CHAPTER 41: A FIGHTING MADWOMAN

"Scarlett?" he murmured.

"No, she’s not alone."

For a reason he still didn’t understand, Setsuna and Eden had found themselves separated from their faction, with Scarlett unexpectedly accompanying them. A cave-in, caused by a distant explosion, had sealed their isolation.

Daemon sighed. Eden always had women flocking around him—insufferable.

Whether it was servants, women he’d blackmailed in the past, or his prudish fiancée, Daemon didn’t have that kind of luck.

Without a word, he slowly removed his quiver, then his storage ring. Poison, smoke bombs, explosives, healing potions, strengthening elixirs, rope, daggers, two swords, arrows... Nothing was missing.

The scorching stones rolled under his boots. Eden descended a steep slope slowly, his eyes fixed on the wall of smoke rising to his right. Below, lava flowed like a living river, pulsing a vivid red that cast dancing shadows on the rocks.

"Fucking hot..."

The temperature was unbearable, yet none of it seemed to affect Eden Folker.

His black hair streaked with silver swayed slightly in the mana-saturated air. He moved unhurriedly, almost lazily, even in this environment. Behind him, Setsuna Hizashi followed with quick steps, her long white coat fluttering, her wolf ears perked up.

"You’re walking like we’re not about to fall into a volcano," she remarked.

"I’m thinking," Eden replied, his silver eyes scanning the mountain’s contours. "There must be a more stable path to the right."

"Are you sure you’re thinking? Because from where I’m standing, you just look bored."

He shot her a sidelong glance.

"That’s because I’m bored. This mountain is dull. The monsters are weak, the temperature is awful, and Scarlett isn’t even talking anymore."

"Weak monsters? Maybe for what we’ve encountered so far. I thought I heard a Wyvern’s roar in the distance."

Setsuna turned her head, and Scarlett, a few meters behind, briefly met her gaze.

The redhead’s eyes were like blades. She hadn’t spoken in hours. The silence between them had settled since Setsuna had taken Eden’s hand without thinking, during a perilous descent. That simple gesture had been enough to turn Scarlett into an unwanted presence.

She still walked straight, dignified. But her cold gaze was fixed on the two in front of her. Her fists were clenched.

"And what’s she even doing here? Maybe her brother sent her to spy on us."

"You’re overthinking, Setsuna. Her presence doesn’t bother me personally. You can stay, Scarlett."

Scarlett felt like the odd one out clinging to the couple, even though she had entered the dungeon with Eden, and Setsuna had joined them later.

Suddenly, a hot gust swept down the slope. An overwhelming pressure crashed down on them.

Eden looked up at the sky.

A circle of flames formed in the air, and a winged figure streaked across the sky like a comet.

"Oh, fuck..." Setsuna muttered.

A female voice, deep and laced with mockery, echoed through the sky:

"Finally... I’ve found you, bastard!"

Ingrid SetTertius landed with a crash on a rocky spur above them. Her flaming wings beat the air, sending ash and dust everywhere. Her blood-red dress clung to every curve of her body, contrasting with her scarlet eyes and black sclerae. She was devastatingly beautiful. And palpably violent.

"Ingrid..." Eden growled. "You know, this isn’t the best place to fight. We’ll save it for later."

"You have nothing to say. This is a vendetta."

She leaped.

Setsuna shoved Eden aside and charged to meet her in a flash of lightning.

"Don’t you dare touch him!"

Their two bodies collided in the air with titanic force, a clash of flames and lightning erupting in all directions. Ingrid spun, sweeping a draconic claw toward Setsuna’s flank, who blocked with her arms reinforced by a thunderous aura.

"You’ve gotten faster, little wolf."

Setsuna and Ingrid knew each other well; they were from rival tribes. Drake for Ingrid, Lycan for Setsuna.

"You’ve still got that big mouth, lizard."

They exchanged a series of violent blows, explosions of flame and lightning making the slope even more perilous.

The rock exploded beneath their feet.

Ingrid struck with a projection of flame, but Setsuna rolled on the ground, creating sparks, then rebounded to deliver a knee to her stomach.

"Why are you attacking Eden?! Are you insane or what?!"

Ingrid stepped back, smiling despite the blood at the corner of her lips.

"If you know, why are you asking?!"

"You want to play that game?!" Setsuna roared.

Affinity Incarnation: Lightning

The electric aura around her intensified.

But Ingrid was already on her, not intending to let her stabilize her mana.

A draconic cry shook the entire mountainside. Ingrid unleashed her Draconic Breath: a concentrated wave of fire that shot straight at Setsuna.

Eden blinked.

"Fucking hell."

He extended his left hand.

Ice Wall

A silver dome formed in front of Setsuna, freezing the air around the fire and creating a cloud of scorching steam. Ingrid’s breath crashed against the wall, cracked it, then shattered it. But the time had been enough for Setsuna to leap out of the way.

"Are you just going to let her fight alone?" Scarlett growled, her gaze fixed.

She didn’t like it, but it was strange. Setsuna was fighting for him while he stood with his hands in his pockets as if it had nothing to do with him.

Eden didn’t respond. He observed Ingrid, then Setsuna, and finally Scarlett.

"Ingrid just wants a fight; she’ll calm down if she wins."

Scarlett shook her head and took a step forward, her aura rumbling behind her. Her black axe, Bersk, vibrated against her thigh.

Meanwhile, Ingrid dominated the fight.

She grabbed Setsuna by the leg and slammed her against the wall. Rocks crumbled. Setsuna spat blood, then smiled. Even though Setsuna was a second-year student, she was the same age as Ingrid and at the same level, but unfortunately for her, Ingrid had the advantage in this lava dungeon. It was as if she were in her Dominion.

She disappeared in a flash.

Reappeared behind Ingrid. Strike.

A claw to the back. Ingrid roared.