Chapter 44 - Comeback!

If this moment would become my last, I'd rather fall down looking at the sky than what is below me right now.

Looking down, I would only see colors of death, despair and destruction. In contrast to that, the blood red skies give off a relaxing feeling to my senses, helping me forget for a while the agonizing pain coming from my almost severed arm.

Oh, speaking of my arm, it feels really strange, seeing the partially cut part swaying violently against the wind as I fall down. From the looks of it, it's as if my dangling hand is waving at that mantis guy currently looking down on me with a scary look on his face.

That damn demon...

Not only he cut my arm off, he also stabbed me in the stomach. Just how much did he really wanted me to become minced meat, huh? Hey, just because you managed to land a few attacks on me it doesn't mean you're stronger than me, you hear?!

Well, it doesn't matter anyway, for I will die a few seconds from now.

Rin Ricafort, 16 years of age, death by falling from a great height. I'm not sure if there are any existing newspapers here in this world, but if there is I'm sure that my name would be included in the obituary section, written along with the words 'if she didn't live that long it just means that she's a good girl'.

Why won't I do something, you say? Of course as much as possible I don't want this situation to happen, but in reality something like that is much more easier said than done. Albeit having so many options running in my mind right now, options that could overturn the current situation into a favorable one, my body's already too weak to implement all of it. It might sound like I already gave up on life, but that's the truth.

In my current state, only a divine intervention could possibly save me from this life-or-death scenario.

Oh, there's a bright pillar of light coming from over there...--

Wait--a pillar of light? What in the world did just happened over there?

Then, like a wildfire, the whole place became filled with this blinding light, and eventually afterwards the light reached even me.

Woah, this light...

I know it's natural for a dying person to hallucinate, but what is happening right now is the real deal. As soon as the light touched my skin, all of my wounds regenerated at a stunning rate. Even my cut arm reattached itself with the help of this holy light, while also repairing the severed blood vessels and nerves at the same time.

Like a gentle mother taking care of her beloved child, feelings of warmth and comfort quickly replaced the despair residing inside my heart.

'No way', I could only gasp at the wonder that just happened right now. Did some unknown god from this world heard my thoughts and pulled off a miracle this time? Or was it...nah, I don't think so.

Anyway, now that I regained my tip-top condition, all those miracles will be put into naught if I don't do something about this falling down situation!

Two seconds. That's all there is left for me to save myself.

Twisting my body while still in midair, I stared down at the ground as I quickly rummage in my pocket the thing Mari gave to me some time ago.

"[Wind Scroll: Fierce Updraft]!"

Whooosh! At that instant, a strong gust of wind blew upwards and helped me cushion my fall towards safety.

Because the spell inside the scroll can only be used once, Mari told me that I can only use it during emergency situations. I almost forgot about having such thing in my possession, but thanks to her I landed on the ground in good shape.

Once everything's been settled, I will treat you into an even more extravagant place, Prez.

Oh? The mantis guy's been looking at me for a while now. Is he disappointed that I didn't fell to my death just like what he's expecting?

"Hey, mantis guy! It was regrettable, but the higher-ups didn't want this rising star to end her career yet!" I shouted at the demon.

"Yoooouuuuuuu..." The demon roared angrily in a low voice.

"Oh my, are you mad at me right now? You may not like it, but that's how life works. In life, as much as there are people in the world trying to help you, there's also people who will mess your plans up real good. Well too bad, I'm the latter one!" I said daringly while sticking out my tongue at him, before running.

"Die--!!!"

Kicking the air behind him, the demon immediately plunged down like a falcon as he chased after me, planning to cut me up once more before I reach the place I intended to go.

Although the said spot's only a few meters away from me, I'm sure he could still catch up and kill me by the time I cover half the distance.

That's why...

DU-DU-DU-DUUUUUUNNNN!!!!!

"KHAAAAAAAHHH!!!!"

Before he could even reach me, I used against him all the remaining Wind Spell Scrolls in my pocket at once.

The combined power of the scrolls was enough for him to instantly lose momentum as he got blown away horizontally for about a few hundred meters, crashing into collapsed walls in the street several times before finally stopping. Using that as an advantage, I continued to run until I reached the place where my sword is.

"Ah, thank goodness, I thought I would never use you again!" I said as I hugged the sword tightly, causing it to be almost buried by my chest.

Thought it is not the suitable time to be emotional over a single sword, it can't be helped since I won't be able to use it if I become an amputee.

Meanwhile, after losing consciousness for a few moments, the demon quickly regained its focus and leaped towards me in a zigzag manner.

Okay, I won't lose out to him this time!

