The Price of Protection

“Scourge Province? Is that a ranking you established?”

Having heard Reikihard’s assessment, Camille frowned. A hint of doubt flickered across her face; she had clearly never encountered such a ranking system during her three years in captivity.

“Indeed. We have established five threat ranks for Calamity Scars: Army, Siege, Scourge Province, Annihilation, and Landfall.”

“I see. Then this Calamity truly seems formidable.” Confirmed by Reikihard’s words, Camille lowered her head, lost in thought.

“Leave this monster to me. Go and find the flying vessel used by that First-Class Disaster Purger,” Reikihard said, gazing at the approaching Chimera as it made landfall.

“Understood.”

Seeing Reikihard intended to stay and face the Calamity alone, Camille showed no expression of gratitude. She responded coldly, then turned and ran in the opposite direction.

However, before she could get far, the Calamity seemed to single her out. The Chimera opened its lion maw and unleashed a sonar-like shockwave directly toward her retreating back!

Reikihard, observing the beast’s every move, naturally wouldn’t allow the attack to connect. Without a moment’s hesitation, he drew his greatsword.

“Unleash!”

He roared at the heavy blade standing before him. Immediately, the sacred sigil carved into the back of his right hand erupted with a twilight-like radiance. Bathed in the mixed hues of the setting sun, the Holy Sword’s metal slowly became dazzlingly bright.

“Fulfill our pact, Narthemia! Devour my life and grant me victory!”

Holding the broad blade before his chest, Reikihard assumed a defiant stance, prepared to sacrifice everything. He swung Narthemia and charged toward the incoming shockwave.

Just as the ripple of force was about to tear him to shreds, Reikihard cleaved directly through the air! A golden, crescent-shaped blade of light burst forth, born from the very arc of his swing.

In the blink of an eye, the golden light shattered the circular shockwave. It continued along its trajectory, heading directly for the Chimera.

Seeing its attack dispersed, the Calamity did not remain idle. It raised its colossal left claw and slammed it into the earth with immense force. The ground couldn’t withstand the impact; innumerable fragments and boulders erupted from the earth, forming a dense barrier of debris that absorbed the golden light blade entirely. By the time the magic passed through the rubble, it had completely vanished.

“Pfft…”

At the same time, Reikihard, who had unleashed the light blade, suddenly fell to one knee as if suffering a brutal backlash. He plunged his sword into the ground to keep from collapsing entirely. The next second, a mouthful of fresh blood gushed from his lips.

“You…”

Camille, who had been about to disappear into the distance, paused. She noticed Reikihard’s unusual state, recalling his earlier words: ‘Devour my life.’

Thus, she remained standing still.

“Don’t mind me. I know my own condition. I know my time is short…” Reikihard panted.

“…”

“That’s why I found the resolve to come here and find you… Camille.”

“You know my name?”

“Of course. How could I ever forget?”

“Who are you?”

“Who I am no longer matters. What matters is you… Camille, you must press forward!” Reikihard spoke with a grave tone, pushing himself up to stand once more. However, if not for his precarious posture, swaying as if a slight breeze could topple him, he might truly have deceived her into thinking he was fine.

“…”

“Leave this place to me. I brought you out of that cell, so I have an obligation to see you safely out of this hell!”

With that, Reikihard once again raised Narthemia high and charged toward the Calamity.

“What a troublesome man.”

Staring at his retreating back, Camille hesitated for a moment. Ultimately, she seemed unable to abandon the man who had just pulled her from the abyss. She turned and sprinted back.

“Hah!”

As Reikihard charged toward the Calamity, his body seemed to bear a suffocating burden. His speed was now even slower than Camille’s. As she overtook him, he gasped, “You…”

“Save your breath until the monster is dead,” Camille interrupted.

Her right arm transformed once more into a sharp claw covered in black dragon scales. She pushed off with her back foot, leaping high into the air.

“Hah!” she roared, bringing her claw down from above onto the Chimera’s body.

“Roar!”

