As they all went to their posts, and kept a watchful eye on their surroundings, I was right above them.

Silently, I watched, barely able to keep myself from giggling. Gesturing with my hands, I acted as if I were conducting an orchestra.

I suppose, in a way, I was doing exactly that.

One, two. One, two. High, low. High, low.

One downward swing. One upward.

One by one, I lined up all of my shots.

Tiny metal balls, the size of fingernails, made from iron pieces of my chain and the iron I collected on my way here, numbering in the dozens, were now ready.

"Attention everyone! Here I am! Your prisoner!"

I yelled at the top of my lungs.

Of course, there's no way they were incompetent enough not to react immediately. Those that had bows, lined up their shots.

I'm surprised. To think that they all found my silhouette that quickly.

They really didn't cut corners, when it came to escorting me.

"...!!!!"

I could barely hold my excitement… so much so, that I was biting down on my lower lip, whenever I wasn't talking.

"I'm here to tell you... You're already dead."

Finally, my emotions gushed out of me, the moment I snapped my fingers.

All I could hear since that moment, was a symphony of screams, and of cries.

I aimed directly at their cores. And since I called all their attention to me, I hit them all squarely in the gut.

Their hardened leather armors didn't stand much of a chance against my Telekinesis.

Speed similar to arrows, but weighing much more heavily, and with a much smaller size.

"Don't worry, though. You'll most likely be alive for my grand finale."

I prepared to land. But, as I did so, several of the soldiers got up, and took to their swords.

Of course.

Even while wounded, they were elites.

The novelty of the damage they took, if they even noticed what it was, wasn't going to stick too long with them, anyway.

I suppose that was fine.

Once again, I was biting down on my lower lip. So hard, that I now drew my own blood.

"Mmm!"

Whether it was a moan or a grunt. I didn't know.

But I happily received them, landing on my feet, with my arms wide open.

The first one, was a middle-aged man. Despite probably being the oldest, he was the fastest of them, wielding a golden mace the size of my head.

I distinctly remember him, because he was one of those who stomped on my feet.

But, just when he got within arm's length of me, and readied a swing, I had already flicked my wrist upwards.

With just that one action, I pushed the metal ball in his gut, up his body, through his other organs, and lodged it directly where his heart ought to be.

I could feel my heart beat even harder, when I saw his confused expression as he fell down beside me.

"Nnn…!!!"

Still, that was a mistake. Now's not the time to kill them.

I then stared at the second closest one.

A young man. Probably younger than me. I think I remember this one punching me in the gut.

I took note of his wound and saw that the ball was lodged lower than I wanted it to.

He must've taken a step back.

But, that gave me an idea.

I swung my right hand down, and I could hear the wet sounds of flesh being torn, before being replaced by the most horrific, high-pitched screams I ever did hear.

I let him kneel, before I walked over, and pushed his head away, making him fall on his side.

Yeah. Go on.

Keep gripping your destroyed manhood.

I glanced at the third, who visibly recoiled. A sharp one. He noticed what was happening, and immediately tried to pull the ball out.

But, it was too late.

I was hard-pressed to figure out a unique way to kill him, though, so I just repeated the exact same thing as before.

I could hear something squelch and pop. And that was more than enough to make me stop my feet, barely able to endure the shivers running down my back.

I've only dealt with three...

But, I was already over the moon and back!!!

I never thought I could ever feel this kind of satisfaction.

Did… did everybody… who has ever killed… feel something like this…?

The irreversible reinforcement of being superior.

Of being able to choose who lives and who dies.

To be so powerful, others would cower under your greatness.

… it's absolutely euphoric…!

I hugged myself tightly, curling forward.

This how they felt, when they beat me! When they abused me!

It… so… addicting.

So much so, that I'm almost thankful… for the suffering I've had to endure.

Because it was only by falling to the lowest I've ever been, that my experience now, is as cathartic as it is.

"I am… your god now."

Five men from all directions. Each one, now just a few more steps away from me.

They were slowed by their wounds, but not enough to hinder their wills.

I raised my foot, and stomped hard.

There was no reason to.

Other than for show.

