<h4>Chapter 111 On the varying sides of the razed city?</h4>


    Holy Sword Tournament Arc II


    ---


    (POV: Akashic Records)


    Genevieve sprinted through the chaos as her heart pounded with worry.


    She caught sight of a shelter nestled amidst the carnage.


    It served as a recovery grounds for the woundedmoners and knights.


    Bursting through the doors, she immediately spotted Dr. Samras, his head wrapped in a bandage.


    With a mix of relief and concern, she hurried towards him.


    "What happened to you, Doctor?" Genevieve asked, worried.


    Dr. Samras sighed heavily. "I was trapped under a massive boulder in the coliseum when the explosion urred. I thought it was the end, but then Garret came to my rescue."


    Genevieve gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. "Garret? Is he alright? Where is he?"


    Just as she posed the question, a figure in light armor emerged from behind Dr. Samras. It was Fanatio Pendragon, adorned in the gleaming armor of a knight. The room seemed to glow in her presence, and despite the chaos around them, her expression remained firm and undeterred.


    "He''s fine," Fanatio said calmly, nodding towards the corner of the room, where the towering figure of Ress stood guard. "Garret is recovering with the rest of us. We managed to escape the debris and help some wounded children and adults."


    Genevieve''s eyes widened in admiration as she looked at Fanatio, taking in her beauty and serious demeanor.


    She extended her hand, a small smile ying on her lips.


    "I never expected the daughter of the Hero King to prioritize the lives ofmoners over the nobles."


    Fanatio''s lips curved into a small smile as she shook Genevieve''s hand.


    "And I didn''t think the king''s daughter would do the same. Let''s work together to save as many lives as we can."


    Then, Genevieve extended her hand towards Ress, a towering figure with a strong presence.


    With a firm grip, they shook hands, and Ress announced himself as an adventurer. His voice carried a deep resonance that matched his imposing figure.


    "Honored to work with such a devoted princess," Ress said, admiration evident in his tone.


    Genevieve withdrew her hand.


    "I''m not a princess; I''m a knight," she corrected him, her voice filled with unwavering confidence.


    Fanatio watched the exchange with interest, noting the simrities both she and Genevieve shared. Both Genevieve and Fanatio sought to forge their own paths and make a name for themselves. Fanatio instantly felt a sense of kinship forming between them, as if their goals aligned without the need for explicit agreement.


    "So, what''s the main issue at hand?" Genevieve asked.


    Samras, his head still bandaged, let out a heavy sigh before responding.


    "The majority of the people here are severely wounded and in need of intensive medical care," he exined, weariness evident in his voice. "Unfortunately, my health care facility is located in Glenforst city, which is quite far from here."


    Fanatio furrowed her brow. "Why can''t we transport the necessary medical supplies from Glenforst?"


    Samras shook his head, dejected. "The noble families and royal court are being evacuated, creating a blockade on all the exit routes. It would be impossible to reach Glenforst."


    As despair threatened to settle upon the group, Genevieve rubbed her chin thoughtfully.


    Suddenly, a spark of inspiration shed in her eyes.


    "I might have an idea," she announced, a glimmer of hope coloring her voice.


    "Huh?" Fanatio, Ress, and Samras responded in unison.


    "It just might work."


    Herpanions gathered around her, eager to hear her proposal.


    "You see, the capital city has an aerial dock with airships docked there. We could use one of those!"


    Her eyes darted from face to face, gauging their reactions.


    Samras raised an eyebrow with a skeptical look.


    "Are you sure about that, mydy? Taking an airship without permission could be seen as stealing."


    Genevieve shrugged.


    "Well, stealing or not, I''m not particrly concerned. My main worry is Lord Marshall Grimgar. I don''t want to get on his bad side, so I''ll try not to do anything too stupid." (Genevieve)


    "So, what''s the n then, Lady Genevieve? If we''re not taking one of those airships, what''s our alternative?" (Ress)


    "My boyfrie-- I mean, my brother, Lumiere, has his own airship. It''s faster than the standard military vessels, and it''s at our disposal." (Genevieve)


    Samras let out a relieved sigh, a smile finally gracing his face.


    "Thank the heavens," he eximed, his voice filled with gratitude.


    Fanatio, more reserved in her emotions, stood with her arms folded.


    "Speaking of the heavens... won''t those flying monsters pose a threat?" she inquired.


