CHAPTER 287: THE DESPERATE STRUGGLE

"Lord Carl!"

Carl suddenly snapped out of his daze, jolting to his feet in one swift motion. His eyes darted around frantically, scanning his surroundings.

"I’m done," he muttered under his breath.

Without hesitation, he shoved Catherine aside. She had been desperately pressing against the bleeding wound on her neck, her hands trembling as she tried to stop the flow.

Despite the black light that had torn through her body, leaving her insides shattered, her first instinct was still to check Carl.

To her relief, the wound inflicted by the Mana Blade on his neck had already sealed. His recovery was abnormally fast—his mana growing stronger was making it even more so.

"Catherine, you have to kill Siana here," Carl ordered, gripping her shoulder tightly. His voice was low but firm, leaving no room for doubt.

"Yes, Lord Carl," she rasped.

Without another word, Carl pushed her to the left, his eyes sharp and determined. He began moving in the opposite direction, starting at a slow, deliberate pace.

Catherine, despite her broken body—battered by Master Seid’s kick and further mangled by the black light—bit down on her lip and forced herself to move. She drew her broken sword and dagger, preparing to fight again, her legs barely holding her up.

Carl’s eyes narrowed as he spotted Seid in the distance, clutching Siana in his arms. The master was attempting to escape, moving slightly to the right.

That vision...

Carl’s mind flickered back to the image he had just seen. It reminded him of the vision he had when he destroyed the Dureniodon that Garten had once possessed.

Was that really Duren’s illusion? Or was it Hadad’s?

He shook the thought away. Later.

Now was not the time for questions. His focus returned to Siana—the target. She had to die.

Seid, his right arm missing, fought with his left hand while holding Siana close.

A dagger was clutched in his fingers, but it was clear he was on the brink. A knife protruded from his back, and his grip on Siana was protective but faltering.

She clung to him helplessly, her strength completely drained. The black tongue’s power was gone, and the cursed book that had made her dangerous was destroyed. Now, she was just a powerless woman.

Billford and Dillin blocked Seid’s escape, cutting off his path, while Jaren ruthlessly targeted Siana, forcing Seid into a defensive stance. With Siana in his arms, Seid had no choice but to prioritize her safety, leaving him vulnerable.

Carl’s eyes flickered toward the spear lying on the ground. Without hesitation, he snatched it up.

Around him, the cavalry, having scattered when they thought Carl was in danger, were now rushing back. The knights were closing in as well.

Just a little longer...

The sun dipped lower, darkness slowly blanketing the desert. Carl moved swiftly, circling wide around the battlefield, his steps light and silent. He avoided the two Masters clashing in the center, slipping through the chaos unnoticed.

Even Catherine, despite her weakened state, fell in line with him, subtly closing the distance toward Seid.

Bwoooom!

Seid’s Mana Blade clashed against Jaren’s spear. The force of the blow sent Seid staggering backward.

Shrek!

The spear spun in Jaren’s hands, the glowing blade twisting with lethal grace. The opposite end of the spear shot toward Siana’s exposed form.

Seid could have closed the distance and cut Jaren down by driving his dagger into the man’s gut. But with Siana’s life on the line, he was forced to abandon offense for defense, enduring repeated blows.

Jaren, reading Seid’s desperate movements, pressed the advantage. He didn’t bother defending; he charged forward, unrelenting.

Shhh!

Seid’s footwork remained nimble despite his battered condition. He staggered back, shifting to the side. But just as he thought he could gain distance, Dillin suddenly appeared, her dagger flashing. She rushed in without hesitation, blocking his path.

Seid’s eyes narrowed. He knew he could have cut Dillin down in a single stroke if Siana wasn’t with him. But if he stopped to strike her, he would leave himself exposed to Jaren’s relentless assault.

And his retreat led him straight into Catherine.

She stood in his path, bloodied and broken, gripping her shattered sword and dagger with unwavering resolve.

’This one is an Archduke’s knight,’ Seid recognized immediately.

Her stance was unmistakable. Though her dual swordsmanship lacked the sharp familiarity Carl had, it was solid—meticulous.

She was his teacher, after all. Her presence was a problem. Even in her weakened state, she could still cause him serious trouble.

Seid’s eyes flicked toward Carl. Not long ago, that man had thrown himself into Seid’s attack, risking everything to block it. Seid had experienced firsthand the absurdity of a mere mana user deflecting a Master’s full-force strike.

Now, facing Catherine, Seid knew he couldn’t underestimate her. Even if she was wounded, if she stalled him for too long, he was doomed.

Still, Catherine was gambling with her life. She knew that Carl had already surpassed her in skill. In a true duel, she wouldn’t stand a chance. But that wasn’t her goal—her aim was to buy time. Even if it cost her life.

But she didn’t need to die.

Carl had already turned the tide. Catherine had watched, stunned, when he deflected Seid’s attack—a move that would have shocked even the Masters. That memory fueled her resolve, making her grip her weapons tighter.

Seid hesitated for a split second, but not because of Catherine. It was the curse that Siana had placed on him—the one that bound him to protect her. It shackled him, preventing him from doing anything that might even remotely endanger her.

That moment’s hesitation was enough.

Jaren caught up.

"Ugh!"

Crack!

Jaren lunged, driving his spear downward with immense force.

In battles between Masters, high and low strikes were rare—small targets made them inefficient. But in this case, Jaren aimed from above, focusing on containment rather than precision.

Booooom!

The spear, enveloped in a Mana Blade, clashed violently against Seid’s dagger. The force was overwhelming. Steel shrieked, shattering under the torrent of mana. Both weapons exploded into fragments.

Jaren didn’t flinch. He had only one good arm—but so did Seid.

Seid, already barely holding on, had two swords embedded in his back. His torn right arm clung protectively to Siana.

Jaren, sensing Seid’s slower reaction, seized the moment.

Boom!

He released the recoil of the shattered weapon, letting the force carry his right leg upward. With brutal efficiency, he drove his boot directly into Seid’s abdomen, putting his entire weight behind the blow.