Chapter Sixty-Seven: The Sword Maiden

Xie Liu tumbled down from the dense thicket, spat out a mouthful of leaves, and cursed under his breath. He flung the white, disk-shaped object away. “What the hell is this thing? Wendy, you actually set me up—just wait until I get the chance, I swear I’ll kill you.”

Countless beams of light soared northwestward across the sky; Xie Liu could only gaze helplessly, uncertain where he was. As the celestial glow faded, he rubbed his nose. “Fine, I’ll go myself, isn’t that enough?”

In the dark, Xie Liu switched on the light on his watch, illuminating the depths of the forest, startling a flock of birds into flight. “This damned place—hopefully there aren’t any large beasts around.”

Distant explosions echoed, signaling the vanguard had already clashed with the enemy, and the first round of battle had begun. “Who are we up against?” Xie Liu massaged his head, sore from the fall, and cautiously ventured deeper into the woods. Suddenly, he sensed a white light flicker behind him. He spun around sharply, Desert Eagle aimed and ready.

“Ah!” Angela cried out softly, tumbling from the white disk.

“Angela, what are you doing here?” Xie Liu asked, stunned. The girl had hit her forehead on a branch as she fell, now rubbing her head with a pained expression. Hearing Xie Liu’s voice, she looked up at the man standing so close to her.

“Ah—!” With a plaintive squeal, Angela sprang up like a startled kitten, darted away, and hid behind a large tree. After a long while, she peeked out, her gaze fixed on Xie Liu with pitiful innocence.

“Am I really that scary?” Xie Liu replied awkwardly. “Your attitude’s really hurting my feelings.”

Angela stared at Xie Liu, then shook her head quickly after his words. “Brother Xie Liu isn’t scary—Angela’s just timid.” Her voice was barely audible; if not for Xie Liu’s keen hearing, he wouldn’t have caught her words.

Xie Liu, understanding her nature, laughed heartily and stepped forward, lifting the catlike girl from behind the tree. “No need to be afraid. I won’t eat you.”

Angela trembled slightly, her ruby eyes fixed on Xie Liu’s face, resembling a helpless kitten—or perhaps a frightened little hamster.

“Stick close to me,” Xie Liu said in a low voice. “Don’t get lost.”

He turned confidently to set their course, only for Angela to quietly interject, “Um, you’re heading the wrong way—it’s over there.” She pointed in the opposite direction, her expression adorably blank.

Internally, Xie Liu felt as though a herd of wild horses was stampeding through his mind. Angela was a local, born and raised here, and if anyone were to get lost, it certainly wouldn’t be her.

“Right, this way.” Xie Liu replied with an awkward smile and followed Angela’s lead.

The woods were unusually quiet. Perhaps it was a manmade forest, for not even a single large animal appeared. Before long, Angela guided Xie Liu to a hidden path, and they walked silently onward.

Both maintained their silence as distant rumblings continued, reminding them of the fierce battle underway. “Angela, you don’t need to worry about me. Your flight device is still intact—you can go ahead.”

Carrying the white disk, Angela shook her head slightly. Though gentle and shy, once she made up her mind, she would not be swayed. Xie Liu could only acquiesce, pondering the strange workings of her mind.

“By the way, do you know your sister Wendy well?” he asked suddenly. Angela seemed lost in thought, startled by his question. After a pause, she replied, “Sister Wendy is a very good person,” then fell silent, staring at Xie Liu.

It seemed this simple, adorable girl couldn’t find any other topic to ease the awkwardness. Xie Liu shook his head in resignation. “I just wanted to ask—what exactly is your sister’s ability? Her physical prowess far exceeds any normal human.”

“In all the people I’ve met, only S-class special operatives from the Special Alliance could compare physically to your sister. I really can’t imagine what kind of power could grant such terrifying abilities.” Xie Liu pressed her for answers.

Angela responded without hesitation, “Sister Wendy’s physical mutation is called ‘Full-body Enhancement.’ As her ability level increases, her physical attributes are continually fortified. Now, Sister Wendy’s ability index is at level eight, not far from level nine.”

“Do you know how many times your sister’s physical strength surpasses the human limit?” Xie Liu was eager to learn whether Wendy or Ace from the Special Alliance was superior. Angela shook her head slowly. “We’re not sure—we’ve never seen her go all out. But conservatively, it should be fifty times the human limit.”

