Empress' Evolution

Clang!

'Who's this undead?'

Scarcheek clashed swords with the undead whose level was 10 times lower than his. He was very well aware that a daemon's stats are stronger than a human's. And he may just be a minor member of this operation, but still, he found the situation impossible.

His anger rose and his blazing sword exploded into an azure light. He looked at Dhampy and swung his blade.

"Dragon's Fangs!"

A dragon head appeared behind Scarcheek, his MP exploded and so did his skill. The protruding fangs of a dragon appeared and intended to devour Dhampy whole.

However, Dhampy simply looked at him with eyes as calm as a tranquil sea. No wave of emotion was shown and as Dhampy's sword moved like the ripped of water, she made her move.

"Hazy Mist." Her voice was calm, and as the sound of water emerged from out of nowhere, a red mist appeared from Dhampy's sword. The mist was red, and as it met with the Dragon's Fangs of Scarcheek it enveloped the blazing heat of the dragon and then dissipated.

Pishhh!

The metallic smell exploded into the surrounding, the mist had been created using her own blood. She substituted blood to execute the water attributed to sword skill. A small part of her health was taken as a replacement for MP, however.

Scarface's face twisted and he jumped back in order to distance himself from Dhampy.

"This is the first time I heard a daemon do swordsmanship so well as you. Even the Ghost Swordsmen does not hold a candle to you. It seems like my brother didn't die without a reason."

"Leave, we don't want any trouble from the Skull Guild."

"So you even know the name of our guild? What? Did you learn it from my brother as you killed him? No need to answer, because I no longer want to hear your filthy voice."

Dhampy was complimented but she didn't care. Her only intention is to keep them away from her Boss. Dhampy looked at Lilith from the corner of her eyes and saw her keeping watch of the surrounding.

'There's only one in the shadows, but if they call for reinforcement, then, we're doom.'

She was beginning to think things through, she was not some wise sage but Dhampy is a battle-hardened veteran ha had fought for years for others' sake without rest.

She can see the movements of her enemies without so much as thinking too much into it, she can overpower those who kill her in one blow, and she can kill those that are believed to be unkillable.

However, at this moment, Dhampy was hesitating, a part of her was beginning to take shape even though she was sure that it had long been broken. She looked at Scarface and spoke her intention.

"Leave this place, we do not wish for combat." Dhampy then looked at Lilith once again, she has yet to speak even till now.

Dhampy was not scared of Lilith, she can kill her in three seconds even if there are ten of hers. But, she can't. To Dhampy, Lilith was her light; her hope that pulled her out of the darkness when all hope was lost.

She was the one who gave her the chance to live once again, when she was in the camp of the Hobgoblins, when she was ready to wait it out and let the curse eventually kill her, it was Lilith who pulled her out of that place and gave meaning to her life.

'I have served humans once, and I have seen what came out of that. Now, I am no longer human, I am daemon and the one I serve is only my Boss.' That is her thoughts all this while, but right now, she was hesitating to make a move.

Lilith's life was almost taken just now, and right now she's trying to reel in the emotions trying to escape. She wants to let the human escape, but she also wants to kill him. She was a hypocrite and she knows this.

Dhampy looked at Scarcheek, he too looked at her with eyes filled with hate and anger. Dhanpy did not know where that anger stemmed but she can see that he was dangerous.

"Do you have no plan on turning back?"

"No, my orders are to kill any daemons I can kill as we scout."

Dhampy sighed and decided to take his life. Dhampy got ready to kill Scarcheek.

"This is your choice, not mine."

While Dhampy made her decision, Lilith was busily observing her surrounding, making sure that no one is around other than the hiding range fighter.

'He's planning something; He has yet to make a move and even attacks, is he just going to keep watching? If these guys are truly keeping watch then I can't change at will, changing forms is a no-no for now. And as for Dhampy, can she protect me?'

Lilith shook her head.

'She's hesitant with her swings.' She had seen Dhampy go in for the kill, and that is not her usual method. Lilith did not know how to describe it other than Dhampy holding back.

'Agh, this is not good, I don't even know what is happening in the trees and my guard has gone soft. This is a mess, I need to make a move of my own.'

True enough, something was already going on in the trees. Lilith didn't approach as it might be a stronger enemy and was cautious of the situation.

Bzz! Bzzz! Ting!

[What is the emergency, Miliya? Did you finish the scouting of the Ogre territory?]

"No, we have yet to even head deeper into Section 5 and we have already encountered trouble, Ria."

[Trouble!? Do you mean epic-tier?]

"No, they are rare-tier, a Nightmare Dragonkin and another we do not know about. It's a species the Organization has yet to record...it's only LVL 35, but it is strong and is fighting Gabin to equal grounds, also..."

[Also, what? Don't beat around the bush, Miliya!]

