Chapter 33: Grow In Pain

Knight Tamik did not retrieve the object Asa had thrown. It wasn't hard to find—the overwhelming aura emanating from it filled the entire forest, and even a blind man could sense its direction. Moreover, it lay along the path to the teleportation magic circle. However, driven by an instinctive aversion and uncertainty about whether he could handle such an object barehanded, Knight Tamik headed straight for the teleportation circle. He hadn't forgotten the Pope's command: the World Tree Leaf was the priority.

The strange noises and faint tremors coming from behind told Knight Tamik that Asa was likely driving the war mantis's corpse in pursuit. However, judging by the speed of the approaching sounds, it seemed Asa wasn't moving quickly, giving Knight Tamik enough time.

Soon, Knight Tamik reached the vicinity of the teleportation circle. He could already see the massive iceberg. At its center was the immobilized elf woman, surrounded by the green glow emanating from the World Tree Leaf.

The sounds from behind were still some distance away, giving him ample time to retrieve the World Tree Leaf.

The area was quiet. There was no sign of Talice or his subordinate. The captive elves were still unconscious, and nothing seemed to have changed. Only Yabin's body lay quietly where it had fallen.

Had Talice killed the holo warrior, or had the guard killed Talice? Could they have perished together? Why were both missing?

With the sounds from behind growing closer, Knight Tamik had no time to investigate further. Using his forward momentum, he leaped high into the air, his black blade emitting a sharp whistle as its black aura expanded.

With a low shout, Knight Tamik unleashed his full power, transforming his usually calm and composed demeanor into a wild storm. The black aura was no longer a swift and silent lightning strike but a thunderous force capable of destroying heaven and earth. Breaking through the magical ice seal didn't require intricate skill—it simply demanded raw power. He raised his blade and brought it down.

A deafening roar shook the entire forest. The black thunder struck the massive iceberg, sending countless shards of ice flying in all directions. A massive crack split the iceberg from top to bottom. One more strike, and he could shatter it completely to retrieve the World Tree Leaf.

However, the Tamik knight no longer had the chance to unleash this final strike. He never expected that he, too, would one day fall into an ambush, be caught off guard and attacked from the shadows. Just as he swung his full-force slash, a sword light shot out from the shadow of a large tree—silent and swift as lightning—piercing straight toward his back.

Although the sound of this sword strike was not loud, the Tamik knight still noticed it. After all, the one who delivered this strike had yet to reach the level where they could completely restrain their killing intent even when making a move. In fact, traces of murderous intent had already begun to leak out in the instant before the sword was thrust. However, at this moment, the Tamik knight had already swung his blade with all his battle energy and strength. Even though he sensed the attack, there was nothing he could do to stop it.

Although the Tarmik Knight had not carefully scouted his surroundings, the fact that this person only revealed their presence at the moment of attack demonstrated exceptional stealth and concealment skills. Even more crucial was the impeccable timing of the strike.

Even if the Tarmik Knight became aware of it, his body—having just expended all its battle energy and strength—was no longer capable of defending. All he could do was barely twist his body to take a glance.

The female knight did not shout any meaningless battle cries this time. Her eyes were blood-red, filled entirely with the fury of vengeance and the frenzy of bloodlust, making her resemble a demon-worshiping cultist rather than a temple knight serving the light. Yet, her hands remained incredibly steady, and her sword light was sharp and focused. The precision, stability, and perfect timing of this strike fully displayed the prowess of a disciple of the continent's greatest warrior.

Without fight spirit to protect him, the gray magic armor was utterly incapable of withstanding the longsword, which shimmered with white magic and battle energy. The sword pierced through the Tarmik Knight's back, effortlessly passing through his chest.

Knight Tamik opened his mouth and spat out a large mouthful of blood. As the blood splattered onto the icy surface, it instantly crystallized into a frozen red shard. Weakly, he slowly sat down. He could clearly feel that his heart and spine had been pierced through by the sword, along with the battle energy infused within it. The surrounding muscles and internal organs were also ravaged, shattered into a complete mess by the penetrating force of the battle energy.

Death...

For the first time, the concept of death crystallized in Knight Tamik's mind. It was entirely different from the detached indifference he felt when killing others. He was truly experiencing the meaning of death—cold, lonely, empty, vast, and irresistible. He even felt fear.

