Slain

Kailina had no intention of calling a truce and easing tensions first. She did not even suggest joining forces to deal with the Ghost-Eyed Giant.

Of course, even if she had, it would have been useless.

Once their move against Kailina had begun, there was no stopping it.

Since Lister and the other two had chosen to attack her first, their purpose was clear.

If they dealt with the Ghost-Eyed Giant first and Kailina withdrew ahead of them, word of everything that had happened here would get out.

Duke Will would then have an excuse to do all sorts of things, leaving them with endless trouble down the road.

Naturally, the three of them made dealing with Kailina their priority.

As for the Ghost-Eyed Giant, what did it matter if it escaped?

At most, it would flee with its associated crystal, which would have no effect on the situation within the duchy.

The turquoise vein beneath Baron Lai's castle would still end up in their hands, and no word of it would get out.

Kailina had a short temper, but she was no fool. She had long since worked out the situation.

She had even guessed that Quint at Rekton Castle was probably involved.

Even facing a fourth-tier professional and two third-tier professionals who were closing in on her, Kailina showed little concern. If anything, she was confident.

Body of Steel was still active, and she moved decisively, thrusting her sword backhand straight into Lawson's chest.

If his stone armor had not stopped it, that thrust would have nearly killed Lawson.

Simmons, standing in front of Lister, grew tense at the sight of Lawson being attacked. He charged and smashed his massive shield at Kailina.

"Lord Lawson, please fall back. I'll hold her off here!"

As a professional trained by the family, Simmons completely disregarded Lister and focused entirely on Lawson.

Kailina kicked the massive shield aside. During the three minutes that Body of Steel lasted,

Kailina handled the fourth-tier shield warrior with ease, giving up no ground at all.

Lawson took the opportunity to retreat some distance and plunged his staff into the ground again. First, he activated Mysteries of Nature to increase his magic affinity and power.

Immediately afterward, the vines in the area grew wildly once more.

Unfortunately, with the recoil from Body of Steel, the vines' restraining effect was barely better than nothing against Kailina now.

Lawson's expression darkened. He had thought that, working with Simmons, killing a mere third-tier professional who had yet to advance to the fourth tier would be easy.

Reality had slapped him in the face, and he stopped underestimating Kailina.

Simmons's skills were mainly defensive, while his own vines were ineffective for the moment and could not even hurt Kailina.

At a loss for what to do, Lawson had a sudden thought and ultimately prepared to engage her in close combat again.

Although he was a mage-class professional, Lawson was something of an oddity in the Conner Family.

He had raised his Earth and Stone Armor skill to the maximum level. He could both take hits and dish them out, making him far more survivable than an ordinary mage.

Before he could get close, a silver figure darted out once more like a ghost.

Lister's movements were already decisive, and his agility was several points higher than that of the other three present.

Even with the Body of Steel buff active, Kailina struggled to keep up with him and could only just manage to block his saber with her sword, relying on her combat instincts.

But the next moment, Lister shifted his move, sliding his blade down the length of her sword.

Just as Kailina thought they would be locked in a stalemate for a moment, Lister kicked straight at her.

"Bang!"

The kick landed on the heavy armor over her chest, doing next to no damage.

Lister simply used the knockback from Kailina's skill to retreat.

Then he used that momentum to leap forward, executing a difficult Iai Slash in midair, like a magnificent waltz.

The fierce sweeping slash headed straight for the crown of Kailina's head. Even if it struck only her helmet, it would leave her gravely injured.

Kailina was a seasoned fighter and highly alert. At the critical moment, she tilted her head back.

Lister's Iai Slash grazed her face and struck her breastplate again.

A huge gouge appeared in the breastplate, and Kailina's expression finally grew grave.

Even through the breastplate, a burning pain stabbed through her chest, leaving her short of breath and feeling tight-chested.

Kailina could scarcely believe it. After all, Body of Steel was still active.

It negated 50 percent of the damage, and she also had her heavy armor and her own defenses.

