She ran with all her might.
She had to get to Buher and get help, no matter how pathetic she looked, now she was really scared.
Who is this human capable of repelling all of her attacks and spells; more importantly, so willing to kill her?
Genesis, the cannibal witch, apprentice of one of the three great witches—Hanna, the Witch of the Heart.
Her master was always calculating, strict not only with Genesis, but also with her other apprentices; she had to use magic from the heart, not from an instinct to kill.
That little rule that, in Genesis, she never achieved.
The first time she cast the witch's ultimate spell—One Heart for All—she spiraled out of control, killing her companions, and even her own master. After doing so, she thought, maybe she didn't hate her as much as she thought.
If not, why even these days, does she have to devour other witches to stay in control?
No, Genesis isn't a witch like Buher, or like Elise. Genesis acted out of instinct, guilt, remorse, and fear.
She never chose to earn the title of the Cannibal Witch.
She just...
…Wanted to seek redemption.
But now she understood that seeking forgiveness by literally consuming others would never be successful; if she never made the effort to forgive herself first, how could she seek forgiveness from others?
"Sorry...Elise..." Even now, knowing that she would die without having atoned for her sins, "Sorry...Hanna..." What's the point of apologizing now, if there's no time to do it? "Sorry...everyone..."
So, in the end, by her own actions, Genesis will always be a Cannibal Witch who murdered and ate all her classmates, including her master.
Her own instincts consume her.
And right now, their instincts are not to devour others.
It is to apologize.
But maybe she never will.
"Buher! I need your help! Please!" She climbed the mountain, her once white nightgown now brown from the many falls and struggles to survive. "Buher—!"
But what she saw before her was not human, nor something a witch could have made…
"What's…that?"
A giant, ominous mass, with worms crawling across its body, and the heads of various animals throughout the ever-growing mass; animals familiar to her former witch companions...
Now they were all together, united with their former partner, and the only witch who could have saved them all: Buher.
"No…no…no…" That meant Gene was in charge, right? But how could she do it? She didn't know how, she could barely control her instincts, she barely knew how to be a witch.
Maybe she wasn't even a witch yet.
Just a more horrendous monster than the one in front of her.
The giant mass moved, several holes emerging from its body, and from them, expel black hearts; the rotten hearts of witches.
Several people were heading towards Gene, she tried to move, but she couldn't.
Her body was totally tired.
She...will die.
SHAN!
The sound of the blade moving quickly made her fix her gaze in front of her; a man in a black military suit, a cap that almost covered his face, black hair and a neat cut. And above all, a sword that even countered the dim moonlight; Scalybur, one of the demon-killing swords of this world.
"H…Huh?"
The man turned around, his chest covered with several medals and insignia, and his gaze cold and dark, like that of a witch; however, he wasn't one, or was he?
"I found her." He said, in one of the trees, appearing in the darkness a woman with a whip swinging…
"Commander. Mr. Rosicrucian reports that they will soon be sending Liam Yoon Hee along with Frederick Leighton to offer support," Said the woman in a suit and medals as well; Karmen. "Likewise, Mr. Rosicrucian and Mr. Mandeleine will come, they say perhaps accompanied by Ji Noo."
Joakim Hans snorted, as he looked at the demon and then at his sword. "That idiot Sherly will have to clean my sword after this."
Then his gaze fell on the frightened Gene, who flinched at the sight.
"You're too weak to have eaten two witches with the greatest power in the world," He said, sounding somewhat...angry. "Maybe...when you're weak, no matter what you do, you'll always be weak if you don't make an effort to stop being weak."
He said those words more to annoy her than to comfort her, after all, a sect leader like Joakim Hans with more than two hundred members under his command...how would he attend to each one?
Soon, Joakim Hans walked towards the monster, cutting in two each heart that was thrown as a projectile towards him. Karmen imitating him, with her whip making every heart that came out of the other sides of the monster explode.
"I hope Layla doesn't get here, or she'll want this thing as her damn pet…" Joakim muttered, then grabbed his sword with both hands and raised it to the sky. "Leadership Skill: The strength of a thousand men."
Scalybur's sharp blade became engulfed in a golden glow as he used the skill, before slashing the sword at the demon, splitting it in two.
Soon, Karmen came down next to Joakim, wrapping her whip around her waist.
However, the monster was slowly beginning to regenerate.
"Tsk."
Even though it was supposed that once Scalybur cuts a demon, it never regenerates.
"Maybe it's not a demon. It was a combination of several witches, so it might have human parts." Karmen commented, adjusting her hat.
Joakim gritted his teeth, irritated.
"What the fuck is this..." He said, shaking his sword. "I guess I'll have to hold it off until that stupid Mandeleine exorcist gets here."
