Chapter 29: The Last Supper

Three cards were played in a flash, the last one being [Reckless Charge].

Sovinia stepped forward with her long legs, pushing off with explosive sprint.

Even using all her strength, she felt no sense of exertion.

Because all the “cost” was covered by the cards.

The cards were her, and she was the cards.

The desire to kill rose like a flickering flame from the bottom of her heart.

Fast.

So fast it surprised even herself.

This elven girl’s body was frail, but the power unleashed by her long legs was astonishing.

She charged at the carrion dog trying to flank from the left.

The carrion dog flanking from the left was caught off guard.

In shock, it dug its claws into the ground, trying to halt its forward momentum and turn to flee.

But she was already close.

The Moonlight Blade in her hand traced a silver arc, the edge slicing toward the carrion dog’s front leg.

A beastly roar, foul blood splattered.

The carrion dog howled and retreated, the urge to pursue almost irresistible.

But the sound of claws scraping the ground came from behind Sovinia.

Sovinia was prepared.

She turned her foot, seeing two dogs pounce one after another.

In a short time, they attacked almost simultaneously, showing seasoned coordination.

But Sovinia’s experience was far more lethal than their coordination.

The negligible distance difference between the two carrion dogs was like a chasm in her eyes, easily exploited.

Ignoring the claws coming from behind, she precisely slashed the tip of the front carrion dog’s nose.

The beast, larger than a war mastiff, howled.

Almost at the same time, the second dog pounced, shattering the fragile ice shield but slowing down.

Sovinia’s sword momentum continued.

The blade turned midair, the sharp edge directly meeting the second carrion dog’s face as it lunged.

The blade cut through flesh and skin.

The carrion dog howled and retreated, rotten blood spilling everywhere.

The remaining carrion dogs prepared to pounce.

Sovinia swung her sword in a circle to drive them back.

The dogs retreated, giving her a moment to catch her breath.

End of turn.

Second turn begins.

Three new cards appeared: [Stun], [Swift Strike+], [Attack].

Good hand!

Sovinia rejoiced.

[Stun] was the drawback of [Reckless Charge].

It had no effect itself, only dizzying the user for a moment and taking up a draw slot.

But with [Evolution+] on the field—

[Stun] triggered [Evolution+], immediately drawing two more cards.

The new cards drawn were: [Attack], [Double Strike].

Lucky, it was [Double Strike]!

Sovinia kept moving, striding forward in a big lunge, raising the Moonlight Blade high.

The three carrion dogs ahead nearly immediately turned and retreated.

But Sovinia’s sword strike was a feint.

The blade circled around, turning backward.

Her steps followed the sword’s turn, rotating to the rear.

As expected, she saw two more carrion dogs pouncing.

She instantly used [Double Strike], combined with [Swift Strike+].

She swung the blade in a chop, a sword shadow following the Moonlight Blade.

The strike landed on a dog’s head, inheriting the momentum of the feint, the power terrifying.

Then the sword shadow passed through the blade, stacking another cut, precisely hitting the same wound.

The frail carrion dog didn’t even have time to whimper before it crashed to the ground.

Another carrion dog trying to attack from behind pounced.

Sovinia withdrew her sword to block, catching the blade at the dog’s chest and head.

With a step back, she easily neutralized it.

Double cast [Swift Strike+].

Its effect triggered twice, instantly granting four new cards: [Defense], [Defense], [Attack], [Scorching Strike+2].

What about the 0-cost [Reckless Charge]?

Not there.

She glanced and saw the draw pile count was zero, and [Reckless Charge] was still in the discard pile.

Miscalculation!

Sovinia cursed inwardly.

She, a veteran card player of a century, had fumbled.

Her card draw ability couldn’t empty the draw pile to keep drawing the 0-cost [Reckless Charge] and play it repeatedly.

Cost remaining: 1.

Sovinia made a quick decision, using [Attack] directly.

She turned her hand, the blade circling again.

With her own strength plus the power of the [Attack] card, she slashed the injured carrion dog, killing it instantly.

The remaining three carrion dogs turned and fled.

Third turn begins.

Cards drawn: [Swift Strike+], [Double Strike], [Reckless Charge].

Last turn’s [Double Strike] effect activated, deducting 1 cost.

She only had 1 left.

Another good hand.

