Lu Mingfei, become the King of Elden!

Chapter 377 Renia

Cold, bitingly cold.

The fog of Lienia clung to Lenia's limbs, making her fine squire's blouse damp, though she couldn't tell whether it was the fog or her sweat that had soaked through.

With each breath, my lungs were filled with the smell of rotting plants from the swamp.

The smell was awful, like a goat that had been dead for many days.

Lenia had complained to her young master more than once, wrinkling her small nose.

But now, she was incredibly grateful to be in the Lake District, because the varying depths of the marshes and the pungent stench had conveniently masked her presence and scent.

Thanks to this, she lived for another four days... or five days? She couldn't quite remember anymore; hunger and fear blurred the passage of time.

With her agile and petite figure, and the training she received as a follower, she circled and maneuvered endlessly through the vast and dangerous lake region, trying to shake off her pursuer.

But after each brief moment of respite, the heavy footsteps would always pierce through the thick fog and resound not far behind her.

All efforts seemed to be in vain.

Lenia's teeth were chattering, not from the cold, though it was indeed very cold, but more from fear.

She could hear her own heartbeat, thump-thump-thump, like a broken drum being struck haphazardly, so loud it almost gave away her location.

She was filled with immense regret, so much so that she felt like her guts were turning green with remorse.

I regret that I ran away because of a moment of playfulness and curiosity.

She just... just wanted to catch a glimpse of the outline of the Rhealucalia Magic Academy from afar.

The enormous building that floats in the middle of the lake has been completely sealed off since the War of Shattering, and is considered an absolute mystery and taboo by the people in the border region.

Everyone was curious about what it was like inside. Was it really like the legend, with walls made of pyroxene and mages studying the trajectories of stars all day long?
But the mages there haven't come out for decades, even centuries, and the towns surrounding the academy have been completely turned into abandoned ruins.

Renia was one of the countless people tormented by curiosity.

Lord Diaros was unwilling to go near there. He was afraid of the comical-looking "frog-heads" patrolling the shallows, and even more wary of the Cuckoo Legion, which controlled parts of the lake district.

He urged her to leave this troublesome place as soon as possible.

This isn't the first time she's been so willful.

She carried a finely crafted crossbow and had a handy rapier at her waist, believing she was not afraid of any sporadic enemies.

Moreover, no matter where she ran off to before, young master Diaros could always find her, with helplessness and reproach, but in the end he would always bring her back safely.

The young master is a good person, kind-hearted, and actually quite strong, but... he's just a little timid.

If... if she really dies this time, he'll be so sad he won't be able to eat for days, right? He might even secretly shed tears, even though he always puts on airs like a nobleman.

Ah, Lenia thought to herself, what am I thinking? Is it because... I'm losing too much blood and starting to lose consciousness? Or is it because I really... am about to die?
The thought jolted her awake.

She shook her head violently, trying to dispel the despairing thoughts, but only felt a deeper wave of dizziness and weakness. She leaned against a cold, moss-covered boulder, slowly slid down, and buried her face in her knees.

What should she do?
Lord Diaros...where are you?
Tears mingled with the mud and blood on his face, silently streaming down his cheeks.

Crash, crash.

The sound of footsteps appeared again.

Not an illusion.

The heavy, rhythmic sound of wading through the water was like a countdown to death, one beat after another.

She tensed up abruptly, even the chattering of her teeth stopped instantly, her nerves tightened, and her ears perked up.

She couldn't run anymore.

Her legs felt like they were filled with lead, and her breathing aggravated the throbbing pain in her ribs—a wound inflicted two days earlier when she slammed her head against a sharp rock to avoid the claws of a giant lobster. The dizziness from hunger and blood loss continued to erode her consciousness.

Slowly, very slowly, she moved her hand to her waist and grasped the cold wooden handle of the exquisite crossbow.

The crossbow was already loaded; this was her last resort.

The sound of wading grew closer, the thick fog was stirred up, and a tall, menacing silhouette gradually became clear.

It was a knight whose entire body was covered in dark armor, the style of which she had never seen before, with a rugged and cruel beauty, covered with silt and seaweed from the bottom of the lake.

He waded through the knee-deep lake water with steady steps, carrying a terrifyingly long-handled hammer-spear on his shoulder.

At the end of the metal spear shaft is a heavy hammer covered with spikes; just looking at it, one can imagine how terrifying it would be to be struck.

Lenia glanced at it once before instantly retreating behind the boulder, her heart pounding so hard it felt like it was going to explode.

"Still haven't given up?" a hoarse voice rang out, filled with undisguised mockery. "The little mouse of the Hosslough family."

The owner of the voice was not in a hurry, as if she was enjoying her last struggle.

The footsteps approached at a leisurely pace.

closer, closer...

She held her breath and instantly sprang out from behind the boulder!

The instant her figure was exposed, she raised her crossbow, aimed at the tall silhouette, and pulled the trigger!
Boom—whoosh!

The crossbow string twanged, and the arrow whistled out, carrying her last hope!

puff!

Hit!
The crossbow bolt pierced precisely into the gap in the armor plate on the rebel's chest!

A faint glimmer of hope had just risen in Lenia's heart, but the next second, that hope was completely shattered.

The rebel only paused slightly, glancing down at the trembling crossbow bolt in his chest as if he had only been bitten by a mosquito.

He let out a disdainful snort, casually pulled out the arrow, and threw it into the water; there wasn't even much blood flowing from the wound.

The armor's defensive capabilities far exceeded her expectations.

"Ah... a toy."

His hoarse voice was filled with contempt.

Lenia was utterly desperate; a chill ran from her feet straight up to her head.

This was her last arrow...

She had her back against the cold, massive rock, with nowhere left to retreat.

As the figure approached like an iron tower, she gripped the rapier at her waist—a rapier that seemed so slender and weak in comparison—and with all her might, let out a cry that trembled with tears:
"I...I'm not afraid of you!"

The voice was so faint in the empty lake area, yet it was her final declaration to life.

The Herald seemed amused by this dying struggle, a low laugh emanating from beneath his visor:

"Not afraid? Very well... I'll let you slowly experience what true fear is..."

He raised the terrifying hammer-spear covered in spikes, the heavy weapon whistling through the air, and the shadow of death completely enveloped Lenia's petite figure.

At this critical moment.

Huh-boom!

(End of this chapter)