Chapter 236 (1/2)

Darn it… so ruthless…” I said, coughing.

I hadn’t lost consciousness, but I had curled up in the fetal position as rock fell from the ceiling and the entrance collapsed. She was absolutely right. I hadn’t seen her leaving fifteen of her best men for dead. If any of them were alive in this mess, I couldn’t see it.

As my vision cleared, I realized I could see. At least one of my orbs had survived and was still transmitting light. I could see Terra standing there. She had created a dozen pillars of stone, keeping the cave from collapsing on top of us.

“Lydia? Miki? Celeste?” Before I even called their names, I had already checked their status through the party.

With great relief, I found that everyone was alright. The girls were dusty, but otherwise still alive. I created some more lights in the room. There were a few unconscious bandits, but I didn’t feel like seeing if they were alive or dead at the moment. I may not be callous enough to murder Bandits, but I was starting to grow callous enough that I didn’t care whether they lived or died.

“Master…” Celeste approached me carefully. “Shall I… execute the plan?”

I summoned a mana potion from my ring and then handed it to her. “Immediately flee. Don’t engage her. Don’t even taunt her. Just run like the wind. Caste Haste first… I don’t want to take any risks.”

“Y-yes, Master… Haste.” Her body seemed to blur as she cast the short-lasting spell on herself.

She guzzled down the mana potion, and then took a deep breath.

“What are you doing?” Miki asked curiously.

I shook my head. “Just a little payback. She decided that we couldn’t have anything. I decided to return the favor.”

“Aero-swap!” Celeste cried out into the empty cavern.

Air started to wrap around her, and then she disappeared in a puff of wind. In her place was a woman who instantly collapsed to the ground. I was waiting for it, so I managed to catch her and guide her back down into a position I deemed comfortable.