“At this point, why are you still acting like a good person? If you have the guts, then hurry up and attack!”
“I don’t understand…”
Looking at Field, who could no longer be reasoned with, Liyakade felt nothing but sorrow and confusion.
What exactly happened to bring us to this point?
But for now, Liyakade did not want to fight the three of them.
Liyakade spread her wings.
Her Pitch-black Demon Wings flapped, stirring up a strong gust of wind.
At the same time, Liyakade rose into the air.
She wanted to leave this place.
Regardless of what the others thought, Liyakade did not want to raise a hand against them.
“Are you trying to run?!”
The Red Flame Giant Sword swung down toward Liyakade’s head once more, but Liyakade flapped her wings.
Crimson Blood Blades surged out like a torrent, cutting the Red Flame Giant Sword off in the middle.
Field could not stop her.
“I’m sorry… I don’t understand what you’re saying, and I don’t want to fight you…”
Liyakade looked down at the three of them standing in the sea of fire, her heart filled only with grief.
“Liyakade…”
Just then, Alice, who had been standing in the middle of the group, finally spoke.
She slowly lifted her head, and only then did Liyakade realize that Alice’s entire face was covered in Golden Radiance.
Her features were completely obscured.
Alice softly called out Liyakade’s name, her tone filled with both affection and regret.
That call sounded like both a helpless lament and a majestic chant.
The moment Liyakade heard the voice, a sharp sense of crisis bloomed in her heart.
Liyakade felt as if her pair of demon wings had been filled with lead.
Even though she exerted all her strength, she could barely move them.
She was forced to use the Wind Element to stabilize her body so she could hover in midair.
In the next second, dozens of beams of light descended from the heavens, firmly sealing off the sky like a cross, as if intended to nail Liyakade to that spot.
“…Holy Light Prison?”
Now, it was not just her wings that felt heavier; Liyakade felt as if her entire body weight had more than doubled.
The dense Light Element made it difficult for Liyakade to breathe, causing her to gasp for air.
However, the Holy Light Prison was not the only thing falling from the sky.
After Liyakade was forced to a halt, countless needles of golden light poured down like a torrential rain.
Liyakade, who had barely been able to stay afloat, was instantly shot down by the relentless Rain of Light.
“Hiss…”
Sizzle, sizzle.
Liyakade clenched her teeth tightly.
As the Rain of Light fell, she no longer cared about falling.
To protect herself, Liyakade could only shield her front with her wings.
She crashed heavily onto the ground, but the pain of the fall was far less than the agony in her wings.
When the Rain of Light hit Liyakade’s wings, it was like touching sulfuric acid.
Sizzling sounds of corrosion immediately erupted from her skin.
Although it failed to pierce through her wings, it caused significant damage.
“Liyakade… why, in the end?”
After successfully shooting Liyakade down, Alice continued her questioning.
Her tone was not as aggressive as Field’s; it was more one of confusion.
However, Liyakade did not lower her guard or prepare to communicate just because Alice’s attitude was slightly better.
The dense Light Element had already made it impossible for Liyakade to maintain her sanity.
“What… ha, why what?! I should be the one asking you three that!”
Liyakade’s eyes had turned scarlet at some point.
She propped herself up with one hand, slowly straightening her body.
Her muscles were taut, and her gaze was fixed solely on Alice.
The sensation of the Rain of Light hitting her wings was like ten thousand ants eating her heart, a feeling Liyakade would likely never forget.
“It hurts… why? Why use the Light Element to attack me! I hate it… it hurts so much. I hate the Light Element the most!”
Hearing Liyakade’s resentful words, Alice actually took a half-step back.
Under the intense stimulation of the Light Element, Liyakade could no longer remain rational.
A bloody shadow flashed, and Liyakade was already in front of Alice.
However, Liyakade did not notice that Field and Sistem had already vanished.
“I hate you!”
A golden Light Shield expanded in front of Alice.
Pitch-black Claws collided with the Light Shield, and Liyakade felt a searing pain in her claws.
Just as she tried to retract them, the Light Shield shattered with a bang.
Liyakade’s claws, driven by momentum, actually pierced into Alice’s abdomen.
“Wh-what!”
The warm sensation in her hand was like a bucket of cold water, snapping Liyakade out of her frenzy.
Looking at the scene before her, Liyakade felt her brain go numb.
“You… why? How could you not block my attack?!”
Based on the several exchanges they just had, Alice definitely had the power to crush Liyakade in a duel.
Even if Liyakade used her full strength, she shouldn’t have been able to break Alice’s Light Shield.
And yet… that indestructible shield had shattered so easily…
“I’m sorry…”
“What? What are you saying?”
Liyakade hurried to pull Alice into her arms.
When she heard Alice’s whispered words, Liyakade was struck by shock.
“I didn’t know the Light Element would cause you so much pain… I shouldn’t have used it to attack you… Does it hurt?”
“Wh-what are you talking about! Why is it that I haven’t been able to understand a single word you’ve said from the start?!”
Liyakade only then realized that the Holy Light on Alice’s face had faded.
It turned out she hadn’t changed at all.
She hadn’t grown taller or become more mature.
She still had the same face from Liyakade’s memories.
However, the Alice in her arms gave no further response.
“Alice!!!”
Liyakade screamed Alice’s name.
Even though the skin touching Alice’s body felt a searing pain, Liyakade still used all her strength to hold her tight.
“Achoo!”
A loud sneeze echoed inside the Carriage where Liyakade and the others were riding.
Liyakade’s vision was a bit blurry, and she soon realized that Alice and Field were sitting beside her, looking at her with worried expressions.
She was currently gripping Alice’s arm tightly.
“Li-Liyakade? What’s wrong? Did you have a nightmare?”
Alice looked at Liyakade with concern, using her other hand to grab a tissue and wipe Liyakade’s nose.
“You’re holding me so tightly.”
“You look so pale. Did something happen?”
Field also expressed her concern over Liyakade’s state.
“No, it’s nothing. It was just a nightmare about the past.”
Liyakade was dazed for a second after waking up, but she quickly remembered.
They were currently in a Carriage, on their way to Alice’s hometown.
She had simply fallen asleep in the Carriage, and all those terrifying events were just a dream.
But…
Liyakade did not want to tell the two people beside her about that dream.
“It’s just an ordinary nightmare. Don’t worry about me.”
Liyakade quietly released Alice’s arm and forced a smile for the two of them before standing up from her seat.
“It’s stuffy sitting in the middle. I want to change places. Field, can I take the window seat on your side? I want to get some fresh air.”