THE GENERAL'S DISGRACED HEIR

The air was thick with humidity, and the ground beneath Ashley's boots squelched with every step. She stood at the base of a hill, staring into the dense forest that stretched out before her. A mixture of frustration and disbelief flickered in her eyes. "He's insane if he thinks this is going to work," she muttered under her breath, her voice barely audible above the soft rustling of leaves in the wind.

Noelle had somehow convinced David to let them take part in the fight against the mysterious monster lurking in the dungeon. It wasn't just about David's strength—his strength, which was unmatched by anyone in their generation—but the deep pride that came with carrying the De Gor bloodline. Noelle wasn't even a noble of the house, not tied by blood to any branch of De Gor, yet she showed more backbone than most nobles ever would. She had a fire in her that was undeniable, one that Ashley had come to respect.

As Ashley planted her feet firmly in the slippery mud, a sense of duty washed over her. She was not just anyone; she was Ashley Nel Gor, the first daughter of the Nel branch, a descendant of the De Gor bloodline. Her house stood for strength, a wall that never crumbled, and a sword that cut through any enemy. Today, she had to uphold that legacy.

Repositioning her floating spellbook in front of her, she focused on the power coursing through her veins. Mana surged through her, sharp and fiery. With just a flick of her fingers, strings of pure, fiery mana began to form at both ends of her spellbook, taking the shape of a bow.

"Couldn't he have chosen a better place for this?" Ashley grumbled, glancing around at the muddy battlefield. The slick ground made it difficult to get a proper stance, but she ignored the discomfort. She had more pressing matters at hand.

Pouring 50% of her mana into the bow, the air around her began to crackle and sizzle with heat. The sheer energy radiating from her fingertips was palpable, making the atmosphere tense with anticipation. Ashley willed the arrow of fire into existence, watching as it slowly formed and nocked itself onto the bow. But something felt off—something foreign, something dark, was coiling around the arrow, enhancing its power. It wasn't just her mana anymore.

Realizing this, her heart pounded, but she embraced the unfamiliar power. With unwavering conviction, she pulled back the bowstring, her eyes locked on her target within the shadows of the forest. She took a deep breath, the words falling from her lips with fierce determination, "I call for a guide to burn."

The flaming arrow, now charged with a strange, unknown energy, glowed even brighter. The sizzling heat intensified as the tension reached its peak. And then, with a sharp exhale, Ashley released the arrow.

"[IGNITE!]"

The arrow shot forward, a fiery comet blazing through the humid air, its destination set on whatever monstrosity lurking in the shadows.

The fiery arrow sliced through the thick air, almost alive with intent, leaving a trail of burning embers in its wake. It was like a blazing serpent, weaving its path toward its prey. At the base of the colossal Statue of the Goddess, the monster sat motionless, waiting in eerie patience. It anticipated the usual attempt from the dungeon's captives to flee, but David had other plans for it today.

The creature's grotesque form tensed as it sensed something unnatural approaching. Its many eyes shifted in confusion, the air around it trembling with strange sounds. Before it could comprehend the incoming threat, a blaze of searing fire slammed into its head, triggering a violent explosion.

The sheer force of the blast sent it staggering backward, screeching in pain and fury. The fire arrow had hit its mark, but the monster's resilience was terrifying. Shrouded in smoke, its shrill cry pierced the forest as it shot forward with deadly speed, determined to crush whoever dared to attack it.

Tentacles thrashed wildly, smashing everything in the monster's path. Trees were uprooted, the ground trembled, and its unrelenting rage ignited the air with bloodlust. The creature tore through the foliage, its many eyes searching for its next victim. And then it saw her—Ashley. She stood in the clearing, her body still, her gaze unwavering. The monster lunged at her, its enormous skeletal arm outstretched, poised to end her life with a single blow.

But Ashley didn't flinch. She stood as if she'd anticipated this exact moment, her breathing calm, her focus unshaken. Just as the creature's monstrous limb was about to connect with her, a shadow from the trees erupted into motion—Noelle. Her movements were fluid, her speed unnatural, as if some foreign power surged through her body, fueling her determination. With her greatsword strapped across her back and her hands gripping the hilt, she intercepted the beast's brutal attack mid-swing.

