Chương 121: The God Among Ants

Ethan and Leah were training, exchanging quick and precise strikes. After a few minutes, they both stopped and sheathed their swords.

"You're not bad at all", Ethan said.

"Your technique isn't refined, but it's effective. It reminds me a lot of Felicity's style".

"It would be strange if it didn't", Felicity replied, leaning against a tree.

"I trained her".

"Now it all makes sense", Ethan commented. Leah looked at Felicity with obvious pride.

"She's an extraordinary swordswoman. She can control two swords at an incredible speed. In all our training sessions, I've never managed to hit her even once. And keep in mind, she can barely see".

"You can barely see?" Ethan asked, surprised. Felicity nodded.

"My vision is blurry both up close and at a distance. It's even worse in the dark", she replied naturally.

"But I consider it an advantage. I've sharpened my other senses. In combat, sight isn't the only thing that matters". Leah approached enthusiastically.

"When will you teach me the Air Slash and Tornado?"

"You're not ready yet", Felicity replied.

"Those techniques require perfect control of the sword".

"Patience", Leah said with a smile.

"I'll wait". A short distance away, Xia watched Agnes, who was sitting beside the campfire and reading a book.

"What is it about?" she asked.

"A knight who protected the kingdom centuries ago", Agnes replied with a yawn.

"It's incredibly boring".

"Then why are you reading it?" Agnes lowered her gaze. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

"Because Ethan bought it for me. He looked so happy when he gave it to me…I don't want to disappoint him". Xia smiled gently.

"Can I ask you something? Is he your father? Because you don't look anything alike".

"No", Agnes replied.

"My father and mother are dead. Ethan saved my life and took care of me. He's not my father…but it's not so bad having him around". Agnes clearly cared about Ethan, but her pride almost never allowed her to admit it openly. Especially in front of Xia, who was now like a person she had to get to know all over again from the beginning. Xia nodded.

"That's what matters". Through the black portal, along with Xarath, the goblins also emerged, still covered in blood and fresh from the massacre in Loxia. Their weapons dripped red, and their sneers were still etched across their deformed faces. The Green Dragon suddenly woke up. It had sensed the tremendous magical energy emanating from Xarath. It was an intelligent creature. It knew it could not face him. It opened its jaws wide and gently, yet firmly, grasped the three eggs.

Then it took flight, quickly disappearing among the clouds.

"No!" Teresa cried, instinctively reaching a hand toward the sky, as if she could stop it.

"Your Highness, stay behind us!" a soldier ordered, taking a defensive stance. Xarath watched the scene with interest. Then his gaze fell upon Teresa.

"Your Highness?" he said slowly.

"Could you perhaps be…the Queen Mother?" He approached at a leisurely pace. A soldier, panicked but faithful to his oath, raised his sword.

"Not another step or I'll kill you". Xarath smiled. He simply continued walking toward them. The soldier attacked him with a desperate slash. He did not even have time to realize he was dead. An invisible slash cleanly severed his head. The head rolled across the ground, followed by the body as it collapsed heavily. The other soldiers stepped back in terror. But, faithful to their honor, they attacked anyway. One after another, three invisible slashes tore through the air.

Their heads separated from their bodies almost simultaneously. Their remains fell onto the scorching ground in an eerie silence. Only Teresa, Naomi, and the gnome remained. Teresa was pale and struggling to breathe. Naomi stepped in front of her, trying to protect her, but her legs were visibly trembling. Xarath had just killed four soldiers, skilled fighters of the royal guard, in an instant. And he hadn't even lifted a finger. He had simply kept walking. The difference in strength was unfathomable.

Like that between a god and ants. Completely terrified, the gnome had hidden behind a rock. He was curled up and trembling like a leaf, unable even to think of a way to escape. Xarath stopped a few steps away from Naomi and Teresa. He looked Teresa directly in the eyes.

"You would be an extremely valuable hostage", he said calmly.

"I could use you as leverage against the Seer Aelira". Teresa said nothing. She looked at him in fear, but deep down, what she felt most was frustration. The Green Dragon had flown away. And she had been powerless to stop it.