Living as I please, 56: Ornis Balmund

"Annoying insects."

"Aaaa!"

"Monster… he's… unstoppable!"

The human army was screaming fanatically.

Their march towards Mistveil mountain was interrupted by Ornis Balmund, who was currently engaging them. Everyone who tried getting close to him fell in the blink of an eye. Shields and armor might as well be paper before him.

In his right hand Ornis had his mighty sword. The ancient relic that was the Founder's main weapon. Demon Blade Xyphos. It was a greatsword with a dark bluish blade and a purple hilt. It didn't have any fancy accents or trimming. One could say it looked rather simple. But it's purpose wasn't to look pretty. It was to obliterate everything in its path.

"Captain, pull your n back. They can't handle him. Let the apostle face this demon."

The Pope called out to the captain who imdiately issued a retreat order. The remaining soldiers quickly ran behind lina. So of them were so scared that they even pissed themselves.

"Fear not n. The apostle shall save us. She will kill this demon. Believe in the Goddess!"

At those words lina started to walk towards Ornis. 2 gold ornants from her dress detached. She grabbed them and poured magic into them generating pure white light blades. She made 2 light sabers.

"Kiddo, do you really want to challenge this sword?"

lina didn't respond. She kept walking forward.

"It seems sothing is wrong with you. Then, co as close as you like. I shall put you out of your misery."

When lina got in striking range she swiftly swung her swords at a trendous speed. lina gave the impression that she had 6 arms and was swinging 6 swords at the sa ti. She used her two swords for continuous strikes! Ornis managed to block her attacks with Xyphos.

"Hmm…! Those are so strange movents. And your sword technique…"

Normally, given the way she is swinging her swords and the speed used, her arms should have collapsed by now as she was executing movents that elf arms aren't capable of… Moreover, it was a dual sword style. But thanks to the Sli King's core inside her, her muscles were healed by the second. lina's movents were chaotic. Her swings created an illusionary image too difficult to grasp the true reality of. Any normal opponent would have fallen by now, but...

"Don’t get too confident, brat!"

He swung his big sword with strong power to deflect lina's continuous attacks. As soon as Xyphos hit the ground from the vertical slash, the earth shook and a powerful shockwave was ford. The sword in her left hand was blown away. Ornis wanted to follow up his attack. It was like he was drawing a black pattern in the air itself. He made a complex upwards swing, but it really felt that he was wielding more than one blade. lina was forced to cast a wind spell. Besides jumping back she propelled herself so that she could take so distance and escape that barrage.

"A dual sword stance with continuous strikes, huh. And you also have sharp instincts. That's not half bad, but you're just swinging your swords randomly. Your swordsmanship is barely basic level. In short, you're still wet behind your ears."

Orins' eyes beca darker than blood. His crimson eyes shined deeply.

"You're too naive if you think you can reach

with that."

The n that were witnessing the scene couldn't believe their eyes.

"How can one sword defeat two?"

"Oi… is that blood on the apostle?"

As the n pointed out a trail of blood did indeed flow from her head and moved along her cheek. But it was only for an instant since her ultimate regeneration ability sealed it quickly.

Ornis placed Xyphos on his shoulder and waited for lina's next move. She extended her hand and the gold ornant that was sent flying ca back to her and imdiately ford a sword again. She then surrounded herself with an unusual electrical aura and pointed the tip of one of her swords towards the Demon King.

"So you're getting serious now? Let

show you the difference between us! [Despair Aura]!"

In a similar manner, Ornis wrapped himself with a black sinister aura.

lina increased her agility trendously as she stood next by Ornis in the blink of an eye! Still, Ornis' reflexes were great as well as he prevented one of her sword attacks with his Xyphos! However, the other sword was aiming straight for his throat!

"Secret technique… Brutal Cutter!"

Ornis' sword emitted a black light! He deflected the sword that Xyphos blocked earlier, and used it as a shield to protect his throat from the other sword!

White vs black. The white from the lina's blades clashed with the black aura coming from Xyphos. The speed of their swings was so great that a human… no… even a demon couldn't follow them with their eyes. They could only see sparks flying around and hear clashing sounds.

"Impressive. You are circulating lightning through your muscles to make them react and move in the way you desire. That also ans you have so form of healing ability that prevents them from tearing apart. I'll give you so praise. It's been a while since I fought at this speed. However…"

An overflowing jet of black light engraved a pattern in the air and Ornis let out a small grin! It swallowed lina's light strikes in a fraction of a second!

"You're nowhere near my level."

Ornis overpowered her to the point he sliced both her arms off. And again, a powerful shockwave was created. Even a few of the knights who were closer to the battle got blown away by it.

"Aaargh!"

Even if lina was devoid of life, she could still feel pain. And in that mont when her arms were sliced off…

"Now lina! Do it!"

When the Pope issued that order, the remaining ornants on her dress detached and they all fired powerful light beams towards Ornis. They ignited as soon as they made contact and created a big explosion. lina managed to take so distance. From the place she was cut, green goo started to leak and heal her hands. In a few more monts she was as good as new. But almost at the sa ti...

"Naive!"

The voice belonged to Ornis. Once the dust cleared he was standing without a single injury. The n couldn't believe their eyes.

"No way…"

"It was a direct hit! I saw it with my own eyes!"

"Is the apostle in trouble… could it be that…"

"Don't say such a blasphemy. The Goddess will protect us!"

As the soldiers were watching and debating the scene that was unfolding before them, Ornis once again spoke to lina.

"Did you perhaps think that I would drop my guard if you only used swords? Sorry to disappoint you, but regardless who my opponent is, I never let my guard down."

Shit! He's stronger than I predicted. But no matter. That doll just has to hang in there a while longer. Our preparations are almost complete.

Those were the Pope's thoughts. He was frowning, but he still ordered lina to continue the fight. As lina once again approached Ornis...

"Judging by that clash I pretty much have you figured out. You are soone that was given great power, but you have zero combat experience. You were probably a sheltered person who never wielded a weapon more than a few sparing sessions. But because you lack experience, you are using your magic and your healing ability to make up for that gap. Let

tell you this, soone who has been in countless life and death scenarios will always find a way to break through tricks like that. Little girl, let

show you what a true battle ans! Let

show why I bear the title of Demon King of Despair!"