The Sword Of Salvation
Ch. 3 — Encounter and a Deal (3)

Selena gave no verbal reply. Lightning wrapped around her body, and in an instant she was already in front of Mariel with a sword about to stab.

He was quick, Mariel was almost hit by a sword stab. Fortunately he had time to slow down the speed of the sword with the wind as dark as moving to the side avoiding the puncture. Selena had again swung her sword very quickly, but this time Mariel had created a wind sword to block Caliburn's slash.

“You are strong,” praise Mariel on the sidelines to fend off a barrage of Caliburn slashes. It wasn't a pseudo compliment; although Mariel could withstand every slash that came, every slash Selena released left her pushed back.

“You are also good.”

Selena's words were accompanied by a lightning strike from her left palm. Mariel reacted quickly to the lightning strike. However, the action gave Selena a gap to land a kick on Mariel's left waist. Mariel crashed, but she briefly thickened herself with the wind to balance herself and landed on two legs.

However, at that time Selena had already released a wave of lightning in a wide scope. Avoiding it is impossible; jumping into the air will make it an easy target for Selena. He only had the option to counter lightning waves with wind waves. And that's what he did.

Mariel managed to obliterate the lightning waves with her wind wave. However, right after, two ice tigers shot up from both sides with their sharp claws. At the same time, Selena darted forward with Caliburn clad in thick lightning.

She had an ice-powered spirit, inner Mariel while coating her body with wind armor. I think I need to get serious right now, he continued, throwing his wind sword at Selena who was charging forward. Then he created two wind swords in both hands and repelled the sharp claws of the two ice tigers.

They were loud, surprised Mariel. Ice should be no harder than steel, but these two tigers made of ice were really as hard as steel. Mariel needed to increase the density of her wind sword if she wanted to destroy the two ice tigers. But that he could not do. Mariel was forced to jump into the air avoiding Selena's sword slash.

“That's a big mistake!”

Selena's cry was followed by the appearance of hundreds of ice needles crashing into Mariel. Its sheer size and high speed made the needles difficult to avoid. Mariel won't be able to avoid this situation, at least it was a year ago. Mariel who now has mastered the wind element as well as Lukhiel. Creating wind pressure on a large scale was common to him.

And that's what happened.

All the ice needles slowed down drastically and then crashed down. Not only that; the two ice tigers also fell and fell until their bodies fell apart. Selena fell to her knees ‒ she made her sword as a pedestal so as not to fall down.

However, Mariel could not take advantage of the opportunity to attack Selena. As soon as she landed and was about to strike, Selena released a wave of lightning to prevent it. Mariel slashed the wave of lightning with her two wind swords, but after that Selena was already standing.

“You are really strong; your mastery of wind elements is great. And because of that I can't let you go.”

Mariel scrunched her forehead. Selena releases high amounts of prana. He doesn't have to come near to see. So much prana that he released, it until it looks real. A dense green energy wrapped around the girl's body.

“Rise and freeze the world, Frozen King Leztheria.”

In an instant, the prana that was clad in Selena's body turned into an amazing ice coat. At the same time, the air temperature dropped sharply and the grass began to freeze. Selena's hair became snow white. And so is his eyelashes. His skin became so pale that his blood vessels were clearly visible.

So, this is the second stage of spirit mastery? Mariel. He could clearly sense the difference in strength between them. She was no longer someone Mariel could overcome without relying on her spirit power.

“You better give up,” Selena said very seriously. “If we continue, you will be seriously injured. It will do more than make you blood.”

“You have indeed become significantly stronger.” Mariel praises. “But it's okay,” he continued while removing the windshield. “I'll show you why your change still won't give you victory. Go ahead.”

“Alright if you insist.” Selena raised her sword which was already clad in thick lightning, and in an instant she shot out an attack.

The girl has grown significantly faster. If he is not used to Lukhiel's speed when the devil does not hold back, he will not be able to follow Selena's movements. However, Mariel had spent a lot of time receiving the demon's blow. Although his body was unable to keep up, his reactive speed. And that's more than enough.

“Receive your defeat, Mari—!”

Mariel grasped Selena's sword with all five fingers. But what surprised the girl even more so that she was speechless was the disappearance of the ice coat that was trailing her body. Her hair and skin color returned to normal. His surging power disappeared in an instant.

