Chapter 172 The Fallen One (3) The Struggle

Swords are the main weapon that was given to the slaves that were taken from the border area of the empire and sold to the south to avoid being attacked by bandits on the way there. Most of us were able to fight using those swords that we used during our escort duty. And since most of us are women, they are still in the process of learning how to handle the sword. I can't really say that they are experienced enough in using the sword at this point. I just hope that we'll be able to manage if the situation calls for it.

But anyway, I got to say that most of the guards are not used to fighting against unarmed people. It seems like they're used only for escorting carriages and people when they're traveling on the road or for hunting in case we're attacked by bandits. But I don't think they would be able to handle it against an armed group like this.

They all got shocked at the sight of seeing me fighting like this, and immediately started to react by pulling out their own swords. They seemed to have underestimated us since we were only armed with swords while they were carrying their swords as their main weapon. They seemed to have forgotten that we're slaves, or maybe they didn't care about it because they are already used to being treated like this by their previous masters.

"Don't let your guard down!" I shouted loudly to warn the guards around me, but I heard that someone was already dead after they were hit by an arrow shot by one of the other guards. I clicked my tongue and immediately warms my mana up.

*Slash!* *Slash!* *Slash*

The familiar sensation of smoothly cutting my targets satisfies me. It brings back the good memories of the academy, and my three best friends at the academy emerged inside my head.

I wonder what Alice, Emi, and Rena are doing right now?

"Die!" A battle cry sounded behind me, but it only serves as a notification asking to be my target.

A soldier with black armor and a longsword appear in front of me, swinging his sword toward me. I quickly turn away from the direction of the swing and directed the tip of my blade at the opening of the armor that he was wearing. I then swung my blade downward into the gap.

As a result, the metal armor split apart, releasing pieces that fall to the ground. I looked over to see the face of the man whose helmet had been blown off. His eyes met mine, but it was too late for him to do anything against the next strike.

With a single blow, I cut through his neck and his head rolled on the ground.

"Tch..."

Several soldiers jumped toward me, swinging their blades with their full force.

But despite of that, I know that I wouldn't be able to get through them if I try to fight them head-on. Even if my mana is back, it's been a while since I could use them freely like this, so it won't be as effective as before. So I chose to use the same tactic as before.

I couldn't afford to let them regroup. If they did, we could have the upper hand. Our enemies would be defenseless until that moment.

Still, I need to make sure that none of us will die here. There's no reason for anyone to die here.

"You're going to regret this!" Another attack came at me, followed by several others. My opponents were trying to keep me busy so that they could regroup and come for us later. But I'm not going to let them continue with that plan.

Even if I am to be defeated, I want to see everyone else survive.

I slowly turned around and swung the sword upward. My opponent wasn't fast enough to block it. The blade pierced through the armor and pierced right through the heart. Blood sprayed out, covering the enemy's chest.

My foe fell to the ground with a thud.

It worked.

I breathed a sigh of relief and looked at the remaining enemies around me. Some of them still stood, but most of them lay on the ground with their heads turning sideways.

I guess I can call this a victory.

"Wilhelmina! We won!!" Solia shouted excitedly.

"Yes, we won," I replied with a smile. I felt much more relieved than I thought. It still feels surreal. But after looking at the bright smiles of Nana and the other slave kids that even cried made me immediately realize that we have really succeeded.

My hand reaches for the slave collar on my neck, and with just a simple force, the collar broke, giving my neck an unfamiliar feeling of freedom.

"I'm free..." I uttered in disbelief.

"Yes, big sis! We're free!!" Nana and the others excitedly come over to me and we hug each other. Without me realizing it, tears had profusely fallen from my eyes, and unsightly snots are all over my nose.

We shouts, we cried, and celebrated with each other. Solia, I, and the other adults helped to free the children from their slave collars before releasing ourselves. Now, we only need to take the map on the master's carriage and-

*Boom!!!!*

Suddenly an explosion occurred near us, sending powerful shockwaves, and sending some of the trees to fall.