"Hey, fuck face, eyes on me!"

Noelle shouted, her voice defiant.

Sparks erupted as Noelle's greatsword clashed with the monster's skeletal arm, the impact reverberating through the air. The force of the collision sent both Noelle and the creature skidding back, their feet digging into the muddy ground. For a moment, the world seemed to hold its breath. The distance between them widened, creating the space they needed for the next strike.

Ashley's eyes gleamed with fierce approval. Noelle had bought them time—just enough to regroup and plan another assault. The creature, though enraged, paused momentarily, its many eyes now fixated on Noelle, its original target forgotten.

The battle was far from over, but they had a chance now. A small one, perhaps, but enough for David, Ashley, and Noelle to take control of the situation. With the monster distracted and Noelle standing firm, this was the moment they had been waiting for.

Noelle's grip tightened on the hilt of her greatsword, her crimson eyes locked onto the monstrous creature before her. A smirk tugged at her lips, and with fiery determination, she whispered, "Shall we?"

Without waiting for a response, she dashed forward, her speed fierce and unrelenting. The monster, towering and grotesque, let out a shrill screech as it charged to meet her head-on. The battle erupted in a whirlwind of violent blows—steel against flesh, the ground shaking under the force of their exchange.

But despite her sheer willpower, Noelle was outmatched in strength and speed. Each blow from the monster felt like it could shatter her bones, and yet, she stood her ground, deflecting as much as she could.

Suddenly, the monster leapt into the air, its massive arms raised, ready to end the fight in one fatal strike. Noelle's heart raced as she braced for impact. But before the beast could land its deadly blow, fiery orbs shot out from the trees, striking the creature from all angles. The orbs burst on contact, sending the monster plummeting to the ground in a heap, stunned and disoriented.

Noelle seized the opportunity. With the creature reeling from the unexpected attack, she unleashed her fury, going on an all-out rampage. Her greatsword swung with unrelenting force, each strike aimed to sever the monster's limbs. But the creature's many tentacles moved just as fast, deflecting her heavy blows, wrapping around her sword with a sinister strength.

David's plan echoed in Noelle's mind like a drumbeat. She was meant to be the damage dealer, the one to engage the creature head-on, while Ashley stood as her safeguard, covering her blind spots and keeping the fight balanced. It was a strategy that should have made them unstoppable, the perfect combination of strength and magical support. But reality was proving far more brutal than anticipated. The creature's resilience wasn't just formidable—it was monstrous. Each time they landed a blow, it retaliated with twice the fury. Its grotesque body seemed to absorb their attacks, only growing more enraged.

Now, in its frenzied state, it was almost impossible to predict. Its wild, erratic movements sent shockwaves through the ground, trees splintering under the force of its rampage. Each screech it emitted was louder than the last, piercing the air like nails on stone, disorienting their senses.

Noelle's hands trembled ever so slightly on the hilt of her greatsword as she struggled to focus amidst the chaos. Her crimson eyes narrowed, trying to anticipate the beast's next move, but her thoughts were clouded by the sheer unpredictability of its assault.

For the first time, a cold chill crept down her spine, a sensation so foreign it nearly broke her concentration. It wasn't just the creature's power that shook her—it was the primal fear sinking its claws into her very soul.

An instinctive fear she hadn't felt in years, the kind that made her question everything, even her own strength. The plan had seemed solid in theory, but in this moment, facing this relentless monster, Noelle could feel the weight of doubt settling like a stone in her chest.

From behind, Ashley's voice rang out, cutting through the chaos. "Get ready!" she yelled, her hands raised toward Noelle. Noelle's emotions were spiralling, but she forced herself to breathe, to focus. She couldn't let fear win.

Ashley's mana surged as she cast a spell, her hands glowing with a fiery intensity. "[BURN!]" she shouted, her voice filled with power. In an instant, Noelle's greatsword ignited, flames wrapping around the blade like a living inferno.

Feeling the intense heat radiating from her weapon, Noelle's resolve hardened with the pain. With a guttural roar, she charged forward, her sword blazing with raw energy. The monster, still reeling from the earlier assault, barely had time to react. Noelle swung with everything she had, her fiery blade cutting through the air, determined to end the fight once and for all.