Adeline felt sadness, an emotion she wanted to forget. She felt responsible for Joseph. She had been careless and had not considered the possibility of being poisoned or that they would be using holy magic against her. There were many things she had miscalcuted, and it all stemmed from her belief that she was supposed to die. People now looked up to her and were willing to die for her. She was no longer some gangster on the streets; the entire forest hung based on her decisions. It was about time she learned to grow up and stopped being immature.

  She pced a blood barrier over the tree as her attention turned to Jack and the woman. She raised her hand as her bloody greatsword flew towards her, then slowly walked towards them. Jack frowned as he pulled off the same trick once more; this time, his sword bounced off her dark skin. He imbued his sword with his blue mana as he released a fiercer attack. Adeline blocked the attack easily. Jack attempted another attack, this time appearing behind her. He aimed for her wings, but his sword cut through the red mist as her image disappeared.

  Jack turned and saw her behind him. He sshed his sword at her, but again it was only an afterimage. More images appeared as Jack attacked each, hoping one of them would be Adeline. He maintained a cool head as he assessed his situation. Adeline could attack him at any time, but he did not know the direction.

  “You did this to me, yet you look very lost. Don’t you understand your own capabilities?”

  “You will die just like that elf; don’t get ahead of yourself.”

  “Silence!” Adeline grabbed Jack by the throat, then smashed him into the ground. Jack spat out blood as he imbued his mana into a dagger, then attempted to stab her, but it was an afterimage. He got up with confusion as his body glowed, healing his wounds. Adeline’s sword cut through the air as Jack blocked, bringing him to his knees. He tried to counter, but she had already disappeared. He felt a sharp pain in his side. He got up, but as he tried to protect himself, it was too te. Adeline appeared behind him as she plunged her sword into Jack’s back, gravely injuring him. His body glowed once more as the injuries healed. Adeline attacked once more, sshing his chest. His body healed once more, and it was followed by another attack. Jack felt incredible pain as his body was slowly getting cut into pieces.

  “Death by a thousand cuts, that is what you deserve.”

  Jack tried to fight back, but his attacks only nded on her afterimages. The thick red mist started to take effect as blood started to pour out of his eyes, nose, and mouth. Adeline continued to cut him down as his resolve slowly withered. Her blood-red eyes were only filled with vengeance as she enacted her revenge. His body was completely sshed as he finally fell down, but his body continued to heal. Jack slowly tried to get up. Adeline pnted her greatsword on his back, pinning him. She kneeled down and looked into his pleading eyes.

  “I am too young to die like this.”

  “So was Joseph and every other creature you syed.”

  She grabbed his jaws as she slowly pried them open. Jack used his remaining mana as he tried to fight back, but it was useless. With one more pull, she broke his jaws as she tore his head off, leaving behind a dangling jaw. She got up while staring at his head for a while. She took her greatsword and made her way to the woman. A bright gold barrier stopped her momentarily. The woman raised her head and saw Adeline. She was levitating as her two massive wings fpped gently. In one hand, she had a greatsword, and in the other, Jack’s head missing a lower jaw.

  “Are you done praying? Did your god answer you?”

  Fear pierced her heart as she started to tremble while praying. Her voice sounded incoherent as panic set in. Adeline simply watched as her feet slowly nded. She took a few steps as the golden barrier tried to repel her. She pced her weapon down as she forcefully reached inside. Adeline felt pain as her skin started to peel off, but she continued to press further. Soon her hand was nothing but bone as Catherine continued to pray. With one more push, she finally caught her neck. Catherine started to choke as the barrier fell. Adeline’s hand started to heal rapidly as her grip tightened.

  “I will not give you the satisfaction of a st prayer.”

  Snap, her neck broke as her lifeless body fell. Her body started to mummify as her blood flowed into Adeline's body. Her horns started to pulsate faster until nothing was left. She threw the body away as she took his weapon. Her wings fluttered as her body rose to the sky. She looked down on the icy forest as her attention was drawn to a nearby battle. She flew with great speed as she dove into the middle of the battle. She nded with great force as her wings unfolded, releasing her red mist. The ongoing battle instantly paused as the trolls and knights turned towards Adeline. The soldiers and some knights instantly fell to their knees as blood started to leave their bodies. Harry, who was locked in a duel with Bihse’s brother, saw Jack’s jawless head in her hand. He instantly called for a retreat, but the troll in front of him burst with newfound strength. The red mist made things more difficult as he tried not to inhale it. Adeline made her way towards him as she mercilessly killed every knight in front of her. Blood-like tentacles appeared around her, piercing and tearing them to pieces, while her sword decapitated those who were able to avoid her attacks.

  Harry, caught in two minds, tried to end the fight so he could retreat, but the troll seemed more than bothersome. The odds quickly turned in the troll’s favor as he released more violet mana. Harry was pushed back towards Adeline’s path, unable to fight back.

  “The others need us. Finish him up and charge the wall. Make sure you take his head and core as a trophy.”

  The troll let out a fierce scream as he severed Harry’s arm, followed by his head, in an instant. He roared in victory as he picked up his head, showing it to the other trolls who did the same thing. Adeline now set her sight on the wall as she rose to the sky. With a bloody moon behind her, it was time to finish this war.