Liyami saw Kolin’s attack strike a suddenly manifested Magic Barrier, causing her to frown slightly; she had not expected the opponent to still have the strength to defend themselves.
However, following Kolin’s sudden turn and the sound of footsteps slowly approaching, Liyami also discovered the root of the problem.
The member of the Demon Race that Kolin had knocked into the corner in Shadow Form was not the Half-Faced Maiden they had initially assumed, but a male demon with two horns on his head and a gruesome, bleeding sword wound across his face that made his already unattractive features look even more hideous.
Though she did not know who this guy was or his relationship to the half-faced girl, she was certain he was involved in the island’s Missing Persons Incident. After all, the magic he used was identical to the Shadow Dark Art Laine had described, confirming he was an accomplice of the half-faced girl and the true user of that eerie shadow figure.
If he was here, then the half-faced girl must be…
Liyami slowly turned her head toward the cave entrance where the footsteps originated, as a blurry silhouette was gradually appearing there.
As the footsteps ceased, a beautiful figure appeared at the entrance. In terms of attire, physique, and face, she was undoubtedly a young, beautiful human girl in her prime. If not for the left side of her face being pitch black with black mist flickering over it occasionally, Liyami would have almost mistaken her for one of the young ladies on the missing persons list.
Once Liyami saw the girl clearly, she couldn’t help but think: ‘As I thought.’
The figure appearing from the cave was the member of the Demon Race with the appearance of the Half-Faced Maiden they had been searching for! Her clothing and appearance perfectly matched Laine’s previous description!
Furthermore, Liyami felt an incredibly strong pressure emanating from the girl, a pressure even greater than that of the male demon currently collapsed on the ground!
This kind of intense pressure was extremely rare in Liyami’s experience, and the person who matched this level of power most closely was…
Liyami glanced slightly at Kolin, whose eyes were fixed entirely on the Half-Faced Maiden, though he spoke the words Liyami wanted to hear.
“…That person is on par with me.”
Seeing her suspicion confirmed, Liyami did not feel happy at all. It simply meant that their next opponent would be extremely difficult to handle. The others felt the same way as Liyami, and they stood at the ready, watching the girl standing at the cave entrance with deep vigilance.
At the entrance, the Half-Faced Maiden surveyed the room, her gaze resting briefly on the male demon panting loudly in the corner before shifting toward the group—or rather, toward Kolin.
Then, to the surprise of everyone except Kolin, she… smiled?
Her laughter was faint, merely a light chuckle. Although they didn’t know why she was laughing, they didn’t let their guards down.
The Half-Faced Maiden’s chuckle didn’t last long before she stopped abruptly, just as inexplicably as she had started.
That wasn’t all; she opened her mouth as if to say something. But this time, the group did not give her the chance. An arrow emitting a faint green light streaked toward her, sticking firmly into the Magic Barrier that had suddenly appeared around her; though it pierced the barrier, it didn’t pass all the way through, remaining lodged in place.
This sight displeased the Half-Faced Maiden, and she looked as if she wanted to remark on it, but no one present cared about her attitude.
A pillar of light descended from above, striking the barrier surrounding her; while blocked, the barrier became slightly more transparent due to the impact.
Immediately after, several arrows with faint green-glowing arrowheads followed. Unlike the previous arrow, they didn’t stop after piercing a hole in the barrier; they continued with enough momentum to keep moving. Although their speed and power were greatly reduced, the Half-Faced Maiden dodged them with ease.
Just then, the shadow behind the girl suddenly moved, and two daggers glowing with a dangerous purple light lunged from it toward her throat. Liyami had seized the opening created by Lavinia’s arrows and bypassed the barrier!
Although the ambush was sudden and Liyami had not had time to prepare, she instinctively coordinated with her companions’ attack, putting all her current power into a strike aimed at the girl’s vitals.
Unfortunately, the girl seemed to have anticipated this. Her hands crossed in front of her chest, and as she flicked them outward, an irresistible force erupted from her body, not only interrupting Liyami’s ambush but blowing her and the incoming arrows away.
Liyami only steadied herself after rolling across the ground several times, staring solemnly at the girl, whose every movement remained exceptionally composed. It seemed that nothing could cause the slightest ripple in her emotions. She continued to look at Liyami and the others with that same inexplicable smile.
But soon, the smile vanished from her face. She quickly averted her eyes from Liyami to the figure holding a brilliant light. From that ever-intensifying glow, she finally sensed a threat she couldn’t afford to ignore.
The composed smile was gone, and she stared intensely at the charging Kolin, her surrounding barrier growing thicker as she began to chant incantations, seemingly preparing some powerful magic.
Kolin naturally wouldn’t just wait. Seeing that the others had been repelled, he stopped charging and unleashed the full force of the sword’s light toward his opponent.
The blade of light, composed of brilliant radiance, reached the girl in an instant, cutting through her surrounding barrier without the slightest resistance.
Fortunately, the girl had finished her chant. Just as the blade light was inches away, she flashed, instantly vanishing from the spot. The light passed through the space she had occupied and struck the cave entrance behind her. After a violent shaking, the entrance where she had emerged was buried in rubble; fortunately, the cave structure was sturdy and Kolin hadn’t had time to charge to his maximum level, or the entire cave might have collapsed.
Looking at the collapsed entrance and then at the girl who had suddenly appeared in another direction, Kolin said solemnly: “High-speed Chant Short-distance Teleportation, huh… It seems your magical attainments are quite high. You’re not just an ordinary Demon Executive, are you?”
Hearing Kolin, the girl, who had been displeased by the sudden attack, immediately became haughty. She lifted her chin, looking very proud as she said: “That goes without saying! I am someone who once almost became one of the Four Heavenly Kings! Don’t you dare confuse me with that pathetic wretch kneeling on the ground!”
The person the Half-Faced Maiden referred to was naturally the male demon Kolin had beaten to his knees; he had clearly heard her words but dared not react in any way. Seeing this, it was highly likely that the Half-Faced Maiden’s claim was true!
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