V3 Chapter 56

“You use strange skills,”

Julian jumped back and said while glaring hatefully at his opponent- the unknown masked woman that had suddenly attack them out of nowhere.

“...of course. These skills are taught to me by the supreme being, personally, enhancing my power and speed to the highest level…”

Settimo answered proudly.

“Supreme Being? Who are you people, truly?”

“You would know in the future. But that is if you are still able to survive today! [Armament - Hardening]!”

Settimo spread her arms, and once again, a metallic shine spread through her hand, and her claws seemed to become that of metals, gaining a grey metallic shine.

Looking at it, Julian’s eyes narrowed.

That technique seemed to be the thing that is offsetting his flames. Perhaps, his opponent had an innate high resistance to fire, but no matter how high it is, it should not be enough for her to endure the heat of his flames.

And yet, the masked woman in front of him seemed to be able to punch through him, and even deal an incredible amount of damage, completely ignoring his Coat of Flames.

He had never seen such a technique that was capable of defeating his Coat of Flames, which even caused the infamous Demon Princess a great amount of trouble.

Looking at Julian's solemn expression, Settimo grinned under her mask.

The power bestowed by the master- I will use it to kill anyone who stands in his way!

Among the [Numbers] perhaps, she can be considered the most stupid, that she couldn’t even learn most of the skills that their master had taught them. In fact, among [Numbers] only her alone was only able to learn two techniques; [Flash] and [Armament], while the others have learned more or less more than two skills immediately.

Still, she was able to become the leader of the assassinating group, all because of her explosive power and mastery of the two skills that even surpassed most of the Numbers.

With her own innate strength as a Beastman, her [Armament] was almost second to none, while her speed on [Flash] made her the fastest among the [Numbers]. She had honed those skills to almost perfection, that combining power and speed made her the 3rd strongest among the group.

And that was her pride.

“Flash!”

Settimo once again disappeared.

Julian can only rely on his instinct and hurriedly swept the blazing axe in front of him horizontally.

Settimo appeared, ducking under the sweeping blaze.

“Rising Dragon Fist!” she cried out as she took off like a rocket from under, holding out a fist and catching Julian under his chin.

The force knocked the Minotaur upwards, causing him to groaned painfully, his mind almost blanked out from the impact. But Settimo didn’t stop there, as she launched herself at Julian again, chasing after the Minotaur. She delivered a few powerful kicks, before, attempting to deliver a spinning heel kick.

However, Julian was able to snap in time and slashed down the axe.

Baang!

Settimo’s leg clashed against the steel pole of the axe, and the clash knocked Julian back.

But Settimo didn’t come out unscathed either, as she felt a numbing pain on her leg.

She groaned but didn’t stop.

"....Again!"

She pursued Julian, wanting another bout.

“Dragon Steel Claws!”

Settimo exclaimed, trying to stab her opponent with her strong, clawed fingers.

She was moving her paws faster than the naked eye, she was so fast and her stance was so well, it didn’t have any opening.

But it was once again blocked by the flat head of the axe blade.

“Howl Blast!”

Settimo’s claws suddenly let out a golden light, before a large, thunderous shockwave was released, crashing against the axe.

“Gah?!”

Julian felt a large pushing force, knocking back.

His insides seemed to have been hit, causing an incredible amount of pain to assault him. However, he still endured, and clenched his hold on his axe, swinging it towards Settimo.

“Wolf Grand!”

Settimo ducked under the swing, and as she dodged another slash from the huge axe, she suddenly dashed at the minotaur, her body covered with an incredible aura that looks like that of a beast. Behind her, a translucent image of a wolf suddenly appeared, and the speed she has seemed to have increased significantly.

“Flash!”

Once again, she had disappeared.

Baang!

"Aaanoooying!!!"

With a loud roar of anger, Julian timely placed his axe behind him, before an incredible, full-powered punch made it through to him.

He was pushed back, but before he could counter, however, he heard the masked woman’s loud cry, and she relentlessly unleashed a barrage of punches and kicks. Julian was once again pushed back into defense, and couldn’t find any chances to retaliate.

This woman…!

Too fast! He was defeated in speed. And he just couldn't retaliate.

Julian groaned as he tried to block all of his opponent’s seemly random attacks with his axe.

“Aaaaaaarrrrgghh!!”