***
Before Sherly could leave, the footsteps of two people behind us made him stop, slowly turning back.
"Mr. Rosicrucian!" Liam said, surprised.
Everyone was relieved, except Sherly...
"Oh, Sherly, were you looking for me?" Randy Bornman said, with his usual smile. "Don't worry, I arrived early."
Sherly snorted, then took out his cigarette, lit it, and put it in his mouth, fully intending to annoy Randy with the smoke.
After all, Randy was always bothered by Sherly's smoking.
"You know what happened up there, right?" He said, crossing his arms. "I have a feeling that thing isn't a demon."
Randy gave a chuckle, then nodded slightly.
"Exactly, it's not a demon, but it's not a human either."
Then, he snapped his fingers, making Layla appear, who was hugging his spear.
"Miss Layla, are you okay?" Liam said, going over to her, and checking her out. "Do you want a potion?"
Layla shook her head with a smile, then made her spear disappear.
"Did you kill the witch, Layla?" Frederick asked, his arm in his waist.
Layla shook her head. "I was chasing her, but Randy made me appear here, so...I guess it's because the plan changed, right?"
Soon, Layla's parrot, Renato, flew to perch on her head.
No matter how much I think about it, it's funny that Layla has a pet parrot with the same name as the leader of the Sect that both Layla and Elmetron belonged to.
But, I guess I should keep that to myself.
Randy on the other hand, cleared his throat, to get everyone's attention.
"We still don't know what that thing is, and yet what we need right now is to stop it instead of investigating it," He explained, then pointed at Liam. "Little Yoon, please go heal Genesis."
Liam blinked, confused, then Sherly said; "What the hell are you thinking? You'll use your enemy to kill another enemy?"
And to no one's surprise, Randy nodded.
"Gene was able to consume the magic of thousands of witches, including the two great witches who once belonged to the Great Witch Queen," He said, keeping his smile at all times. "If Gene was able to consume all of that and have some sanity, it means she'll be able to devour that thing."
Yes, it was a logic...that might work, but even so, if we just kill it without knowing what it is exactly...
"And what happens if Gene loses her sanity after devouring that thing?" I asked, really curious.
Randy and the others looked at me, thinking of something, some solution if that happened...
Sure, they could use me, but if that thing turns out to be unaffected by any of the attacks from a demon like Raum, then they'd have two dangers in the city.
So, the only option we have now is to bet everything on Gene actually being able to maintain her sanity.
If not, she too is likely to become a danger, and if she unleashes all the magical power within her...she may destroy everything in her path.
"Then I'll take care of it."
We all looked at Randy, perhaps the first time Randy, the great Randy Bornman, agreed to be part of the plan, in addition to supporting us with his units, if not, helping us directly.
"It is a critical situation, huh...?" Sherly said, taking a drag on his cigarette.
"So this is the new plan;" Randy said, pointing again at Liam and Frederick. "Joakim and Karmen are now heading to the top of the mountain. Little Yoon will take care of Gene, and Frederick will be her shield."
I could feel Anser hiding behind me, maybe he didn't want to go back to work, and I understand, I don't want to work either.
"Sherly, Layla and Ciro will be in charge of monitoring the area," Both Sherly and Anser snorted, annoyed, Layla giving a smile. "And Mandeleine, Ji Noo and I will be in charge of supporting Joakim and Karmen."
Everyone nodded, some reluctantly (Sherly).
Liam and Frederick ran back to the top of the mountain.
Then, Mandeleine grabbed my arm to bring me closer to them, but as I was about to move, someone else grabbed my other arm; Anser.
"Waah! What is?" I turned to look at him, and again, Anser seemed in a bad mood.
Everyone noticed, Randy giving a little chuckle.
"…" Anser looked at Randy, then glared at Mandeleine. "Don't die."
I sighed, he really does care a lot.
"You neither, take good care of that little friend of yours," I said, pointing at the demon still hidden in his coat.
Anser nodded, then let me go, and finally, I went with Randy and Mandeleine.
The three of us teleported to the top of the mountain. I held onto Mandeleine when I noticed he was the only one standing on invisible threads; part of his skill as an exorcist. But Randy was literally floating, so I decided to hold on to Mandeleine's arm while he helped me stand on his threads.
Below us, Gene was lying on the ground, noticeably weak and tired, in front of her Joakim and Karmen fighting to repel the attacks of the giant monster in front of us.
Liam and Frederick hadn't arrived yet, but they were probably close.
"Careful!" I screamed as I noticed rotten hearts being ejected from the monster like cannons.
However, no one moved, Sherly's shield still active, and shattering all the hearts that were thrown at us.