Even before my foot hit the ground, the balls inside of them had been repelled outwards, digging even deeper into their flesh and…

The unified sound of bones being crushed and shattered, was like the sudden piano spike just before the climax of a piece.

I'm no big fan of music but… perhaps I should start taking it up, as a hobby.

The background of screams only got even louder.

My heart…

My heart wanted jump out of my mouth…!

I needed to bite down even harder, and grinded my molars, just to keep it in...! I needed the pain to offset everything else that I felt!

"What's happening?! Men! Status?!"

I could hear her voice from behind. The cold sweat and trembling of my teeth, made it clear who was coming.

I held my hands in front me, as if in prayer, Then with flushed cheeks, I raised my arms high, making an offering to the gods.

Surely, they were watching down on me.

And altogether, at the edges of my vision, I could see the numerous red flowers that came into full bloom, followed by the gleaming, bloody balls that were illuminated by the torchfires.

"Haaahnn… haaahnn…"

Amongst all the screams and the cries for help… I was peaceful.

Here, in this place, there were no more dangers.

I am...

But, the coldness of the collar around my neck immediately pulled me out of that line of thought.

Finally, I felt my euphoria die down. Replacing it with complete, almost indifferent calmness.

"What do you think, wench?" I asked her, twirling around with a thin smile on my face.

"You've taught me quite well, don't you think?"

I extended my palm towards her, and without any form of hostility in my expression, I waited for a response.

"You disgusting bitch." Is what I heard her say, before her Mana condensed into her hand forming a…

Bow.

A bright green bow, made of lightning, illuminating her surroundings.

"What you're doing isn't torture or training. If you wanted my approval, then hold back more. They're gonna die in a few more minutes."

"Oh…? I'll keep those words close to my heart, Wench." I gave her an exaggerated curtsy, with one foot behind the other, and my hands gripping an imaginary skirt.

"Now. Tell me, wench. Do you think that bow will save you, against me?"

I know that I should just start pelting her now.

But what was the fun in that?

I've been learning from the perfect teacher. This was going to be my graduation.

I need to savor it, as much I ca-?!

Eyes wide open, I used my Telekinesis to pull me to my right, as hard as I could.

For just a split-second, I saw a flash of green fly right through where my neck was, just now.

"Hah… hah…" On my rump, I held my neck.

It was still there…

"You try to act as if you're in control, but your eyes can't hide what you're really feeling or what you're thinking. That's another thing you need to fix."

She walked towards me, down a small slope, with her both arms beside her, and her 'bow' casually carried.

How did she…?

"Gah…!"

Another flash of green! But.. it wasn't from her!

It came from…

I looked at my calf. Sticking out of my bleeding flesh, was the tip of a thin, bright green, crackling, but heatless lightning bolt.

It disappeared after a few seconds, and when it did, the bleeding got faster.

"You've got to be kidding me…!"

Glaring through my disheveled hair, I swung my hand down at her. Every metal ball I had, was immediately shot.

"Try harder."

But, just before the first one was about to hit, she had jumped upwards, and all of the projectiles just dug deeply into the ground.

At the same time, I saw another flash of green. Another bolt!

This time, once again, I was able to dodge by yanking myself to the side with Telekinesis. Still, I could hear the bolt scratch my collar as it disappeared behind me.

But!

"How can you shoot without even pulling the str-?!" Another flash of green from behind!

"... Agh!"

Once again, unable to react in time, I felt the bolt dig into my upper arm.

Just… just a flesh wound.

"Did a couple kills and a few minutes of being unstoppable, already make you forget? You're not a fighter, tramp. You're a Spellsmith. Whatever you can somehow do by eating up a large amount of your disgustingly high Mana capacity, an actual combat mage can easily counter."

My vision started to red, again. Rage. Pure, unbridled rage.

How dare she…

How dare she…!!!!

HOW DARE THIS WENCH THINK THAT SHE WAS EVER GOING TO BE HIGHER THAN ME, WITHOUT HER DIRTY TRICKS?!

"We'll see that, then!"

The iron balls were already too far away for my Telekinesis and my Metallurgy to retrieve.

