Rip—
The sound of air being torn resounded.
Anna's afterimage blurred into one, flashing across the soldier's body.
Pffft!
Blood splattered, a geyser of blood erupted.
The soldier's body was instantly split in two.
"Hoo!"
Looking at the corpse behind her, Anna tightened her grip on the blade, her breathing becoming heavy.
"Adjust your mindset, you're just killing some beasts."
For a Retainer/Subordinate killing for the first time, such comfort was necessary.
"Understood, Master."
Anna nodded, steadying her emotions.
"By the way, your method of using the blade is problematic, it needs adjustment."
Linde conjured an ice blade and demonstrated it on the spot.
"Also, when you strike, the trajectory and power are off. You need to do it like this..."
"Mhm, mhm."
Anna nodded repeatedly, beginning to replicate it through her Eye of Insight.
So, this was the way to fight.
Deep within her heart, a flame named 'getting stronger' was ignited.
Linde continued forward while explaining.
Facing the soldiers who surrounded them, Anna stepped forward again, but her fighting style was no longer that of a novice.
Wherever she passed, the long blade in her hand continuously swung, drawing out streaks of chilling light in the night, bringing with it countless severed limbs.
"Miss Anna has excellent combat talent."
Watching all this, Lie was also somewhat surprised.
Such a speed of improvement was astonishing.
Linde didn't answer, merely expanding his senses.
The Geolal Kingdom's army wasn't foolish; after they slaughtered so many soldiers, the other side had already reacted.
The forces scattered throughout the town were beginning to gather.
By the time they reached their destination, the army was already on high alert.
The leader was a dark-skinned, bald man holding a large cannon.
The Hero of Cannon—Buliute.
At this moment, his face was grim, and his mood was extremely foul.
Originally, discovering the perfect young man from his dreams was a wonderful thing.
The other party's status as a Brave was an added bonus.
But his old problem had resurfaced.
He had actually played the other party to death.
Who knew that at this time, someone would still dare to cause him trouble? It was simply courting death.
"Buliute..."
Looking at that figure, a deep killing intent flashed in Anna's eyes.
She was about to charge straight over but was stopped by Linde.
"This isn't an opponent you can handle right now."
"Leave everything to me."
Hearing her master's words, Anna stopped, nodding obediently.
On the other side, Buliute also noticed the three of them.
"Just three people, and you dare to... Hmm?"
He stopped mid-sentence, stunned.
Princess Freya?
Buliute's face lit up with joy, and he stepped forward directly: "Your Highness Freya, it's wonderful that you're safe and sound. I was just acting on the King's orders to..."
Then, his expression changed, and his Brave artifact, [Taslam], raised its cannon muzzle in front of him.
Buzz!
Astonishing magic power gathered, transforming into a visible magic bullet.
Boom!
Accompanied by a deafening roar, visible ripples spread in all directions, and the distant Geolal Kingdom soldiers and horses were thrown into disarray, countless people spitting up blood.
Buliute's hasty attack caused him to be forcefully pushed back, his feet leaving a deep gully on the ground.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Smoke billowed, and a hurricane roared.
Buliute's expression was grim as he stared at Freya.
"Your Highness Freya, what is the meaning of this?"
He had never expected her to attack him.
"Or are you preparing to betray the Geolal Kingdom?"
Freya didn't reply, merely looking at Linde as if seeking praise.
"Mhm, well done."
Linde gave her a head pat, very satisfied with this.
It seemed the education during this period had been very effective.
"..."
Buliute was somewhat bewildered.
What was going on?
Was this still the Princess he remembered, outwardly noble and kind, but inwardly a vicious sadist?
She was practically an obedient pet.
"It seems Your Highness the Princess has been controlled by some magic, hasn't she?"
A moment later, Buliute looked at Linde with sharp eyes, as if trying to see through him.
"This is all her own free will, you know."
Linde said with a half-smile, "I didn't force her, did I, Freya?"
"That's right, my Master."
Freya smiled, raising her divine staff: "I will kill them all for my Master right now."
"Fifth-tier magic, Wind Roar!"
Vast magic power surged skyward, and the entire night was ravaged by strong winds, transforming into a giant tornado.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Amidst flying sand and stones, the tornado roared like an angry dragon, swooping down from the sky.
"What is this?"
"Why would Princess Freya attack us?"
"Run, quickly run!"
Facing this catastrophic tornado, countless soldiers' morale collapsed.
To ordinary soldiers, the power of a Brave was no different from that of a god.
"To be controlled so thoroughly?"
Buliute frowned, his figure flickering, already disappearing from his original spot.
Rumble! Rumble!
The tornado raged wildly on the ground, like a giant beast destroying everything.
Astonishing shockwaves swept in all directions, carrying severed limbs and splattering blood.
"Ah ah ah..."
Wails filled the air.
The dense Geolal Kingdom army soldiers were annihilated by more than half in an instant.
"Anna, you can act now."
"Yes, Master."
Anna's expression was cold, as if she had transformed into a meteor, charging towards the battlefield littered with corpses.
Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!
