Chapter 950: Eiji's Rematch with the Phantom Orchid
Two generals born of the Fang Clan were locked in a brutal battle, tearing at each other's flesh as if intent on ripping it apart. Blood splattered recklessly across the sky, yet neither showed the slightest trace of fear in their eyes—savage, frenzied combat was the core belief of the Fang Clan!
...
"Why has war broken out so suddenly?"
Within the city, as the besieging forces continued their relentless long-range assaults, streets and houses were engulfed in flames. In that moment, both fairies and humans were driven by the same instinct for survival—screaming, roaring, and hiding in desperation.
Mash had just emerged from the castle, only to be confronted by this abrupt chaos.
"It's not sudden. War was bound to come to Sheffield sooner or later—it just happens to be now," Habenyan remarked with surprising calm, having long anticipated such an event.
"What should we do next?"
Mash looked at Habenyan, her mind in disarray.
"From the sounds at the city gates, the battle is still raging. The Queen's army hasn't broken through yet. For now, let's calm the civilians and organize rescue efforts for the injured!"
In that moment, Habenyan's composure struck Mash as incredibly reliable.
"I understand!"
Mash sprang into action, rescuing fairies trapped under fallen beams and humans caught in the inferno.
"Everyone, please stay calm! Mr. Bogart is still fighting—we haven't lost yet!"
"The Child of Prophecy! It's the Child of Prophecy!"
The panicked fairies and humans seemed to find a pillar of strength, gathering around her like a lifeline.
"The Child of Prophecy…"
Mash froze for a moment. For some reason, faced with the hopeful gazes of the crowd in such a scene, she felt a sense of déjà vu.
It was as if she had always borne everyone's expectations in the past, compelled to press forward relentlessly.
A memory seemed to stir at the edge of her mind.
But at the critical moment, she hesitated, suppressing that feeling once more.
"Bearing everyone's expectations is no easy task, Mash."
Habenyan watched Mash's back, letting out a complex sigh in her heart.
Suddenly, her eyes widened.
"Danger, Mash!"
A panicked shriek pierced her eardrums like an electric current.
Reacting with astonishing crisis instinct, Mash instantly raised her shield.
"Boom—!"
Amid a sharp, piercing screech, a blue streak of light descended from the sky!
Moving at supersonic speed, it carried an incredibly sharp thrust, crashing into Mash's shield like a meteor!
"Ugh!"
A tremendous force transmitted through the shield, numbing half her body. Mash grunted and was forced back over ten meters before barely regaining her footing.
"What terrifying thrust power!"
"Oh? To block my assault even when caught off guard? It seems you're quite skilled at defense!"
The blue fairy knight appeared before Mash with a relaxed, confident smile.
"Who are you?"
Mash immediately went on high alert.
Though the fairy knight wore a mask, obscuring her true features, and her petite frame held no intimidation, Mash could sense an overwhelmingly intense threat emanating from her.
This person's strength might even surpass Lord Boggart!
"That's...!"
"Fairy Knight Lancelot! The most beautiful, most powerful, and most dangerous fairy in Britain!"
"We're doomed! We're completely doomed!"
A wave of terror erupted from the crowd behind.
Both fairies and humans, upon seeing that figure, seemed to have abandoned all thought of resistance, their faces filled with nothing but despair!
"Lan...celot?"
Mash was momentarily stunned.
Suddenly, a surge of energy welled up inside her, as if urging her to pummel the opponent.
"In that case, you must be the Child of Prophecy? Hmm, you actually feel similar to us Fairy Knights, and you're quite a cute girl... Prepare yourself, for I shall slice you into eighteen pieces in an instant! The excruciating pain will send you straight to heaven!"
Fairy Lancelot spouted some bizarre words as sharp rapiers extended from her arms once more.
Mana surged forth, and she levitated effortlessly without any wind, accelerating to supersonic speed in an instant. She traced a sky-blue trajectory like a shooting star across the sky before mercilessly diving down!
"Ugh...!"
Mash's expression turned troubled.
Although something within her body seemed to say, "Use my power as you wish," her reason still told her she was no match for that Fairy Knight!
But behind her were countless civilians!
If she didn't stand her ground, everyone would die!
Holding onto this thought, Mash felt somewhat dejected but stood even more resolutely at the forefront, raising her shield with all her might to meet the head-on assault!
"Mash...!"
Habetrot's expression shifted several times as she lifted her spinning wheel.
"..."
In the distance, a white wolf of unknown ownership crouched low upon witnessing the scene.
The blue light dove downward!
Mash braced herself for the heavy impact!
But at that moment.
Just as the two were about to collide.
"Bzzz—!"
A sharp humming sound pierced both their ears.
A golden streak of light flickered into their vision, then shot across the sky like an arrow released from its bow!
"What?!"
Fairy Lancelot was startled.
The golden streak's speed was no less than her own rapid dash, and its target was clear—it was heading straight for her!
"Clang!"
Caught off guard, Fairy Lancelot could only cross her arms to block. The powerful impact sent her flying backward!
"Who's there?!"
The fairy Lancelot rose from the shattered building and shouted angrily toward the direction of the golden streak.
In the sky.
No one answered her. Only a sharp golden light-sword hovered mid-air.
Upon hearing her roar, the light-sword suddenly turned its tip and shot toward her like a streak of light!
"Vermin hiding in the shadows!"
The fairy Lancelot was furious.
But what shocked her even more was that the light-sword's speed was in no way inferior to hers!
Moreover, its movements were more fluid, and the smoothness of its turns deeply impressed her.
"When did such a powerful individual appear in this Fairy Kingdom?!"
The fairy Lancelot had no choice. She wanted to escape, but the opponent clung to her like a persistent shadow.
Using nothing but a simple light-sword, the opponent had entangled her here!
"Mash, quickly, take everyone and flee!"
At Habertrot's urging, Mash, snapping back to reality, quickly led the civilians away from the clearing.
"Though I don't know who you are, thank you for your assistance!"
"Haa..."
Hidden in the shadows, Eiji let out a slow breath.
Having guessed that the Fairy Knight's target was likely the Child of Prophecy, Eiji had hidden near Mash from the very beginning. Unable to reveal himself openly, he had instead attacked the enemy with his magical light, "Aurora Spark."