The sudden black clouds and an unknown protective barrier put both the lord of Redfang Castle and the bishop on edge.

The lord of Redfang Castle shot to his feet like a bull seeing red, jabbing a finger at me. "Scum! What madwoman dares disrupt this execution ground? Beat her out of here!"

Two soldiers hesitated—after all, I looked like a mere fifteen- or sixteen-year-old girl. But two others, faces far more brutal, shoved them aside. Gripping their spear shafts, they strode toward me, eyes gleaming with the cruel delight of crushing something delicate.

Hmph. Seeking death.

I raised a slender finger at the soldiers. "Klyzean Vampire’s Grasp!"

Blood-tinged black lightning erupted from my fingertip. Thorned tendrils lashed out, tearing through the air with a sickening rip. The two soldiers flew backward—unlike Senior Sister’s elite Temple Knights, they were blown to bits instantly!

"What?!" The bishop, a man of some learning, gaped in shock. "G-Great magic! Magic far beyond even the legendary third-tier spells! This girl... she’s a witch! A terrifyingly powerful witch! Far more dangerous than Esther! Kill her! Kill her now before she casts again!!!"

"What? Stronger than third-tier magic? Kill her! Kill her!" The lord of Redfang Castle stammered, fear draining his face.

Hearing I was an even deadlier witch, the soldiers drew blades and charged.

"K-Kuroti-sama! Be careful!" Leona cried out. But trapped inside the barrier with Esther, she was safe yet powerless to help.

Of course, I needed no help. I didn’t even glance at the soldiers rushing to kill me. Instead, I strolled straight toward the High Bishop and the lord of Redfang Castle.

"Kill her! Don’t be fooled by her looks! She’s a witch more fearsome than any third-tier mage in legend!!"

Four soldiers fanned out ahead, thrusting their spears at me in unison.

I walked on as if blind to them.

Just as the spear tips nearly kissed my eyes—

*Shiiing!*

A crescent-shaped flash of silvery light severed all four spear shafts at once.

Before me stood Feyn Senior, the stunningly beautiful swordswoman with raven-black hair.

The four spearheads spun high into the air before clattering to the ground far away.

The soldiers stood frozen, gripping broken stumps, utterly bewildered. But the tall swordswoman shielding me—radiating an aura of lethal darkness—made their blood run cold. They dared not step closer.

"Ar-arrows!" the lord of Redfang Castle barked.

Archers in the distance drew longbows. Without a shred of mercy, they loosed arrows at the two girls—*whoosh! whoosh! whoosh!*

Feyn’s starry eyes flashed. She became a black blur before me!

*Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!*

The blur darted left and right, moving so fast it seemed four or five Feyns appeared at once. Her crystalline blade deflected every arrow.

Then Feyn reappeared before me. With a fluid spin, she sheathed her sword. She stood tall, her chest still heaving slightly from the motion.

"What?! This... this tall, raven-haired swordswoman—who is she?!" The lord of Redfang Castle gaped.

"Who cares! Brothers, charge! Cut down these wenches!" The mustachioed warrior barked orders, battle-hardened eyes flashing with ruthless resolve. Sword drawn, he led over a dozen soldiers encircling us. "Kill!"

They surged forward.

I shook my head slightly. "Feyn Senior, handle this."

"Hn." Feyn gave a silent nod.

She raised her crystal sword, casting a golden barrier over me. Then she blurred again, charging straight at the mustachioed warrior.

He swung his blade at her—but before it halfway descended, Feyn’s slender sword pierced his chestplate and heart.

"Aaah... *cough*... *cough*..." The warrior choked, unable to speak. His battle-scarred eyes held only terror and bitter disbelief.

Several soldiers reached me, hacking and stabbing at the golden barrier. Their weapons shattered within moments. The barrier didn’t so much as tremble.

"T-This swordswoman... a High Temple Knight?!" The bishop’s jaw dropped. "A-And what tier of barrier is that? I’ve never seen its like!"

Feyn dispatched the remaining soldiers with a few precise thrusts. She spared their lives, only crippling arms and legs to neutralize them. Her swordplay was flawless—if she chose not to kill, ten strikes wouldn’t end a man.

"What...?" Esther and Leona stared, dumbfounded. "H-How strong are Kuroti-sama and her Swordswoman Guardian? They felled that fearsome warrior and an entire squad in the blink of an eye!"

The lord of Redfang Castle panicked. He whirled to the massive black-armored knight standing silently behind him. "S-Sir Balrog..."

The giant knight gave a slow nod. His heavy armor clanked as he strode toward Feyn.

"Kuroti-sama! Swordswoman Sister, be careful! T-That’s Sir Balrog, the Grand Knight!" Leona’s voice trembled. No matter how strong the raven-haired swordswoman was, she couldn’t possibly match Grand Knight Balrog!

Balrog drew an absurdly long steel greatsword from his waist. He wielded it one-handed with terrifying ease—towering, immensely strong, yet unnervingly agile.

Feyn gripped her slender crystal blade, eyes locked on Balrog.

Balrog’s stride quickened into a charge. Roaring like a black iron mountain, he crashed toward Feyn!

His wrist twisted. The massive blade descended with crushing force!

*CLANG—!*

Sparks flew as steel met steel. Feyn skidded backward, overpowered by raw strength alone.

Balrog was huge but swift. He pressed the advantage, hacking relentlessly. Feyn dodged or parried, the brutal exchange heart-stopping to watch.

Uncertain of Feyn’s full strength, worry flickered in me. I raised my hand, murmuring an incantation.

The lord of Redfang Castle sneered. "Witch, save your magic! Hahaha! Grand Knight Balrog is a true powerhouse, ranked among the Empire’s top hundred! His Black Carapace armor is a family heirloom! No spell below fourth-tier can scratch it! Hahahaha! Hahahaha!"

Feyn and Balrog’s blades locked again. He bore down hard, forcing his greatsword toward her.

*Vvvvzzzzt—!*

A bolt of violet lightning shot from my fingertip. The air warped around it as it streaked toward Balrog.

"Futile! I told you magic won’t—"

The violet bolt struck Balrog’s armored flank.

***KRA-KOOOM!!!***

A blinding flash erupted. The ground shook. A shockwave flattened everyone within a hundred meters—except Feyn. The colossal Sir Balrog flew backward, crashing through a building dozens of meters away. Stone and timber exploded inward.

Amid the rubble, Balrog’s shattered armor smoked. His body lay charred and still, eyes rolled back, unmoving.

"WHAT—?!?!"

The bishop and lord of Redfang Castle stood frozen, jaws slack.

I casually blew on my fingertips. "Immune to spells below fourth-tier? Then try a fifth-tier one. Pulsing Violet Lightning."

Suddenly, the bishop’s face drained of color. Cold sweat beaded on his brow. His features twisted in terror. His whole body convulsed. "T-This girl... could she truly be..."