Chapter 79

“A Medusa!”

Princess Leticia cried out in astonishment, her expression this time was much more horrified.

After all, who wouldn’t be?

The Medusa is classified as one of the Monster Kings living on the Continent. And most of all, it's a super rare subspecies, that is considered a very terrifying monster that even a battalion of elite soldiers might not be enough to defeat. Much less, at their current number… fighting against a Monster King; Medusa is but a foolish suicidal act.

But how come there is a Medusa in this Forest?

A Medusa has already been classified as an extinct race. Even in the Lamian Lairs scattered across the continent, there had never been one that was able to reach the evolution of the higher species, much less a Medusa.

If one had appeared after a long time, it would have rattled the entire Continent. According to left-behind text, a Medusa is a Monster King that would have been known as the Queen of the Serpents and can rally all Snake-type beasts and create a Kingdom, or an Empire that would surely not be as weak as any Kingdom in the world.

But how come there is a Medusa in this little, god-forsaken Desolate Cave!?

“Do you think that we are asking you, Humans? Or did you really think that you're still in your own little Kingdom, Princess!?"

The Medusa coldly hissed, and the cold intensified.

Everything froze into solid ice--the insect, the plants, the trees, the ground. It was then followed by clanging noises echoed in the surrounding, and more Lamians and Killer Ants and Antmen appeared surrounding them. A burst of killing intent burst out, along with a suffocating air.

"You're a long way from home. This land doesn’t welcome you. Leave...or stay and never leave this place again!” the Medusa hissed dangerously.

The Princess, feeling somewhat intimidated, stepped back and felt a suffocating air. Her body was trembling slightly, her face pale and bloodless, as if extremely frightened. Nevertheless, she still stood her ground and glared at the Medusa.

Although the majority of the people behind her were obviously trembling from the suffocating atmosphere, she was a princess. She had more hold on her emotions than anyone else in the area.

She gnashed her teeth and said; “We just want to pass and do our Quest quietly, your Excellency. There’s no necessity of violence and trouble. And if you just overlook us, we, the Kingdom—”

“Grasta! Humans, your presence in this place itself is a disturbance!" the Medusa angrily rebuked.

"This land doesn’t welcome the likes of you!” ('Grasta' meant a curse in the Lamian Language)

The Princess gritted her teeth, her fist clenched. “…the likes of me, is it? But it came to my knowledge that there is a human boy present in this place. If you say such things, does it mean that the human boy is also the same as us, not welcome in this place?”

“Grasta Serka! How dare you utter such damn words!!”

('Serka' meant a curse/bitch in the Lamian Language)

An angry voice came from the blonde Lamian and before anyone could react, she charged forward in anger. Her lithe body seemed to have been launched from a catapult as she glides in the air, at an incredible speed, covering the few meters distance between them in but a single second. And after a single bat of an eyelid, she was already in front of the human princess.

Princess Leticia’s eyes widened in shock from the violent reaction of the Lamian. It was beyond her expectation that she would suddenly react like this, and attack without any hesitation, despite their ongoing conversation. Hence, she was too late to react. However, two shadows brushed past her- the black-haired knight standing in front of her protectively, while the red-headed knight came to meet the blonde Lamian with equal strength and ferocity.

“I won’t let you!”

"Hmpf!"

The blonde Lamian scoffed and swung her blade in a high arc, her face mask of rage. The swords clashed in the air, as the Knight parried the strike with a flick of his wrist. However, his arm went numb—strong!

The red-headed knight narrowed his eyes as he felt his entire arm gone numb and he was forced to take a step backward. Still, he took his other hand back, and then immediately started to cast a spell, one which he had already started chanting even before he had clashed against the Lamian. It was just an elementary-level attack spell, but it can still disturb the opponent's rhythm.

The blonde Lamian saw it, frowned, and hurriedly jumped back, to his relief, easily avoided the fireball he had launched, and he was able to stabilize his stance. Then, suddenly he released a beastly aura causing his entire body to shine in a golden light and kicked at the ground.

Even before the battle started, the red-haired knight knew that he was in an unfavorable situation. Despite his confidence in his strength, he was not a fool. He knows that the Lamian was surely much stronger, faster, and more powerful than him. Although she was not as horrifying as the Medusa, still, she should have undergone her fair share of her evolution. Her power had already transcended a normal Lamian could ever have.

