The long sword slammed into the thick body of the other sword, and the splash of sparks reflected the twisted smile on Ante's face.

At this moment, Scott still has a sense of unreality. Even if he had guessed that there would be a day when Ante's body disappeared, Fili had told him that Frederick claimed to have seen his father and was "alive" if that was "alive".

Ante's greatsword was blocked by Scott, but instead of retreating, he stepped forward and slashed at it.

Scott dodged the sword, surprised by the inhuman strength of the other party.

He's dealt with the undead...... He had even dealt with the barbarians' undead warriors, and in terms of strength alone, Ante was not inferior to them, but his movements were more swift and nimble.

He was as familiar with Ante's sword as Ante was with him. When he first met, he thought that Ante was a very brave knight, because of the way he fought without hesitation.

"I never back down because I have no way back. ”

When they were friends, Ante once told him this when he was half-drunk...... The hidden meaning of that sentence may not be the same as Scott understood.

Ironically, the soul of the warrior, who gradually disappeared after becoming a king, seemed to return to Ante's body.

Once again, there was no way out.

Perhaps because he didn't feel pain, his attacks were even more brazen. Scott knew he had to get rid of him as soon as possible - and under his protection, Lydia was the more formidable enemy.

But it won't be easy. His long sword was unmatchedly sharp, and it was temporarily unable to break the protection that the female mage had put on Ante.

Lydia's spell sounded. Scott nimbly dodged sideways behind Ante. The undead's body blocked half of the damage for him, but it also made him realize, as Filly said. Spells are of little use to Ante, alike.

Bright electric light submerged into Ante's body. The same pain caused Scott to clench his teeth involuntarily, his body stiffened for a moment, and the smell of burnt leather and flesh pulled back many bad memories...... But Ante didn't even shake it.

The greatsword falls as Scott struggles to regain control of his body. He stepped back, but a chill ran down his back, instinctively sensing danger.

He jerked around and swung his sword, and in the fierce wind, Lydia's figure floated away like a ghost. There was a hint of regret in his pale smile, and the light of the red gem in his palm flashed from the corner of Scott's eye.

Yes, of course she would try to get close to him. Touch him...... But why did she tell him?

Scott raised his sword in confusion to block, the blade slashing along the blade of the greatsword, and in the cacophony of friction, he saw Lydia smile at him and wink her left eye.

He withdrew his sword and crouched. The sword slashed at Ante's right leg - to no avail for the time being.

His left hand slapped on the ground. The sudden rise of spikes tripped Ante, but was quickly shattered by his greatsword.

Spikes are lithochemical. Scott grabbed a sharp, angular shard and shoved it into Ante's boot - Ante couldn't feel it, but it kept eating away at his protection.

This is a not-so-upright trick for adventurers...... But dealing with an undead who had killed him once should be forgivable for being despicable.

Now, whatever little time he could buy was precious—he didn't even have time to heal himself, even if it was just a matter of thought.

But he didn't regret not mastering more spells, even though Copas Fenton reminded him more than once that power in the void would only be used in the simplest and crudest way. It's pretty stupid.

Seduced by forces he doesn't know and can't control...... It's the real stupidity.

He glanced at Lydia unconsciously—they might not be the same.

Lydia tossed a small crystal into the air. And Scott recognized the spell. He rolled away just in time, avoiding the huge ice that fell from the sky, but Ante roared hoarsely.

He didn't dodge. Although not afraid of the cold, the blunt blow of the ice is not without effect on the undead.

"Oh, okay...... I'm sorry. Lydia's muttering was insincere.

In a short period of time, Scott took the opportunity to heal the damage caused by the lightning bolt just now, jumped up and slashed at Ante's neck.

Ante instinctively dodged. That was his only Achilles' heel - though the word "fatal" seemed a bit ridiculous to a guy who was already dead.

The slippery ground made him lose his center of gravity a bit. As he retreated, Scott slammed the ground again, and the protruding boulder tripped Ante again, causing him to fall backwards uncontrollably.

Lydia was behind him.

The slender female mage reached out and pressed it to his shoulder. It seems like a knee-jerk move...... If she didn't have a smile on her lips.

But the smile was soon replaced by surprise. She quietly nudged Ante hard, as if to help him regain his balance, but Ante jerked and staggered as he slashed at her with his greatsword.

"**!" he scolded contemptuously and vulgarly, "don't think I don't know what you want to do!"