"Hunter Kristina, do you know her? The one who had been pursuing the Legendary-tier Vampire-Lord Ecrastia? One of the mission objective we are ordered to save..."

[The missing SS-rank Hunter? What about her, she's a prioritized mission objective, right? Did you see her? Did you find her? Don't tell me she's being held hostage by the two rare-tiers!]

"No, she's the new species we are talking about, and we don't know what to do."

[What are you spouting nonsense for?]

"Just check this video feed."

Miliya did not explain any further. Tapping her right temple the Mana Chip implanted in her brain was quickly sent back to the control room back at the shores of the Neutral Area of Section 6 and 7.

When the mission was sent, the control room was silent, and after some deliberation, Miliya heard a connection.

[Stall for time, the B+ hunters is coming your way...]

"Roger."

Miliya sighed and picked up the black bow that had its string over her body like a string bag.

The black bow was around 6 ft long, it was a longbow. Gold engravings of beautifully set runes to enhance the power and other specs of her weapon.

The wood used to create this craft was known as Dark Star Wood, a flexible and durable wood found in the north of New Earth.

Miliya looked at Dhampy and Gabin preparing to finish things out. Miliya looked at Nightmare Dragonkin and back at the supposed Hunter Kristina.

She knocked an arrow on her bow, pulled it back slowly as to not make any sound and aimed for the unknown species.

'This mission is getting complicated. Ugh, I just want some cash.' Miliya thought and her ears twitched. She waited for any movement and then, boom!

The two began to move, dust exploded and Miliya pointed her arrows at the moving unknown species. While doing so, she caught the Nightmare Dragonkin on her peripheral vision making its move.

The Nightmare Dragonkin was retreating; it flapped its wings and moved up, gaining the high grounds.

'What is it doing?'

While this was going on, Dhampy and Gabin finally initiated their sword skills.

Gabin's blazing sword exploded into an even hotter form. His White Armor also exploded into blue flames.

"Azure Demon General!"

The white armour warped, the face of a demon got etched on its surface as the heat from the blue flames activated the magical runes etched on the armour.

The red lines on the edge turned blue and connected with the other lines, the face of angered demon appeared, its eyes were burning and so was Gabin's.

"Azure Demon Sword! Sky Scorcher!"

The sword in his blade compressed, it became even deadlier than it already was before and without much say, he slashed out without any reason.

Dhampy, on the other hand, slashed her sword, compared to before, there was no mist only a single droplet of blood appeared on the tip of her sword.

Her mind then became as tranquil as a serene lake that had taken a single droplet of water in the middle.

Kluc!

The droplet sent ripple down the serene and perfect lake.

Stab!

"Droplet Pierce."

Dhampy's sword pierced through Gabin's defences and before his sword could even be swung, the armor he was wearing crumbled under the force of Dhampy's sword technique.

Crack!

Break!

The armour broke into many pieces and just as Dhampy was about to pierce the heart of Gabin, Dhampy stopped once again. A mistake she would rue!

Fwu!

Dhampy heard the whistling of the wind and swung her sword to the side, perfectly splitting it in half. While all this was happening, Lilith clicked her tongue.

"Miasmic Expulsion! Dhampy! We're escaping!"

Her voice was angry, she had seen Dhampy sparing a human who attacked them, it was natural for Lilith to be angry so. But then, as Lilith was just about to escape, three arrows flew out to her.

"You're going nowhere!" Miliya was not going to let their target escape just like that.

"Dammit!"

Lilith gnashed her teeth and twisted her body midair in order to dodge! She somersaulted mid-air to avoid the first arrow and used her mouth to catch the next, but the next one was too fast for her PER stats and AGT to react against and managed to pierce her tiny wings.

"Ah, fuck!"

A gaping wide hole appeared on her wings, Lilith fell down, unable to keep flight. And as Dhampy saw such a thing, Lilith spiralled through the air and crashed somewhere else.

"BOSS!"

Dhampy saw this and she quickly manipulated her blood to give herself explosive speed!

BooM!

She disappeared before anyone could react, and Miliya who was hiding on the trees waited for a minute before coming out. She got down the tree and then went to check up on Gabin.

Gabin was on his knees and his eyes had turned white, his upper body was bare and the smell of urine could be smelled.

"Tsk, we lost her. Pelya is going to give me an earful now."

Miliya clicked her tongue and pushed her right temple.

Bzz! Bzzz! Ting!

[What's the situation?]

"We lost her, the Nightmare Dragonkin interfered and unknown species / Kristina escaped through means I do not know. She summoned explosive strength and disappeared before I can do anything."

[Goddammit, just before the B+ Hunters are about to arrive too — but you have the data of the fight right?]

"Yes, it is in my..."

Stab!

Thud!

The connection to the control room disappeared and on Miliya's head was a black sword sticking out.

A shadow from afar let out a nasty dark light and then disappeared as ten humans appeared thereafter.