"Ho? So smart?" The figure mocked.

"Sera Veruff…" Catherine called out the name in great difficulties. "Father shouldn't have let you live…"

Even with a sign of aging on her face, Catherine was one hundred percent sure that this witch was exactly the one from the story her parents told her about...

Only selected few knew about the story. Even Yohan, her personal guardian, and Franz who had worked for a long time in their family did not know about it!

Sera was a Conjurer Mage, who once was one of his father's most trusted aides. Her countless merits made other officials pale in comparison and her great power had thwarted numerous rebels. Her grace and charisma was revered by many people, while her justice made her a hero.

But all of that changed when her oldest brother was born fifteen years ago...

Her father never actually disclosed what had happened. All he had ever told her was that the woman went crazy and nearly killed her brother in some sort of mad rituals.

That was also when her father uncovered her vile acts throughout the years.

In her secret chamber lie countless dismembered body parts. Some from animals, some from humans, some from unidentifiable otherworldly abomination. Some had gone rotten, while some are sewn into balls of flesh.

Pools of blood were contained in tens of tubs. Inside each of them was a taboo of humanity…

Homunculus!

All these time, Catherine thought that the story was something her parents made up to scare her if she did something bad. But now, the same woman stood right in front of her.

That year, to avoid mass panic, her father announced to the public that Sera was off for a long journey. But actually, her father exiled her to a certain prison land surrounded by oceans filled with terrifying monsters. However, who would have thought that she would disappear without trace soon after.

Sera shrugged as a smile formed on her face. "I guess I should thank that old man?"

She approached the two girls slowly. Each step heightened Catherine's heart beat and her breathing went out of control. Not to mention that Helen was in a catatonic state with no sign of responding to the situation.

Sera stopped after a few steps away from them and said, "Hand over Helen."

"...What do you want her for?"

"My lords have a plan for her," Sera said, the smile never left her face.

"So, you are a slut of several lords now?" Catherine mocked.

"Heh, the young lady of Rochatier sure is sharp-tongued." Sera gestured her hand in demanding manner. "Now, be a good girl and hand her over. I will spare you as a thank to your father."

Catherine did not answer. She looked around as if trying to find something.

A sinister sneer formed on Sera's face. "Looking for your pathetic guardians, little miss?"

She kicked a giant tree next to her 'lightly', followed by a boom as the tree toppled. Three badly mutilated corpses fell down one after another with a loud thud.

It took a while before Catherine could register what she saw. When she did, a strong churning sensation built up from inside her stomach.

"Urrppp!" She vomited out all her dinner and fell on her four. Her legs went soft, while her consciousness continued to sway.

Blood trickled down her nose and a head-splitting pain struck upon her.

"My, oh my, how unsightly."

"Impo-"

"Impossible? Ha…Hahahaha!" Sera laughed maniacally. "Still a naive girl I see."

Catherine did not expect that the witch had grown this much! Her father told her that Sera was at the 5th stage of Mana Affinity when she was exiled.

Excluding the Shadow Guard she sent who was at 5th stage, Franz and Yohan were of 7th stage! Defeating them was one thing, but killing them without a single injury? Just the thought of it made Catherine shivered in fear.

"My offer still apply, young miss~" Sera said in a teasing tone as if nothing had happened.

Catherine took a deep breath. Even with her hurting chest, she still answered firmly, "No…"

"Hah… Alright then..." Sera sighed. Her smile had now gone, replaced by a sinister crazed expression. "I don't think I gave you another choice though?"

Catherine felt like her heart missed a beat at the change. But before Sera did anything, a sudden high-pitched whistling sound came from up front.

Noticing the sound, Sera quickly turned around, then activated a form of barrier. A black fire tongue made contact with the barrier before it got deflected and dissipate completely with a sizzle.

"Who's there?!" Sera looked around but could not detect anyone. However, she noticed that one of the corpses had vanished into black flame.

"What?!" She turned around again to the girls' direction, only to discover that they are no longer there.

"...Damn roach." Sera did not give chase immediately, though. She walked a few steps to the bushes on her right and taped onto a short figure's back hiding in it while smiling. "Your turn."

…

Meanwhile, a black-haired man carrying two girls under his arms was running in the forest. Occasionally, he would jump between the dense trees and made a detour to avoid certain beast's nests.

"Yohan…" Catherine spoke with great difficulties. "I know you wouldn't die so easily…"

"Don't talk too much," Yohan said with a hoarse voice. "Have you called for help?"

"I did…"

"Good." Once he knew, Yohan switched his direction to run towards the west wall; only then will they be able to meet the reinforcement faster.

Catherine refrained from asking anything further. Warm liquid coming from Yohan's abdomen had stained her clothes red. She knew that Yohan had pushed his limit. She stared at her side to see that Helen had passed out.

After running for a while, they finally saw the city wall. Strangely, Sera's figure was nowhere to be seen.

'Did she really lost us?' Just as the thought crossed her mind, a huge obsidian claw swiped across Yohan's head.

"?!" Yohan quickly tossed the girls onto the bush nearby and put up his arms to defend. He activated a barrier, but alas, the claw tore it like a piece of paper and instantly reached his body.

"ARGHHH!" Yohan was sent flying with a trail of blood behind him. Only after splitting three trees in half did he came to a stop, then limply fall on his face.

Still conscious, he tried to push himself up. However, he realised that his arms were completely pulverised. He could do nothing other than gritting his teeth until it bleed and moaned in pain.

"Tsk tsk." The claw disappeared into the void when Sera appeared before them while shaking her head. "What a feeble attempt."

After that, she walked to the girls' position nonchalantly. "Now for that girl…"

"Not so fast, scum." Suddenly, a massive broadsword came swinging down right on Sera's face. Unprepared, it landed squarely on her face. Now, it was her turn to be sent flying.

At the same time, a brown-haired young girl came towards the two girls. She said to Catherine, "It's okay now, we have arrived."

Catherine forced a warning from her sore throat, "Be careful, she is at least of 8th tier. I have a feeling that she is still hiding something!"

Luna reassured with a smile. "Un, we will! Now, let's get you guys to safety."

Just when she was about to grab the two girls, a deep screeching demonic voice resounded. "Did I say that anyone could leave?!"

Sera, whose face was covered in a squirming tumour, came running to Luna at a terrifying speed. In her hand was a black javelin made out of inexplicable filth and tiny demonic jaws.

She struck down with her spear, which spouted toxic miasmas. Luna was about to take out something from her waist pouch, but then a burly figure in trench coat moved to her front.

"That's not for you to decide." A silver radiance swept across the air. It was a metallic gauntlet densely packed with Magical Runes.

"Hah!" This time, Sera activated three layers of barriers on time.

The meteor-like punch managed to break into two of them, before sending Sera flying up high into the sky with the last barrier intact.

"Hahaha! Is that it?!" Sera laughed in a crazed manner.

"Look here." An old gentleman in majestic armor suddenly appeared behind her.

"What?!"

It was too late by the time Sera turned her head. A lightning imbued sword struck down with an ear-splitting explosion, breaking her last barrier and sending her crashing onto the ground.