Julian let out a loud roar, and the flames on his body burned stronger, a blazing shockwave from within him seemed to burst out like an explosion hitting Settimo, and causing her attacks to stop. It was then Julian found the chance of retaliation and swung his axe at her with all his power.

With her wolf’s eyes, Settimo can clearly saw every action of her opponent.

She could also clearly see the path of the attack. Knowing it, she immediately made a move, shifting all her weight to her right leg and spin to dodge the attack.

After dodging, she took advantage of her momentum, crouch down, and place both of her hands on the ground, and quickly kicked Julian on the chest.

Baaang!

Settimo heavily kicked the Minotaur.

But she saw that the hide of the Minotaur suddenly turned pale grey, a color that of steel. Though she had kicked with all he strength, the body of Julian still remained stable.

Steel Skin.

She knows of this skill. Though it’s not Julian’s own skill, due to that there’s a pause in between uses. Nevertheless, it’s an incredible trump card that can save one’s life as it offers near invincibility to the user.

Settimo frowned slightly to see that her attack didn’t work.

At this moment, Julian again slashed with his huge axe towards her.

As if she had expected the attack, however, Settimo immediately bent her hands and rolled on the ground immediately. After that, she firmly landed on the ground, and with an imposing look, she looked at Julian who was surrounded with flames, while beneath those flames was a steel skin.

It would be hard to penetrate through that shell of steel even with her current power, boosted by her [Armament].

How long does Steel Skin last, again?

Settimo couldn’t remember.

Well, she was never one that is good with her mind. However, she still knows that attacking Julian with Steel Skin still in effect would be a wasted effort. Thus, she can only wait for it to last.

However, as if knowing what she was thinking, Julian took the initiative and charge.

Like hot molten steel, he charged at her with incredible momentum.

“Flash!”

Settimo once again disappeared. The place she was standing at was blasted and become a crater where lava seems to pool due to the hot flames that spread in the area that melted even rocks.

Looking at this scene, Settimo can’t help but grin.

Truly strong…

If not for her [Savage Claws], a magical gauntlet that protected her hand, as well as [Armament- Hardening], even she would not be able to endure that kind of flame. In fact, she was already feeling the heat in every attack she made. Still, she was not one that would easily cower from being burned. Her pain tolerance was among the highest within the [Numbers] due to her upbringing, that it even amazes her master.

Boooom!

“Oh?”

Settimo’s eyes narrowed, as Julian suddenly stop and then, made a sucking motion, and the flames around him suddenly flew toward his mouth.

He’s sucking the flames…

Like a bomb exploding, Julian once again let out a roar, and the fire cloaking his body swayed stronger, and Settimo can feel that once again Julian seemed to have become stronger- no rather than increasing his strength.... did he recover?

Ah... right, I heard about that ability. [Fire Eater].

What a handy ability...

Julian turned his head and faced at her direction.

"Filthy Beast! You have already eroded my patience!"

"Is that so?... but there is still more to come!"

"Silence! You will die by my hands! And I will make sure to reap you apart!!"

While saying so, Julian charged toward Settimo, blazing, like a meteorite.

But Settimo remained unfazed. She smirked, a savage beastly grin on her face.

"You talk too much for a livestock. My death has not been decided by my Master! Who do you think you are to dictate my fate instead?!"

Settimo once again uses [Flash], taking her time, and now still dodging, buying time due to the Steel Skin still in effect. She would need to dodge for a while. But the Minotaur’s beastly instinct was amazingly sharp, that he was still able to follow her wherever she goes.

"You have no idea what you have done!"

"...I don't think so. We are clearly aware of what we are doing!"

"Stupidity! You have declared war against the War of Beasts- there's no safe haven for the likes of you anymore!" Julian snorted.

Settimo smirked. "You truly think highly of yourself. This world is not yours. This world belongs to my Master- and you will be the one eating those words sooner or later!"

"An arrogant moron!"

"Hahahaha, look at yourself, Fireeater! Do you think you are the one declaring war against us? Hahahaha. You are the one who is stupid. Even before you are aware, we have already declared it against the world! And that includes you! You cannot stop my Master. My Master is inevitable- your fate is already in his hand, even as you despair and struggle right at this moment!"

Settimo suddenly step back, and let Julian charge, and using her opponent's momentum, she tackled the Minotaur, enduring the blazing flames that clad its body, and flipped him to the ground.

