Was This the End?

Molly's heart sank.

She didn't know how strong Golden Yellow was, but a level-fifteen boss would never be easy to deal with.

Golden Yellow, hovering in midair, had clearly sensed the middle-aged man's surging aura too.

Her expression shifted, and she couldn't help retreating half a step.

The magic book in her hands shone even brighter.

"The battle begins!"

The middle-aged man's voice grew raspier, and a crazed red light flickered in his eyes.

He lunged at Golden Yellow with astonishing speed, leaving a faint afterimage behind.

"Holy Light Flash!"

Golden Yellow barked the words, and the magic book in her hands snapped shut.

A golden beam shot from the book and blasted toward the middle-aged man!

The beam was blindingly fast and carried a sacred aura. Purple mist scattered wherever it passed.

The middle-aged man neither dodged nor ducked. He drove his fist forward.

Wrapped in dense corpse energy, his fist collided with the golden beam.

Boom!

A deafening crash sent shockwaves rolling outward!

The golden beam shattered instantly, scattering into flecks of light!

The middle-aged man's fist paused for only an instant before continuing toward Golden Yellow.

"What?!"

Golden Yellow went pale and hurriedly twisted aside.

His fist skimmed past her cheek, the wind of its passage stinging her skin.

"Light Blade Slash!"

Golden Yellow reacted at once. She flipped open her magic book and swept a fingertip across its pages.

Golden blades of light shot toward the middle-aged man like a torrential rain.

A cruel smile curled the corners of his mouth.

A shield of black corpse energy enveloped him in an instant.

The blades struck the shield with a series of clangs, but not one pierced it.

"Your light magic is useless against me!"

The middle-aged man laughed wildly. His speed surged again, and in an instant he was right in front of Golden Yellow.

He reached out and seized her wrist.

Golden Yellow's expression changed. She tried to break free, but his grip was far too strong.

"This ends here!"

A vicious gleam flashed in the middle-aged man's eyes.

He gathered dense corpse energy in his other hand and slammed it toward Golden Yellow's chest.

If that blow landed, Golden Yellow would be gravely injured, if not killed!

Molly's heart leaped into her throat.

She knew she couldn't wait any longer!

"Stop!"

Molly shoved open the iron door. The Broken Sword in her hand flashed with a cold, deadly light.

She kicked off the ground and shot toward the middle-aged man like an arrow from a bow.

Her speed was astonishing!

Fourth-Tier Basic Swordsmanship, combined with the Tier-Three Martial Breathing Technique, had pushed her speed to an unprecedented level.

The middle-aged man froze mid-motion.

He felt a sharp killing intent approaching from behind.

He turned instinctively and saw Molly charging at him.

"Another magical girl?"

Mockery appeared on the middle-aged man's face.

"You don't know your limits!"

He meant to finish Golden Yellow first, then deal with Molly.

But it was too late!

Molly appeared behind him like a phantom.

Gripping her sword with both hands, she sent a faint cyan gleam flashing across the Cyan Radiance Ring.

"Slash!"

The Broken Sword, wreathed in fierce sword energy, struck the middle-aged man's back.

Schlick!

The blade cut into flesh.

Under that strike, the middle-aged man's corpse-energy shield shattered like paper.

The Broken Sword sank deep into his back, drawing a spray of black blood.

"Aaargh!"

The middle-aged man let out a shrill scream, and his grip on Golden Yellow loosened.

Golden Yellow seized the chance to pull free. She hurriedly retreated, staring at Molly in surprise.

She clearly hadn't expected someone to appear out of nowhere and save her life.

The moment her strike landed, Molly withdrew.

She knew a level-fifteen boss wouldn't fall so easily.

Sure enough, the middle-aged man clutched the wound on his back and slowly turned around.

His face was twisted with rage and madness.

"You're dead!"

The middle-aged man roared, and his aura surged once more.

The wound, still oozing black blood, began to heal before her eyes.

His regeneration is incredible!

Molly frowned deeply. She tightened her grip on the Broken Sword, her gaze grave.

The middle-aged man ignored Golden Yellow and turned all his fury on Molly.

He lunged at her, faster and stronger than before.

Molly didn't dare take him head-on. She used Fourth-Tier Basic Swordsmanship, moving lightly around him.

Her sword flashed like lightning, every strike landing precisely on one of his weak points.

The attack boost from the Cyan Radiance Ring made every slash hurt.

But the middle-aged man's regeneration was simply too powerful.

No matter how fierce Molly's attacks were, his wounds healed almost at once.

This can't go on.

Anxiety gnawed at Molly.

Her stamina was draining fast, too.

The middle-aged man, meanwhile, seemed tireless. His attacks only grew more savage.

"You can fight, little girl!"

The middle-aged man sneered, a sinister glint in his eyes.

"But the game is over!"

He abruptly stopped attacking and rapidly formed seals with both hands.

Black corpse energy churned around him, gathering in his palm.

"Corpse God's Wrath!"

The middle-aged man thrust out his palm.

An enormous black palm print blasted toward Molly with overwhelming force.

It moved too fast and covered every path she could take to evade it.

I can't dodge!

Molly's expression turned grim.

She knew she had to take this blow head-on!

She drew a deep breath and poured all the energy in her body into the Broken Sword.

At the same time, she called upon the power of Holy Judgment.

[Holy Judgment: Tier One 2600/10000]

After absorbing so many purplish-black fragments earlier, her proficiency in Holy Judgment had risen dramatically.

That meant Holy Judgment had grown stronger!

"Finishing move... Holy Judgment!"

Resolve rang in Molly's voice.

She gripped her sword with both hands and swung at the black palm print!

Brilliant white light erupted from the Broken Sword.

The light formed an enormous sword-shaped projection. Carrying a sacred aura, it collided with the black palm print!

Boom!

An earthshaking crash exploded across the open ground.

A terrifying shockwave spread outward from the two of them.

The surrounding walls cracked, and fragments of stone rained down!

Molly felt tremendous force surge through the sword.

It felt as though her insides had been knocked out of place. Blood rose in her throat, and she spat out a mouthful.

She flew backward like a kite with a severed string and slammed into the ground.

The Broken Sword nearly flew from her hand.

The middle-aged man across from her was in no better shape.

His body jolted. He staggered back more than a dozen steps, leaving a deep footprint with each one.

His face turned deathly pale, and black blood seeped from the corner of his mouth.

White light had punched a gaping hole through his chest. Black blood poured from the wound, which no longer healed.

"H-how is this possible?"

Disbelief filled the middle-aged man's eyes.

"How... how could you hurt me?"

He couldn't understand how a magical girl had broken through the Corpse God's Wrath he had unleashed with all his strength!

Molly struggled to her feet. She wiped the blood from her mouth, her gaze still steady.

This was her best chance to kill him!

She gripped the Broken Sword and walked toward the middle-aged man, one step at a time.

For the first time, fear appeared in his eyes as he watched her approach.

He tried to retreat, only to find that the shockwave had injured him so badly he couldn't move.

Just as Molly prepared to cut off his head, a faint moan came from the room beside them.

"Ah..."