Taking in a deep breath, I also quickly applied force on my feet, and also charged towards him.

As much as he wants to kill me in a single strike, the same can be applied to myself as well.

Given the distance between us, the winner will be decided as to which of us has the greater momentum on our attacks.

"KHAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!"

"HAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!"

The two of us let out our voices as loud as we could, in hopes of intimidating the other side.

This time, for sure...

Just as when our blades are about to clash--

"----?!"

Just in time before he could dice me with all of his eight blades, I jumped high up in the air, stomped on his ugly face, and used it to propel myself up even higher.

This is the moment I've been waiting for--

"[Execution Style: Murdering Moonrise]!!!"

With my whole body making a side spin in the air, I generated enough momentum to drive my blade downwards, slashing through the demon's vulnerable neck.

Slash!

"GUUUOOOOOHHHHH!!!!!!"

The demon roared in great pain and fury as my blade started cutting through his neck.

"Begone, foul creature--!!!" I shouted as I applied more force into my blade, until I completely lopped off his head from the body.

----------

"Haaah, my body hurts like hell..." I groaned as I placed my left hand on my neck.

By the time I defeated the mantis demon, it's already nighttime. Looking up, I could see a few stars scattered sparingly on the sky, and the bright full moon that light up the surroundings with its cold shine.

Come to think of it, if not for that mysterious pillar of light from earlier, I might not have defeated that mantis guy just now. Whoever that person is, I must express my thanks to that person alongside with Mari...

"Guuuuuuuuhhhh..."

Suddenly, I heard a faint grumble coming from somewhere near.

"Eh? You're still alive?!" I let out a voice of shock as I discover where the grumble came from.

Walking a few meters towards the source of the grumble, I looked down to see the severed head of the demon, still conscious even though it's already half an hour since I cut off his head.

"You really are a stubborn one, aren't ya? I can't believe you're still alive after all of that."

The demon glared at me hatefully in return. "You...I will kill you..."

"Fufufu. Unless you could bite me to death even at your current state, just baring your fangs won't do justice to your words."

Though, if ever he could still pose a threat to me at this point, I could put an end to his misery in an instant as a precaution.

"By the way, I just remembered all of a sudden...you said something like [The Fool] earlier, if I'm not mistaken. Tell me, what in the world is that?"

I'm sure that no matter how much I threaten him, this guy won't confess whatever valuable information he's holding. Still, I have nothing to lose if I try to ask him.

"[The Fool]. Hah...you won't get anything from me..." He said in a faint, but berating voice.

Figures.

"Haaah..it can't be helped then," I sighed in resignation.

Whooosh! With a swing of my arm I slashed the top of his skull, revealing a dark pink squishy matter that is his brain.

Sheeeesh, I immediately averted my eyes away from the horrendous sight in front of me.

"It's okay even if you don't want to cooperate," I told him. "It's just that, I'll stir your brains out until it turns liquid if you still keep on being stubborn."

Hearing my words, the demon showed a disgusted expression, as if he's already seeing it happen in his imagination.

"You...vile, big-b.r.e.a.s.ted woman..."

"Ah, seems like you really want some brain mush, aren't you. Here, let me stir it for you--"

"Wait--! I will tell it to you already..." The demon pleaded in panic, just before my sword's about to plunge into his cerebrum.

"Oh my, now we're talking!" I became overjoyed with his decision. "Now, tell me what you know about [The Fool], and the reason why you're looking for it."

And thus, he told me everything he knew about [The Fool]. Honestly, I was a bit skeptical as I only took everything he said to me with a grain of salt, but it was still relevant information nonetheless. As soon as I share this to Mari and the others, I'm sure we could finally have a way to deal with their succeeding plans in the future.

"That's...all that I know about [The Fool]...just kill me already..." The demon kept on glaring at me after the interrogation. Seems like it really hurts for him, sharing something confidential with the ones they detested the most.

"Oh, don't be like that, mantis guy. Look at me, just a while ago I was in a hot mess but now I'm all fine thanks to my willpower. I believe you could still survive in this world even with just your head, right?" I smiled at the demon.

Turning my back away from his head, I walked to where the body is, and searched for anything that would support the information I got from him.

"Okay. Looks like we're completely done here," I clapped my hands while having a satisfied feeling with the loot I've got. "All that's left is to let the soldiers take care of this mess we've made."

After taking a few steps away from the scene for a while I returned to where the demon's head is located, and cleaved his skull into two halves in just a heartbeat.

"Even though I already forgave you for all the physical damage you've dealt to me, calling me a 'big-b.r.e.a.s.ted woman' really ground my gears." I said to him before leaving the area with heavy steps.