READ NOVEL ONLINE Chapter 123
123. I Was Happy
A fierce battle unfolded before Lilith’s eyes.
Countless flashes of silver and explosions burst forth. Thousands of blades crossed paths in the air, met by blasts of magic.
“Well, well, what’s wrong? The ‘Thousand Sorceries’ seems to be on the defensive.”
Zarea laughed gleefully.
A multitude of scythes appeared from the void, flying rapidly. Meriel unleashed spells without incantations, countering them.
—But Meriel was the one being pushed back.
Zarea’s scythes sliced through each of her spells.
Fire, water, lightning, rocks, light—all types of magic were cut down and scattered with ease.
“What is that scythe—”
Lilith bit her lip as she watched the clash between the two generals.
“Thunder Strike!”
Hoping to provide support, she began chanting a spell,
“Please, don’t interfere.”
Meriel stopped her.
“I’m sorry, but there’s too great a difference in skill between us. If you act recklessly—it will only make the situation worse.”
In short, she would be a hindrance to Meriel.
“Damn…”
Lilith bit her lip, halting her spell. Beside her, Alice trembled in frustration.
“My scythes cut through anything. Strictly speaking, they diminish any energy I perceive, causing it to vanish.”
As he launched his swarm of scythes, Zarea explained confidently.
“No matter what spell Meriel uses, the moment it touches my scythe, its power weakens and soon vanishes.”
“Yes, I am well aware.”
Meriel wore a bitter expression on her lovely face.
“It’s quite the nuisance to face, as expected.”
“In that case, why don’t you stop fighting me? Just for the sake of humans?”
“Ash Gu Dere!”
Meriel’s response was an attack spell of wind.
“Haven’t you realized it’s useless by now? Hehehe.”
As expected, the gust was blown away by Zarea’s scythes. But in that moment, the shredded wind erupted into a shockwave.
“Wha…!?”
The blast of air made Zarea stagger slightly. The upsurging debris obscured the surroundings.
“Ga Ber Zeth!”
Then—a dark energy ball struck from behind.
“Gah!”
A groan echoed from beyond the cloud of dust.
It hit—. Just as Lilith thought, beams of silver light flew from beyond the dust.
Meriel blocked them with a barrage of spells.
“Blinding me first, then following with the main attack—such a predictable strategy. Hehehe.”
Zarea emerged unscathed.
“That scream was just a freebie. False hope, wasn’t it?”
“Such a vile personality…”
Lilith muttered unconsciously.
“Desperate attacks—how uncharacteristic of you. Hehehe.”
Ignoring her, Zarea sneered at Meriel.
“Shall I attack in earnest now? I love tormenting my enemies, but killing them is even better.”
“Yes… I know that.”
Meriel’s face paled.
Her breathing was labored. It seemed the previous damage hadn’t healed, or perhaps the rapid spell-casting was wearing her down.
Meanwhile, Zarea, looking unfazed,
“This time, I’ll increase the number. Think you can withstand it, Meriel?”
He resumed his attack with the swarm of scythes.
They bombarded her like a barrage of blades; Meriel parried, blocked, and retaliated with countless spells—but every strike was deflected by Zarea.
“Ugh, aaah… ah…”
Unable to block all the slashes, her arms and legs were cut. Blue blood scattered around.
“At this rate…”
Meriel groaned in pain.
The battle’s outcome was clear—she was losing.
“Ahahahahaha! Pathetic! You’d easily fend this off under normal circumstances! Wounded and exhausted, protecting mere humans—how pitiful!”
Zarea shouted gleefully, a sadistic smile on his face.
“Meriel, stop! Any more and—”
“Stop protecting us already—”
Lilith and Alice cried out in anguish together.
They were sad when they found out Meriel was a demon general. They felt betrayed.
But it was different now.
After all, Meriel was still Meriel.
No matter her race or allegiance— seeing her protect them like this, they wanted to believe in her.
So—
“I already told you…I don’t know why.”
Meriel deflected Zarea’s scythes with a defensive spell, grunting.
“Why would you go this far…for humans…”
“Well, whatever. For now, this current Meriel is just annoying.”
Zarea’s face twisted with a mix of contempt and sneer.
“So I’ll kill you. Hehehe.”
Twice as many scythes now closed in from all directions.
“I won’t let you!”
Lilith sprang forward. She could no longer bear to just watch.
“Stop! Stay back!”
“There’s no way I’m leaving you alone!”
Lilith shouted at Meriel, who turned with a startled expression.
“Yes! We, too—”
“[Thunder Bullet]!”
“[Shield]!”
Lilith used lightning, Alice used defense, and both attempted to support Meriel with their spells. However,
“So weak! So weak it’s laughable!”
Zarea’s scythes easily dispersed the lightning and sliced through the magic barrier like paper.
The scythes continued forward, but were deflected by the magic bullets Meriel fired back. Without her support, Lilith and Alice would have been helplessly torn apart.
“It’s hopeless—”
Despair welled up.
The difference in power was overwhelming. They couldn’t even manage support—
“…Thank you.”
Meriel muttered softly.
“Meriel…?”
“I think…I finally understand why I want to protect you.”
Her wistful smile took their breath away. A fragile, ephemeral smile, as though she might disappear at any moment.
“I was happy. Just being with you. Talking with you, spending time together—that alone. Such simple things. Simple things…that somehow felt so wondrous.”
With that, Meriel turned away.
“That’s why, I want to protect you—no, I will protect you!”
The thousand staffs hovering above her began to glow in unison.
And then—Meriel launched her final attack.
With her life on the line.