Whoosh!

Xia Xin might not have many strengths, but when it came to running away, she was lightning-fast.

She completely ignored Xila and dashed straight toward the carriage.

Compared to those monsters, Holy Knights seemed much safer.

Roar!

Sure enough, as soon as she neared the carriage, the monster from earlier was instantly drawn away by other Holy Knights.

Hmph~ That little trick of diverting trouble worked perfectly.

"Hey... w-wait for me!" Xila panted as she chased after, "I summoned these monsters while under a magic ban—I’m totally drained now... Can’t you just carry me along?"

"Why would I do something so thankless?" Xia Xin said with a deadpan stare. "And since you summoned them, why are they biting you?"

"Grr... I can summon them, not control them..." Xila replied. "Even though they’re low-tier monsters, controlling them... would require lifting this magic ban on me first."

"Oh, so you’re this useless."

"At least I’m better than you, you dumb Sorceress!" Xila crossed her arms and snorted coldly. "I really don’t get what you’re trying to do... Whoa! Why are there so many monsters around us?!"

"Huh?" Xia Xin glanced around and froze in shock.

Monsters were swarming toward them by the hundreds, packed tightly together, their roars shaking the sky.

These creatures looked tough—even dozens of level-75 Holy Knights were being overwhelmed, forced into a desperate defense.

"How is this possible?! Monsters this strong shouldn’t just appear here!"

"Holy Light... Holy Light isn’t working!"

Only Tia was cutting them down efficiently. With a single sweep of her weapon, she’d cleave through a whole cluster of monsters.

But she seemed too absorbed, ignoring everyone behind her. As a result—she’d gotten completely separated, charging alone into the monster horde.

At this rate, the Holy Knights would be wiped out before she finished clearing the monsters.

"Grr... I might’ve overdone it..." Xila quietly shuffled behind Xia Xin, wrapping her arms around her waist with a grin. "Witch Miss, if any enemies come this way, I’m counting on you... I know you’re super strong."

"Protect you? No way!" Xia Xin was barely surviving herself—how could she guard someone else?

"Eh, don’t be so heartless—ah! Why’s that thing coming at us?!" Xila yelled.

The monster that had burst from the bushes earlier suddenly broke free from the Holy Knight blocking it, turned back, and lunged at Xia Xin and Xila.

Xia Xin stood dumbfounded.

That monster had no honor! Ambushing a girl under twenty like this.

What to do?! Nowhere to run!

Wait, this is...

Lines of text appeared before her eyes.

[Calamity Witch Quest Triggered · Combat Branch]

[Quest I: First Blood (Slay one mid-tier or higher monster by any means)]

[Reward: Permanent all-stats boost (+1)]

Then, the charging monster’s details:

[Mid-tier Monster · Hound, Level: Lv60]

[A lowly Demonfolk creature, massively empowered by unknown forces and highly resistant to Holy Light. (But this means nothing to you.)]

[Threat Level: Minimal]

This damn game system was actually helpful—popping up a quest right on time with target info. So considerate.

But what good was it?!

Did she really need a tiny stat boost?!

Why not give her a usable skill instead?!

No choice—she had to fight now.

Using such a precious item here felt wasteful, but her life mattered more.

Xia Xin pulled out the magic scroll and activated it without hesitation.

KABOOM!!!!

A blinding flash erupted. A massive magic circle formed in her hands, followed by a deafening blast. Scorching flames surged forth, engulfing the monster and reducing it to ashes instantly.

The fire then slammed into the distant ground, carving a crater dozens of meters deep—as if struck by a meteor. The entire area turned to wasteland.

So... so insane!

Xia Xin was stunned.

Even from this distance, she felt the lingering heat after the Forbidden Spell dissipated.

Such an item was terrifying.

Regret hit her immediately.

Damn it—if she’d known it was this powerful, why run at all?!

She could’ve blasted all of Nobles Town and the Holy Knights into the sky!

Now, without the Forbidden Spell scroll, her "nuclear deterrent" was gone...

But... Xila had trusted her with something this dangerous.

That annoying girl actually believed in her.

Xia Xin felt deeply moved.

Xila was cold on the outside but warm within—a Calamity Witch with a surprisingly kind heart.

Her dislike for Xila had already lessened.

Next time she caught her, she’d skip spanking her butt and just... tap her chest instead.

Roar... roar...

That "nuke" scared the remaining monsters senseless. They fled in all directions, tails between their legs.

The humans weren’t faring much better.

Everyone stood frozen, especially the ordinary Holy Knights.

Was this the true power of the Calamity Witch?!

Such a being defied their understanding.

Fear spread through their hearts.

Fighting her was like asking for trouble!

Wait—what was the Calamity Witch doing?!

She just stood there, looking completely relaxed, not even winded.

That insane Forbidden Spell-level magic hadn’t drained her at all?!

And this was while under a magic ban!

No one dared imagine how terrifyingly strong the Calamity Witch truly was.

Even humanity’s elite Holy Knights were mere ants before her—crushed underfoot without effort.

Many onlookers already wanted to retreat, to run away.

But...

"What are you doing?!" Tia shouted. "The crisis is over—march on! Calamity Witch, with me here, you won’t escape!"

"I never said I’d run," Xia Xin raised her hands again.

Hadn’t she done this too many times already?

She was so practiced, she wondered if she had French ancestry.

"Move out." Tia bound Xia Xin’s hands and feet once more.

But Xia Xin noticed something odd about Tia.

She was trembling.

Just slightly—but Xia Xin saw her body shaking faintly.

Eh~ Was she scared?

Xia Xin gave a knowing smile.

Ah... but if Tia snapped from fear and speared her on impulse, better stay quiet.

She’d behave.