How could I die? How could I die at the hands of this foolish woman? How could she ambush me? What happened to her knight spirit? How could she have the patience and cunning to outwit me?

"Can't believe you are waiting here to ambush me..." Knight Tarmik struggled to turn around, his powerless gaze falling upon the female knight standing before him. His usually expressionless face now showed disbelief. He had not been unaware that Talice might be his only remaining enemy, but he had never imagined that someone so impulsive and reckless—someone whose overwhelming sense of justice seemed to have turned her mind into a block of wood—could execute such an efficient ambush and assassination.

"I knew that by the time I caught up, the outcome of your battle would likely have already been decided, and my presence wouldn't make a difference. But regardless of whether you won or lost, you would have to return here—so I waited." Talice coldly stared at the fallen veteran, her expression as resolute and unyielding as her voice. "In a head-on fight, I am no match for you, so ambush was my only option."

"I also knew the chances of success weren't high, but this was the best chance I had."

The look of surprise on the Tamik's face did not fade. Lancelote was indeed a master of martial skills, a genius. He was well-versed in the arts of assassination, stealth, and ambush, and he had taught his only disciple these essential skills. The tactical judgments on the battlefield were also a fundamental understanding for every temple knight. But knowing and understanding were one thing, while applying them in real situations was another entirely.

Whether it's making choices and decisions or putting them into action, what's needed is enough inner strength; otherwise, one will only be lost in their own impulses. This woman, who not long ago seemed childish and impulsive to the point of being laughable, was now able to make such a rational judgment. The timing of her ambush and assassination was handled with the precision of someone with years of experience. The Knight Tamik couldn't help but wonder what had brought about such an awakening in her.

"Your actions have long disqualified you as a temple knight. I am here to judge you in the name of justice."

Hearing Talice's words, a mocking smile appeared on Knight Tamik's face. He opened his mouth, blood spilling out as he struggled to speak. "Then go and tell His Holiness everything that happened here today. Remember to bring the World Tree Leaf and that boy. His Holiness wants them. He is the greatest justice on the continent..."

His voice and thoughts faded together, just as they had when facing the small object Asa had thrown. The primal fear of death, inherent to all life, flashed through his consciousness.

So this is what it feels like to be killed... Knight Tamik's final thought crossed his mind before his head slumped, and he fell.

Talice looked at Knight Tamik's corpse. His final words had caused her resolute gaze to waver, filled with confusion and panic.

When she had set down Yabin's body and prepared to chase after Knight Tamik and Asa, she had sensed the strange dark aura that had filled the forest the previous night. She understood that this meant the object Asa had carried had been taken. She had vaguely seen the small pouch Asa carried and later learned from Knight Tamik's interrogation of the elves that it contained something Asa had brought from the capital of Einfast, something he had always kept close. It was likely the source of that immense aura.

She had clearly seen Asa being sent flying by Knight Tamik's blade and knew he was at a severe disadvantage. Now that this object, which he had kept close, had been taken, the meaning was clear: he, like Yabin, was dead.

Dead, gone. The shock from Yabin's death had already left her consciousness heavy and dazed, but now, it was struck once more, harder. Suddenly, countless images flashed through her mind—Yabin's, Asa's, her own—intertwined, shattered, with blood and flesh flying, and death everywhere.

A vast, overwhelming sorrow and rage suddenly pierced through every inch of Talies' being. She could almost hear her soul screaming in agony and warping under the impact of this power. The concepts of justice, light, and all the emotions and beliefs that had once supported her world crumbled, disintegrating without a trace in the face of this immense emotion. Her entire body trembled uncontrollably.

I will kill him. I will kill him. I must kill him!

Talice could hear a voice in her heart, a voice that didn't feel like her own, screaming and howling in anguish. She opened her mouth to scream, but no sound came out—only tears, large and heavy, fell down her face. Yet she could feel that her expression was not one of sorrow, but of near-madness, an uncontrollable, frantic hysteria.

But she didn't truly lose control. She didn't rush forward to fight Knight Tamik recklessly. She still knew that she was no match for him. The immense force crashing through her mind shattered all the confusion and restraints that had previously held her back. Despite the burning sensation in her veins, as though her blood were molten lava, her mind remained oddly calm, as if submerged in ice water. Everything Lancelote had taught her over the years—knowledge, wisdom, and technique—formed in her mind with startling clarity, guided by this powerful force.