[A/N: Read the author’s note at the bottom.]

***

Dominique’s swords danced through the air as she moved around the battlefield as if it were made for her. Each strike was precise, calculated to inflict maximum damage while conserving her energy.

Despite the overwhelming numbers, she moved like a specter among the bald monks, her presence barely registered until her swords had already struck.

Around her, the battlefield was a chaotic mess. The bald monks, driven by zealotry, attacked with a fervor that was almost admirable. However, their blind faith and lack of strategic thinking made them predictable, easy targets for Dominique’s practiced blade.

As she fought, Dominique’s mind was clear, like a still lake of blood. She had long since learned to channel her emotions into her combat, transforming any fear or anger into a cold, deadly calm. Each enemy that fell before her only empowered her further.

Every time the monks stepped on the blood beneath their feet, a part of it was transmitted to Dominique. No matter where they were, she could always sense them, leaving no openings.

Meanwhile, in the sky, Elenei’s battle was a dazzling display of elemental prowess. Ice and fire warped with one another, creating a maelstrom of steam and smoke that filled the air. Despite being outnumbered, Elenei’s control over her powers was masterful, each spell cast with precision and purpose.

Dominique couldn’t help but feel a surge of pride watching ‘her companion’ take on so many people without any issues. They had been through much together, and their bond was forged in the fires of countless battles.

Back on the ground, Dominique found her rhythm, her swords an extension of her will. She moved through the monks with ease, her attacks a blur of motion that left a trail of separated heads and bodies in her wake.

“Your blood for the Lord!” a particularly fervent monk screamed as he lunged at her.

Dominique sidestepped, her swords crossing in a swift, elegant arc that severed the monk’s arms before plunging deep into his chest. With a twist and a pull, she freed her blades, and the monk’s lifeless body collapsed to the ground.

‘Fool.’ She spat and, with a thought, reduced his remains into a puddle of blood.

As the sun began to set, Dominique continued the carnage. She knew the fight was far from over, as these monks seemed near-endless.

‘Seriously. Are they reviving each other or something? Why are there so many of them?’ She started to wonder if, rather than monks, they were grave robbers and necromancers in disguise.

‘I mean… with all the grave-robbing, tomb-raiding, and plundering they’ve done… it sort of makes sense.’

Elenei and her had been flying all over the Continent, and were able to take in all sorts of sights. However, no matter where they went, these monks were there, causing chaos.

They didn’t care who they offended. They didn’t care about the losses. All that mattered was looting and killing.

Worst of all, as time passed, more of them seemed to arrive out of nowhere.

Most smaller Sects and organizations wanted nothing more than to stay away from them, as even if they could win, the losses would be so disastrous that they might as well have lost!

Unfortunately, such a thing was impossible. Wherever there were treasures, they were there.

Talented disciples? They were killed and stored.

Defenses? What were those in the face of overwhelming strength and numbers?

These monks were like the plague, destroying everything they came across, leaving nothing behind.

Of course, they couldn’t be this unruly everywhere. Some places still had Divine Sea Realm experts in seclusion. There were also many Rank 10 beast territories that they had to avoid.

It wasn’t worth losing thousands, if not millions, of disciples for no reason. Unless they were after a particular treasure, they wouldn’t provoke such forces.

And somehow, through all of this, they were able to sense her peculiarity and Elenei’s Dragon/Phoenix lineages.

Something about “returning the Lord’s strength” whatever that meant.

However, she didn’t care about that. Right now, they were after them and had to die. It was as simple as that.

With a final glance at the sky, where Elenei continued to battle, Dominique steeled herself for the next wave of attackers. She was a warrior, through and through, and she would not falter, not while she still drew breath.

The bald monks regrouped, their numbers diminished, but their zeal undimmed. They charged once more, their cries of “For the Lord!” echoing across the battlefield as they sought to overwhelm Dominique with sheer numbers.

Dominique braced herself as the monks charged, their faces twisted in fanatic zeal.

However, her expression changed as she sensed a surge of Qi in the distance, signaling the approach of a particularly formidable opponent among the bald monks—a peak Core Formation Realm monk, his aura far more potent than the others.

She readied her stance, her swords gleaming as they thirsted for blood. As the monks neared, Dominique launched into motion, her body a blur.

