mind struggled to catch up with the situation. I couldn’t comprehend what had just happened.
“Commander!”
The impact of my subordinate catching me as I fell snapped me back to reality. I looked back at the black Ogre, trying to understand what had just occurred. Then it dawned on me. I had been scooped up, lifted by the butt of the halberd, so quickly and gently that I hadn’t even felt pain.
Realizing this, a cold sweat broke out all over my body.
I hadn’t even seen the halberd move. Not even a shadow. If the black ogre had intended to, it could have killed me in that instant. Swatted me down like an insect.
So why am I still alive?
The answer came soon enough.
“Alright, I’ll capture you alive,” the ogre said. “You seem quite useful.”
The black ogre had been appraising me, determining whether I was worth keeping alive or if I was better off dead. I had attacked before it made up its mind, so it spared me for the time being.
Realizing this, a boiling anger welled up from deep within me.
I was born the daughter of a noble family, cherished and raised with care. It was true that my position as commander was, in part, due to my father’s influence as a high-ranking military official. But I had pride as a knight, as a warrior. I had worked tirelessly to fulfill my responsibilities and earn my place as a leader.
I couldn’t stand being looked down upon like that, as if I were an opponent who could be easily defeated. Yes, I was furious. That was why I glared back at the black ogre, matching its gaze with my own murderous intent on full display.
“Don’t be ridiculous, Ogre. I will cut you down.”
“Hmm, such spirit. You are indeed a fine woman,” the ogre said, placing a finger on its chin and smiling defiantly. Even that simple gesture carried an overwhelming sense of power. I could sense the ogre’s strength just by standing in front of it. And despite my rage, deep down, a part of me was genuinely looking forward to facing such a powerful opponent.
“My name is Therese E. Eckermann. I am a knight of the Kingdom of Sternbelt, fighting to save the First Princess, Stelvia. If you wish to take me, then prove your strength. If you can defeat me, do as you wish afterward. Even if my body is defiled, I’ll accept it as the result of the battle.”
“My name is Ogrou. I’m the leader of the mercenary group Parabellum. I’ll say this—if you don’t want to lose, come at me with everything you’ve got.”
“Of course. No more words are needed. Let’s settle this with our blades.”
“Indeed, let’s.”
Just after we wrapped up our introductions, like lightning, the halberd came down toward my head.
It was fast. Really fast. Far swifter than the Black Skeleton’s axe. I even saw a faint spray of water coming from the blade. There was definitely some trick with the axe head. Given the combination of water and axe head, it was highly likely to be a water blade. Attacks involving water were particularly difficult to defend against because they could change shape.
Even so, I judged that my wind vortex could handle it. But just as I was about to deflect the halberd’s strike, I realized something for the first time. My swirling vortex had disappeared without a trace.
Before I could think about why, I instinctively jumped to the side. Without the vortex, there was no way I could block that strike. I didn’t even have time to think about cushioning my fall, and I rolled clumsily on the ground.
My armor was dirtied by the earth. The exposed parts of my body were scraped by stones and the ground, causing blood to trickle out. However, the dirt and minor pain were nothing. They were a small price to pay for avoiding a strike that had deeply cleaved the ground.
“Good reaction. I want you even more now.”
“… You possess a strange power. It’s something other than the divine Blessing.”
Ignoring the ogre’s amused laughter, I couldn’t help but voice my suspicions. The ogre’s smile grew even wider, almost making me want to step back.
“Why do you think that?”
“Because you are not ordinary.”
The black ogre’s eyes fixed on me. Taking advantage of the distraction, Levias’s magic scimitar, Slicing Flame Trompf, silently swung from behind, aiming to slice through the black ogre’s side.
The timing of the surprise attack was perfect. The strike, imbued with a combat art, seemed poised to cut through the ogre’s flesh. But it didn’t. The halberd’s shaft, moving without the ogre stealing even a glance toward Levias, blocked the attack.
Even the flames entwining Trompf’s blade were inexplicably extinguished in an instant. It was as if something had effortlessly blown out the flames. The magic flames, which couldn’t be extinguished even in water, had been snuffed out. Startled by the incomprehensible situation, Levias tried to retreat but was struck harshly in the abdomen by the halberd’s butt end. Thankfully, her armor mitigated some of the damage, but a small hole was punched through, and blood began to flow. It seemed that the butt end of the halberd was sharp, designed to pierce.
The pain slowed Levias’s movements. The silver arm reached out toward her. She was about to be captured by the black ogre. Acutely aware of the danger, I moved instinctively.
I reabsorbed the moon’s magic power into Lune Vent, redeploying the spiral wind of the vortex. I aimed for the Hind Bear’s head, hoping that if I could disrupt its footing, it would create an opening.
Once again, my expectations were betrayed.
“Too naive.”
Suddenly, a spinning Water Sphere the size of my head appeared on the trajectory of my thrust. The intense whirlpool within the Water Sphere neutralized the vortex wrapping around my blade.
“Wha—”
What shocked me more than the blocked attack was the existence of the Water Sphere itself. This wasn’t magic. There was no trace of the magical waves typical of spells. It wasn’t any known magic. So what was this Water Sphere? Before I could even attempt to find the answer, the black ogre moved.