Chapter 30: Hard Fight.
When Aphrosia appeared beside it, the red bird understood everything. It was just the ace in the deck, a tool to be used.
Unbearable! Truly unbearable!
The red bird couldn’t take it anymore and lunged to peck Aphrosia.
But halfway there, Aphrosia grabbed it by the neck of fate.
“Easy now~”
“Damn you!” The red bird glared, its fiery gaze as if it could burn her to ashes.
“Black-hearted! Rotten jerk! Hateful b*stard!” Unable to reach her, the red bird unleashed its verbal barrage, though its attacks were all flash and no substance…
It felt smug, thinking its curses were filthy.
Its sister, the blue bird, stared at it like it was an idiot.
Honestly, the blue bird wanted to disown this raging, useless sister, but it was futile…
“Alright, alright, I don’t have time to play. I’ll explain after this is over, deal?” The blonde girl released the struggling red bird, patting its head.
The red bird dodged, making Aphrosia miss. Seeing her falter, it switched to battle mode, stuck out its tongue, and went full mockery.
“Uh… we still don’t have clues about the magic circle’s weakness…” the blue bird interrupted, reminding them.
“That? Found it.” Aphrosia shrugged, gripping her staff and casting the spell that turned its tip into wings.
“All aboard, hold tight!”
Aphrosia swung her staff horizontally, riding it like a broom, with two goggle-wearing birds perched on her shoulder.
Where’d those goggles come from?! Aphrosia wanted to snark.
But the real question: was she reliable? The Rainbow Cloud Birds didn’t know, but they had a bad feeling.
Aphrosia steered the staff along a black trail at full speed.
The birds started out cocky, but soon they weren’t laughing…
Her route was treacherous, weaving through trees, leaves smacking the birds mercilessly, leaving them disheveled. Aphrosia, meanwhile, was perfectly relaxed.
The birds suspected it was intentional… with nine parts evidence!
As she ventured deeper, the zombie-like monsters grew denser and stronger.
Aphrosia frowned, dodging the roaming creatures, heading for her target.
Suddenly, a black lightning bolt shot toward her.
She barely evaded, spotting a black-robed figure in the ruins, staff raised skyward.
“Heh, what a surprise? An unknown Astreya miss?” A raspy voice came from the figure, its eerie tone chilling her.
“How’d you find this place? Impressive…”
Aphrosia didn’t bother with talk, firing a light beam. The figure casually raised an arm, tapped the air, and her magic turned to glass, shattering effortlessly.
Panic flashed across her face for the first time. She urged the birds to flee, facing the foe alone.
“That’s all you’ve got? Disappointing.”
The figure raised its staff, and twelve rune-carved stone pillars rose from the ruins. Aphrosia’s pupils reflected the purple-black orbs forming atop them, sensing their runes repelled her magic.
“This is… forbidden magic? You’re from the Crimson Abyss!” She stumbled back, her heel crushing glowing glass shards—her broken spell. As moonlight refracted through the glass onto the pillars, the orbs exploded, forming a hexagonal barrier trapping her.
“Smart girl.” The figure removed its hood, revealing a dark red curse mark spreading from face to neck. “Too bad, no amount of smarts can help you now. That’s the gap between us! Hahaha!” Its staff aimed at her heart. “Let’s see how a mere apprentice mage ruins our plans!”
Agony erupted in her chest. She collapsed, fingers clawing bloody streaks in the dirt. Her shadow devoured the moonlight, turning into vines that coiled around the pillars. The natural forces Daphne once used to bind her now surged wildly through her veins.
“Didn’t expect an Astreya to be blessed by an elven god. How interesting.”
Sweat dripped to the ground, soaking it.
Aphrosia clenched her fists, knuckles whitening. The Accuser’s high-tier mage aura pressed like a mountain, making breathing labored—she was no match.
She’d lasted this long only because he was toying with his doomed prey.
In the unnoticed shadows, her petal-shaped ring glowed faintly, a slight itch signaling slow healing at her wound.
“Pity, Astreya remnant.” His voice was icy. “A few more years, and I might’ve feared you. But now…” He twirled his staff, purple-black light swirling at its tip. “It’s too late.”
The intent to eradicate her was clear. He knew the Astreya family’s terror— even their leader was trapped in the river of time by Radiance magic. How could he spare her? Was the Crimson Abyss’s fear of the Astreyas due to the Goddess of Radiance or a saintess who once shook the world? Aphrosia had no time to ponder.
Huddled in a corner, her fingers grazed her chest. As the Accuser’s staff lit up again, her eyes widened—the purple-black orbs were greedily absorbing the moonlight!
“I see…” She bit her tongue, blood dripping. The pain sharpened her mind, her gaze locking onto a fleeting chance in the battle.
Her ring’s glow flared for a moment.