But despite this, he didn't show fear. As long as he managed to get the upper hand of the battle, there would still be hope.

With the Human Knight attacking, the other Lamians and Antmen immediately knocked the arrows on their bows and some were about to charge over, led by the giant Killer Ants, causing the tension in the air to solidify. However, before the Lamians and Killer Ants could make their move;

“Aaaaaaaaahhhh!!!”

The blonde Lamian let out a loud roar with a manic smile.

“Rovshtha Verra, Al el!!” and she met the raging red-headed Lamian with a horrifying spirit.

(This is my fight!! Don't you dare interfere!!)

The moment the blonde Lamian cried out those words, the Princess and the others who were prepared to engage in battle suddenly saw the monsters stopping on their attack.

“Raaaaaaahhhh!!” the red-haired knight roared like a lion king, that even his voice echoed, and seemed to have shaken the entire forest itself. He swung wide his heavy-looking sword at the blonde Lamian who was smirking with a savage air.

They were both magic swordsmen who specialized in using great‐swords. Even if their equipment was pretty much of the same quality no matter how much the human knight hit the Lamian in her weak points, the outcome of the battle had basically been decided already... But...

I can't lose!!!

The sword was swung from the top diagonally. But the blonde Lamian lowered her head to the point that it almost hit the ground, displaying the flexibility of a Lamian that was beyond what a normal human could do, easily avoiding that diagonal slash.

If it’s the usual, the blonde Lamian would have swung her sword after he evaded and it’s the end. However, the moment red-headed Knight judged that his attack had been avoided successfully, he immediately crouched and rolled forward. Right after that, the blonde Lamian’s sword, which was not less small than the knight had, slashed the place where the knight had just stood.

“Heh, great move! However, naïve! Rain had done the same before. But he’s far nimbler and faster than you. And he would have made an almost impossible attack while dodging," she muttered with a barbaric grin, startling the red-headed knight. She looks down on the knight and laughed crazily, seemingly proud by what she had said.

She couldn’t help but recall the fight she had with Rain, and he had done what the knight had done, after seeing his attack failed. That magnificent boy’s instinct for battle was truly a sight to behold, and he’s extremely great at finding opportunities to attack.

And sometimes, he would even do something almost impossible- attacking and defending in times you wouldn’t think he could. It's as if he was relying on his instinct, and yet, his body was able to follow.

Rain?

However, before the red-haired knight could even fully register what his opponent had said, the blonde Lamian—with a speed born of power and excitement—swung her long, slender, but powerful-looking tail at him with a speed he could barely believe.

Shit!

The red-haired knight cursed inwardly, and just realized that he was fighting, was not merely a monster or a human, but a Lamian whose combat arts are not the least bit inferior to him. And whose physical attributes were much better than an elite human like him. They also have extra-parts that were already dead, more than any weapon could ever be.

“Doram!”

He heard the anxious call from his esteemed master, but the red-haired knight didn’t have the time to worry about it.

With all his ability, he tried to twist his body and ram his palm on the ground, to vault his body in the air—all done in just a mere two seconds. It was fast and quick, and the reaction he had even shocked the blonde Lamian, but it was still too late.

The massive tail would still hit him, and the red-haired knight could only do was crossed his sword in front of him to block.

Baaang!

The hit struck him and he floated in the air. And with deafening sounds and shockwaves, the red-haired knight was blown away, hitting a tree causing it to break and fall.

“Doram!!!”

The princess and the others hurriedly rush towards the place where the red-haired Knight was blown away. However, before they could reach him, they found the red-haired knight standing on the trunk of a broken tree. Blood appeared from his temple, drenching half of his face red. But his face remained impassive, seemingly not feeling any pain.

Seeing this, the blonde Lamian shows a ferocious grin.

“You’re tough, human, I give you that. But that doesn’t mean you are enough to contend against me, Drova of Amani!” she snorted and then readied her sword.

“And I won't let anyone take Rain away from us! So get lost!" she said, somewhat already drunk in battle, and was losing her original intentions.

All she wanted was to fight now...but...

“You’ve said enough Drova!”

The Medusa hissed angrily. And in an instant, the blonde Lamian; Drova realized her mistake. She hissed.

In that instant, Princess Leticia’s eyes narrowed as she immediately realized what was wrong. The blonde Lamian’s aggression the moment she had heard about her mentioning the boy—

Rain…? Is that the boy’s name? Could it be…?