Noticing her leap, the Calamity did not wait to be struck. Its serpentine tail moved nimbly, whipping upward toward her trajectory. It opened its venomous mouth, intending to swallow the falling girl mid-air.

However, Camille was no fool. Seeing the serpent head extend, she adjusted her body without hesitation. Just as the fangs were about to close around her, she clenched her free hand, conjuring a crimson orb of fire out of thin air. With a forceful swing, she pitched the fire orb directly down the serpent’s throat.

“Ugh?!”

Caught off guard, the serpent head’s eyes widened. Then, a muffled ‘thump’ echoed—like an explosion in a confined space—emanating from within the snake’s gullet. Smoke billowed from its nostrils as the head let out a mournful hiss and violently recoiled.

With the tail forced back, Camille’s descent was unimpeded. Her dragon claw, like a reaper’s scythe, fiercely tore a deep, striking wound across the monster’s goat head.

However, perhaps enraged at being wounded by a mere ‘ant’, the Calamity retaliated instantly.

“ROOOOOAARR!!!”

A black shockwave of pure defilement erupted from the Chimera’s body! The blast hit Camille point-blank, instantly repelling her and slamming her violently against a distant cliff face.

“?!”

Caught completely off guard, Camille coughed up a mouthful of blood, her eyes squeezing shut as her back cracked against the stone wall. A soft groan escaped her lips.

“ROAR!!!!”

The Calamity, intent on pressing its advantage, abruptly flapped its massive wings. Innumerable jagged ice spikes condensed in the air before it. The Chimera then stomped forward, stretched its lion head toward Camille, and unleashed another roar!

The sound was like a destructive concussive blast, propelling the floating ice spears directly toward Camille’s embedded body.

“Camille!”

Seeing her in lethal danger, Reikihard rushed forward, planting himself between her and the incoming barrage. He gripped the hilt of Narthemia with both hands and plunged the blade forcefully into the earth.

“Narthemia, devour my flesh and blood, and become a shield of isolation to protect all!”

Reikihard bit his lip hard enough to draw a deep cut. A trickle of fresh blood overflowed from his mouth, dripping down onto Narthemia’s steel.

The instant the blood touched the blade, Narthemia erupted with a sanguine glow. A semi-circular barrier, crackling with what looked like electrical currents, materialized before him.

It successfully caught the concussive waves and ice spikes, protecting both Reikihard and Camille behind him.

However, the barrier was terribly unstable. Perhaps Reikihard was nearing his physical limit, or the Calamity was simply too powerful. Cracks were already spreading across the shield under the relentless barrage.

“You…”

Recovering from the intense pain, Camille forced her eyes open. Reflected in her gaze was Reikihard’s exhausted figure, completely at the end of his rope. Seeing the shield trembling, ready to shatter with just a little more force, Camille felt profoundly bewildered. She simply couldn’t fathom why he would trade his life to save hers.

“While I can still hold on, Camille, hurry and escape… I must admit, I overestimated myself.” Reikihard turned his head slightly, offering her a wry smile beneath his mask, urging her to leave him behind.

“How do you know my name?”

Despite his plea, Camille gritted her teeth and forcefully pulled her body free from the crater in the wall. Suppressing the agonizing pain of her bruised organs, she fixed him with a sharp, demanding gaze. She seemed deeply disturbed by the fact that he knew a name she herself had almost forgotten in the dark.

“How could I not? Camille… such a nostalgic and warm name. Even if I turn to ash, I will never forget it.”

“I don’t know you.”

“It doesn’t matter. That’s not important… What’s important is that you still have a path forward… And I…”

“I won’t thank you…” she whispered.

She understood clearly that all of Reikihard’s spells were activated by cannibalizing his own life force. Yet, she couldn’t bring herself to ask him outright: ‘Why would you go to such lengths for me?’

“Ugh…”

At that moment, the barrier finally gave way.

With a sharp ‘crack,’ the shield shattered into a million fragments of light. Without protection, Reikihard and Camille were instantly engulfed by the concussive force and the remaining ice spikes.

Behind them, the cliff wall groaned, unable to withstand the impact. A massive crater exploded outward under the combined assault.