While Isao and Sylveria battled one demon general, the two others that Isao had teleported away used their abilities to phase through the castle walls. Sensing their comrade was already engaged in a fight, they made their way to the room housing the Magic Land Table via feeling the holy energy.
"Found you~" one of the demon generals said, instantly casting a paralyzing magic cancelling Queen Elysandra and Princess Marybelle's support magic. "Ugh! It caught us!" Marybelle exclaimed.
"Now the artifact will be destroyed!" The demon general swung her arms, but before it could land, Isla appeared out of nowhere, throwing a sharp screw spear at the demon's head. With a nonchalant "Short Mountain Slicer" Isla then slashed through the demon general's neck with a thin, sharp sword, decapitating her in one clean strike. Blood splattered as the body collapsed to the ground.
The queen and princess were shocked, but mostly relieved that Isla was there. They hadn't noticed that Isla, Sylveria, and Isao had entered earlier, with Isla scattering her weapons around the room. They had been so focused on the Magic Land Table, supporting the battlefield, that the demon general caught them off guard.
"You damn brat, I'll Kill-" Before the head of the demon general could finish talking, Isla slam her axe on it multiple times, blood splattering on her pure white robes. She then moved on to the body of the demon general which spasmed under her merciless assault using her axe. The head, its feeble protests were drowned out by the rhythmic crunch of bone and splat of viscera. Despite the macabre spectacle, Isla's attention was already shifting, her eyes scanning the room for the next threat as the body of the demon general started dissipating to ash in the air.
"You alright, Your Majesties?" she inquired in a detached tone, as if discussing the weather, while dabbing at the crimson stains marring her pristine robes. It was clear the gruesome encounter left her utterly unfazed, a testament to her inured nature. Without waiting a response, Isla spun on her heel and launched herself at a dark silhouette emerging from the shadows - the second demon general. Isla's movements were a blur, a whirlwind of deadly efficiency as she claimed the room as her domain.
"You brat! You got lucky with my companion— Pure offense, no defense and easy to kill! But I'm not the same! I have armor and weapons!" the demon snarled as it blocks Isla's charge, displaying its six arms. Isla remained unfazed. The demon general's boastful declaration only earned a curt, disinterested glance from her. She calmly picked up weapons scattered across the room and hurled them at the demon, following up with swift, precise sword strikes. Her attacks were relentless, her movements fluid as if the room full of weapons were extensions of her own body. As she continued her relentless onslaught. The air around her became a chaotic maelstrom of flying weapons - swords, axes, spears - each one seemingly an extension of her will, a manifestation of her innate skill and mastery of all weapons.
As the demon's six arms unsheathed a multitude of deadly blades, Isla merely sidestepped, her lithe form weaving between the whirling sword storm with preternatural agility. In a seamless blur, she closed the distance, her own short sword lashing out to carve through the demon's defenses. The sound of clashing steel echoed throughout the room, a testament to the ferocious exchange unfolding. Despite the monster's claims of superior armaments, Isla's mastery over her surroundings and weapons remained unmatched. Her very presence seemed to command her arsenal, guiding them against the 2nd demon general.
"This is pointless..." Isla muttered, her attacks failing to inflict any fatal injuries on the demon general despite her accuracy and precision, even targeting small openings or vital parts were useless as she could only inflict light wounds because of the demon general's tough skin, what's more it has an amazing regeneration. Her weapons, though plentiful, weren't sharp enough for the task.
"Princess Marybelle, can you channel holy mana into me? Just enough to take down a demon general." Isla requested in her usual aloof tone. Marybelle hesitated, knowing that Isla had no natural compatibility with holy mana and doing so could harm—or even kill her. What Marybelle didn't know, however, was that Isla had been a "Sword Saint" in her previous life. While her current form lacked compatibility, her unparalleled mastery allowed her to control holy energy with precision.
Marybelle hesitated; her brows furrowed in concern. "But Isla, focusing the holy mana directly on you could be dangerous. Your body wouldn't naturally resonate with it!" Isla's gaze remained unwavering, her voice steady. "I know the risks, but we're out of options here. The weapons aren't cutting deep enough, and I can't find an opening. Even if it means absorbing a potentially lethal dose, holy mana is our best chance at defeating this creature." Marybelle bit her lip, weighing the possibilities. Despite Isla's reassurances, the potential consequences weighed heavily on the princess's mind. Nevertheless, she steeled herself and reached out, placing a hand on Isla's shoulder. A soft hum of divine energy emanated from her touch, pulsing in time with her heartbeat. "Holy shield, converge and amplify thy essence upon Isla's form."
As the demon general's crushing blow neared, Isla closed her eyes, feeling the holy mana course through her veins. Unlike her native "White" mana in her previous life, which radiated a serene, ethereal glow, this foreign energy pulsed with a vibrant, golden light. She could sense its immense power, begging to be unleashed. Seizing the opportunity, Isla redirected the holy mana towards her weapon and arms, channeling it into her Swordsmanship. With a swift, decisive motion, she drew her sword and unleashed her favorite technique.
"Sword Saint Style: Sky Splitter."
Isla declared calmly. In a flash, she swung her sword with incredible speed, Queen Elysandra instantly cast a protective barrier to contain the upcoming damage, however the resulting slash obliterated the protective barrier instantly along with the castle and capital's barrier. The demon general, caught off guard, stared in disbelief as the very fabric of reality seemed to tear apart before his eyes. His gaze shot upward, only to witness the clouds in the sky splitting in two, a chasm stretching across the horizon. When his vision refocused on Isla, the demon general's horror deepened. "I... I was... cut?" the demon general gasped in disbelief, his vision splitting in two as his body began to disintegrate into thin air.
