A sharp sound of slashing, the sound of a neck being severed, vividly struck the ears. However, the horrifying scream, almost indistinguishable from the monster’s cry, did not cease.

Caliph swung the sword, over and over again. His breath reached the tip of his chin, yet he didn’t rest for a moment.

It was impossible to count how many times he had swung the sword. In the moment when the pounding heart might burst at any moment, he struck the neck of the last corpse rushing towards him.

He plunged the blood-stained sword, whose owner was unknown, into the ground and bent down, breathing heavily. It felt like his lungs were about to tear apart. Nevertheless, unable to delay his guard, he raised his head.

Although he aimed primarily for the neck, there were some he couldn’t attack that way. Some of them were seen rising from their places.

Even if they weren’t attacked in the neck, they might have suffered fatal injuries, yet there were not few who stood up. The only fortunate thing was that, perhaps due to the injuries, their movements weren’t swift.

There seemed to be enough time to catch his breath. Taking advantage of that, he searched for Yustia, rolling his eyes.

Yustia stood behind the rising corpses, calmly watching him. The reddish gleam in her eyes and the lips twisted to an eerie extent sent chills just by looking at them.

Caliph exhaled heavily once again. Although he had to face Yustia with his true power, he
“It’s quite impressive. Well, I didn’t think it would be this easy to be deceived at this level, but still, it’s commendable to have tidied up more quickly than expected, considering the number wasn’t small.”

Applause echoed as if acknowledging his achievements. Nevertheless, there was a gaze that seemed to regard it as pitiful, as trivial as ever.

The Caliph chuckled. The arrogance that carried strength, so much so that the feeble nature of a human, who could be easily stripped of both mind and body by a mere aura of malice, seemed ridiculous.

“As Her Majesty the Empress said, the number rushing in should be no more than a handful. Thanks to that, my breath has become somewhat chilled. When cutting the throat of the foolish Crown Prince, not even a disturbance in my breathing occurred, I must say.”

It was a blatant provocation. Clearly, deliberately scratching at her nerves with provocative words. He had to make her move before she once again laid out similar corpses in front of him.

That way, he could face her in the current, best possible condition.

“Hah, you’re still blabbering with that mouth of yours.”

“Before the Crown Prince’s throat was severed by my blade, he did the same, didn’t he? The person who is supposed to be the Empire’s only Crown Prince, begging for his life in front of me to the point of becoming a crawling insect. He probably would have wet himself if I had delayed a bit more. So, I promptly cut his throat.”

“…….”

“Although he knelt from his knees in front of imminent death, the so-called Crown Prince of the Empire is a noble figure. However, it’s inevitable not to soil yourself when faced with imminent death, isn’t it?”

Even as the Caliph breathed heavily, he scratched at Yustia’s nerves as casually as his relaxed attitude.

Oddly, Yustia’s mouth, which had lifted slightly, twisted in an instant.

“So, you’ve finally resorted to shortening lives with that tongue of yours.”

The heavily suppressed voice conveyed her anger, which surged from head to toe. Yet, the Caliph did not show a hint of fear even for a moment. On the contrary, he sensed that the awaited moment had come and adopted a flawless posture.

Once again, a peculiar purple energy began to seep out along Yustia’s silhouette. As she raised her hand into the air, the sword, which had been loosely floating in the air, responded by levitating towards her grasp.

The previously wavering sword swiftly entered Yustia’s grip as she extended her hand. Although she had never held a sword in her life, the aura emanating from the sword’s tip was anything but ordinary.
The Caliph took a deep breath. Perhaps the imminent onset of the full-fledged war he had to face was right in front of him.

He had to win this fight, without a doubt. He couldn’t guarantee that eliminating Yustia would completely eradicate the evil aura that had taken a hold of her mind and body, but he had to try.

That way, he could come one step closer to happiness for Evelia.

He tightened the grip on the sword in his hand. Unlike before, he concentrated his mind and gathered the energy from his entire body into the tip of his fingers.

Meanwhile, Yustia began to walk slowly. As the sword she held was dragged along the ground, a chilling sound spread sharply throughout the garden.

The moment her sword slashed through the air was when she had closed half the distance with the Caliph. As her pace seemed to quicken, she suddenly leaped up and swung the sword down towards the Caliph.

The Caliph, as if anticipating, raised the sword above his head. Unfathomable power from Yustia extended through the sword, reaching his entire body.