The Bloody Valkyrie

And with one foot forward— strikes.

A blow without any of her weight behind it, it was a simple punch that looked as if she was merely placing her hand forward. But the speed and destructive power of that punch was in a league of its own.

Her fist easily passed through a lone mercenary and crashed into the barricade. With an exploding noise, the wood splintered and was crushed, sending chunks of the barricade scattering everywhere.

A heavy curtain of silence filled the hall. The only noise that could be heard was from the pieces of wood falling to the ground.

The mercenaries stood staring absentmindedly at Shalltear, their hands no longer busy trying to reload.

Shalltear proceeded to stick her index finger into the blood orb that floated above her head. As she slowly withdrew her finger, a string of blood trailed behind it and drew a character in front of her. Similar to Sanskrit or runes, it had formed a magic character.

It was a skill called 「Blood Pool」 from one of Shalltear’s classes, [Blood Drinker]. By storing blood drawn from fallen enemies, it allowed the user to create a ball of magical energy that could later be used for other purposes. Also, by drawing its power, one could use magic augmentation skills without spending MP.

[Penetrate Magic: Implosion]

10^th level magic— as the strongest level of magic flew out, the bodies of ten mercenaries suddenly became bloated.

They didn’t even have the chance to scream. As they looked down at themselves in confusion, a face filled with terror was all that was allowed of them. The next moment— the light popping noise of balloons could be heard as their bodies exploded.

“Ahahaaaaahahaahahaha! Splaaaaaaaat! It’s sooooo prrreeeeeeeeeeetttttty—!”

Shalltear motioned towards the bloody mist and laughed happily while clapping her hands.

“Uwaaaahhhh!

With a cry, an estoc flew out and stabbed Shalltear’s chest from the back— through where her heart was. It twisted and turned, trying to widen the wound.

“Die!”

Following suit, a broadsword cleaved halfway through her head and became lodged around her left eye.

“Keep attacking, you guys!”

A mixture of screams and roars, their battle cry exploded as three mercenaries brought their weapons down on Shalltear.

Again and again, their swords slashed through her. However, with the broadsword still stuck in her face, Shalltear stood calmly. As if their attacks didn’t even itch, let alone actually hurt. She wore a smile that only served to infuriate them further.

After countless attacks, the exhausted mercenaries released their grip on their weapons; with a cry of lament, they showered her with punches and kicks. Despite their difference in size, like a huge boulder, Shalltear stood unmoving.

Shalltear tilted her head and stared at her attackers, deep in thought. Then, as if she just thought of something good, clapped her hands together.

“Haaaaauuuuaaaaa.”

As if releasing all of the heat inside her, she let out a massive breath. The stomach-churning stench of blood filled the surroundings.

Shalltear lazily pulled the broadsword out of her head. Needless to say, it didn’t even leave a scratch.

As she was about to swing the sword, Shalltear’s hand stopped in midair. The blade in her hand was gradually crumbling to pieces. In her mind that was hungry for blood, she remembered one of her class’— [Cursed Knight]’s penalties. She tossed the weapon aside in disappointment and lazily swiped with her hand.

Three heads rolled onto the floor.

“R, Run away! Quickly! Retreat!”

“You can’t kill a monster like that!”

Crying out in unison, the mercenaries began to flee.

One of them, who had lost all will to fight, felt Shalltear’s hand close around the back of his head. Crack, squish, with a sound similar to forcefully prying open a shellfish, pieces of his brain flew in every direction as his head exploded.

“Ahahahaaahaha. What’s wrong with his heeeaaaaaaad? How scaaaaaaarrrry! Ahahahahaaaahaha! Wait for me, eveeeeryoooone! Ahahahaaaahahahaaaaaa!”

The mercenaries, overcome with curiosity by the bizarre sound behind them, were greeted with this gruesome spectacle. Like something straight out of a nightmare, the laughing, bloodthirsty queen ran towards them with the determination to not let even one of them escape.

A mercenary who stumbled and tripped over his own feet while trying to run fell to his knees in prostration.

“D, Don’t kill me! Please! I won’t do bad things anymore!”

Seeing the man, his face stained with tears, grabbing desperately onto her leg and begging for his life, Shalltear’s face formed an evil smile that looked like a crack. The mercenary instantly realized what her smile meant, and his already pale face became dyed completely in white.

“Whoooooooosssssssh fllyyy!”

“NO! NOOOOOO!!”

Shalltear grabbed the man, who was still desperately clinging to her leg, on his back and lightly flung him towards the ceiling.