(Author's rant: Hello again! Hope you're enjoying the series!

Buhahahahahahaaaaa.........

Anyways, one more completed chapter left after this and then I'm back to in-progress. Enjoy!)

“Gack...gahah…” (Sylvia)

Coughing up even more blood, Sylvia stared at the familiar blade for a few moments, unable to avert her gaze.

With trembling hands, she grasped the blade as if to test if it was real or an illusion.

Due to the strength of her grip, a small amount of blood streamed down her hand.

Raising her face after realizing this to be reality, Sylvia looked at her companions with a mortified expression.

The light in her eyes gradually faded, and her knees buckled as she fell to the floor.

“SYLVIA!” (Eliza)

Eliza screamed as she caught the unconscious Sylvia in her arms.

Without hesitation, she removed her destroyed weapon from her friend’s back. Sylvia's body tensed from the excruciating pain before going limp.

Eliza placed her wounded friend on the floor and the rest of the heroes gathered around them.

“Lily! Use your healing magic! Hurry!” (Gale)

Before Gale could finish speaking, Lily had already started chanting her healing spell.

“Heal!” (Lily)

As soon as Lily activated the spell, the wound on Sylvia’s chest began to close very slowly. Her body slightly jerked from the sudden sensation as her face distorted in pain.

Though she was stabilized before a considerable amount of blood could be lost, her chances of survival were scarce if her present condition did not improve.

“We need to get out of here quickly!” (Eliza)

{Oh, you’re not leaving here alive, little girl. None of you are.} (-)

Suddenly, a voice called out to the four Saviors.

{Did you really think it would be that simple to defeat me? That's the price you pay for turning your back to an enemy so effortlessly.} (-)

Bewildered, the heroes turned their heads to find an unbelievable sight.

A beautiful young woman stood atop the Basilisk’s corpse, her naked body laid bare to the dumbfounded Saviors.

Traces of emerald blood from the Basilisk stuck to her skin, as if she had recently bathed in it.

She had a gorgeous face atop a well proportioned body that could capture the heart of any man.

Silky beryl (rich green) hair that reached her waist glistened in the light of the illumination crystal in the ceiling.

“What is...a Human doing here..?” (Gale)

Gale voiced the question on everyone’s mind, but the woman laughed in amusement.

{Ahahaha! Do I look like a Human?} (Woman)

After regaining their senses, the heroes realised their mistake after gazing at the naked beauty for some time.

Yellowish-green scales covered the entirety of her back and the sides of her body, starting at the nape of her neck before ending at the back of her hands.

The exposed skin occupying her chest to her abdomen was divided into sections, much like the underbelly of a snake, and colored an olive green.

Instead of legs, the trunk of a snake extended from her waist.

Her lower snake body was similarly coated in scales, but were larger and thicker than their counterparts on her upper half.

From the face as beautiful as a goddess, two yellow eyes with vertically slit pupils glared at the group.

In the midst of their confusion, one hero spoke the name of what she believed the reptilian woman to be.

“A...Lamia?” (Lily)

Lily was referring to a minor species of Demi-humans that consist solely of females. Their physiology of a Human woman with a snake’s body most accurately described this beautiful lady.

However, Lily shook her head after contrasting the image of a Lamia in her mind with the figure of the woman in front of her.

No, a Lamia would have the upper body of a normal Human woman instead of one with reptilian features. A Demon perhaps? But I’ve never heard of such a species before...

Lily struggled to identify what race this woman belonged to.

The rest of the heroes were too confounded by the bizarre appearance of this woman to say anything.

Seeing their confused expressions, the half-snake woman smiled in a condescending manner, exposing a pair of menacing fangs that protruded from her lips.

{It’s a shame I have to discard my first body so hastily in this confrontation, but against foes such as yourselves, I suppose it is to be expected.} (Woman)

Looking at her own appearance, she began to wipe the blood off of her body as she slithered down from atop the Basilisk’s carcass.

Once she had fully removed herself from the Basilisk, the heroes were astonished by her snake tail that measured at least 4 meters (~13 ft) in length.

{However, this body is better suited to fulfill my desires. Hehehe, I bet Master would finally accept my love once he sees this beautiful figure.} (Woman)

The woman hugged her shoulders tightly as an extremely ecstatic expression spread over her face.

Returning her attention to her baffled spectators, the woman showed a lovely smile.

{For helping me to achieve my wish, you have my thanks heroes. A reward is in order for your services.} (Woman)

The woman raised her right hand and pointed it towards the Saviors’ party.

{I shall give you - } (Woman)

Suddenly, the smile disappeared from her lips while a swirling mass of black mana simultaneously appeared in front of her outstretched hand.

{ - a painless death. Obliteration!} (Woman)

Upon her words, a black beam shot out from her hand, targeting the group of heroes.

In response, Lily casted her own magic.

“Light Barrier!” (Lily)

Lily’s hand glowed with a white light. Then, a wall of shining light formed between the heroes and the woman.

Within moments, the black beam made contact with Lily’s Light Barrier.

The two opposing forces clashed, causing a spectacular display of two powerful magics colliding.

Like an unstoppable force pushing an immovable object, neither one showed any signs of relenting to the other.

After what seemed like an eternity, small cracks began appearing in the Light Barrier, but just as it seemed to give way, the beam of black mana ceased.

The wall of light finally shattered and particles of white light scattered around the room.

The snake woman lowered her hand, and glared at the Elf mage that robbed her of an instant victory.

{...To think a spell casted in such a short time could negate my attack. My apologies for underestimating you, Elf witch.} (Woman)

In response to the woman’s words, Lily gritted her teeth.

Once the attack had ended, all of the pressure that had been affecting Lily dispersed and she panted heavily.

She had already used quite a bit of her mana in order to keep the Basilisk restrained and had yet to fully recover from the ordeal.

Combined with the healing spell casted on Sylvia and the cost of omitting part of her Light Barrier’s chant in order to activate it faster, her mana capacity had been severely diminished.

If I hadn’t sensed the build up of mana in her hand when I did, we would all be dead right now.

Removing thoughts of what could have occurred if she had been only a moment late in her chant, Lily regained control over her breathing and calmly analyzed the fearsome opponent.

There’s no doubt about it. That attack just now was surely “Obliteration”, an advanced Shadow magic spell, which means...this woman is from the Demon race…

Shadow magic is a magic with terrifying abilities that only those belonging to the Demon race can use.

That swirling black energy is just one example of its famous destructive property. Body regeneration, as well as instant teleportation, also fall under Shadow magic.

Cold sweat appeared on her forehead as Lily realized the severity of her conclusion.

However, I’ve never heard of that spell being used without chanting. She must have a substantial mana capacity to achieve that. I must find out the truth from her.

“...Before we start again, may I ask a question?” (Lily)

{Certainly.} (Woman)

The reptilian woman responded while showing a mischievous smile like she had already guessed Lily’s question, but chose to feign ignorance.

Lily ignored the lady’s irritable attitude and asked in a straightforward manner.

“Are you a member of the Demon race?”

To Lily’s question, the reptilian woman closed her eyes and put on a serious expression while resting a hand on her chin as if she was deep in thought.

{Hmmm, how to answer...the only thing I can say is that I am a Demon, but at the same time, I’m not. Does that help?} (Demon?)

“...Not particularly.” (Lily)

That worries me even more…

Lily showed a troubled expression, but the Demon race woman continued talking.

{Oh well, not that it matters anyway.} (Demon)

A vicious smile spread across her face as an unprecedented bloodthirst emanated from her figure.

{You will all be dead soon enough.} (Demon)