Selena was so shocked that her eyes widened and her body pecked.

Mariel removed her hand from Selena's sword blade. “I don't want to make smooth skin hurt. So,” Mariel flicked gently on Selena's forehead, “this is your defeat. I'm ma—ah, we'll meet again sometime. At that time I'll charge you for that dinner.”

Mariel immediately darted away with a body that was wrapped in wind armor; he did not want Selena's men to misunderstand and gang up on him.

Just three seconds after Mariel's departure, a man landed in a debauched voice before Selena. Two others arrived a second later. A second later, two other people appeared. Jimmy, Eliza, Axel, Ferguso, and Clarent. Five trusted subordinates of Selena—and all five are older than the girl.

“Nona Selena, are you okay? We need to chase the kid?”

“But, Miss, that kid is dangerous! He just canceled the change Miss. What if he was a mercenary who was told to steal both holy swords or other important purposes?”

“He did not take Caliburn,” Selena responded while looking at the part of the sword that Mariel had been holding. “I don't know if he's a mercenary or not, but it doesn't matter.”

Selena did not use the power of the holy sword, so it was no wonder Mariel was able to catch her sword. And if he were to use the power of the holy sword, would he be able to undo the activation of his sword just as he canceled his change earlier? Spirit Selena spirit king, but Mariel can undo the change. Does that mean that Mariel also has the spirit of the king?

“Nona, you can't just act like that. Remember, you are the most influential noble daughter as well as the royal family. Even the Lady has the right to the throne if His Majesty Arthur IV abdicates the throne. If the child in the future causes problems, Miss's name can be tainted!”

“Ferguso,” call Selena ignoring Clarent's concerns.

“Ya?”

“Send a letter to my grandfather. Tell him I want him to tell my mom and dad to stop looking for a guy to match up with. I've decided to make that boy my man.”

“...Huh?”

“Nona Selena!”

“Nona Selena, you're crazy!”

“...Your actions are always worrying, Miss.”

“Nona Selena, ..can I ask why?”

Selena sheathed her sword and smiled innocently. He said lightly: “He just beat me, do I need another reason?”

Selena did not care about the reaction of her five men, she immediately stepped away.

She was the most powerful woman in Camelot's history. If he has to get married, his partner must also be strong. More than that, Mariel praised her beauty and did not comment on her nature. So far no one has dared to say that because of his combo. Either they are afraid he will be offended, or maybe because they do not like his nature.

What is clear is that people like graceful and ethical women like Marryphimia. Selena does not reflect the behavior of noble women. His mother had even given up on forcing him. So did his father. Although no one would deny the beauty of her body and face, the nobles would think twice about making her a wife.

Of course Selena doesn't care about that. He was young; he never thought about when he would get married. He is also not interested in love. That is also why his parents tried to make him a mate. They can't believe he's gonna find the right guy. And of course, he always refused to let down every man they had brought home.

Strong women do not need to follow the thoughts and demands of others, inner Selena remember the words of her grandfather. Strong women live by their own principles, rules, and demands. Strong women live in freedom.

That's why Selena's strong. He wants to live free and do what he wants without anyone daring to protest. No one can dictate how he should live. In this world, the only key to freedom is power, everything else is entangling.

“Come go. We're going to Birmithan now.”

...* * *

...

Mariel was forced to take a detour to the left of the hills in order to avoid the possibility of being chased. He did not know if Selena would accept defeat or not, and it would not be surprising if he invited his men to gang up on him. Mariel's intention to take a boat to cross the lake should he postpone next time.

However, he cannot say that this is disappointing.

Mariel just got valuable information. It's not about Lukhiel; the devil is whatever he wants to do, Mariel doesn't worry about him. It's about Merlin. If Selena says she wants to find Merlin, it means that Merlin is really still alive and in the Tower of Babel. No one knows more about Merlin than the royal family.

As soon as Lukhiel finished from doing whatever it was that caught his attention, they could immediately go in search of Merlin's whereabouts. His training was over; lukhiel said there was nothing more he could teach. So, they didn't need to spend more time in the cave. They could embark on a long journey through the intricacies of the world.

But before that I have to collect a deal with Selena. Mariel's own curved lips imagined it.

...—End of Chapter 3—...