“Fifty times?” Xie Liu fell into thought. The figure was slightly lower than Ace’s, but since Angela’s estimate was conservative, Wendy’s real strength was likely higher. “Suddenly, I’m looking forward to it—the strongest in the Special Alliance versus the most powerful of the supernaturals. If they collide, what kind of sparks will fly?”

“If you exclude their supernatural abilities, these two are probably the strongest creatures on Earth,” Xie Liu mused as he walked, suddenly bumping into Angela ahead.

“What’s going—” He stopped midway, for both he and Angela had noticed something unusual.

In the pitch-black woods, faint yellow lights had appeared, flickering deep within the forest. “Who would be here at this time?” Xie Liu whispered. Angela shook her head slowly, indicating she had no idea.

“Want to go take a look with me?” Xie Liu’s curiosity was piqued. Even in the most critical moments, his thoughts could wander—this was a prime example. Before Angela could respond, Xie Liu leaped forward and dashed toward the lights.

...

Wendy arrived at the battlefield to find chaos. Countless small ships streaked overhead, multicolored lasers whirled through the sky, and no one could tell friend from foe.

“What the hell is going on?” Wendy grabbed someone at random. Seeing the United Squad badge on his chest, she cursed. “What are you lot doing? The shield’s been breached and you don’t even notice?”

The man, initially annoyed, spotted the rose emblem on Wendy’s chest and immediately stood at attention. “Sword Maiden, ma’am! From the moment we detected the circuit anomaly to the shield breach was only a matter of seconds. We had no time to react. The attackers were clearly prepared. You know, when Miss Franny isn’t here, our Hokkaido division is at its weakest.”

“Whenever my sister isn’t here, you’re utterly useless. She’s spoiled you all, and when trouble hits, you’re nothing but dead weight!” Wendy raged. “Tell me—where’s the breach, how many are fighting now? If the enemy gets into the city, none of you will escape a military tribunal!”

The soldier, frightened by Wendy’s words, pointed ahead. “The breach is about seven kilometers out on the sea. All three defense fields have been compromised. The Special Alliance’s operatives have stormed in, numbers unknown. Captain Yamamoto of the Fifth Squad has fallen, and we’ve lost contact with the Third and Seventh Squads—they’re probably gone!”

Wendy had anticipated the severity, but not to this extent. The enemy was well-prepared, catching them completely off guard.

“Sword Maiden, the front line can’t hold. When the Security Bureau arrived, some of us managed to escape. Everyone’s scattered, and no one can find their unit. The enemy deployed magnetic disruption bombs, too—our communications are down.”

The soldier shouted desperately. Wendy grabbed his collar. “What about telekinetics? Don’t tell me your squads have no one capable of psychic links!”

“Ma’am, Sword Maiden—we really don’t. In fact, not just our squad, but the entire Hokkaido division lacks psychic abilities. You know this best!”

Wendy’s body trembled. He was right—the whole Hokkaido division had no psychic abilities except Franny. With her abilities, she could cover the entire division. As long as Franny was here, there was no need for other psychic operatives. Such rare abilities were always used sparingly. If Franny could handle it, no others would be stationed here.

Wendy released the soldier, who hurried off in his makeshift flyer, not daring to look back.

Others caught up, overhearing Wendy’s exchange. Sayo Mochizuki asked, “Wendy, what should we do?”

Wendy took a deep breath, her voice low. “We have nowhere to retreat. Tita, execute that deserter!”

“Understood.” Tita opened her eyes, her flaming wings unfurled, swooped back, and swept the fleeing soldier away.

“Mercy, Sword Maiden! Spare me!” the man cried, but Tita showed no mercy. Her fiery wings wrapped around him, incinerating him in an instant.

“Listen up, you worthless lot! All these years, under Franny’s protection, you’ve lived comfortably. Have you forgotten? Our Hokkaido division is the northernmost, closest to the Special Alliance!” Wendy hovered, shouting. “You’re supposed to be the strongest warriors, omnipotent supernaturals. Look at yourselves now—what a disgrace!”

“Shameful! I’m ashamed for you!” The fleeing masses halted, shaken by Wendy’s roar—or perhaps by the shock of Tita turning a deserter to ashes. They stopped their flyers.

“Go ahead, run! Let the monsters of the Special Alliance storm in, slaughter your families, seize your homes. Then your children will ask what you did. Ha! You can proudly tell them you were mooning the enemy!” Wendy cursed. Sayo Mochizuki was dumbfounded. “Is this really Wendy?”

