Overlord Journey of Tima, the Creator God

Long ago, her primary weapon had been a sword. Though it was regrettable that her original blade was gone, that did not mean she lacked a suitable sword to use.

And in a situation like this, against a lone opponent, borrowing that sword might actually have been more appropriate.

Arthur clenched both hands at her sides, assuming the preparatory stance for an upward sword slash. At the same time, a brilliant radiance gathered in her hands.

At that moment, Shalltear felt as though a clear, dazzling gleam of lake water flashed before her eyes—

[Pseudo Noble Phantasm: All Bonds Severed: Overloaded Lake Light](Aroundight Overload)!

An excessive burden was placed upon the mirror-still lake light, causing the magical energy hidden within to overflow and be repurposed for attack.

Furthermore, rather than releasing the magical energy as a slash of light, this sword technique deliberately held it back until the instant it came close to striking the opponent.

A flash of azure brilliance swept past. Accompanied by the roar of rampaging magical energy, it carved diagonally upward through Shalltear's body from below!

"Ah—!"

A shrill scream escaped Shalltear's lips. From her side waist to her shoulder, a wound deep enough to cut through flesh and bone spread diagonally upward. Deep-blue, dazzling lake light flickered within the wound, while the blood spurting from it dyed her crimson armor an even deeper red.

The sword in Arthur's hand had already vanished. Or rather, no sword had ever truly appeared from start to finish; all she had held was a streak of cold light.

Shalltear staggered backward, her blood-spilling mouth hanging open in stunned disbelief, her eyes trembling without cease.

This was the first time Shalltear had felt fear—toward an opponent whose stats were not vastly greater than hers, yet who had completely overwhelmed her in battle.

The time had come. Arthur did not pursue; instead, she raised a hand. The Holy Lance that had been knocked away instantly returned to her grasp, and a brilliant halo began to gleam around its tip.

From the spearhead to the shaft, then condensed back into the spearhead, blinding light dyed the entire Holy Lance gold. Glimmering bands emerged around it, their patterns seeming to bear ancient, inscrutable writing.

The bands spun as the light on the Holy Lance grew ever brighter. At the very moment the radiance reached its peak—

The knight opened her mouth and softly recited the name that had tormented her for a thousand years.

"Shine upon..."

A sudden sense of danger made Arthur's hair stand on end. Without hesitation, she interrupted the technique, clicked her tongue softly, and thrust the Holy Lance into the air.

It was a black figure—an elderly man dressed in a butler's uniform, throwing a punch at the knight.

The spear tip collided with the white-gloved fist, and the tremendous force blasted the ground beneath the knight's feet into a massive crater.

"I do not like striking women, but when it comes to an enemy who has harmed my companion, that is another matter."

I am rather curious how you figured out my gender so quickly, Arthur thought silently. Then she swung her lance and leapt backward, opening the distance.

"Lady Shalltear, are you all right?" the man asked as he assumed a fighting stance.

"Sebas? Why?" Recovering from her shock, Shalltear hurriedly cast [Greater Lethal] to restore her HP as she asked in confusion.

It's time to leave. Looking at the man before her, Arthur made that judgment.

Then, without the slightest hesitation, Arthur waved a hand to summon her warhorse, turned around, and flew away without looking back.

In actual combat, the effect of increasing the number of fighters was often far more than a simple doubling. For example, if a suitable vanguard were added now, Shalltear's magic would cause Arthur far more trouble.

Besides, the appearance of one reinforcement could mean that more reinforcements were on the way. Arthur had that premonition.

Because with the appearance of the man named Sebas, her sense of danger had not diminished in the slightest. Instead, it had only grown stronger.