Ultra Instinct

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When it comes to the question of who Esdeath hates the most?

The obvious answer might seem to be Ethan Rothslayer, the main protagonist of Free Life Fantasy. However, that is wrong.

Sure, Esdeath didn't particularly like Ethan. He annoyed her endlessly, especially with his childish demeanor despite supposedly being a reincarnated soul. For someone who had lived a past life, Ethan acted far too immature, blushing at the slightest touch from a girl and behaving like a teenager who had just discovered romance. His naivety and awkwardness were frustrating, to say the least.

But even with all his flaws, Esdeath didn't truly hate him. She was more irritated by him than anything else. In her eyes, Ethan was like a bug buzzing around her—not worth wasting energy on unless he got in her way. As long as she got her benefits, she didn't care what happened to him.

No, the person Esdeath hated the most was someone else entirely: Princess Ravenna Thorne.

Why?

At first glance, it might seem strange. After all, Esdeath herself wasn't exactly a saint. She enjoyed killing, manipulating others, and doing morally questionable things. But her hatred for Ravenna went beyond morality.

Ravenna had a way of using her royal status to bend the rules, get what she wanted, and avoid consequences for her actions. To Esdeath, that wasn't the real problem. What truly infuriated her was Ravenna's refusal to take responsibility for anything.

Every time Ravenna cheated or found herself in a tight spot, she used others as shields to protect herself. And afterward, she never admitted she had done anything wrong. Instead, she would put on her regal mask and declare, "It's all for the future of the kingdom."

Esdeath couldn't stand it.

One incident from Free Life Fantasy stood out in her mind.

After Ethan formed his team, they ventured into an A-rank inheritance ground belonging to the demon. It was a dangerous place filled with traps, monsters, and treasures, and the stakes were high.

During the expedition, Eldon Karanthis—a skilled gunner and a member of Ethan's team—got into a tough situation. He was injured and struggling to keep up, but he wasn't beyond saving. If the team had worked together, they could have pulled him through.

But Ravenna had other plans.

Using her silver tongue and manipulative nature, she casually steered the group into believing that abandoning Eldon was the best course of action. She didn't say it outright—oh no, that would tarnish her image. Instead, she planted seeds of doubt, hinting that saving Eldon would get everyone else killed.

In the end, the team left Eldon behind.

Esdeath remembered the aftermath vividly. Eldon's death wasn't necessary. He could have survived if not for Ravenna's selfishness.

And yet, when it was all over, Ravenna didn't express regret or guilt. Instead, she smiled that perfect royal smile and said, "He sacrificed himself for the kingdom, to protect the others."

This wasn't the only time Princess Ravenna used someone as a shield to protect herself. Once, during another dangerous situation, she sacrificed Callista Seraphine, the saintess, to save her own life.

A powerful attack had been aimed directly at Ravenna. It was an attack she couldn't possibly dodge or block. Instead of facing it herself, she pushed Callista in front of her, using the saintess as a human shield. Callista took the full force of the attack and died on the spot, her lifeless body crumpling to the ground.

Ravenna survived.

And, as expected, she didn't take responsibility for what happened. Instead, she said, with a sorrowful look and a voice laced with fake grief, "She lived to protect others and died while protecting others."

The hypocrisy of it all burned Esdeath to her core.

Ravenna didn't just lie to the people around her—she lied to herself. She had convinced herself that her actions were justified, that everything she did was for the greater good. She truly believed she was in the right, no matter how cruel or selfish her choices were.

To Esdeath, this was unforgivable. If you're going to do something wrong, then own up to it. Admit it. There's no shame in being honest about who you are.

Esdeath herself had lied countless times. She had killed, manipulated, and done things most would consider unforgivable. But she never pretended to be a good person. She embraced her cruelty and didn't try to sugarcoat it with noble excuses. She was a villain, and she accepted it.

This same pattern of hypocrisy showed itself again in the battle between Ravenna and Maruti.

Previously, Ravenna and her entire team had been utterly annihilated by Maruti in a match. Maruti had single-handedly defeated them, leaving Ravenna humiliated and her reputation in shambles.

When the royals heard about this, they were furious. Their beloved princess, losing so miserably in her own kingdom? It was an embarrassment they couldn't tolerate.

Determined to fix the damage, they came up with a plan. They decided to script the matches to ensure Ravenna would have a chance to redeem herself. A rematch between Ravenna and Maruti was arranged, this time with the odds stacked in Ravenna's favor.

But there was still one glaring problem: what if Maruti won again?

The previous battle had been fought without mana or essence stones, relying purely on physical skill. Even with Ravenna's access to the kingdom's vast resources—essence stones ranging from Rank E to Rank A—her own lack of strength was still a major issue. She wasn't strong enough to fully utilize even a Rank C essence stone, let alone the more powerful ones. That was why she lost the first time.

Now, as the rematch approached, the tension was palpable. The kingdom's pride was on the line.

If Ravenna won decisively, all would be well. Her reputation would be restored, and Maruti's would be diminished. But what if Maruti won again?

The thought was unbearable. Another victory for Maruti would destroy Ravenna's reputation completely. And even if Ravenna managed to win by a small margin, it wouldn't be enough to erase the humiliation of her previous defeat.

People would whisper, "Even with all her resources, the princess barely managed to beat a nobody like Maruti."

In that case, it would be Maruti whose reputation soared, while Ravenna's would remain tarnished.

