She turned and walked towards the stone bridge crossing the river, with no one following her.
When Nelly returned to the castle, the banquet was drawing to a close.
Although she tried to minimize her presence, she was still noticed by an eagle-eyed knight and pulled onto the high platform to toast. Berdwen led the way, raising his glass: “May the three goddesses be with us, be with the hero!”
Everyone else raised their glasses and recited blessings.
Berdwen drank the fine wine in one gulp and handed his glass to the wine-tasting servant beside him. The servant suddenly dropped the tray, a dagger emerging from his sleeve, and lunged directly at the marquis!
A crisp sound rang out as the dagger was blocked. Nelly stood holding a long sword, flicking her wrist before the assassin could react, sending the dagger to the ground.
The knights behind the marquis stood up, pinning the assassin down.
Nelly turned back to look at Berdwen: “Are you alright?”
This sudden turn of events had quite an impact on the marquis. He furrowed his brow, and after several calls from Nelly, he nodded: “I’m fine. Thanks to the hero’s timely intervention, I’m truly grateful.”
Despite his words, the deep furrows on Berdwen’s face only grew more pronounced. However, the marquis’s thoughts were not fear – this battle-tested dignitary would not be thrown into disarray by an assassination attempt.
He seemed to have no interest in continuing the social niceties and stood to leave. After a few steps, he suddenly stopped and turned back to Nelly: “Please come with me.”
Nelly glanced at the immobilized assassin and followed Berdwen into a small room behind the main hall. This was obviously a place for the marquis and his trusted informants.
Berdwen took a glass bottle from a wall niche, poured himself a drink, and looked at Nelly inquiringly. She shook her head, indicating she didn’t need any.
A moment of silence filled the room. Berdwen slowly drank half his glass of wine, set it down, and looked towards the door as if waiting for something. In the next instant, the door indeed opened as he expected, and a servant walked up to him, whispering something in his ear. Berdwen’s expression immediately turned profound, and he solemnly nodded: “You may go.”
Nelly, unable to hear the servant’s message, quietly stood waiting for Berdwen to speak.
The marquis rubbed the ring on his left hand’s knuckles, pacing a bit before speaking: “The assassin was sent by Bologna. They’ve been clamoring for independence for a long time and chose this moment to make a move.” He seemed to find the enemy’s lack of discretion amusing, shaking his head: “I asked the hero to come to deliver a message when you reach the capital.”
Nelly tightened her jaw: “Please speak.”
Berdwen looked at her for a moment before lowering his voice: “Tell the palace minister that the scales are about to tip, and it’s best to prepare more chips.”
“I’ve noted it. Please be assured,” Nelly responded without showing any intention to probe the message’s meaning, simply stepping back half a step. “It’s getting late. Please rest, and allow me to take my leave.”
Berdwen looked at her with interest for a while before waving his hand: “You’ve had a long journey. Please rest well. Tomorrow will be a good day to set sail.”
The sea monster’s attacks were chaotic, with eight incredibly powerful tentacles that could strike from tricky angles at any moment, but the hero could always avoid them at critical moments and then counterattack during the monster’s momentary exhaustion.
The crew, originally trembling with anxiety, unknowingly became audience to a marvelous battle. If the first mate hadn’t sternly reminded them of their duties, many would have likely dropped their ropes to applaud and cheer.
The sea monster lost four tentacles, releasing a sharp, painful screech.
Naily saw the sea monster’s body contract and quickly dodged to the side. The next instant, the sea monster sprayed purple toxic mist.
She narrowly avoided the attack, sweeping her sword to block the entangling tentacles, finally managing to stand atop the mast and catch her breath.
Though Naily had memorized the sea monster’s attack patterns, moving back and forth was more exhausting than expected. She lowered her body, determined to kill the opponent before showing signs of fatigue.
Naily glanced at her charging skill bar, bit her lip, and focused on observing the sea monster’s movements.
With one eye pierced, the sea monster temporarily couldn’t locate her, furiously slapping the water’s surface with its remaining tentacles. The Siren ship rose and fell violently in the resulting waves.
Naily gradually loosened her grip on the mast, waited for the right moment, and suddenly pulled a rope, pushing off with her foot, charging directly at the sea monster.
A chorus of gasps erupted from the ship.
Sensing the enemy’s scent, the sea monster unhesitatingly attacked from both front and back.
Naily used the remaining momentum of the swinging rope to spin in mid-air, nimbly dodging the strikes. Simultaneously, her long sword emitted a faint blue light, sweeping out like lightning flashing briefly through summer cloud layers.
Two tentacles were severed in this strike!
But the third tentacle appeared, wrapping around the rope supporting Naily, twisting sharply.
The sturdy linen rope instantly snapped, and Naily rapidly fell toward the water, facing the sea monster’s tooth-filled gaping mouth.
Only the sharpest-eyed sailor caught the suddenly brightening blue light.
That light engulfed Naily entirely, precisely piercing the sea monster’s exposed weakness – the soft tongue covering its internal organs.
With a muffled sound, just as everyone was about to cry out for the hero, the sea monster released its final lament and dissolved completely into light points. The explosive burst of its body launched Naily from the sea surface. She was quick-handed, grabbing the ship’s billowing white sail and sliding down the rope, landing on one knee with her sword thrust into the deck.
A moment of silence, then cheers erupted like thunder.
Naily was unaccustomed to being the center of attention, uncomfortably lowering her head and returning her sword to her waist.
“You must be tired. Please go rest, and leave the sailing to us!” The first mate approached, signaling two proud sailors who immediately guided the hero.
“Your final strike was beautiful!” One sailor couldn’t contain his admiration.
Naily lightly coughed: “Just lucky.”
The two sailors exchanged a glance, speaking in unison: “The goddess is surely protecting you!”
Naily felt further humility would seem affected, so she didn’t demur. Reaching the cabin door, she smiled slightly: “Thank you.” Then closed the door. The sailors’ admiring expressions lingered in her vision as she collapsed against the door, exhaling deeply, her legs suddenly going weak and trembling.
That had been an extremely close call.
The rope’s unexpected breakage was completely unforeseen. Had the accumulated rage value in her skill bar not enabled her current ultimate move, she would likely have become the sea monster’s meal. During the moment, she’d had no room for fear, her awareness floating far away, seemingly unconsciously triggering her skill and aiming.
Slowly sitting in the chair, Naily rubbed her legs, privately cautioning herself: She couldn’t rely too much on accumulated intelligence; after all, there were always exceptions, and her own reaction capabilities were more important and reliable than experience.
After self-reflection, she tidied up briefly, rolled into her blanket, and quickly fell asleep.
Half a month later, the Siren safely arrived at Harga Port.