“Wendy’s true nature—exposed,” Tita pronounced, clearly used to it.

Standing atop her flyer, Wendy’s sword, Star of Violet Glory, cast dazzling light. “No comms, no psychics—so what?” She raised her blade. “Just follow me. I am the Rose Sword Maiden. No one can defeat me in direct combat!”

As a leader, Wendy had undeniable charisma. Her reputation as the Rose Sword Maiden was legendary—a myth of invincibility. But if Xie Liu were here, he’d surely roll his eyes. ‘Unbeatable? Didn’t someone beat you twice two months ago, even taking your sword?’ But Xie Liu was absent, and no one questioned Wendy.

“Yes, even if the Mind God isn’t here, we still have the Rose Sword Maiden!” someone shouted. “We have the Flame Enchantress and the Wind Goddess, too. We still have fighting power!”

After some confusion, Wendy miraculously rallied the shattered United Squad, leading them back into battle. Though communications were down, years of training had forged their coordination. When they reached the breach, Alice was retreating with her team—urban security, though not professional combatants, performed far better than the United Squad this time.

...

“Thank goodness you’re here, or we’d all be done for.” Alice clutched her left shoulder, where a beam had recently burned a hole as thick as her forearm.

“Get treatment,” Wendy steadied the faltering Alice. “Leave the rest to us.”

Once Alice departed, Wendy led the rallied United Squad to the front. She stood at the shore, observing the sea, which had sunk several meters. She gritted her teeth. “All defense systems destroyed?”

A powerful force drew at the sea. Wendy knew it was the Special Alliance’s geomagnetic device—a machine that used a strong magnetic field to disrupt the nanomachines inside supernaturals, weakening their abilities. After a century of conflict, the Special Alliance had developed many ways to counter supernaturals.

“I’ll destroy it.” Wendy frowned, her violet blade appearing in her hand. She stepped onto the sea. Countless special operatives rushed to intercept her. Wendy sneered, raising her sword. “Slash!” She roared, and the sword cleaved wind and sea alike!

Wendy’s blade was unstoppable. This time, she struck with full force, holding nothing back—a blur streaking across the surface, mowing down cyborgs and operatives alike. None could stand against her.

Alone with her sword, she nearly tore through the entire Special Alliance line, stirring a storm.

“Sayo, find the geomagnetic device!” Wendy shouted. Sayo Mochizuki descended from the sky, lounging atop her flyer. “Got it, sister.” She raised her hand, wind spiraled around her, then formed a tornado rooted in the sea below.

“Open!” Sayo commanded, and the tornado blasted apart the water, clearing a dry area hundreds of meters in radius.

“Take her down!” someone in the Special Alliance cried. Weapons aimed at Sayo in midair. Tita landed, her speech cryptic. “Sister, can’t—stop.” Her flaming wings unfurled, spanning the sky.

Deadly flames. Tita nodded, her wings pressed down, incinerating countless Special Alliance warriors, who screamed and began to flee.

“Found it!” Wendy laughed, spotting a massive metal device underwater. Destroying the geomagnetic device would restore the supernaturals’ powers and break the communications blackout.

Atop the metal hulk stood a man, who shouted as Wendy approached. “I am seventh-ranked A-class operative! Who are you?”

“You talk too much!” Wendy retorted, sending her sword flying. The operative drew his blade, but was cleaved in two, man and sword alike.

“Impossible!” A7 fell into the sea. “Lord Ace, forgive me…” and sank beneath the waves.

Wendy, having split her foe in half, landed atop the device and reversed her blade, Star of Violet Glory. “Let’s end this!” She prepared to strike.

For a moment, even the wind seemed to grow still.

Wendy had survived death countless times and was extremely sensitive to its presence. Now, she felt it again—an unsettling sensation.

“What’s happening?” Wendy spun around. The waves parted suddenly. “Sword energy!” Wendy leapt up, barely dodging the invisible blade that sliced upward, splitting the geomagnetic device in two.

“Who’s there!” Wendy cried, her power partly restored now that the device was destroyed. She looked toward the source of the sword energy.

On the shore, a white-haired man had appeared, smiling at her.

“I’ve always thirsted for the blood of the strong. And you… you are very strong.” The white-haired man smiled. “First time meeting—I am Ace, S-class operative of the Special Alliance!”