Mandeleine and Randy seemed to be studying the thing in front of us; it was gigantic, massive, and with every cut Joakim inflicted on it, it regenerated. If it wasn't a demon, what was it?
I mean, if I were a demon, fairies would be lurking around here, but there aren't any, not even outside Randy's barrier.
The only thing I can think of is...
"…It is an artificial demon." Mandeleine and Randy immediately looked at me.
"Oh?" Randy moved his head slightly, "And how can we defeat it?"
That's another question...
While I only mentioned the concept once, I never thought of implementing it in the story.
But perhaps there are two options that are the ultimate weaknesses of a demon; "Burn it, or blow it up."
To destroy it as much as possible to the point where it is unable to regenerate, although poison is useful for greater effect. But there is no one who can generate poison—
Wait.
"We can also delay its regeneration with poison!" I said, looking at Mandeleine and Randy, then taking Randy's arm as well, to nod at Gene. "A common witch spell is poison, maybe she can help us!"
Randy and Mandeleine looked at each other, then Mandeleine nodded.
Of course, Randy always speaks to his members through telepathy. In fact, Karmen once belonged to the Rosicrucians, but later joined the Third Round Sect. So, for them, the fact that the Identifier doesn't work doesn't affect them that much.
Soon, I could see Liam panting from running so much arriving, with Frederick. Liam began to care for her, Gene helped out, after being in a state of shock.
I feel a little sorry for her and using her, but, that's the only way to stop this once and for all.
"LIAM!" I shouted, getting Frederick and Liam's attention. "WE NEED POISON!"
I knew Frederick wouldn't understand, but Liam, a reader of my novel, would.
She opened her eyes, then nodded, and quickly encouraged Gene to drink her regeneration potions.
Now, there was only one thing left; how could we burn it or explode it?
"I know someone who can make it explode," Randy muttered, then looked at me. "But, I don't know if he's ready."
He?
Oh, that's right...
Anser can do it.
One of the attacks of his former clan, the Vulpecula, was the 'Implosion'.
A powerful explosion that exploded inwards, annihilating everything in its path...
Even I, right now, wouldn't be able to do it; most likely I'd explode too, since well...the Raum power also sealed my mana to do the same attacks as Anser.
Also, it can only be achieved with Astral.
And…
I don't know if Anser is ready to do it too.
"He isn't," I don't want him to take the risk, let alone the responsibility, so... "I'll do it, I know how to do it."
Randy looked at me, maybe judging me, but that didn't matter now…
"Good."
Randy disappeared, then reappeared where Liam and Frederick were, explaining the new plan.
Liam looked surprised, even scared, turning to look at me worriedly.
Yes, I know it was dangerous.
But, he can't do it, only...me.
"I won't be able to stay with you here, but I'll support you from outside the barrier," Mandeleine's voice made me turn to look at him. "Be careful, we don't know if it works yet."
It didn't take long for Liam to finish healing Gene, at the same time that Joakim and Karmen retreated on Randy's orders. Randy picked Liam up in his arms, then teleported with her outside the barrier.
Only Frederick, Gene, Mandeleine and I remained there, Frederick serving as a shield to protect Gene as she stood up.
"Leighton can handle it, don't worry, now, save us, Ji Noo." Mandeleine said, then teleported outside the barrier in the sky, then lit up and strengthened the barrier, at the same time that our bodies lit up.
So now...it's all up to me, huh?
Frederick threw a sword at me, and I managed to catch it.
I was made of mana, and yet my body was beginning to reject the mana. But never mind, that was enough…
"Frederick! Poison!" I screamed.
Frederick nodded, then helped Gene up.
She looked unsure, or at least that's what I saw for a second, then she put both of her hands towards the demon and soon, white smoke came out with pressure.
I could see Frederick create an anti-poison mask with mana, until the smoke covered my vision.
The last thing I could see was Frederick running away from there with Gene on his shoulder, who continued to shoot poison.
Now definitely only I can do it, right now, I will kill it.
"Vulpecula:…" I raised my sword, preparing myself. "Imp—"
[Jeon! Jeon! It's very dark in here!]
…What?
[Please save me, Jeon! Jeon!]
Marie?
No, it must be...I'm in this world.
[Jeon…] The voice coming out of that thing...was Marie's own, it knew my name...my real name. [I don't think...I have salvation...]
"MARIE!" Maybe I'm a fool to fall for it if this is a trap, but if there really is a possibility that this monster is imitating voices, maybe Marie is still alive in this world, maybe Marie—
"JI NOO!" Mandeleine's scream brought me back to reality. "BEHIND YOU!"
I turned around, and behind me was a woman with black hair, a red dress, and bright blue eyes.
"We found you," The woman murmured. "■■■."
