Chapter 109: The Ambush 5

Bloody’s death sorcery radiated outward, her hematomancy lashing out to render asunder any creature whose veins pulsed with crimson life.

Ensnaring the defiant maid squarely within its lethal grasp.

“Gwaahh!”

The next instant, she crumpled to the floor – a geyser of blood erupting from her body like crimson lances, shredding her flesh into ribbons as she succumbed without the faintest resistance.

Or so it should have transpired…

“…?”

“!? Wh…What is…?”

The sight unfolding rent Bloody with disbelief.

Despite the full brunt of her deadliest magic striking true…the maid remained utterly unscathed – not even flinching from the assault that should have liquefied her entire being.

“Im…Impossible! How…? How could you withstand that?! You should be ripped apart by your own blood at this point…”

That her ultimate technique could be so casually negated seemed an incomprehensible affront.

For there existed precious few means to perfectly deflect her hematomancy in this world.

Either by mastering its intricacies to unravel the sorcery itself.

Or channeling overwhelming mana reserves to force back the blood manipulation through sheer mystic might.

The former remained utterly unattainable – as Bloody stood as this obscure art’s sole practitioner and grandmaster.

Yet the latter possibility also verged on virtual impossibility.

Bloody was an esteemed Rank 10 archmagus – one of the exceedingly rare emanations of consummate talent, fortune and dedication required to reach such vaunted primacy.

Only legendary figures of continental renown could conceivably overpower her magic through sheer force alone.

Yet against all seeming improbability, the incontrovertible reality manifested before her eyes:

Her supreme sorcery had been rendered utterly impotent by this mere maid.

‘Just…what is she? How could someone of that caliber be present here…?’

Having unleashed her deadliest measures without any visible impact, Bloody could only gape as the stark realization settled upon her:

Something had gone catastrophically awry.

“You…just what are you, exactly?”

“…Haah.”

Bloody’s tremulous query was met with a weary sigh from the maid.

Then, her thunderous bellow:

“Answer me! Who in the hells are you?! Gwaahh!”

-WHAM!-

Before she could react, the maid seized Bloody by the throat – slamming her viciously into the floor with bone-jarring force.

As agonizing pain lanced through her, Bloody desperately clawed at the vice-like grip inexorably crushing her windpipe.

“Kuhahh…ggkk!”

Yet her frantic struggles proved futile – only prompting the maid to further constrict her stranglehold until blackness crept across Bloody’s fading vision.

‘No…way… Am I…going to die…here? Like…this…?’

As her sight dimmed like a guttering candle flame, that despairing thought whispered its dread refrain.

Until the maid’s grip unexpectedly relented just enough to allow rasping breaths.

“!Kuherahh! Herr…Hahh!”

Blinking her surroundings back into focus, Bloody froze as the moonlight illuminated her assailant’s face from the nearby window.

Crimson tresses framing alabaster skin and piercing ruby eyes…

Despite the vastly altered visage, Bloody immediately recognized the woman before her – her whole body reflexively stiffening in a mixture of shock and dread.

“Y…Y…You’re my…Master…?”

“Addressing me so familiarly?”

-THWACK!-

“Gwaahh!”

The maid’s savage backhand sent Bloody’s head whipping aside, blood gushing from her burst nose as her vision swam.

Yet through the haze of agony, Bloody blurted out in desperation:

“M-Master…how did you…come to be here…?”

“Before you ask me anything…”

-THWACK!-

“Is there not something you should say first?”

The maid’s scalding tone brimmed with furious indignation.

Despite her anguish, Bloody hurriedly replied with palpable dread:

“Th-That incident…I truly apologize! I never imagined he would possess such capabilities! I never intended to betray you, I swear!”

“…Haaah.”

A weary sigh, then stony silence as the maid seemingly fought to rein in her turbulent emotions – all while Bloody knelt in a pitiful, bloody heap awaiting her judgment.

Until finally, the maid released her by the hair – prompting immense relief to flood Bloody’s being.

Rising to dust off her apron, the maid coldly declared:

“You are not yet fully forgiven. But I shall reserve further judgment until I have heard the full account later.”

“…Yes…th-thank you…”

As Bloody settled back with profound gratitude, the maid fixed her with an icy glare as she inquired in clipped tones:

“Now. Explain why you and Soul have come to this place.”

“Y-Yes, of course…”

Without the slightest hesitation, Bloody relayed the entire mission briefing:

Regarding the Dragonian Princess Cazeros, spurned by her beloved.

And the directive from Duchess Catleena to abduct the man behind this incident – Santara.

“Thus…we came here to apprehend this Santara by any means necessary. Soul was tasked with causing a diversion at the entrance while I infiltrated to carry out the deed directly.”

“I see…so that was it…”

Having divulged all she knew, Bloody awaited the maid’s – Polena’s – pronouncement as the latter pondered in stony silence.

For her part, Bloody harbored myriad questions screaming for answers, yet dared not voice them in that fraught moment.

Not merely from the guilt of her transgressions against this woman.

But more critically, the profound, primordial dread Polena’s mere presence instilled within her.

‘I truly had no inkling… I knew you dwelled somewhere in the Holy Empire, but never imagined it would be here in Bohemia…’

Like a hapless feline hunter unexpectedly encountering a dragon, Bloody could only anxiously anticipate Polena’s next words in tense silence.

Until the maid appeared to reach a decision, addressing her once more:

“Very well. From this point forward, you shall act precisely as I instruct.”

“Wh…What do you mean…?”

An order phrased without any choice of refusal.

Without the slightest protest, Bloody could only meekly nod in acquiescence.

“I…understand. I shall do as you say.”

“Good. And needless to say, you are forbidden from informing Catleena of my presence here. No need to further complicate this situation unnecessarily.”

“Y…Yes, of course, Mas–“

“Polena. You shall address me as such in this place.”

“A…Ah, yes. Understood…Lady Polena.”

“Then be on your way.”

“Yes!”

With a deferential bow, Bloody promptly withdrew without the faintest objection.

Once she departed, Polena waved her hand – erasing all traces of blood from the corridor before approaching the chamber entrance and gently rapping upon the door.

-Knock knock knock-

“Yes, come in.”

At the voice from within, Polena entered – greeted by her master’s presence with her ever-radiant smile:

“Still awake at this late hour, I see?”

“Indeed, the tranquil nights make for ideal reading conditions.”

“Heheh, while true, do take care not to overtax yourself, my lord. We cannot have your well-being compromised by excess.”

“Haha, understood Polena. Shall we call it a night then?”

Obliging his faithful servant with an acquiescing smile, Santara closed his book as Polena approached.

Maintaining her cheery mien, she extinguished the candles before departing – leaving no outward signs that anything untoward had transpired mere moments ago.