Sovinia used all her strength to chase down an injured carrion dog.

Wasting stamina wildly in battle was usually a luxury, but with cards “supplying” energy, she could afford it.

The carrion dog turned its head.

Sovinia killed it with one slash, then immediately used [Double Strike] plus [Reckless Charge], charging at the nearest carrion dog.

The blade and sword shadow cut through its ribs, and it fell dead on the spot.

Double cast [Reckless Charge].

Two [Stun] cards added to the draw pile.

Only one carrion dog remained.

It fled fast, far.

A flicker of madness passed through Sovinia’s eyes.

She charged again.

Fourth turn begins.

Drew [Stun], [Stun], [Attack].

Triggered [Evolution+] twice, drawing four cards.

Instantly, the draw pile was exhausted.

[Scorching Strike+2] came to hand.

Drawing [Stun] made her dizzy for a moment, but instead it pushed her into a kind of murderous joy, making her run faster.

The carrion dog sensed Sovinia’s “killing intent” and its four legs blurred with speed.

Sovinia relied on her long legs to catch up over the uneven ground.

But the carrion dog leaped toward a dog hole under the wall ahead.

Sovinia judged that the distance between them only allowed one strike.

Impatient, she played [Scorching Strike+2].

A faint white flame suddenly ignited on the Moonlight Blade.

Magical energy gathered on the blade, humming.

She slashed down.

3.5 times attack damage.

The tip only grazed the carrion dog’s rump, but the energy of [Scorching Strike] detonated.

The beast, lively just a second ago, had its rear half turned into a bloody firework.

Only the front half of its body, by inertia, plunged into the dog hole, innards smearing the opening.

Sovinia couldn’t stop her momentum.

She reached out and braced against the wall, stopping beside the dog’s lower body, panting heavily.

Battle over.

The Unpredictable Card Deck returned to the depths of her soul.

Three random copper cards floated before her eyes.

She glanced at [War Cry], [Blinding Glare], [Heavy Blade].

All garbage.

She chose none.

Sovinia felt something was off, but couldn’t recall what.

Something about the sword.

She looked down at the Moonlight Blade in her hand.

It was still bright, emitting a faint glow, as if bathed in moonlight.

There was still a notch, but it didn’t matter.

Magic weapons repaired themselves.

Wait… sword…

Scorching Strike…

She remembered that on the fourth turn, she should have had only 1 cost left, since she used [Double Strike] last turn.

So how could she use the 2-cost [Scorching Strike+2]?

Did she, in her desperation, comprehend [Scorching Strike+2] and make up that 1 cost?

That was normal.

In her past life, she learned techniques through cards.

If so, this elven female body had good talent and magic power.

That kidney-deficient feeling was also explained.

But Sovinia was too lazy to learn Scorching Strike.

Time was short, and even if she learned, it wouldn’t compare to the power she would regain after getting the male body’s head.

She caught her breath, turned, and left.

The carrion dog corpses everywhere stirred a sense of killing satisfaction in her heart.

But this satisfaction was noticeably lower than when she was a Heavenly King in her past life.

Soon, she felt something else—

Hunger.

Her stomach growled.

Her body felt weak and exhausted from the intense movement and the magic expended on Scorching Strike.

This sensation made her incredibly irritable and disgusted.

Something was missing…

She understood immediately.

In the past, after such a thrilling slaughter, the Four Gods’ Blessed Body would immediately fill her craving, soothe her fatigue, and satiate her soul with blood.

But now… after killing, only the hollow burning in her stomach and the “kidney-deficient” weakness of this body remained.

Sovinia cursed inwardly: “Frail elven female body!”

She turned and walked to the door, the Moonlight Blade resting on her shoulder.

She knocked with one hand and said, “It’s me.”

She was about to push the door, raising her chin.

‘Now, that stupid dog should know I’m not a weakling.’

Sovinia pushed the door open with force.

Wohard stood in the center of the room, fully armed.

His plate armor was battered, but all the buckles were fastened, all the straps tightened.

The Demonic Greatsword rested on his shoulder.

His face was still pale, but his whole posture was that of combat readiness.

More importantly, the pot of soup was still on the stove, steaming hot.

Not a single bite had been taken.

Sovinia frowned.

“What are you doing?” she asked.

“Why aren’t you eating?”

