I Saw This in a Show

"A truce?"

I was beyond skeptical and my suspicion was mirrored in my crystalline golem as it stalked around the two men.

"A truce. We will leave the demon village in peace so long as they do not interfere in our mining efforts."

"No."

Absolutely not. Did he think I was stupid? If he knew where the cavern was, that meant he knew I collapsed the tunnels. And why should I accept the terms of the losing party?

"Here's my counter offer: you go back to the empire and bring the rest of your merry band of Sarah worshipers. Once I kill them, you can do whatever you want."

"Did you really think you could reason with her, Gredig? Look at her. She's not even human anymore."

I followed Louis's gaze and realized my arms were still shapeshifted. I released the skill. Then I let my golem have another go at him.

Unlike the first attempt, his guard was up and he had no trouble guarding against the feisty creature. He had a bit more trouble when I joined in.

"Enough of this. Hold them off while I prepare my spell."

The swordsman grunted under the weight of my downward strike. He was too distracted to answer properly and had forgotten one of the key actors: Yahime.

Like a spirit in the night she appeared behind him, swinging at him with her black blade. My heart leapt in my chest as I watched her sword arc towards his neck only to sink when he ducked beneath it. He was learning our rhythm and even managed to grab my golem and launch it at Yahime to drive her back.

Now that he's learned its attack pattern, it's useless. He's not the youngest swordmaster in the history of the empire for no reason. But why hasn't he used any spirit magic?

"Is that all you've got?" Louis asked, panting. Sweat dripped from his brow and I could see his legs shaking from exhaustion. "I can do this all day."

"Then let's keep going."

I'd been trying to avoid it, but I was tired of dragging things out. I didn't know what spell Richard was cooking up and I didn't want to find out. The grimoire he had was too dangerous, too unknown.

"I'm going to use [DUSK RAGE], Yahime, so we need to finish this quickly. I'll go straight for Richard again while you keep Louis off of me."

Without waiting for confirmation I activated my skill. A sickening amount of power flowed through me and I realized the power boost from [DUSK RAGE] was stacking with the benefits of my enchanted naginata. Just standing made me feel like I was being quartered by horses.

One strike. I doubt my body can handle more than that. If Louis doesn't get in the way Richard won't have any way to stop me. He could barely stop my golem.

The ground cracked under my foot when I launched myself at Richard. I held my naginata in front of me like a spear to impale the bastard and I planned to cut him down with a strike if he managed to evade me. Louis tried to block my path, but Yahime did as ordered and knocked the arrogant boy away. I'd done it. It was finally over.

Said the woman who counted her chickens before they had time to hatch. I never expected him to summon those.

Dozens of taut skinned canines from a person's nightmares howled in the setting sun. They poured from a portal behind Richard, gnashing and barking like they did every non-Aurelie dream. I wondered if the world of Royal Hearts had therapists. I doubted it. Everyone I met was far too zany a character for that. If they did exist, they needed better marketing.

I didn't waste my moment and spun in the air like a top. A pack of unsuspecting Seele fell to the ground in minced pieces and I was sure I'd manage to hit Richard as well. Somehow he'd teleported out of the way.

And I used the word teleported literally. There was no way for the man, who had been sitting seiza style, to appear five meters away. His proficiency with the grimoire was increasing and he'd even reapplied Louis's buff when I wasn't paying attention.

0:24

The number continued to deplete as I raced to find a solution. Every time I though I was close I found myself further away until I hurled my naginata at Richard in frustration. To my surprise, the weapon grazed his shoulder.

"Gah!" He grabbed his shoulder. "You retched slum sow!"

"You male leads have really dropped the formalities, haven't you?"

He seemed confused at the term male lead. I didn't blame him. It wasn't like they had dating simulators.

"Just tell me your little summoning trick is the best you can do. Otherwise I'll be presenting your head to the Stonewood villagers."

Not really! My first kills were still lingering in the back of my mind making me wonder if there was a part of me holding back when I couldn't afford to. The violent nature of the world had already shown me my modern sensibilities would never let me be the arbiter of justice, the villainess I wanted to be.

There's always that. I'd rather not, though. I know a true villainess wouldn't hesitate and it would make my life easier, but no one. Ah. There's those morals again. I'd probably still be alive playing Royal Hearts in Japan if I'd abandoned them like everyone around me.

"You have no idea the storm that is coming for you, Aurelie. Or should I call you Kyomi? Isn't that what your pet calls you?"

Hearing him speak my name made my blood run colder than the Purga snow. He didn't get to call me by my given name. As far as he was concerned, I was Aurelie Scelerat. I clearly needed to remind him.

"Heart of the world, answer my call. Rise from your depths to your glory and crush all those who would oppose me…" I continued the lengthy incantation under my breath while I continued my melee assault. It was cool and dramatic to yell the spells, just not practical. Hanabi laughed at me for using incantations at all implying they were purely cosmetic. Did speaking them loud enough for others to hear really do anything?

"...I am the anvil of blood and iron that will forge your sword! [GENESIS]!"

Unlike [ROCK PRISON], [GENESIS] formed instantaneously in the sky above us. It eclipsed the setting sun and soon gravity did the rest.

"Are you trying to kill us all?!" Richard's panic seeped into every word which drew Louis's attention. Yahime took advantage, landing a solid strike on his torso that cut through his chest plate and carved a horizontal gash across his chest. To his credit he remained focused on the encroaching death above him and he sheathed his sword.

He's about to use his ultimate, [SPIRIT BLADE]! It's one of the best attacks in the game. I've been waiting to see it in real life.

It was the classic anime swordsman trope. A quick draw and sheathing of the sword meant to be faster than the eye could follow.

Not for me.

[PERFECT SIGHT] let me see every swing and every arc of energy released. There were just too many to count. Too many to even be possible. It was a cheat skill through and through, one that I doubted any other person could achieve with a main character buff.

It cut my giant stone to pieces and I wished I'd been able to summon another above it so I could say, "What will you do about the second one, Louis?". Even I had my otaku moments. Too bad my time was up.

"Only a few more seconds left," I groaned, retreating to a safe distance. I wasn't ready for the pain I was about to endure. "It's up to you for now, Yahime."

She sprang into action, covering me from the falling debris while Louis did the same for Richard. The Seele Richard had summoned weren't as lucky and most were crushed beneath the rocks.

Then it hit. The soul rending pain that would have made me bash against a wall until I died if I weren't paralyzed. Wait. Where did it go?

ALERT

[VIDE'S EDICT] HAS REDUCED THE RECOIL EFFECTS OF [DUSK RAGE].

"THANK ME LATER."

I smirked and sighed in relief.

"I will. I really will."