The royals weren't done scheming. They devised another plan—one that would make Princess Ravenna appear unstoppable.

What if Ravenna could defeat Maruti with a mere flick of her finger? Wouldn't that make her look powerful and commanding, as if she had finally decided to unleash her true strength? Her reputation would skyrocket, reaching unimaginable heights.

To make this possible, they decided to use a Soul Path-type Rank C Essence Stone, one that was subtle in its nature. Most essence stones, especially Rank C or higher, emitted strong, powerful auras that were difficult to hide. But this one, a Soul Cracker Essence Stone, was different. Its aura was faint, almost undetectable, making it perfect for their plan.

The essence stone was in liquid form, not the usual crystalline shape, making it even easier to conceal. The royals refined it themselves, filling it with their mana so that Ravenna, despite her lack of strength, could still use it. They handed it to her, ensuring that everything was set for her victory.

When the essence stone was absorbed, it melted into her fingers like a second layer of skin. There was no trace of its presence, and Ravenna felt a surge of confidence.

As the match began, the crowd watched with anticipation. Maruti stood firm, ready to face the princess once again. But Ravenna showed no hesitation.

With a flick of her finger, she activated the stone.

CRACK!

A shattering sound echoed—not in the arena but in Maruti's very soul. Her body froze and within moments, she collapsed unconscious onto the ground.

The audience erupted into gasps and whispers. No one knew what had just happened. To them, it seemed as if Ravenna had defeated Maruti with nothing but pure, overwhelming power.

The royals in the royal section exchanged smug smiles, their plan executed perfectly.

The Soul Cracker Essence Stone, being an expenditure-type stone, vanished after its single use, leaving no evidence behind.

But wait.

No matter how faint the essence stone's aura was, could Lilith, a Rank A awakened, really not sense it?

Of course, she sensed it. But instead of intervening, she simply turned a blind eye, her expression calm as if nothing had happened. For reasons only she knew, she ignored the blatant cheating, letting the royals have their victory.

Ravenna turned to the audience, her expression full of false humility. "I guess I'm sorry about this, but it was all for restoring the kingdom's reputation!" she murmured with a dramatic sigh, then began walking away.

The crowd was stunned. To them, the princess had just pulled off an unbelievable feat.

In the student section, Ethan, Violet, and the others turned to Esdeath, their eyes wide in disbelief. Maruti was Esdeath's companion, after all. Everyone expected Esdeath to lash out or show some kind of reaction.

But Esdeath sat still, her face calm, showing no hint of anger or distress.

Then, to everyone's surprise, her lips curled into a small, knowing smile.

She leaned back in her seat, her thoughts spinning with quiet confidence.

"Me and Predictor both lack in soul attainment," she thought, referring to herself and Lortell. "I lack both in defense and offense when it comes to soul-based attacks. But Predictor? She only lacks in offense, not defense!"

Ravenna was just a few steps away from leaving the arena when the referee blinked, still processing what had happened. Slowly, she raised her hand to declare the winner.

"Winner: Princess Raven—"

But then, something extraordinary happened.

A radiant golden light erupted from within Maruti's chest—not on the surface, but deep inside her. The light pulsed with warmth and power, quickly mending the deep crack in her soul.

Gasps filled the air as Maruti began to stir.

Not only did she stir, but she moved. Slowly, yet deliberately, she pressed her hands against the ground, her fingers trembling with effort. Then, she rose.

She stood.

The referee froze mid-sentence, unable to comprehend what she was witnessing.

"She's not defeated! She's standing up again!" someone from the audience shouted.

"Look! Maruti hasn't lost yet!" others cheered, their voices growing louder and louder.

Ravenna's heart sank. Her lips trembled as disbelief filled her eyes. "How? How is she standing? That should've been impossible!"

Her body turned instinctively, almost against her will, to face the source of the cheers. Her gaze fell on Maruti, who now stood firmly on her feet.

Ravenna's breath hitched.

A wave of pure killing intent crashed into her, suffocating and overwhelming. It wasn't just anger—it was something raw and primal. Her entire body froze, and every hair on her skin stood on end.

The audience could feel it too. It was as though Maruti had transformed into a completely different person.

The referee, still shaken, managed to stammer, "The match shall procee—"

But she never finished her sentence.

In an instant, her vision spun. She was airborne, the world flipping upside down. Pain erupted in her mouth, sharp and agonizing.

"What? What just happened?" she thought, her mind struggling to keep up with her body. Her jaw hung loosely, completely dislocated, while her teeth scattered like shattered pearls across the arena floor. Blood poured from her mouth, warm and thick, soaking her chin and clothes.

It was as though time slowed.

Through the haze of pain, the referee's thoughts raced. "Someone hit me. But who? Who landed such a devastating blow?"

Her eyes, blurry from shock and blood loss, darted around until they settled on a figure below her.

It was Maruti.

"Her… It was her…"

Before she could process any more, the world went dark. Her consciousness slipped away, and her body fell to the ground, limp and lifeless like a rag doll.

All eyes turned to Maruti.

Her entire aura had changed.

Her short hair now seemed to float slightly, as though charged with an unseen energy. Her muscles were taut, radiating raw power. But it was her eyes that sent chills through everyone.

Her sclera, once white, had turned pitch black, and her pupils burned with an intense, unblinking focus. Her expression was eerily calm—too calm, as if she had shed all emotion.

The arena fell silent.

Her Ultra Instinct had awakened.