I tapped the hologram and suddenly felt energy surge in me. This would be fun.
I stood by Thyrian's side and we both charged towards the wolf-fish and so did they. Light worked out my hands and circled around the wolves, strangling them.
Thyrian used his claws to cut straight into the other wolf and killed it instantly.
"Three minutes left." I snapped the necks of the two wolves leaving their lifeless still bodies dropping low into the dark abyss. I laughed and licked my lips.
"We did it!" I yelled in excitement and hugged Thyrian. He just stayed still, though. I opened the portal and sent him back to the cave and then went up.
"She really did do it!"
"Isn't she F-rank? How is her magic power this strong?"
The crowd gossiped, but I just stared ahead, drenched all over, yet I kept my head up high. A prideful smirk curved to my lips. I watched as Elowen's expression darkened, the displeasure and shock in her eyes was laughable, as I approached mother her lips parted. "Sister, how did you do that? Are you no longer F-rank, or did you perhaps cheat?" she said softly, but I knew what her every word meant and felt like snapping her neck in two.
"She cheated."
"Of course, how else would her magic powers be that great as an F rank?"
I heard the crowds whisper, all jabbing their fingers at me. "Expel her!" One said then others followed in unison.
I laughed and stared at Elowen. "Cheat? those words hold weight sister, you accuse me all because you covet everything I own?" I asked and watched as her cheeks flushed red in embarrassment.
"I-i-i..." she stuttered, and Darian stepped in. "Stop trying to put blame on your sister. You clearly knew of this tournament and cheated!" He pointed his finger at me, and I rolled my eyes, turning to the Duke.
"If she can prove I cheated, I'll submit to you and kneel, and Elowen gets everything I own." I watched as their faces brightened.
"Bette—"
"But if I can prove i didn't, you kneel and offer a sincere apology, not only to me but to my beast-men," I said, flashing her a smug grin.
"How dare you… I, Darian, kneel to those filth!?" He cursed out, and a dark chuckle escaped my lips.
"Call them filth again and I'll make sure those are the last words u ever say!" He froze mid-sentence and returned to Elowens side. Elowen reached for the Duke's hand.
"She is out of control, mother. There is no need to test if she actually cheated. Sister may have leveled her rank through the orb." At her words, everyone gasped, staring at me with judging eyes.
The Duke stood up again, slamming her staff to the ground. "Seize her!" She yelled, and two guards moved towards me, but stopped in their track as my beast-men walked out, circling around to protect me.
I sighted Elowen holding the hem of her dress like she would tear them into shreds. She must be mad… why were my beast-men still so loyal to me despite everything I …
I turned my gaze to the Duke. "You have no evidence, yet you wish to lock me up. Has your judgment been clouded all because you favor your niece so much?" I asked.
"Quiet, Raven. You lack the manners of a proper heiress. I hereby str—"
"Dear MOTHER." I said flatly, and she froze "Don't bite of more than you can chew. I won fair and square, yet you wish to strip me not only of my victory but my title, my beastmen, and worse you wish to hand them over to your precious niece. Look around, everyone's watching. Remember, the Empress has her eyes and ears everywhere!" I reminded and watched as the Duke's eyes wavered in fear and shock.
She turned to stare at Elowen over her shoulder and sighed. "Then it's settled. You have won fair and square. Everyone leave." she said and turned to leave, but I laughed.
"And be labled a cheater? Dear mother, Elowen gave me a challenge. I don't intend on backing off now!" I reminded, and everyone leaving stopped in their tracks.
"She's right! Let's see if she really cheated!"
I watched as Elowen panicked. This time, I'll shatter that useless plot armor.
[Warning: Host, you will be hit with Backlash, Don't anger the female lead.] The system revealed, but I laughed bitterly. Too late. I want to see her beg me.
Instantly, everyone went rigid and everything turned black and white.
"What are you doing?" The cat suddenly appeared on the throne.
"Teaching a bad child that there are
consequences to one's actions," I said, and she laughed, holding her tummy.
"You actually believe that?" She said, and I nodded.
"Every child needs to be punished when they do wrong. I wouldn't sit here and watch her live her perfect life. I don't care whatever the backlash is—" I yelled, and her eyes turned serious.
"Really? What if it meant death?" she asked, and I froze." If it comes to that then so be it".
I said, and she smiled. "I understand. Do as you please, but there will be consequences." She disappeared, and everyone returned back to normal.
"Bring the orb," I yelled, and the guards rushed off to bring it. Elowen immediately reached for the Duke's hand. "I really don't think there is need, mother. She already won" she mumbled, but I knew Elowen would never apologise let alone kneel because of her shameless pride… I will break that today.
The orb, according to the novel, was a magical round glassy ornament. It had black magic, which was strictly forbidden in this world, but because of it being only compatable with those that already possessed black magic or those with evil intentions forcefully ejecting anyone else emitting a dazzling light, it was the perfect tool to prove my innocence. So Elowen was trying to frame me for extracting dark magic to cheat. How dare she!
I stared at her and muttered, "Elowen, since a bet was made, it has to be fulfilled." Just as I was about to place my hands on the orb, a bird flew by, biting a part of my hand.
Plot armor. Again. "Veyra, Azrael, don't let anything stop me," I commanded, my eyes shimmering bright purple.
"Yes, master." That second, a combined red and green shield covered me. Thousands of birds flew by, pecking at it, trying to stop me.
I could feel everyone panic. They stared, anticipating and wondering why the birds were trying to stop me
I placed my hands on the orb. But an invisible force pushed my hands away, but i didnt give in pushing on the orb harder.
I felt dizzy all of a sudden and missed a step, but Ryker held me from behind. "You should stop, you've proven your point no one would go this far if they were actually guilty" he said. But I wasn't done. I fired in more energy finally pushing passed the barrier slowly…
"She's going to get badly injured. The orb is rejecting her, did she actually not cheat" I heard the whispers outside but I didn't care this wasn't enough.
I coughed up pale blood, and that's when the sky became dark.
"All to protect one bitch. This world was really ready to eliminate me," I chuckled, not minding the pain coursing through my body. Ryker's hands reached to stop me, but a dark look from me made him stop. I coughed up another mouthful of blood.
My knees buckled, and I dropped to my knees, still pushing into it. Ryker reached in, but my words stopped him. "Don't you want me dead? I'm granting that to you… watch me die. Don't you dare save me!" I said. I was risking my life right now because I knew that bitch wouldn't get punished with just this much.
The sky raised, and a thunderbolt struck the shield, breaking it instantly. My beast-men fled backward, and the whole hall instinctively crouched to shield themselves.
Elowen held onto the Duke as the wind threw her backward. Everyone stared. The smoke had engraved and howled around me.
"Is she alive?" Someone in the crowd asked.
The smoke disappeared and only the orb came into view.
Everyone snapped their heads towards Elowen. She stood there, covered in cold sweat.
"Elowen was…"