Millie Not Maid Anymore

"You are tough," Nero spat, wiping a thick smear of crimson blood from his jaw. He lunged forward, his fists coated in dense, vibrating mana as he shattered a colossal shadow dragon into black mist.

Nero kept flying out of the tower and rushing back in. Yet, the army of darkness never ended.

The Living Light Hero, Jean, was far more formidable than Nero had anticipated. His authority lay within an infinite army of shadows, constructed from the slaughtered corpses of the continent's strongest creatures.

Undead trolls, fallen elves, dead unicorns, and blighted dragons rose from the shadows in endless waves.

Nero punched, kicked, and tore through them all, but the darkness simply re-formed, lunging headfirst to grab him.

I definitely remember blasting this troll, How come he back! fifth time Nero was frustrated.

High above the battlefield floor, sat safely on the highest peak of the Palace Citadel, Jean sat lazily in an ornate chair.

He drank a glowing, sparkling mana potion, a smirk playing on his lips as his servants rushed to line up fresh vials.

"I am not a brainless brute like Garo or proud mage like Red," Jean gloated into the open sky, his fingers weaving complex dark arrays.

"I use strategy. That is how I got my levels. I conquered the abyss alone."

Down in the suffocating middle layers of the tower, the shadow legions grew more dense, their strength evolving by the second.

For the first time since acquiring the body, Nero felt physical exhaustion sinking into his muscles.

Far below the palace floors, the city blocks continued to crack.

Inside a trembling stone residence, Millie frantically shoved essential rations and healing vials into a leather traveling pack.

"Do I really need to go?" her grandmother asked, her voice weak from years of chronic illness.

She leaned heavily against the wooden bedpost. "Just leave me behind, child. I am nothing but dead weight."

"Shut up!" Millie snapped, throwing the heavy strap over her shoulder.

"You have absolutely no idea of what I have endured to keep you breathing. You are not dying before you pay back every single copper of that debt. Now, move!"

The grandmother let out a tired chuckle. "Fine, fine. I will go."

They stepped out into the chaotic open air, dodging falling stones as the sky turned a dark, unnatural violet.

Weaving through the panicked, evacuating crowd, Millie suddenly collided with a familiar face.

It was Lily! The flowergirl recognized the maid instantly, even without her usual uniform.

But there was no time for formalities! The grandmother’s breathing was turning ragged, her strength rapidly tanking under the heavy mana smog.

Lily quickly channeled a recovery spell, but the green light fizzled against the old woman’s chest. The illness was too deeply rooted for basic restoration magic.

"Luck!" Lily shouted, "Find the White Demon's current whereabouts! Kara, keep your guard and deflect any falling debris from above!"

Kara aggressively nodded, smashing a falling stone pillar to dust with a single swipe of her armored fist.

Millie clutched her grandmother, her eyes wide with terror at the prospect of losing her only blood relative.

"We must send her to the sanctuary of the elven forest immediately," Luck suggested, pointing toward their colossal mounts.

"But I cannot leave my brother's body to that monster!" Lily argued, her hands shaking as she held her staff.

"You do not have to," Luck countered firmly, stepping forward.

"I will be here. Me and Kara, we don't know anything about healing. It has to be you! Hand me that shell thingy. I will continue to send the information to the Grand Mage from inside the castle."

Lily gave a hesitant nod. She climbed onto the back of the massive green Forest Deerie, securing the frail old woman in front of her.

"Take care of her!" Millie yelled, her voice cracking.

*WOOSH*

With a sudden leap, the majestic beast bolted, vaporizing into a green streak of light as it floated past the city gates.

Millie turned back to face the vanguard fighters, her chest thumping.

"So, what can I do to help?"

Luck sighed, tightening his grip on his broadsword hilt.

"Not much, honestly. It is not like you would know how to get inside the Royal Castle while avoiding all the guards."

A confident smile crossed Millie's face as she adjusted her traveling pack.

"Well... you won't believe this."