She steps forward and placed a hand on the red-haired knight to stop him from attacking. She turned towards the Medusa, although just by looking at her appearance is enough to terrify her, she still steeled her heart and release a calm demeanor. Hiding her true feelings and emotions was one of the basic talents needed for a Princess.

“Wait, your Excellency, perhaps there is some kind of misunderstanding between us? We could set aside our differences, as we don’t want to disturb your life here. We just want to find something, we are looking for…after that, we would be on our way. After all, you know there are no merits for us to stay in this place,”

“… …” the Medusa halted her movements and turned towards her, regarding with a cold expression of a predator eyeing her prey.

And she was the prey.

Still,

“…however, if we couldn’t complete our Quest this time, even if we failed this time, many will still come,”

Princess Leticia said while gesturing her group to calm down.

“Are you threatening me, human?”

The Medusa hissed and her aura exploded. Immediately after, the temperature drops, and the surrounding slowly freeze.

The Princess steps back, along with the others, mouth wide open in shock. This power, a Medusa with a rare Ice Affinity?! How can a monster like her appear in this world?

She gritted her teeth, swallowed her saliva with a gulp, and endured the fear and anxiety bubbling inside her.

“I am not. What I said is only the truth. I am the first Princess of the Delouria Kingdom; Leticia Persil Louridia. If I failed to return, my Father, the King will surely send all his forces into this place.”

The Medusa’s expression darkened.

“Silence, human! Do you think we care about war?!” she sneered.

“Don’t treat us like cowards, we are prepared to fight. If you want a war, then we will give you one!” she swung her sword, and the mere wind force from its cut the long weeds and plants around her. “And I’ll be making sure, that you will be the one to be sacrificed first!”

“I dare you, you Monster!”

The red-headed knight once roared in anger, but he was actually extremely vigilant inside.

Although he was immediately healed by his comrades, the pain was actually still gnawing inside of him. Despite never underestimating the blonde Lamian, he was still shocked by the power she released. Skills, combat arts, experience, and physical attributes, it seems like he was still below that of the Lamian. If they truly fight against them, the red-haired knight was already certain that they could never win.

One more thing that he finds curious was the words he had heard from her during their fight—Rain had done the same before. But he’s far nimbler and faster than you, and he would have made an almost impossible attack while dodging.

Rain… does she mean the boy Celia mentioned?

Far nimbler…and able to fight against her, signifying the fact that he was able to fight against her?

How strong is this Rain?

But I heard that he was very young. How is that even possible?

“Drova, enough.”

The blonde Lamian snorted and she once again made a stance, prepared to charge. But before she could initiate an attack again, she was called back. She turned around and saw the Medusa walked over. She wanted to say something but after seeing the latter's cold expression, she shut up. She had never seen her Elder Sister so angry before.

“What do you want, human? What are you trying to find in this kind of place? For you, this place is not any different than hell. And yet you still waltz in here, risking your life. What do you desire to find in this place?”

“Elder Sister…”

The Medusa raised her hand to stop the blonde Lamian from speaking. Her cold gaze fixed on the human princess.

Princess Leticia took a deep breath, trying not to show the apprehension she was feeling from being too close to the horrifying Medusa.

“We are looking for something… a relic of our ancestor that should be in this place.”

“Your Highness isn’t telling them about it—“

“It doesn’t matter. If we wanted to succeed in this quest, we need to do this.”

“But we can't trust them…” the black-haired knight muttered with an anxious expression.

The Princess stared at the Medusa, narrowing her beautiful eyes, “We can only believe,”

If they will need to fight against the Lamians, led by a Medusa at that, then forget about completing the Quest, their lives would surely be forfeited in here, right at this very moment. She turned towards the Medusa and said; “We will do what we came for, and get what we needed. There’s no need for unnecessary bloodshed. After that, we will leave this place, and never turn back…in fact, I will surely be in your debt,”

“Your Highness!!”

“Ho? A debt? Do you even know what you’re saying, human?”

The Medusa hissed dangerously.

“Of course, I am,” the Princess answered with firm determination. “This favor will be under my name, and as long as I can give it, and that it would never go against my morals and principle, I will surely do everything I can to repay this favor from you. How does that sound, your Excellency?”

“A debt to a Monster Race, you’re bold, human…and wise,” the Medusa grinned.

“So be it, we will leave you alone. Do what you want and we will overlook your trespasses,”

"Elder Sister?!!"