Even without Body of Steel, very few ordinary third-tier professionals could land such a heavy blow on her.

Yet Lister not only attacked decisively, but his technique was also far superior to hers.

His saber technique's damage in particular stood out. He had only just become a third-tier professional, yet its attacks were stronger than those of the fourth-tier saber users she had fought.

How was that possible!?

The more Kailina thought about it, the more wrong it seemed. Looking at the strangely eager gaze Lister had fixed on her, she felt that peculiar fear gradually resurface.

Attack: 317 damage dealt.

After landing and steadying himself following the Iai Slash, Lister could not help shaking his head inwardly.

The level 14 Breathing Technique passive, combined with his base strength of 26, gave him a total base strength of 40, plus a 70 percent increase in saber technique damage.

He had not expected to deal only 300 damage. Even without her 50 percent damage immunity, it would have been only 700.

Lister was not very satisfied. He considered whether, since he had no better saber technique at present, he should add a few more levels to the Merrick Saber Technique skill.

Just then, a sudden whistle cut through the air. Lister reacted instantly, jumping backward.

A laser beam struck the spot where he had just been standing.

The Ghost-Eyed Giant seemed to have recovered considerably, its health back up to 5,500.

Three of the four sudden laser beams hit their targets. It was a truly indiscriminate attack.

Normally, Kailina would have been able to dodge. Unfortunately, she had just taken Lister's slash, and the tightness in her chest had slowed her movements considerably, compounded by the slight hindrance of the vines wrapped around her.

Lister ignored the charging Ghost-Eyed Giant and seized the opportunity to slash at Kailina again.

It was an excellent opportunity. Kailina was staggered and completely unable to dodge.

She could only watch as Lister's blade slashed toward her neck.

The blade passed over the collar of her breastplate, an inch higher and almost touching Kailina's chin.

As easily as chopping vegetables, it sliced through Kailina's entire neck.

The next moment, Kailina's health, already below one-third, could not withstand Lister's critical hit to her weak point.

Like Lius, her head and body separated the moment the blade passed through.

Congratulations, you have killed an enemy. Experience gained: 22,303.

As expected of a high-level, D-grade third-tier professional, she had given him nearly four times as much experience as Lius.

At the same time, all three of his greatest enemies in the Southern Territory had finally been eliminated, and Lister felt much more at ease.

"Clang!"

Seeing its first target, Kailina, die, the Ghost-Eyed Giant turned and attacked Lawson, who was closer.

Its attack was a little slow, however. By the time it reached Lawson, he had recovered and raised his stone armor to meet the giant's arm head-on.

Although neither lost much health, the sheer difference in strength sent Lawson flying backward.

Simmons charged at the Ghost-Eyed Giant again.

He had not been able to do much against Kailina.

But against the Ghost-Eyed Giant, Simmons performed remarkably well as a fourth-tier shield warrior.

He used his massive shield to take the Ghost-Eyed Giant's heavy close-range blows head-on and could even knock it back slightly.

For the moment, the Ghost-Eyed Giant could barely get past Simmons.

The vines on the ground wrapped around the Ghost-Eyed Giant once more.

Attack: Vine damage -71. Enemy inflicted with bleeding effect, -1, -1.

Lawson's vines proved useful once again. Against the Ghost-Eyed Giant, each vine attack did little damage, but their high frequency and the bleeding effect made their combined damage quite substantial.

This considerably lifted Lawson's spirits after the setback he had suffered against Kailina.

But before he had much time to recover, Lister moved forward once again, gripping his saber.

His blade sliced through the Ghost-Eyed Giant's entire thigh in an instant, as though cutting through mud.

The Ghost-Eyed Giant immediately dropped to one knee in pain.

Judging by what could be seen at the moment, if Lawson's attack strength was a one, Lister's ordinary slash was at least a ten.

By the numbers, that ordinary slash had dealt the Ghost-Eyed Giant 713 damage.

A single ordinary slash was not much weaker than a hit from one of Kailina's high-level active skills with all her buffs applied.