It's not about force, but about technique.

That's what her beloved master always tells her when they were training.

If she cannot beat her enemy using raw strength, she could use her superior speed. After parrying some of Julian's blows, she used jabs to hurt the enemy as many as she could, while also prolonging the fight and wasting time.

Unexpectedly, it seemed to have caused pain and more annoyance on Julian. Rather than fighting, this had become a test of endurance.

While dodging the enemy's hot and fierce attacks, Settimo takes advantage of her speed and techniques learned from her master, and pierce through opportunities- throwing claws, punch, hooks, and kicks all over Julian's body and to his face. Still, it was not that the fight was turning in her favor.

Julian seemed to become used to her speed and was following her better in movement and attacks. She was now letting hits on her as well, some of them she couldn't dodge and evade.

[Flash] is not a teleportation ability, but only moving at an incredible speed. Those with sharp perception or those who sharpened their instincts like the strongest werebeasts could easily follow her speed. Though, of course, not only Werebeast, but rather, this kind of ability, whether it was an innate talent, or honed through numerous battles, seemed to be possessed by many powerful people, and can even be said to be a symbol of a truly powerful elite.

And it seems like, Julian also possessed this.

This is the symbol of his status as a War God from the War of Beasts.

Settimo continued to dodge, and even let out an attack when a chance appeared. But the Steel Skin still block most damage from her attack, making her attempt futile, and even the clad of flames burned her. Nevertheless, as the situation changed tides rapidly, so was Settimo’s thirst for battle surge.

The smile on her face couldn’t be wiped out.

She had never met an opponent like Julian before.

This is the true, genuine battle!

One that she had always asked for!

Julian spun around, swinging his axe as he spun to stop his opponent in her tracks. But Settimo was a step ahead as she jumped to dodge the spin slash and raised her leg, kicking towards the minotaur’s head.

Julian leaned back to avoid getting hit as he used the momentum of his spin to quickly do another spin slash with flames covering him, creating a tornado of flames.

Looking at it, Settimo kicks the empty air, and retreat to avoid getting hit by the blazing tornado and then went straight back towards the sky.

Julian snorted with hot smoke before turning in her direction.

With thunderous footsteps, he started running, chasing the back of his opponent.

“You cannot run from me!!”

“I ain’t running fool!!”

Settimo snorted.

It was at this moment, that the Steel Skin finally started to end, the color of the Minotaur’s skin amidst the flames fading.

With a smirk of victory, Settimo stop, and immediately faced the charging Minotaur, entering her battle stance.

“...now it’s my turn!!!”

… …

On the side, Oriel watched the battle with great confusion.

Then, her gaze turned towards the two black-clothed women.

Who are they?

She doesn’t have any recollection of the two people and wondered as to why they had saved her. She watched the fight between Settimo and Julian, while never averting her attention to the other one- the strange and unknown Succubus, who was also watching her in interest. She frowned. But there was no hostility coming from her, so she didn't do anything.

Just...who are they?

“Please don’t worry, your highness, for we are not your enemies,”

Suddenly, a voice appeared behind her.

Oriel’s body quivered, and she hurriedly turns around, jumping in surprise.

Without her knowing, there was a person standing behind her.

It was a little girl wearing an eyepatch that covers both of her eyes.

She has long beautiful silver hair, partly tied into two ponytails by red ribbons, on the left and right side of her head. Her skin is very pale, one that can only be described to be as white as snow, but on her right cheek was a tattoo ‘III’ could be seen. Instead of reducing her beauty, however, it gave another sense of attraction and mystery.

“Who are you?”

Oriel also looks at the little girl and frowned.

Who is she?

She thought, recalling all the people she met in her life. However, she didn’t recognize the little girl.

“I apologize for my late introduction, I am-”

But she was unable to finish her words when suddenly,

Booom!

A thunderous explosion rang out, cutting her words, and her attention snatch towards the direction of the noise. Then, from the cloud of smoke, a blazing figure could be seen flying out.

It was Julian.

His expression appeared distressed and full of anger. Then, suddenly, his body quivered, like his soul has been looking at by creepy eyes.

Julian couldn’t help but stop and turned toward the source of that strange, creepy feeling and found a little girl.

"... what a foul-mannered beast."

The white-haired little girl coldly muttered with clear annoyance in her voice as she glared at Julian.