“Thank—”

“However, there’s a time limit…” the Medusa grinned coldly.

“For a month, you can do what you want, and find whatever you are looking for. But after that, whether you find it or not, that will be your problem. You need to leave this place, and never come back.” Then, she released her murderous aura, and the temperature of the surrounding plummeted. Trees and plants near the snake-haired Medusa even started to solidified in ice.

“… Ever again.”

“A month… that’s too short,”

Celis said, but she was given a hateful glare from the blonde Lamian.

“Don’t try our patience, human. We have already conceded much to you.”

The Blonde Lamian hissed angrily.

Celia frowned and stood in front of her sister protectively. Her hand never living the hilt of her sword. “Since you gave your condition, then we will give ours.” She said. “We wanted a guide, someone who knows the Desolate Cave. That will make our Quest much easier…and that guide will be, the boy called…Rain,”

“Grasta!!”

The blonde Lamian was startled, and her angry voice echoed in the surrounding, causing birds and insect-type magical beasts to flying in the air in shock. Then, the blonde Lamian swung her sword, flying towards Celia’s neck that was surprised by the sudden, unexpected outburst and was too late to react. Her fuse was too short.

Claang!!

The red-haired knight appeared and blocked the Lamian’s attack with his sword. All of a sudden, the atmosphere once again tensed and both sides drew their weapon.

“Vaderi, Hatsha—Rain will not be with you!!” the blonde Lamian hissed and she pushed her sword with all her strength, and the red-haired human knight was pushed backward by a few steps.

“And you, you all stay away from him!” she declared with the tip of her sword pointed at the human expedition group. “If you dare, I will kill anyone who approaches him!”

"You might be strong, but that doesn’t mean we are afraid of you, you Monster!!” the red-haired knight shouted, before kicking the ground with his legs, rushing towards the blonde Lamian. Although he is equipped with a full-body armor, he is still incredibly fast. His figure seemed to blur. When he was step closer, he then swings his sword straight down.

Then, there was a high-pitched sound of clashing metals.

Like a raging wild beast, the red-haired knight burst into a fierce assault, his large sword seemed to be a feather-with stick as he swings it towards the blonde Lamian, so fast it seemed to have turned into dozen swords, with power enough to crush rocks.

His burst in momentum caused the blonde Lamian surprise, but it was only for a moment. There was a pause as the blonde Lamian let out a loud shriek and parried the incoming attack. She deftly handled a well-aimed thrust, then followed by a whip of her tail.

It was blocked by the red-haired knight using his sword. However, the tail was proven tough, like metal as it produced a metallic clang when the Lamian’s tail clashed with the sword, and with enough strength to cause the human knight to stagger back. But like a raging lion, the red-haired knight roared in fury and pounce again.

As the blonde Lamian sneered in contempt, readied her sword for another bout, suddenly—

“Enough!” the Medusa zoomed forward with unbelievable speed, caught the red-haired knight’s hand in his fist, and squeezed till the human knight cried out in pain and dropped his sword. It was at this moment, the other knights made their move after seeing the Medusa attacking.

The Princess and the other knights charged towards her, while the mages started chanting. The Medusa hissed upon this scene and punched the red-haired knight in the jaw, sending him flying back twenty yards, where he slumped onto the ground in a daze.

The Blonde Lamian smirked. But—

“I said, that’s enough, Drova, stand back,” the Medusa cried out with a loud hiss, and with a swing of her arm, a meter tall ice spikes appeared in front of them, separating her and the blonde Lamian from the charging human knights.

The burst of chilly air and power caused both groups to stop and stared fearfully at the Medusa.

“And you, humans, I’ll give you a warning too. Don’t involve him in this. If you do, we will do anything in our power to make sure you can never leave this place…alive.”

She hissed at the terrified humans.

“… …?!”

“As for the matter of the guide you desire, I will send you one. But beware, we might stop the other Monster Kings from interfering with your so-called quest, but the danger of the Desolate Forest is not only us. We will overlook your trespassing this one month as we don’t want any trouble, and guide you. But your lives will be left in your hands. And whether you survive the wrath of the forest depends on your abilities.”

The Medusa hissed, she then turned around walking away.

The blonde Lamian glared at them but she still followed the Medusa, hissing.

“Remember my words, humans. One month and you will leave, whether you like it or not…and never come back.”

“… …”