    The flying monsters were the Dark Flyers that Serena was originally tasked with ying.


    Garret, weak but determined, slowly pushed himself up from his bed, his bandaged wound still causing him pain.


    With a heavy cough, he dered, "If those monsters dare to get in our way, I''ll cut them down."


    Though his voice was strained, his eyes burned with resolve.


    "Sir Garret, I... I don''t think it''s advisable for you to be out of bed now..." (Samras)


    Just then, Garret stumbled but was caught by Ress.


    "Easy there soldier..." Ress grinned.


    Garret panted heavily. "Like I said before, I can''t call myself the captain of the Knights of the Cross if I don''t do this."


    "But..." Samras worriedly approached Garret. "Your wounds haven''t healed uppletely."


    "It''s fine, let him do it," Fanatio spoke boldly. "Any man who can''t do fight his hardest has nothing but a small pee-pee.."


    "Eh?" the others said in unison.


    Their eyes inly fixed on Fanatio.


    ...


    Meanwhile,


    The battle between Velzar and Esta raged on within the decimated fragments of the coliseum.


    Velzar, his sword gleaming in the sunlight, charged towards Esta with a lightning-fast mowing attack.


    However, to his surprise, his de sliced through nothing but air as Esta skillfully dodged, increasing the distance between them to a safe four meters.


    Seizing the opportunity, Esta swiftly retreated, preparing for a devastating counterattack.


    With a ferocious thrust akin to a razor-sharp spear, she aimed straight for Velzar''s heart.


    But Velzar, a master of quick thinking, swiftly turned his body halfway around, harnessing the momentum from his motion to unleash yet another shing strike with his sword.


    With impable timing, Esta managed to pull back her sword, avoiding Velzar''s attack with expert precision.


    In that fraction of a second, she quickly crouched, evading his assault.


    Their swordy was a spectacle that no ordinary eye could follow, their movements a blur of speed and uracy.


    As Esta fought, the rhythmic sway of her supple breasts was highlighted. Though d in light armor, they moved with a mesmerizing grace, a testament to her prowess and agility.


    Despite the intensity of the battle, she wiped off the blood trickling from her lip, refusing to show any signs of weakness.


    "Is this really what the third strongest battle god looks like? I expected more from you," she jeered.


    Velzar met her challenge with a confident smirk, his eyes gleaming with a mix of arrogance and madness.


    "Struggling? Why would I need to struggle against someone as abysmally inferior as you?" he retorted, his voice filled with derision.


    Esta firmly extended the glistening <<White Dragon''s de>> before her, her emerald eyes ignited.


    "Brace yourself Velzar.."


    "Sure," he shrugged.


    With a breathtaking swiftness that defiedprehension, Velzar took one step, vanishing before Esta''s very eyes. In an instant, he reappeared like a gust of wind behind her. In a seamless motion, heunched a casual yetmanding sh towards Esta''s unprotected back.


    A rank S+ [Blink Strike]


    However, fortune favored Esta as [Magic Detect] alerted her to the treacherous presence of her foe. Her emerald eyes darted to the corner of her vision, catching a glimpse of Velzar descending upon her.


    "( That fast...! )" (Esta)


    Swiftly, she spun around, meeting the descending strike with an unwavering sh of their swords.


    CLANG!!


    "Hm? Impressive.." (Velzar)


    With an air of condescension and contempt, Velzar leered at his adversary.


    Sensing an opportunity, Velzar unleashed a barrage of ruthless attacks.


    He delivered a swift and merciless knee strike to Esta''s abdomen, causing her to expel a spray of saliva. Before she could react, he swiftly followed up with an elbow strike to the side of her head, violently sending her crashing to the ground. Blood trickled down the side of her face, staining her gray locks crimson, as the pain coursed through her battered body.


    Swiftly, Esta backpedaling to create distance between her and Velzar.


    "Bastard," she steadied herself and raised her head, exuding an icy coldness that sent shivers down the spine.


    "Is this your pitiful attempt to mock me, Velzar? Your strike, though potent, betray ack of conviction, devoid of genuine strength."


    Her grip upon the hilt of her divine artifact tightened.


    "Hm?" Velzar lifted an eyebrow.


    "You''ve been toying with me all this time haven''t you...?"


    "Oh," he grinned cynically. "So you knew.."


    Esta had been using her divine artifact all this while.


    Meanwhile, Velzar wasn''t even using a magic sword.