Lydia's face sank immediately, but Scott couldn't help but smile.

Yes, they all knew what Lydia wanted to do. She will change her allies at any time, looking for the position that is most advantageous to her. Now that she's proven that the gem isn't of any use to Ante, if Ante can calm down a bit, they'll be a true "ally" from now on, at least until Scott is knocked out...... But the deceased king seems to have lacked the virtue of "patience" even more than he did in his lifetime.

Scott felt he should probably thank him for that.

He slashed Ante's sword, giving Lydia enough time to retreat far enough. The next spell still fell on him, but it was no longer an attack, but a protection.

Whether you want to admit it or not...... They still have enough tacit understanding.

It doesn't take a look back for Scott to know what kind of spell Lydia will use. She lifted Ante's guards, leaving the ground beneath his feet greasy. Scott will be affected somewhat, but he's also much more agile than Ante anyway.

It wasn't long before Ante fell to the ground again. Ignoring his swinging greatsword, Scott rushed forward and slashed at his neck - he wondered if he should "spare his life...... But he has enough enemies, and the dead are better off sleeping underground.

The magic sword made an icy arc of light...... But it stopped in mid-air inexplicably.

Flames suddenly rose from the ground, licking fiercely at the rocks above their heads, engulfing both Ante and Scott in the blink of an eye, with the momentum of devouring everything.

Lydia hid her hands back into her voluminous sleeves, a sneer on her face.

The sudden flame was silently extinguished in the blink of an eye...... Ante vanished with it.

Scott slowly stood up, unharmed, but his face was even more ugly than Lydia's.

"Did you just burn him to ashes?" asked the mage lazily.

The sword hung limply, and Scott stared at the empty ground, not answering.

"Or has anyone found a new toy?" Lydia chuckled as she approached him, whispering in his ear, "It doesn't feel good, does it?

Scott's lips twitched slightly, still not answering.

"Will he hear? If you're afraid, listen to me quietly. Lydia raised an eyebrow contemptuously, "You always ask me, 'What exactly do you want, Lydia?'...... That's what I want -- I want to be free. I want to not be controlled by anybody, by any god, by any force, and I don't want to hear anyone tell me 'you can't do this,' 'you can't do that,' 'this is not allowed...... I'm going to do everything I want to do, and nothing can hold me back. ”

Her voice was soft, as light as breathing, but every word was clear and firm.

Scott's eyes were downcast, and he couldn't deny that he was moved for a moment. But as Lydia's hand silently approached his arm, the cold blade awaited her.

He had already learned that he could not let his guard down in the slightest when facing her.

The blade of the sword was slightly sideways, and it was pushed out sideways without mercy, but it was crooked to the side under the invisible obstacle.

Lydia calmly stepped back and spread her hands with a look of regret: "We actually worked well together just now...... It's like it used to be, isn't it?"

"If Ante doesn't give you a sword with a backhand...... You've worked well together. Scott replied lightly.

Lydia shrugged disappreciatively, "That guy is an idiot alive, and he's an idiot when he's dead—you don't really think I've seriously thought I've teamed up with him, do you?" I told my secret in exchange for a little trust......

"You told me because you knew Filly was alive...... He must have reminded me not to let you touch it no matter what. Scott interrupted her, "Besides, I doubt how much of it is true." ”

Lydia was silent for a moment, then laughed silently.

"It's never going to be the same again, is it?" she sighed softly, "and we're never going to be able to trust each other anymore. ”

Scott was silent.

"So......" Lydia held up her left hand, "even if I tell you how to remove the mark from Fili, can you really trust me?"

Scott hesitated.

"And I really don't know. Lydia gestured helplessly, "But one thing is true—it will protect me, after all, it depends on me to draw strength." ”

“...... Is this the freedom you get?" Scott sneered.

"Oh...... I'm still trying. Lydia scoffed, "And you...... Don't worry, I'm sure your god will smile at you eventually, and you're at least much better looking than that guy from Ante anyway. ”

Scott ignored the harsh taunt and simply reached out to the female mage to shake it.

Lydia's body shook for a moment, and a trace of panic unconsciously flashed in her eyes, but she quickly regained her composure and said with a smile: "I told you." ”

Scott withdrew his left hand without a sound, but raised his sword again.

Lydia let out a long sigh.

"Stubborn stupid donkey. She cursed under her breath, picking herself up.

(To be continued.) )