Mysterious Power

Medrauta could see that it was going to be an uphill battle even as the enemy forces came into sight. The mountain pass the witchspawn were garrisoned within was narrow and restrictive, a choice that normally would have been advantageous for the human army due to their defensive tactics. However, the silver-haired knight wasn’t deceived even for a second.

From a distance, the behemoth didn’t look too large, but the fact that it was visible at all from such a great distance already hinted at its true size. With massive twin blades in its hands, the behemoth would be able to cover the entire width of the mountain pass in single swipes, preventing the human army from advancing at all.

Of course, the colossal monster would also be cleaving through its own allies, but that wouldn’t be a problem given their regenerative abilities. It was a strategy that only someone with experience commanding or fighting such monsters would be able to devise, and should the commander truly be the Walpurgisknight, then that only led to more questions about his true identity.

However, the witchspawn commander’s tactical skill wasn’t displayed in their choice of battlefield, but rather in the careful preparation of its surroundings instead. While the human army had been kept busy by incessant waves of monsters during the previous day, the commander had busied his forces with the arduous task of sweeping the surroundings clean of foliage and shrubbery such that there was now a clear view in all directions from the mountain pass.

Of course, this field of vision went both ways, but it meant that the advancing human army had nowhere to hide their camp. In response, they were now being forced to construct palisades and blockades out of what little wood they could scrounge up from stray logs and whatever they managed to transport from the forest several miles back. Worse, they were forced to construct their defenses while wave after wave of the witchspawn menace pounded into their hastily formed shield wall.

The very moment she was freed from her duties in the rear lines, Medrauta leapt into the fray without hesitation. Due to the disparity of physical strength between herself and Eris, the command group had chosen to enlist Medrauta’s aid in expedient moving the heavy supplies and construction materials that the support troops had managed to scrounge up. With only Eris and the five senior knights supporting the shield wall, the soldiers were hard pressed to hold the line, but their buckling formation somehow managed to hold until Medrauta finally joined the defense.

The silver-haired knight plowed into the enemy line, her sword flashing wildly as she decimated an entire group of misshapen monsters even as the silver light of Viviane’s Crest wreathed itself around her like a veritable aurora.

What the hell did she learn...? Medrauta’s movements felt impossibly light as she darted through the battlefield, cutting down foe after foe. Viviane’s Crest had granted her a surge of strength that was completely incomparable to before, the overflowing strength coursing through her body so great that it felt as though it might break her body.

Medrauta raised her sword as droves of witchspawn charged toward her, feeling the raw power flow from the core of her body to her arm and finally to her sword. Though she understood nothing about the newfound power vested within Viviane’s Crest, Medrauta knew she had to release some of this seemingly boundless strength in her body somehow before it tore through the too-small vessel of herself.

With a roar, Medrauta swung her sword with all her might. Although she had expected to cleave through the attacking witchspawn effortlessly, there had been absolutely no way she could have predicted the true immensity of carnage that resulted from her attack.

The soldiers in the shield wall behind Medrauta stood still for a moment, gawking at the sheer magnitude of destruction her single swing had wrought. Even Eris and the senior knights stared with their mouths agape, barely able to comprehend what had just happened. Despite their obvious surprise, the one who had been shocked the most was Medrauta.

She stared at her own sword, her eyes fixed upon its glistening silver blade blemished only by a few splotches of viscous black liquid that soon evaporated into the ambient mana in the air. A faint aura of silver light still glowed around its edges, the only proof that remained of the devastating attack she’d just unleashed against the charging witchspawn force.

“Did I... Did I just do that?” Medrauta continued staring at her sword in disbelief despite the waves of witchspawn still advancing toward their position. She paid them no mind. They were too far to make a difference within the next couple seconds, and she was still utterly mystified by the attack she’d just managed to release.

Though her original intention was to release the almost painful amount of power granted by Viviane’s Crest, it had manifested as an immense wave of silver light that tore through the entire enemy front line, vaporizing their obsidian forms within the span of a single second and destroying any cohesion they’d managed to build up.

As she stood in awe of her own strength, the overflowing power she had just expended was quickly rushing back into her body once more. Medrauta’s hand trembled as she finally wrenched her gaze away from her sword, looking upon the enemy forces at last. They were moments away from crashing into her position, but there wasn’t a single sliver of worry in her heart anymore.