Wohard visibly relaxed when he saw her return unharmed.

He lowered the Demonic Greatsword and tried to scratch the back of his head.

But he was a stupid dog, forgetting he wore a helmet.

His fingernails scraped against the helmet, making a rustling sound.

He still didn’t realize it.

He said, “I… I was waiting for you.”

“Waiting for me?”

“Yeah, waiting to eat together.”

Wohard said quickly.

“Since you made the food, I should wait for you to come back before eating. That’s… more polite.”

Sovinia stared at him for a few seconds.

Wohard gave an awkward but polite smile, still scratching his helmet.

By Heaven Above, he still hadn’t realized he was scratching his helmet… And this excuse was ridiculously terrible.

Sovinia could guess the truth.

This stupid dog was preparing.

If she called out, or let out a scream, the stupid dog would immediately bark and rush out, even if his wounds burst open, even if his stamina was depleted.

Those ridiculous human “paladins” supposedly valued their oaths more than life, even without any magical contract binding them… This stupid dog was probably that kind of goods.

He had sworn to protect her, so he would really stake his life here.

Truly… stupidly laughable.

But Sovinia’s heart suddenly gave a hard thump.

A strange warmth rose from her chest, curious.

‘It must be from the intense exercise just now, right?’

She turned her face away, walked to the pot, ladled a bowl of soup, and handed it to Wohard.

“Eat.”

Her voice came out a bit stiff.

“Are you afraid it’s hot?”

Wohard took the bowl and immediately gulped it down.

He was starving, and too badly injured, urgently needing energy.

“Delicious…” he mumbled.

“Miss Sovinia, the soup you made is really too good…”

Sovinia watched his foolish expression.

The sense of control over the “dog food” feeding rights returned.

She casually replied with the most honest thought in her heart at that moment: “May the last meal before your death be from my hand.”

The moment the words left her mouth, she froze.

Damn!

What did I just say?

Doesn’t that tell him I plan to poison his food in the future and send him off myself?

I’m plotting to poison him within three days for a backstab, and that bottle of poison is still ready.

Her hand holding the spoon tightened involuntarily.

She looked up to observe Wohard’s reaction.

But Wohard’s reaction was completely beyond her expectations.

The young hero, upon hearing her words, first froze.

A suspicious red spread from the base of his neck to his ears.

The half of his face without burns flushed as red as the scarred half.

He lowered his head abruptly, avoiding Sovinia’s gaze, and frantically shoveled food into his mouth with the spoon, as if hiding something.

Sovinia thought: ‘He… why is he blushing? Suspicious! Did he detect my surveillance?’

Not being able to probe his thoughts made Sovinia very uncomfortable.

To figure things out, she forced an excuse.

“Your hand…” she said.

“Injured? Let me see.”

Without waiting for Wohard’s reaction, Sovinia, who was squatting, performed a quick slide step—the start of a slide tackle takedown.

She moved extremely fast, appearing in front of Wohard and grabbing his hand.

The moment their skin touched, Wohard’s thoughts flooded into her mind like a tide:

“She… what did she mean by that? Could it be what I’m thinking? That she wants me to eat my last meal cooked by her—does that mean she intends to be with me forever?”

“But I’m just a failed knight who let everyone down, surviving while my comrades sacrificed.”

I won’t live long.

I can’t respond to Sovinia’s expectations, can’t give her happiness…”

Sovinia nearly dropped the bowl.

‘What is this stupid dog thinking?! Only a virgin boy indeed.’

She immediately said, “I didn’t mean that!”

Wohard quickly waved his hand.

“No, no! I know! I know you didn’t mean that!”

“…………”

“It’s just… I’m a little flattered.”

Wohard said.

“Meeting Miss Sovinia in such a dark, cruel, and hopeless place is my good fortune.”

Sovinia thought: ‘In two days, that fortune will turn into your misfortune.’

“Shut up.”

Sovinia cut him off.

“Hurry up and eat. I’ll have to stitch your wounds later.”

“Okay, okay.”

The two finished their meal in silence.

The atmosphere was indescribably delicate.

After the meal, Sovinia felt a strange burning sensation in her long ears.

She instinctively touched her pointed elf ear.

It was scorching hot.

She immediately chalked it up to accelerated blood circulation after the battle—yes, it must be from the intense “exercise” just now.