"Kids! Gather up!" Solia shouted as she readies her bow.

The children immediately got gathered in one group and the adults made a formation to protect them. The cold winds of the north sent by the shockwaves are cold, but the adults bear the coldness and hide the children behind to protect them.

"T-Those are..." Solia uttered in horror as she saw the creature that is slowly rising its body up.

It is an imposing figure, towering over most humans and other creatures. Those skin as hard as ice and eyes that gleam like diamonds. Their hair is made of icicles, which shimmer and sparkle in the light, adding to their already otherworldly appearance. They are heavily muscled and broad-shouldered, with arms as thick as tree trunks and hands that can crush stone. Their breath is a chilling mist that seems to form frost wherever they go, leaving a trail of ice crystals in their wake.

I've heard their stories in the adventure stories my mother usually told me before sleep.

"The frost giants..." (Wilhelmina)

There are two frost giants standing with three huge frost serpents lying on the ground with blood all over the place. And suddenly-

!!!!!

One of the frost giants looked at us, my body felt weak for a moment because of the fear, but I must not succumb to fear or all of us will die!

"RUN!!!"

I shouted in warning to my companions, and they hurriedly ran away from the scene. I knew that it was impossible to stand against them head-to-head, so I took another route instead.

I could hear a distant scream coming from the direction where my comrades escaped. It's one of the adult slaves.

*Tch!*

I clicked my tongue in frustration at being unable to save her, but in order to survive, we need to continue to run with all of our might. The speed of the frost giant is not something to laugh at, they are gradually getting near to us.

All of us continue to run with all of our might. My breathing started to feel heavy and my lungs hurt because of the cold air, and suddenly.

Another bad news appeared.

*Grrrrr!*

A wolf growled. But it's not just a normal wolf. The dense mana of darkness envelopes it, and I can't sense any sign of life within its body.

If it's just a single undead wolf, we wouldn't stop in our tracks. But what appeared in front of us are a horde of undead with not just undead wolves, but there are also other powerful frost monsters and magical beasts that revived as an undead.

"We're surrounded..." Solia uttered in despair.

What should I do... There is no place to run, but if we stay here we'll definitely die. We won't win against these monsters, not with our current condition.

I racked my brain as I look around for a way out. But there isn't any! I see no choice left.

"Everyone! Get ready for the final battle!" I called out to everyone.

Our situation is hopeless, I know it, but it doesn't mean we could just give up. We have to-

*Whoosh!*

Cold winds blow, and we suddenly got surrounded by a purple mist.

"This is... Poisonous... mist...?" Solia uttered before losing her consciousness and falling. Just like Solia, the rest of us also fall one after another because of the poisonous mist, leaving me standing alone.

"This... Are we not allowed to live...?"

___________________________________________________________________________

Name: Lyan Arkanium Evocatore

Occupation: Mythril-ranked Mercenary

Money: 3,797,710,950 Elnes / 3797 gold 71 big silver 9 big coppers 5 coppers

Weapon: Magic Glaive, 1 (Decent) One-handed Sword, 2 (Good-Quality) One-handed swords, 1 (Decent) bow

Equipment: Black leather cloak, Leather Armor, Breastplate, 2 Health Potions, 2 Poison Vials

Grimoire's Companions: 8 High Spirits, 3 Valkyrie, Shadow Goblin Lord (Lv. 5), Papilio Slime (Lv. 45), Galewing Butterfly (Lv. 45), Rock Golem (Lv. 50), Deadlight (Lv. 63), Moonlight Butterfly (Lv. 45), Ice Golem (Lv. 50), Acid Ant Queen (Lv. 9), Magma Bear (Lv. 1), Fey Mammoth (Lv. 1), Arcane Retriever (Lv. 1), Winter Wolf Alpha (Lv. 12)

Grimoire's Army: 6 Shadow Servants, 800 Skeleton Army