The Against All Odds

CH 15 - Reinforcements

In an increasingly intense fight, Matilda and Belladona still face each other. Belladona swung his staff in trembling, trying to defend himself from Matilda's attacks that kept coming at lightning speed. "I'm so impressed by your silly trick, Matilda," scorned Belladona while dodging Matilda's attack that tried to pounce on her. "But believe me, my power is far beyond what you imagine."

Matilda smiled sinisterly, her red eyeballs lit up brightly. "Oh, really? I think your mana is running low, Belladona. Once you run out of mana, I'll end this quickly. And that way, Mr. Leo Demhian will give me the praise I deserve."

'Mana' is a general term in games and fantasy worlds that refers to magical resources or energy used to release magic or special abilities. When one feels his mana drained away, it means that they have used too much of the magical energy present within him and can no longer bring out their magic or magical abilities.

Belladona was silent for a moment, she began to feel her mana energy fade away. However, he immediately regrouped his courage and unleashed a new spell. "With my blood flowing, I beg for strength, Great Lord Talos, listen to me and help me defeat this demon!"

As the spell was uttered, a red glow emanated from Belladona's body, signaling she sacrificed some of her blood to gain additional mana. However, Matilda did not give him a chance to breathe. With an extremely fast movement, he charged towards Belladona, forming an elongated line of dark smoke.

"Damn? Believe me Belladona, no prayer can save you!" Matilda said as she tried to hit Belladona with a very powerful punch.

Belladona managed to dodge the blow with great difficulty and with the remnants of her mana, she unleashed her final magic attack. "If I have to go, I'll take you with me, Matilda!"

"Volaire!" the attack of red energy shot towards Matilda at high speed.

Matilda smiled and gently shook her head. "Slow, Belladona." With a swirling motion in the air, Matilda easily dodged Belladona's fireball attack. Then a giant black claw appeared enveloping Matilda's right hand which was about to make one deadly attack towards Belladona.

However, before the attack reached Belladona, a bluish-white light split through the room like a bolt of lightning, separating Belladona and Matilda. While the two looked at each other with tension, a resolute sound of action was heard from the entrance of the room that was forcefully opened.

A legion of Thellidian Kingdom troops consisting of white-armored soldiers with golden accents filled the room. They came under the leadership of Prince Gideon, an experienced and powerful Prince and Knight. In their presence, this room felt filled with a gripping aura.

Belladona glanced at Gideon with a brief gaze, though it remained brimming with hubris. "You think I need your help, Gideon? I can still finish this myself."

Gideon did not let Belladona's reproach bother him. He nodded to his troops, and with a stern attitude, the soldiers of Thellidia Kingdom prepared to secure this room. Clearly, their existence here was nothing but to kill Leo Demhian as the successor power holder of the Nythorian Faction.

Gideon, in a loud voice that filled the room, ordered Leo, "Leo Demhian, take your hands off Menhir and surrender! We don't want to hurt you, but we won't hesitate to take action if you don't follow our orders."

Dozens of Thellidian Kingdom troops loyal to Gideon prepared with their swords and shields, their sharp eyes looking at Leo, waiting for any order from their leader. The atmosphere in this room became increasingly tense, and Leo felt great pressure to make the right decision.

In an instant, Matilda appeared from within the shadow of darkness, hurtling at an astonishing speed, towards Gideon who was talking to Leo. However, Gideon was not surprised. Casually, he took out his dashing and luxurious sword, equipped with a glittering headwaters like dazzling flashes of lightning. The sword exuded a dazzling aura of power.

Matilda managed to dodge from the swing of Gideon's sword. However, Cayden, the bespectacled male magician in a colored robe aligned with Gideon's armor, said calmly as he chanted a mantra, "For the sake of the Great God Talos, please use heaven and earth, please, like a frozen wave of water!" a glittering blue glint shot out from her hand and touched Matilda's feet, instantly, Matilda's feet began to freeze as if they were exposed to ice.

Matilda whimpered in pain, "Ahh! Shit!"

Cayden smiled coldly, pressing his glasses. "You can never stand against Prince Gideon. You're just hampering yourself."

Gideon added, "You attacked us all of a sudden, like a frightened little mouse."

Matilda tried to break away from the clot, but to no avail. "That's the rat! Unhand me!"

Gideon suddenly drew out his sword and approached Matilda with his sword that flashed like lightning. Matilda felt helpless, her feet frozen by Cayden's spell and now Gideon's deadly sword threatens her neck. He screamed in pain and fear.

Leo, seeing the increasingly precarious situation, felt hopeless. "Stop! I give up, please don't hurt Matilda."

"Don't Mr Demhian! I don't care, we just need a little more time."

Gideon smiled with satisfaction, but his cold eyes kept staring at Leo sharply. "Finally, you are aware of reality, Leo Demhian. I know you're smarter than this rat." He pressed his sword closer to Matilda's neck, "Now, release your hand from Menhir Bastion."