Descendant of Sloth
Chapter 42: The Battle Charges

Chapter 42: The Battle Charges

"You think I cannot see what you’re doing behind his back?" My voice was calm but sharp, cutting through the air like a blade.

The man pinned against the wall struggled, his wide eyes locking onto mine as blood gushed out from the corner of his mouth. My dagger, lodged deep in his throat, glinted faintly in the dim light of the cave.

He coughed violently, his body convulsing as life slowly drained away from him. I didn’t look away, my gaze holding his until the fight in his eyes flickered and finally extinguished.

A heavy silence filled the cave, broken only by the faint drip of blood pooling at the base of the wall.

Hina, Braun, and Yuri stood frozen, their eyes fixed on me. The tension in the air was visible.

I took a step back from the wall, turning my attention away from the lifeless body. Braun’s shocked expression didn’t escape my notice as I met his gaze.

With a flick of my wrist, the black dagger vanished from the man’s throat and materialized in my hand, its dark blade free from any blood. I let out a deep sighhh, running a hand through my hair.

"It would’ve been tiring," I began, my tone casual, "if he had gained control over the cave and decided to collapse it in desperation later. Then I’d have to carry Hina in my arms again and run to save her from being buried alive."

Hina jolted at my words, her face flushing as the memory of the collapsing church flashed through her mind. I’d carried her out back then, her life literally in my hands.

Her fists clenched at her sides as she stammered, "I—I’m not that weak, Esther, you idiot! I can run on my own now! I’m stronger!"

"Yeah, sure, sure," I replied, brushing my fingers lazily through my hair, my voice dripping with amusement.

Her lips pursed into a pout, her embarrassment written all over her face.

Braun finally moved, his body stiff as he turned fully to face me. His eyes, still wide with disbelief, flickered to the man crumpled against the wall before settling back on me.

"How did you—" he began, his voice low and unsteady.

"Hmm?" I raised an eyebrow, pretending I hadn’t heard him clearly. "You said something?"

He stared at me, the words caught in his throat as he tried to process what had just happened.

I held his gaze for a moment longer, the corner of my lips quirking into the faintest of smirks.

Braun had been confident, cocky even, up until this moment. But now, faced with something—or rather someone—he clearly didn’t fully understand, I could see the doubt creeping into his expression.

"Don’t worry," I said, my voice low but carrying an edge. "I’ll give you your answers soon enough. But first, let’s finish what we came here for."

*Swoosh* *Clang*

The air seemed to ripple around braun as a faint white aura began to rise from his body, flickering like ghostly flames. His lips curled into a sinister grin as a massive chopper materialized in his hand, the blade jagged and menacing. A heavy chain was attached to its hilt, snaking along the ground

"Yes..." His voice was low and guttural, his eyes hidden beneath the messy strands of his hair.

"What?" I asked, blinking at him, my tone calm.

"DIE!!" he roared, his voice reverberating through the cave as he swung the chain with brutal force.

The chopper hurtled toward me in a deadly arc. I ducked, bending my knees as the blade whooshed past my face, grazing the air above me. The weapon slammed into the wall behind me with a loud *Thud*, cracking the stone on impact.

Straightening up, I exhaled sharply, "Phew... that was close," I muttered.

The chain vibrated, humming with energy as the blade embedded in the wall began to reverse its path. It retracted with a swift motion, the chain tracing its trajectory in a blur of movement.

I tilted my face to look at it just in time, narrowly avoiding the blade as it came slicing back toward me. Without wasting a second, I leapt into the air.

He caught the weapon mid-swing, gripping the handle with practiced precision as I landed lightly on my feet a few paces away.

"You’re good with your legs," he said, smirking as he rolled his shoulders, the chain jingling ominously in his grip.

"Uh... thanks, I guess?" I replied casually, brushing a stray strand of hair out of my face.

My eyes narrowed as I studied him, taking in the way he wielded the chains with confidence and precision. The aura around him flared slightly.

I tilted my head slightly, my thoughts racing. ’I should be careful. I don’t know what else he can do with those chains. If I misstep, I might not be able to dodge the next strike.’

I straightened my posture, keeping my breathing steady as I locked eyes with him. He stood a few feet away, his stance wide and solid, the heavy blade resting lazily in one hand as the chain coiled loosely at his feet.

The air between us was charged, like the calm before a storm.

Hina stood her ground, her gaze fixed on Yuri, who was smirking arrogantly. The tension between the two were like sisters who hate each other to death.

"Oii, bitch, focus here, will you?" Yuri taunted, her voice laced with condescension as she flipped her long raven-black hair over her shoulder.

Hina’s brows furrowed, her fists clenching at her sides. "Stop calling me that," she replied sharply, her voice firm but calm.

Yuri chuckled mockingly, taking a step closer. "What’s the matter? Did I hit a nerve? Poor little thing."

A sly smile tugged at the corner of Hina’s lips as she tilted her head. "Don’t tell me you’re jealous because you don’t have someone as handsome and strong by your side. Is that why you’re getting so salty?"

Yuri froze mid-step, her smirk vanishing in an instant. The veins on her forehead bulged as anger twisted her face into a snarl.

"Huh?! What the fuck did you just say, bitch?!" she snapped, her voice rising.

The air around Yuri flickered, and a reddish-pink glow began to emanate from her body. With a sharp motion, she raised her hand, summoning a blade. The sword materialized in her grasp, its reddish-pink hue glowing and its edge like fire.

"I said the truth," Hina replied, her voice cold and unwavering. She took a step forward, meeting Yuri’s glare with a fierce intensity. "And I said, stop calling me that."

Hina raised her hand, and with a faint shimmer of light, her own weapon appeared—a sleek, white blade with a silver hilt that shone like starlight. The aura around it was calm yet commanding, opposite to the fiery aggression of Yuri’s weapon.

The two women squared off, their feet sliding apart as they took fighting stances. Muscles tensed, eyes locked, and neither dared to blink.

"You’re going to regret opening your mouth, bitch," Yuri hissed, her grip tightening on the hilt of her sword.

"Try me," Hina shot back, her voice steady, her resolve unshaken.

The air grew heavy with anticipation as they prepared to clash, their auras swirling and colliding like storm clouds.