Counter-plan [3]

Finally, finally, I am here.

Right now I am about to enter the castle and believe me, it's nothing like what I've seen so far in movies and anime. Seeing a medieval-style castle in real life is completely different from anything I'd be able to imagine. It's made with white and blue coloured bricks and is surrounded by two circular walls, the outer wall is slightly bigger and serves as the first line of defense while the second and inner wall is basically the point from where the main castle starts.

As we entered the castle, the guards we meet on the way, one by one stopped and bowed to Mary. Seeing this and noticing that not a single guard stopped me when they saw I was with her, proves the fact that her status, or-her-father's status to be more precise, must be pretty high.

Entering from a gigantic gate, we entered the castle and reached the hallway. The hallway was pretty much empty, cold, and vast; there were only a few guards who were passing by. After a walk of around five to six minutes, we arrived at the throne room.

We stopped in front of the door when I saw tension building upon Mary's face.

'Why is she getting all tense? Maybe she will be lectured by the higher-ups for bringing me or something like that?'

And like that, I ignored her. How cold am I seriously!

The door of the throne room was made of dark oak wood, and the borderlines and detailing were made of gold.

Letting out a long breath, she put her hands on the door and pushed it. As the doors opened, another fascinating scene unfolded before me.

The throne room, another thing that is straight out of a fantasy anime; the room was big, and when I say big, I mean seriously big. The ceiling was about twenty to twenty-five meter high and paintings were drawn on it.

On the floor was a red carpet, which led to the throne and there were enormous pillars built beside the carpet.

When I entered the room, accompanied by Mary; I suddenly sensed a huge change in the density of mana in the atmosphere. The mana here was denser compared to outside and it was not natural, I was not able to pinpoint the location but someone was surely emitting this mana.

Seeing us entering the room, the attention of all the people in the room shifted towards us. There were twelve people there; they were sitting on the seats which were placed after the throne, six seats on each side in a row. They were probably the ministers who were sitting there.

An uncomforting feeling developed inside me by the unwanted attention I was getting. But I tried my best to stay calm and not show it on my face.

Ignoring all the stares, I looked towards the throne only to find it empty. No one was there, did I come late?

No, I am on time, the prince must be late.

As I turned back to ask Mary about the situation, suddenly I felt an extreme killing intent directed toward me.

My body moved on instincts, as I leaped a few steps back and saw a long, slim sword piercing where I was a moment ago.

The sword disappeared and suddenly a figure holding that sword reappeared after me.

The figure swung the sword again, horizontally aiming for my neck.

—Swoosh

I ducked and leaped backward, dodging the attack barely by a hair length.

But it was too late, what I saw was the afterimage of the attack.

Soon I felt a sting of pain on my left cheek and noticed that a deep cut was there and blood was coming out.

Pain?

This is the first I got injured in this world.

After cleaning the blood with my hand, I looked for the figure which attacked me.

Whoever that was, it was skilled in swordfight and its speed was too great. If my body didn't move on instincts that time, then my head would be rolling off on the floor by now.

All the twelve ministers including Mary gazed at me, well it was reasonable; probably they weren't even able to track our movements.

Soon the figure reappeared again; she was a girl in her twenties with short black hair and cold deep black eyes. Increasing the grip on her sword, she again settled in a position to attack again.

This was it, I recognize this aura! The massive energy I felt when I stepped into this room was coming from her.

"Wait! Wait! Wait! Why are you attacking me all of a sudden?" Seeing her getting in an attacking position again, I tried to stop her.

As I stared at her in the hope to get an answer, I only got disappointed by the cold and emotionless expression on her face.

Then I got an answer, but not a satisfying one.

"Shut up! You monster!"

After saying these two words, cracks appeared on the floor beneath her feet as she leaped towards me with insane speed.

'So you don't want to talk, sorry but I can't get myself killed right now'

In less than a second, she appeared in front of me and swung her sword repeatedly.

— Swoosh

— Swoosh

— Swoosh

— Swoosh

While dodging her attacks one by one, cuts and slashes appeared on my clothes.

I was barely able to avoid her attacks, even the delay of a millisecond can get me killed.

Finishing her series of attacks, she stopped and leaped a few steps backwards.

I am not that great with sword, if she was a mage then this would have finished easily-

—Swung

Before I could think of anything, another attack came through.

It was a piercing attack and it left a deep cut on my right shoulder.

Connecting each of her attack fluidly, she pulled her sword back and again swung it horizontally aiming for my chest.

There's not much to think, I just can't die now.

Dodging her attack, I jumped backwards.

"Fifth-tier magic: [Fire control]"

"[Burning blades of hell]"

Using [Fire control] I created two swords made of fire in my hands.

'Enough of playing defensive now.'

After pinpointing her location, I channelled my mana throughout my body causing small craters to form beneath my feet as dashed towards that girl.

Seeing me coming towards her with flame swords, she went in a defensive position as her sword started to glow in golden in colour.

I swung the sword which I was holding with my right hand.

—Woosh

Dodging my first attack, she stepped back a few steps.

Connecting my movements smoothly, I took a three-sixty-degree turn and this time swung the sword in my left hand diagonally.

—Woosh

Once again she dodged it by leaping backwards.

I increased the grip on my swords as I prepared to deliver the final blow of this series of attacks.

Holding onto the swords tightly, I channelled my mana into the swords.

Orange flames emerged from the swords as I swung both of the swords vertically for the final strike.

—Woosh

—Woosh

Just when the swords were about to hit her, she vanished just like before. Her presence, aura, everything vanished along with her.

Not being able to predict her move, I attacked thin air and misbalanced a little.

"Got you"