novelraw Chapter 51 : Breakout
Chapter 51 : Breakout
“Rozelite, are you alright?”
“…”
Rozelite said nothing.
Seeing this, Russell didn’t wait for her response and spoke on his own:
“From the looks of it, there are two possibilities.”
“First, he’s being used by someone behind the scenes. The information he requested from the capital was intercepted, replaced with false intel, which led to this situation. Whoever pulled this off isn’t some simple bandit—it could be a noble, or perhaps…”
“…”
“Second, he himself is the one behind it all. But that’s less likely. If that were the case, he could have taken you the first time you met at the city gates.”
“…”
Rozelite still said nothing.
Russell could feel the turmoil inside her—fear, confusion.
In the end, she was still just a child.
Feeling lost in the face of such a tangled situation was only natural.
Russell turned his attention back outward.
To the guards surrounding them with weapons drawn, and Clayman standing behind them.
Perhaps because of the 【Expulsion Lightning】 he had unleashed earlier, the soldiers held back, wary, making no move for now.
“Either way, the most important thing right now is getting out. We can’t stay in this city any longer,” Russell said.
“Mr. Slime… what should I do?”
Rozelite finally spoke.
“In short, make sure you’re safe first, and avoid killing if you can.”
Killing served no purpose.
If it came to self-defense, Russell wouldn’t hesitate, but even if they slaughtered everyone here, it wouldn’t clear Rozelite of suspicion. The real goal was escape.
Within that, kill as little as possible.
“Escape…”
Rozelite hesitated.
“There’s no other way,” Russell said.
“Nothing can be explained here. If you lose your freedom, it’s over. We can’t give them the initiative. Of course, there’s a second path: kill everyone here, and everyone in the city who knows about this. What do you think?”
“But I really am the Seventh Princess, I’m not an impostor…”
“That doesn’t matter. They won’t listen. And as for me, you don’t need to explain to me.”
Russell smiled faintly.
“Mr. Slime…”
“I won’t say I ‘believe you unconditionally.’ After all, we’ve only known each other for half a month. But for me, it doesn’t matter at all. My partner in fate is the individual called Rozelite, not some Seventh Princess.”
“…I see. I understand.”
Rozelite gave a silent smile.
If that was the case, there was no reason to hesitate.
She gripped her sword.
“Looks like you won’t be surrendering quietly,” Clayman said.
“Don’t make it sound like I’m some heinous criminal. I can’t explain myself clearly, true…”
Rozelite leveled her sword at him.
“Sir Clayman, could you do me a favor and have them step aside?”
“What nonsense are you spouting?”
“Is that so… then there’s no more talking…”
Before the last syllable faded, heavy footsteps rang out across the floor.
More than twenty guards in the hall advanced in unison, spears leveled forward. The cold gleam of their tips converged like a forest of steel thorns, thrusting densely and lethally toward the girl at the center.
In real battle, long weapons reigned supreme. Even famed Sword Saints understood the truth: every inch of reach meant power.
Rozelite retreated quickly, barely slipping past the thrusts.
But behind her was the wall. She had no space left.
At the instant the spearpoints grazed her clothes, lightning erupted again around her, blasting the nearest guards back.
The gap they left was enough. Rozelite kicked off the ground, her body like an arrow shot from a bow, squeezing through the tiny opening between two crossing spears.
On her left, a soldier roared, swinging his spear from thrust to sweep. The heavy shaft whooshed toward her waist.
Rozelite twisted, spinning her body, her sword tip striking the middle of the sweeping shaft to redirect the force.
Thud!
The impact numbed her arm, driving her staggering to the right.
【Mana Reinforcement lv4】
【Mana Reinforcement lv4】
With double reinforcement, Rozelite forced her steps steady. One hand seized the shaft and yanked hard backward.
The unprepared guard was thrown to the floor, his weapon torn from his grasp.
Rozelite stepped forward, bent her waist, and with a surge of strength, hurled the spear like a javelin straight at Clayman, hiding behind his men!
Whsssh—!
The weapon, boosted by reinforcement, flew like a cannon shot.
Clayman remained calm. As it neared, he slowly raised his palm.
A torrent of blazing fire roared forth, melting the spear midair into slag.
Rozelite pressed her hand to the ground.
【Water Magic lv7】
A flood gushed forth like a waterfall from her palm, drowning half the guild hall in an instant.
Clayman, caught mid-spell, could only watch as water and fire collided in the air. A screeching hiss erupted, and a blinding white steam cloud filled the room.
“Damn it—I can’t see!”
“Who stepped on my foot?!”
“Where is she?!”
The neat ranks of soldiers descended into chaos.
“Up!”
Russell ordered.
Rozelite raised her head, pupils tightening.
【Hawkeye lv5】
Above was only stone ceiling, no way out.
But she didn’t hesitate.
Bending her knees slightly, she suddenly launched upward. With double reinforcement, her power carried her like a spring, rocketing skyward!
“Archers, fire!”
Clayman’s voice rang out in fury.
Fwhsssh—fwhsssh—fwhsssh!
Arrows rained down at her in midair.
【Expulsion Lightning lv5】
Lightning crackled, shooting from her body, swatting arrows from the sky.
Russell realized just how absurdly useful this skill was. Its only drawback was the heavy mana cost.
But what was that to him? Even after supplying mana for two people since the battle began, he hadn’t used even one percent.
Crack!
Rozelite seized the railing of the second floor, hauling herself up to the corridor with a pull.
“Stop her! Don’t let her escape!”
Guards rushed from both sides along the corridor.
“Point your finger at the ceiling,” Russell said.
Rozelite obeyed instantly.
A brilliant light swelled at her fingertip, condensing rapidly into a white sphere the size of a fist.
【Mana Cannon lv8】
Boom—!
The searing orb fired like a shell. With a deafening explosion, stone and beams shattered, fragments raining down. Blinding daylight and icy winds laced with snow burst through the gaping hole.
“She’s trying to escape from above! Catch her!”
Clayman barked, no longer calm.
Spears thrust from both sides at the unsteady Rozelite.
“Go!”
Russell urged.
Without hesitation, Rozelite kicked off the railing, her body vaulting toward the hole. Enhanced by double reinforcement, her leap was tremendous. Before the eyes of all, her hands grasped the broken edge of the ceiling.
Pain seared as blood ran down her fingers.
Splinters and jagged stone edges cut into her delicate palms.
But Rozelite didn’t let go. Gritting her teeth, she pulled herself up inch by inch.
“Damn it!”
Clayman grabbed a bow from a soldier, eyes narrowing.
He drew, nocked.
Whsssh—
A flaming arrow streaked like a meteor for Rozelite’s throat!
【Expulsion Lightning lv5】
Lightning flared, shielding her.
But this time, the godlike skill faltered—it only deflected the arrow’s angle, failing to stop it completely.
Thkk!
The arrow pierced Rozelite’s shoulder, blood spraying down.
Her body trembled where she hung in midair.
【HP: 6785 / 7690】
Seeing the sudden drop in her life force, Russell’s head snapped downward, his expression twisting into savage fury.