Queen Elysandra and Princess Marybelle stared in stunned confusion, unable to comprehend how Isla had unleashed such a powerful technique they had never witnessed before. As they turned their gaze to Isla, they saw her body wracked by the toll of her actions—Isla's form suddenly crumbled, her skin and flesh exploding outward in a shower of gore, the two monarchs rushed to her side. Unable to withstand the immense strain of the holy mana she had wielded; she collapsed to the ground unconscious.
"Marybelle, heal her quickly!" Queen Elysandra commanded urgently. "I've already sent a magical message to Aira to return to the palace immediately.I'll resume providing support through the Magic Land Table."Marybelle dropped to her knees, placing a trembling hand on Isla's ravaged body. "Hold on, please!" she implored, her voice thick with worry. "Marybelle, can you heal Isla on your own, or do you need my help? Answer quickly!" Queen Elysandra demanded, her attention still fixed on supporting the military through the Magic Land Table.
"It's too much for me alone, Mother," Marybelle replied, her brow furrowed in concern as she assessed Isla's condition. "Her body can't cope with the holy mana overload. We need Queen Aira - her healing magic would be instrumental in stabilizing Isla." Queen Elysandra nodded briskly, her attention already pivoting back to the sacred artifact, the Magic Land Table. "Very well, I'll send a magical message to Aira again to hurry. Her aid is sorely needed."
The Queen resumed her duties, carefully channeling her own enchanted energies to bolster the frontline troops engaged in the grueling battle against the demon horde. Meanwhile, Marybelle continued tending to Isla's mangled form, desperately hoping to keep her alive until Aira's expertise could be summoned to heal the gravely wounded girl. "Come on! Why aren't you regenerating!?" Marybelle asked desperately as her holy healing magic isn't doing anything to Isla.
In a matter of minutes, Aira burst into the holy chamber, her azure eyes widened in horror at the gruesome sight before her. The usually poised and collected 5th Queen's demeanor shifted, replaced by raw concern for the battered figure lying prone on the altar. Aira hurried to Marybelle's side, taking in the severity of Isla's injuries with a mixture of shock and compassion. "Ice Healing Flow, seal and mend wounds." she murmured, extending her delicate fingers towards Isla's ravaged flesh. An ethereal glow of pale blue enveloped Isla, Aira's ice magic racing to stem the bleeding and knit together shattered bones. "By the gods...what happened here?" Aira breathed, her brow furrowed in distress as she surveyed the chaos. "Who could possibly inflict such destruction on our cherished Isla?"
As Marybelle continues to cast her holy healing magic, she explained that Isla had absorbed holy mana to defeat the demon general. Understanding the urgency, she focused on the most critical details. "Marybelle, switch to normal healing magic instead of holy healing magic." Queen Aira instructed firmly. "Her body has already absorbed holy mana, and using holy healing would only poison her. I'll concentrate on sealing her wounds; you handle regeneration."Marybelle's eyes widened in understanding at Queen Aira's prompt assessment. "You're right, Holy mana isn't suitable for Isla's constitution right now," she acknowledged, immediately altering her healing approach.
Queen Aira also noted how exhausted First Queen Elysandra appeared. Determined to finish healing Isla quickly, she aimed to free Marybelle to assist her mother in maintaining the Magic Land Table's support.
Together, the two worked in tandem to tend to Isla's catastrophic injuries. Marybelle's radiant normal healing magic washed over the ravaged areas, soothing and cleansing the damaged tissues, while Aira's icy energy sealed the lacerations and fractures with unerring precision. "I'll finish here, Marybelle." Aira reassured, noting Marybelle's exhausted state. "Let your mother Elysandra share some of your strength too, she seems quite drained." The older queen indeed appeared worn out, her once vibrant aura now a mere flicker.
Aira focused her efforts, determined to have Isla restored to health as swiftly as possible, knowing full well the burden Marybelle carried as the monarch's heir. "Elysandra I'm here!" Valleria said as she entered the room, her usually composed features twisted with concern as she rushed to Elysandra's side. "Shit, how did those fiends breach the sacred sanctum?" she exclaimed, her gaze sweeping the carnage with a mixture of anger and dismay.
Earlier Valleria swiftly dispatched orders to take Isao and Sylveria to the infirmary, ensuring capable knights, healers, and doctors would tend to them. She also receives words from 3rd Queen Quintosa and 4th Queen Alexandra that they will be joining the knights battling the demon army outside the capital as the barrier has been obliterated out of nowhere by a holy energy that also split the skies
"As she's nearly fully recovered, I'll carry Isla to the infirmary. Then I will be on guard to protect the whole capital so that I can instantly obliterate any demons who dares to enter." Valleria announced with fierce and quiet intensity that her crimson eyes is blazing with contained fury.
She lifts the still weakened girl with ease. "Please lend your strength to support Marybelle and Elysandra, they need it now more than ever. I'll send additional personnel to bolster our defenses along with some holy priestesses to transfer holy mana to Elysandra and Marybelle." Valleria stated to Aira, acknowledging that only Marybelle and Elysandra has the ability to use Divine Overseer.