The monks fell one by one, but the peak Core Formation monk was on a different level. His movements were swift, and his strikes imbued with a berserk, wild, almost untamed-like Qi that even Dominique had to acknowledge. Their blades clashed, sparks flew, and the sound of metal on metal rang through the air.

Dominique felt the pressure, the weight of the monk’s attacks, and the power bearing down on her. But she was undeterred. She had faced worse before, had stared down death, and emerged victorious. This was just another challenge, another obstacle to overcome.

As they exchanged blows, Dominique’s mind raced, calculating and strategizing. She noted the monk’s patterns, tendencies, and slight delays in his strikes. And then she saw her opportunity—a brief opening, a split-second vulnerability.

With a surge of speed, Dominique disengaged, flipping backward, creating distance. The monk pursued, his confidence bordering on arrogance, believing he had Dominique on the ropes.

But Dominique had other plans. She extended her arms, her swords pointing to the ground, where the blood of fallen monks pooled. She called upon her blood affinity, the essence of her power, and the blood responded, swirling around her, forming a crimson spiral.

The monk hesitated, sensing the shift in the air, the gathering of power. But it was too late. Dominique thrust her swords into the ground, channeling her Qi, and the blood erupted in a ferocious surge, a tidal wave of crimson that swept toward the monk with relentless force.

Caught off guard, the monk raised his defenses, but the blood was pervasive, overwhelming, consuming. It battered his barrier, seeped into every crevice, every pore, weakening him, draining him.

Dominique seized the moment, her body propelled by a wave of blood. She lunged forward and struck with precision, her blades finding their mark, piercing the monk’s defenses, finding his flesh.

As soon as a sizable wound was made, Dominique caused the blood inside him to run amock, causing numerous internal injuries.

The monk faltered, his Qi disrupted, his strength waning. Dominique pressed on, her blades swinging like a storm of steel and blood as she encroached on his position. And then, with a final swing, a head flew in the air. The monk fell, his body lifeless, his blood joining the crimson tide.

Breathing heavily, Dominique stood amidst the carnage, her eyes scanning the battlefield.

The surrounding monks faltered, but the zeal in their eyes hadn’t faded. Rather, it grew stronger.

“She’s strong!”

“She will make a good snack for the Lord!”

“Her and that Phoenix have gotten in our way too many times! We must kill them here!”

“Brothers! Kill! There are so many of us! She can’t keep this up forever!”

“For the Lord!”

“OHHHH!”

“You bunch of psychos!” Dominique sneered. “If you want to die so bad, quit your yapping!”

“KILL HER!”

‘Come at me, you bunch of bastards!’ She shouted inwardly and prepared herself.

***

“Guys! I think I found it! The one in possession of the Holy Relic is close!”

Maria snapped out of her meditation, sensing an army of people closing in on them with eyes full of zeal and killing intent. It was clear they weren’t here for a simple conversation.

However, not seeing anyone strong among them, she snorted and closed her eyes.

‘Vulcan. Take care of them for me.’ She said through their connection.

Vulcan, who was enjoying Hana’s rubs, opened his eyes and jumped out of her arms.

“Hey! Where’re you going?” She shouted, but Vulcan just looked at her and pointed to the chair as if to say: ‘Wait there. I’ll be right back.’ S~eaʀᴄh the nôᴠel Fire.nёt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Then, he disappeared.

‘…Huh?’ Hana was a bit confused by what she just saw, but shrugged her shoulders and did as she was told. She didn’t want to upset the only sane being in their group, after all.

Meanwhile, outside, Vulcan appeared right next to the approaching army.

“Hey! Look at that fox!”

“He looks rare!”

“Is he an elemental?”

“Capture it!”

All sorts of shouts came, but Vulcan ignored them.

He dashed forward and stood on the foot of one of the leading monks. He thought he scored big and reached down to crush him, but before he could move, his body lit fire. He couldn’t even scream before he turned to ash, his remains scattering in the wind.

The monks were a bit shocked by this and moved to intercept the fox, but unfortunately, they never got the opportunity to move.

As the scattered ashes landed on the monks, they were lit ablaze and turned into more ashes, which caused a chain reaction.

Within minutes, an entire army that came to cause trouble disappeared as if they were never there.

An eerie feeling overcame the ‘battlefield’, but by the time it ended, Vulcan was gone.