But I had more than enough metal here, don't I?

I pushed myself up. Then, with a grin, I raised one of the still-alive bowmen into the air.

"TAKE THIS BACK!"

I threw the screaming man at her, before forcing myself to run across the length of the perimeter.

"You crazy bitch!"

She yelled, before jumping to the side. Then, she chased after me.

But just before she landed, I had immediately thrown a second body at her, which she dodged too.

I needed time.

And I needed as much distance from her, as I could get.

I still had no idea how she shoots an arrow without pulling the string.

But, if I kept her busy, then I won't have to worry about that, would I?

".. please, no…!"

The first man who had his manhood torn open, begged me in tears. But I had no time to revel in that. And neither did he, before I threw him at her, as well.

I could hear the Devil's irritated grunt, followed by the disgusting crunch of a head breaking open.

Then, I immediately threw another one.

All the while, I collected the discarded weapons that were made with my specialized alloys, their shields, the barriers and… even what I could take from their bodies.

I took whatever metal I could gather from within my Magic's range and broke them apart, while throwing bodies every three steps I took.

Then, finally, as I threw the last of the bodies at her, I formed a violent cyclone of metal dust and bits.

"Haaah… haaah… Hehehe… you're pretty incompetent for a combat mage." I taunted, before grabbing the edge of my shirt, and used it to wipe the dust, grime, and blood off my face.

"And you're pretty twisted for a girl. I should expect that from high nobility, though. Literally throwing bodies at problems."

"Why, thank you. You have a discerning eye, wench." I gave her another curtsy. "Now, why don't we test something…? That lightning of yours." I heaved, before taking a step. "Try shooting another one. Let's see if it flies straight for my collar, again."

"You bitch…" She cursed out, and approached with a casual stride, but heavy bootsteps. Then, she stopped, once we were just ten meters away from each other.

"Oh please. How many times have you said that word, during this fight? Nothing else in your vocabulary… haah... or something? You do the first move." Feeling protected, I took a knee, then tore my pants into shorts. With the cloth, I made myself some bandages for my bleeding.

"… haah…"

"... hooh…"

We held our breaths, and just glared at each other.

With my whirling cyclone, her crackling bow, the faint wailing of the dying, and the rustling of leaves; playing as our background symphony.

If it gets through, then I'm beaten. Plain and simple

But, if it doesn't.. if it instantly goes for the path of least resistance, then…

I went back to my feet, and smiled.

"What's taking so long?" I yelled.

"Tell me. Do you enjoy being a pet, bitch?"

Hm...

I licked my lips, thinking of what to say, before nodding.

"You could say that I've learned to see the good things in even that. What about you, wench? Do you enjoy tormenting others? Even going as far as to send your own lieutenant to violate me?"

"Heh… you don't know the first thing, about being violated. Believe me. You'd want to kill yourself."

"Hm..." I shrugged my shoulders. "I didn't actually think you were going to answer. But it's certainly a curious thing. I wonder if that's what the scar is about. I have even more of a reason to keep you alive, now. Any other questions?"

"Just one."

"Go ahead."

"What kind of pet name do you want to have?"

She aimed with her bow, before pulling at the string. Once it was pulled back completely, an arrow of green lightning had formed.

This was much more potent than the ones before it, though. And I could see it from the beads of sweat down her cheeks.

That arrow wasn't easy to make, for sure.

Though, I'm not exactly in much better of a state. I've expended way too much of my Mana tonight. Chances are, I'd have to rest up for the next seven days in order to recover completely.

"Well?"

Oh right… she had a question.

"How about… sow? You can't say anything derogatory other than bitch, right? Sow is a fancier way of saying that. What about you?"

"Hm… Wench would be good. I really liked Devil too, though."

That was the end of our conversation. I could feel more and more of her Mana get concentrated into her arrow. She was really going all out.

Unfortunately, there wasn't much I could do at this point, anymore. This was the top speed of my Telekinesis.

But...

""One hit decides it all.""

We said it together.

And together, we were engulfed by a bright green light which illuminated this entire section of the forest, finished off with roaring thunder that must've echoed for miles.