Yes, just like before... Medrauta raised her arm again, recalling the feeling she’d experienced just seconds ago. The boundless strength within her rose almost violently as it responded to her call, eagerly sequestering itself in the steel of her blade and surrounding it with a blindingly bright aura of silver.

Now consciously aware of what she could do, the clear picture in Medrauta’s head focused the vast well of energy within her body into a deadly wave that she unleashed before the incoming witchspawn could complete their charge.

The first explosion of silver energy she’d unleashed was fierce and devastating, but it was also wild and uncontrolled. Had the shield wall been closer to Medrauta, there was no doubt she would’ve accidentally struck a few of her own allies. However, this second wave of light she fired forth was concentrated and deadly, shaped perfectly in her mind’s eye to deliver the maximum amount of damage possible.

Neither mana nor Chivalric arts, the crescent formed by Medrauta’s attack sliced through space and tore through the charging witchspawn, destroying them utterly before they even had a chance to attack. Again, the soldiers in the shield wall couldn’t help but stare in amazement as Medrauta single-handedly annihilated the entire enemy force.

For the first time since they’d started fighting the witchspawn, the battlefield was clear and devoid of their presence. The only witchspawn left within their vicinity were those clustered in the mountain pass far from their current position.

Medrauta turned to look at the soldiers, her eyes naturally drifting to catch Viviane’s. Though her lady’s glowing smile was brimming with pride, the silver-haired knight felt as though something was wrong. A frown touched her brow as she saw Viviane’s knees tremble ever so slightly. It was minor, but more than enough to galvanize her into action.

Medrauta shot forward, not a second too late as she leapt up and sailed over the shield wall to land next to Viviane on her raised platform. The moment Medrauta’s feet touched the ground, Viviane collapsed into her knight’s arms.

During both the first and second waves of silver energy that Medrauta had fired, Viviane had clung desperately onto every last vestige of strength she possessed, even drawing slightly into the reserves of ki she’d built up over the past few days. Though fuzzy, the memory of Emrys cautioning her against using her newfound abilities too frequently now replayed in her head.

She hadn’t the slightest clue why her memories of the Lake were so difficult to recall, especially when she could visualize the place just fine, but that was the least of her problems now. Her vision was quickly slipping away along with her consciousness.

The hope and joy Medrauta felt mere moments ago at the sight of the decimated witchspawn army now vanished like embers in the rain. She cradled Viviane tightly in her arms, shaking her lady with an almost desperate fervor.

“Vivi! Viviane!” Medrauta shouted. “Y-You’re okay, right? Please tell me you’re alright!”

Viviane tried to part her lips and respond, but it seemed her body refused to execute even the most minute of movements in her current state. Despite her fading awareness, she could hear the sound of clicking footsteps against the wooden platform, a telltale sign that Scarlet had arrived. She wished she could stay awake for longer, perhaps even muster enough willpower to utter a brief response, but the warm darkness embracing her was quickly spiriting her away. In another moment, she would enter the world of dreams.

“Dame Medrauta! What has happened to Lady Viviane!?” Scarlet’s voice was unusually shrill, her panic evident.

“I... I don’t know! Her breathing seems stable, and her heartbeat’s fine, but she’s not responding!”

Scarlet allowed a sigh of relief to escape her lips upon hearing that Viviane’s physical condition was in no immediate danger. Despite that, there was still a worm of worry in her heart. “...In that case, she must have expended a great deal of mana to fuel that attack of yours. If it was simply an overexpenditure of mana, then she should be fine after a brief rest.”

“...That may be so, but I’m not taking any chances, Lady Scarlet.” Medrauta rose to her feet, Viviane still in her arms. Thanks to the shield wall and the annihilation of the enemy forces, the rear line had managed to successfully set up camp and entrench their position despite the lack of natural cover in their surroundings.

Medrauta headed toward the medical officers’ tent, her expression grim as she kept a close eye on Viviane’s condition. Scarlet followed in suit, peering at Viviane’s unconscious expression. Although the blonde noblewoman’s face looked almost peaceful, Scarlet couldn’t help but wonder if her previous assessment had been wrong.

After all, Viviane’s flow of mana seemed perfectly normal to her.