What did she say?
The woman grabbed my neck, then pushed me towards the giant mass.
Shit, I fell into an obvious trap.
"Let me go..." I said, as I tried to grab her, but she, taking my hand.
"Neutralization Magic: five minutes," She murmured, causing my body to stop reacting. "I know you'll recover quickly, but it's what's necessary to be able to catch you here."
I frowned, soon, I saw Mandeleine approaching her.
"Mandeleine, wait!" I said through gritted teeth.
Mandeleine grabbed her, but she moved, causing Mandeleine's arm to get stuck inside the mass.
Damn...we're both a couple of idiots.
"Hahaha!" She stood on one of Mandeleine's threads, smiling. "Is everyone in this world so stupid?"
Mandeleine snorted, then clenched his fist with his other arm.
Several threads tied the woman, but instead of her trying to get away…
"Neutralization Magic: two minutes."
Mandeleine remained motionless, the threads falling to the ground.
"Damn…" Mandeleine murmured, "It's blocking my body's mana...I can't use my threads..."
Now we were both in trouble; I was sinking deeper and deeper, and Mandeleine was unable to use his mana.
Shit…
I guess I won't be the hero today...
_
Sherly was sitting on a rock, smoking his third cigarette of the day.
"…"
Layla watched in the sky, while Anser just circled in one place, visibly worried, angry, and...that was weird.
In the twenty-two years of raising and knowing Anser, Sherly had never seen him so worried on a mission.
Usually, Anser was the first to throw himself into danger, committing suicidal acts without regard for his own well-being, and throwing others into imminent danger.
And now...
Seeing him so worried was almost funny.
Sherly caressed the tracking demon that Anser brought, while feeding him more poisonous herbs.
"He'll be fine, Randy and Mandeleine are with him, why do you worry?" Sherly said calmly. "Randy gave you that last name, do you distrust the man who gave you a last name?"
Anser stopped, then turned to look at him…
"I...I'm just not sure."
Sherly couldn't help but laugh.
"I'm not lying when I say this is the first time I've seen you so worried," He let smoke out of his mouth. "And it makes me feel relieved."
Soon, Layla went down to the ground in a hurry.
"Sherly! Sherly!" She said, then pointed to the mountain, from which smoke was beginning to rise. "Suddenly, compressed poison started to come out of the smoke up above! What's happening?"
Anser's full attention immediately went to Layla.
Sherly looked surprised, getting up from where he was sitting.
"RANDY! What the hell are you doing up there?" He said, but when he didn't get an answer, he threw his cigarette to the ground, angry. "Oh, that idiot...how I regret having given him permission to give Anser his last name..."
Layla turned to look at him, somewhat surprised. "Are you both Anser's parents?"
"Shut up, that doesn't matter now."
And yet, arriving at the call, Randy appeared with Liam in his arms.
Liam got out of Randy's arms, then went to Anser, who looked worried sick. "Mr. Detective! Ji Noo will be in charge of finishing off the monster along with Gene and Frederick!"
However, that did not relieve Anser.
"…Why?" His voice sounded deeper than he thought.
Liam looked at Randy, then stuttered. "Well... he... he said..."
However, Frederick and Gene soon followed behind them.
Frederick lowered Gene to the ground, who still seemed somewhat distracted from what had happened.
"Is everything ready?" Randy asked, with a smile.
Frederick nodded, while Gene hid behind him upon seeing Layla. "Yes, Mandeleine and Ji Noo are taking care of the rest. We should get out of the barrier before the poison spreads here." He said, as his right arm made of mana disappeared.
And soon, Randy gave the command for everyone to leave the barrier.
However, Anser seemed to refuse to do so.
For some reason, he didn't feel comfortable leaving Ji Noo alone.
Randy noticed him, walking back to him.
"They'll be fine, if not, Mandeleine will report it," Randy said, putting a hand on Anser's shoulder. "Ciro, go with Sherly, he'll have a heart attack if you run after Ji Noo with all that poison that's deadly to us."
Still, Anser was not calm...
And Randy knew it.
He knew it too well...
Soon, a beeping in Randy's chest made him close his eyes, to see what was happening.
And suddenly, he opened his eyes in surprise. Anser noticed and turned to look at him. "What happened?"
Randy smiled slightly.
"Our plan was for Ji Noo to blow up the demon with Mandeleine's help, but..." Anser shuddered at that but. "Apparently, a new enemy has appeared, and both Ji Noo and Mandeleine have been captured."
Those words were enough to break all of Anser's little tranquility.
"…What?"
His face turned dark, then he turned to look at the mountain, from which smoke was falling, then he unsheathed his sword, annoyed.
"Whoever that idiot is, I'll kill him…"