Flowers bloomed, and sharp blade light completely cut down all soldiers it encountered.
Linde glanced at it, then no longer paid attention, looking instead to another place.
Boom!
Accompanied by a thunderous roar, a vast magic bullet had already torn through the sky.
"Trying to ambush me, you're still somewhat intelligent."
Linde sneered, lightly flicking his finger, and a magic light beam bloomed.
Bang!
The air vibrated, the magic bullet was immediately shattered, and the aftermath tore apart the surrounding earth.
"This man is not simple either; he actually shattered my magic bullet just like that?"
Buliute, hiding in the shadows, once again gathered magic power into his Brave artifact.
"However, to turn the tide, I must kill this man to lift the control over Her Highness Freya."
"For the next shot, I'll use my full power..."
He actually wanted to run, but thinking of Her Highness Freya's magical ability, he could only give up.
Being hunted by a Brave of Sorcery who could cast seventh-tier magic would likely mean certain death.
"Do you really think I can't find you hiding here?"
Suddenly, a playful voice sounded from behind him.
"Damn it."
Buliute was startled, turning around without hesitation and firing the cannon shot he had been preparing.
Rumble!
The vast magic bullet tore through the air.
The terrifying power shook the earth, heading straight towards Linde.
"It's useless."
Linde stepped forward, casually smashing the magic bullet with a single punch.
With a slight wave of his other hand, a magic chain rose from Buliute's feet, binding him tightly.
"Damn it, let go!"
Buliute struggled frantically, constantly erupting with magic power, but the chains remained unmoved.
Ignoring him, Linde dragged him out.
At this moment, the battle had completely ended.
With Freya's intervention, these Geolal Kingdom soldiers had been completely annihilated.
"Anna, this is a gift for you."
"Thank you, Master."
Looking at the bound Buliute, Anna's eyes were filled with hatred.
"You, what do you want to do?"
"I am one of the Four Heroes, destined to fight the Demon Lord…"
Anna didn't even wait for him to finish speaking before she raised her hand and unleashed a flurry of Blade light.
Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!
"Ah ah ah ah!"
Blood bloomed as Buliute let out a pig-like shriek.
He struggled painfully, countless bloody gashes appearing on his body.
The wounds were gruesome.
But they weren't fatal.
This was intentional on Anna's part; she didn't want him to die so easily.
With her Eye of Insight, she could perform incredibly precise actions.
Skin and flesh were cut open bit by bit.
Any ordinary person would have died long ago.
But Buliute was a Hero, and his vitality far surpassed that of an average person.
Yet, at this moment,
it became his greatest torment.
After an unknown amount of time,
Buliute's screams grew fainter and fainter, eventually fading into silence.
His body was completely disfigured, as if he had been cut into a thousand pieces.
"Hoo—"
Watching Buliute breathe his last, Anna's emotions gradually calmed, and large tears streamed down her cheeks.
After all,
before this, she was just an ordinary person.
Such extensive killing was only sustained by this hatred.
Everyone in the town, I have avenged you.
Linde embraced her, comforting the girl with his actions.
"Thank you, Master."
Anna buried her head in Linde's embrace.
"Wuwuwu… If I hadn't met Master, I really don't know what would have happened…"
She unleashed all her negative emotions through her tears.
Linde said nothing, only stroking her hair with incredibly gentle movements.
On the other side,
Freya subconsciously clenched her fists, a strange emotion rising in her heart.
The night was like water.
The bright moon hung high.
Inside a small wooden house.
"Master, it's so late, you must be hungry, right?"
Anna volunteered, "What do you like to eat, Master? My cooking is quite good."
"Anything is fine, you decide."
"Then Master, just watch."
Anna excitedly began to get busy.
Watching this scene, Freya's gaze was subtle.
She began to reflect.
Come to think of it,
she hadn't taken care of her Master at all this whole time.
She had basically been eating by herself.
She decided she would learn to cook too.
She had long since faced reality.
Since she was powerless to resist, she could only make her own life better.
Moreover… she looked at Linde beside her.
Her Master was probably truly a great figure comparable to a god.
In just a few days, her strength had improved to an unimaginable degree.
It probably wouldn't be long.
Even without the aid of Heroic Armaments,
she would be able to cast Seventh-tier magic.
After eating and drinking to her fill,
Linde leaned back in his chair.
He had to admit, Anna wasn't exaggerating; her cooking was indeed excellent.
"Master, may I come in?"
"Anna, come in."
Creak—
The sound of the door opening, and Anna, her face flushed with shyness, walked in.
Watching this scene, Linde's eyes lit up slightly.
Anna was wearing a black pleated skirt, her fiery and voluptuous figure presenting perfect proportions.
As she moved with larger strides, her full curves rippled like waves with her movements.
You really couldn't tell from her appearance.
Among his Retainers/Subordinates, she was probably only second to Izuki Tomo.
Linde took a few hard glances, sighing in his heart.
"Ma… Master…"
Feeling Linde's gaze, Anna was incredibly shy, but a hint of determination flashed in her eyes.
"Master, please let me break through my level."