The Dead Don't Need Answers

A chalice appeared above Luke's head. It tipped over, pouring down a liquid-like radiance to baptize her.

Intense holy light burst outward from Luke.

The evil things summoned by dark magic vanished the moment they touched the holy light, like cotton candy dropped into water.

Light drove away darkness.

The ghostly hand and the summoned Viper turned into wisps of green smoke within the holy light.

The cursed sound was like a fart—gone with a pfft.

After bursting forth, the holy light rapidly contracted, transforming entirely into white armor that attached itself to Luke's body.

However, this full-body armor covered only half of her, protecting the right side of her body.

It gave Clear Sky a beauty of duality.

Luke continued forward. The gaps in her armor scraped together with a clang, and holy energy formed an oppressive presence that bore down on Brenda.

Brenda truly had not known the intruder could wield such rare holy energy. Mainly because the Mad Axe Gang members had died too quickly, and Luke's frost skills had been too dazzling.

They had concealed the damage caused by Holy Flame.

Faced with an Elf wielding energy that countered her, Brenda could only fight to the death.

The gem on her headband burst with intense light, and then every gem turned obsidian-black.

A black mirror unfolded behind her, and several tentacles extended from it to wrap around her.

Brenda began chanting.

More and more tentacles emerged, binding her tighter and tighter.

Breathing became difficult for her, but she continued chanting nonetheless.

Luke walked up to her. Holy Flame condensed into a film of light over the blade of the machete in her right hand.

Luke sheathed the curved blade in her left hand and took out a vial of potion.

She crushed the vial. The potion inside turned into dust upon meeting the air and drifted toward the black hole.

"Soul Eater in the shadows, this is not where you should be, and I am not someone you can handle. Go back and enjoy the gift I have given you in your cave. It should compensate for this soul.

"If you block my path again, I'll kill you."

As the powder drifted into the black mirror, the tentacles gradually loosened their hold on Brenda, then slowly retreated into the mirror.

When the last of the powder floated into the mirror, the black mirror closed and vanished.

Brenda had never expected that, even after she willingly offered up her soul, the Dark Soul Eater would choose to compromise and retreat before this Elf.

Rendered helpless, she stared in terror at the Elf clad in half-armor.

She possessed ethereal beauty, holy dignity, and a masculine air.

"Who exactly are you?"

"The dead don't need answers."

Luke cut down the weakened Brenda with a single blow.

Beyond this door should be Jumu the Horned Demonkin, along with the Heart of Red Dragon Nilcolon inside the safe.

Luke adjusted her level to 100.

Five minutes and ten seconds remaining...

A little tight, but it should be enough to kill a four-star hero.

Luke kicked the luxurious wooden door to pieces and flashed inside with a teleport.

Inside the room, Jumu was being helped by a maid into a suit of armor. When the door was kicked apart, he had only gotten halfway dressed.

Seeing an Elf wearing half a suit of armor... armor on only one side appear in his room, Jumu shoved the maid away, tore off the breastplate he had not finished putting on, and tossed it aside.

He grabbed a massive axe from beside him and demanded of the intruding Elf, "What did you do to Brenda?"

Luke did not immediately attack Jumu. Instead, she said to the maid, who had shrunk into a corner in fright, "Hey, miss... this has nothing to do with you. Get out!"

The maid immediately got to her feet and ran outside. Jumu did not stop her.

When the maid reached the doorway and saw Brenda lying outside, she let out a startled cry.

"Master, Miss Brenda, she—she's dead..."

With that, the maid ran away.

Jumu looked at Luke, his eyes filled with hatred. Flames blazed from the two pairs of massive horns atop his head.

Dragging his double-bladed battle axe, he walked toward Luke. His powerful body made him resemble an enraged bull.

"Elf, who sent you? You're provoking a war! You'll learn the consequences of angering the Mad Axe Gang."

Having wasted quite a bit of time on the maid, Luke likewise advanced on Jumu with her blade in hand.

Compared to Jumu, her frame looked unbearably slender.

The Elemental Fusion Reactor in her chest overclocked, sending enormous energy throughout Clear Sky's body.

Light-green patterns emerged on the cheek not covered by the half-helmet, while her green eyes turned Ice Crystal Color.

Jumu felt the pressure of a powerful opponent. He released Flame Shield, and three flaming shields spun around him.

At that moment, countless Ice Dance Flowers blossomed throughout the room. Under the freezing chill, the flaming shields rapidly shrank.

In the blink of an eye, they became three tiny flames and vanished with a pop.

Jumu spewed fire from his mouth.

As Luke stepped forward, wind and snow swept through the room, then converged and rushed toward Jumu, forcing the flames back.

In a short time, huge blocks of ice formed throughout the room, turning it into something like a polar Ice Cave.

Jumu finally realized how powerful the intruder was. The fire energy within him now resembled a dying candle in a blizzard.

But waiting to die and letting others butcher him was not Jumu's way of survival.

It wasn't as if I'd never killed anyone stronger than me before.

A fight to the death depended first on strength, second on ferocity, third on luck.

Fourth... on combat instincts.

Jumu continued toward the invading Elf. Enduring the cold drilling into his skin, he gathered all his strength.

He gripped the battle axe in both hands and swung.

Swift Heavy Strike!

The heavy battle axe let out a shriek as it tore through the air, while fierce flames spewed outward from its blade.

The battle axe came down, but the Elf vanished from where she stood.

Jumu immediately unleashed Burst Flame. High temperatures heated the air, creating a ring-shaped shockwave of immense pressure.

Luke, who had teleported to Jumu's side, was blasted backward by the airflow. Then the ground beneath her feet gave way, and she fell.

Jumu's previous axe strike had shattered the floor, and after the impact of Burst Flame, a large section of the floor collapsed downward.

Jumu believed that as long as he fell to the first floor, his underlings would be able to come support him. Whether they ganged up on the enemy or he took the chance to flee, either was better than facing such a powerful Elf alone.

But...

Why was his falling body rising?

Why were the falling pieces of floor rising as well?

And reassembling themselves, becoming whole again!

Time!

She... she could actually control time!

Jumu looked to his side in terror. The pressure generated by his Burst Flame was drawing back inward from all directions.

The Elf appeared beside him. The machete in her hand swung toward him, its blade covered in a holy white film of light.

A flash of blade light, and Jumu felt the world spin before he crashed to the ground and rolled.

He saw his own body, already headless.

He saw Burst Flame erupt, knocking the Elf away.

He saw the floor shatter and collapse once more.

Then he could see nothing.