Chapter 186

The underground fifth floor, which served as a hangar, was cluttered with unfinished materials, parked construction vehicles, and waste.

A group of armed guards ran down the corridor.

“Search thoroughly! The opponent’s unique ability is the clone. We cannot let them slip away!”

The awakened guard, armed with large-caliber rifles and swords, scattered underground in teams of three with regular soldiers.

There was no one beneath the shaft leading to the surface.

Meanwhile, the ordinary members searching the fifth floor caught sight of something bizarre.

For just a moment, one of the members gasped.

“…What is that?”

What they saw under the dim light was the back of a woman’s naked body.

Her pale skin, where blue veins were prominent, covered an exquisitely beautiful form like a sculpture.

Her slender but delicate frame was comparable to that of a man. A thin waist connected the two curved segments of her upper and lower body.

In that figure, maturity was evident.

Under a slight shadow, her softly closed eyes. The color of her hair cascaded down to her shoulders, shining golden.

It was undeniably decadent and lewd.

“I’ll inform headquarters. I found the target. It appears to be the main body—”

At that moment, as the members, feeling a chill from her beauty, aimed their weapons, the woman sensed their presence. She exhaled sharply and opened her eyes.

Her blood-red pupils sparkled under the lights, and she frowned at the instinctive discomfort.

“You saw me.”

“…!”

The woman vanished before their eyes.

When he turned around in shock, he saw the necks of two colleagues broken. As the horrified member opened his mouth, his vision turned dark.

Pain surged through his eyes.

“Ah, aaaaah!”

The witch plunged both her thumbs deeper into the eye sockets and grasped his head tightly.

With a crunching sound, the guard’s head was smashed to bits. She shed the brain matter and bone shards she had clutched in her hand.

Blood droplets splattered against her neck and flowed down her collarbone, trickling between her peaks.

“Filthy bastard. How dare you…”

As the scent of blood tickled her nose, her consciousness, once shrouded in darkness, slowly lit up.

Memories surged into her mind like a tidal wave. The woman gasped for air, looking around as if she had just woken from a deep sleep.

‘I am…’

She thought.

Who am I? I am Violet Dunhind Rugilinn. I have no parents, for I am a refugee from the Erosion Zone.

Who am I? The commander of Operation Team 7 of the Obsidian Legion. Callsign Dandelion.

I am… Violet.

I am the boundless witch.

Memories flooded her mind.

For a brief moment of confusion, the woman closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She searched her memories from Clone 721.

Where is this, and where am I? I need information.

“It’s outside.”

She realized it from the cold air felt on her skin and the warmth of the blood flowing over her arms and torso.

The second time experiencing outside air.

“Ah…!”

For a fleeting moment of thrill, Violet grimaced, mixing annoyance into her voice.

“This dumb girl really…!”

Understanding the situation, Violet made a grimace.

Of all times, she had to run into that grand mage.

‘I’m done for. That old man from Magnavis and I don’t get along at all.’

Violet assessed her situation and checked her physical condition.

She moved the fingers of both hands, bending and stretching her arms.

The unique elasticity and strength of the compressed muscles beneath her thin skin transmitted through her body.

This wasn’t the body of the young child she had grappled with when facing Martina.

Her physical condition was optimal. She could tear through gloves with her bare hands.

“The problem is the magical power.”

Violet pondered how she had managed to reappear in reality.

The moment that guy went into a rage, she popped out, and luck had it that a tremendous amount of magical energy spilled out.

Thanks to this, she had restored to her prime form, the peak of growth from her days in the Obsidian Legion.

However, the hastily created body was starting to break down. It was a type of immune rejection response.

After a brief calculation, she realized that if she didn’t secure a proper magical power source and adjust her physical state, her time in reality would soon end.

She would fall back into the refugee status of the conceptual world.

‘Calculating, maximum one hour; if I engage in intense battle, it will be shorter.’

She knocked on the wall a few times. The strength and magical energy felt unusual.

‘Damn it, I can’t afford to break through the outer wall with the time and magical energy I have. For now, I have to get to the surface. Well, it can’t be helped.’

She tried to think optimistically, reciting lines from old plays by Arceus.

“So, the forge of adversity, the hammer of fate, tests me once again. Ah! Under the anvil of despair, we vanish like mist…”

She mobilized her magical power. Red magical energy enveloped her body, and black combat clothing and armor enveloped her.

The fake rags she couldn’t use were due to a simple application of her clone ability; as the real Witch Violet, she felt genuinely pleased with her power.

‘Feels nostalgic, this on-site vibe.’

The rough footsteps of the guards echoed through the underground.

Feeling the danger as the connection from those lowlifes who had stolen her body was cut, she knew it must have been indicative of danger.

She conjured a weapon out of thin air, a sword to test her strength first.

Although she couldn’t use explosives, it was no matter; she didn’t need firearms.

– Rat-tat-tat!

It seemed her first opponents would be the guards.

The bullets poured down without warning. She lightly turned her head and evaded the bullets aimed at her crown.

“Get up, it’s time to play!”

Walking in the shadow, the witch snapped her fingers.

A portion of her tremendous magical power scattered, and black shadows emerged from behind her.

Before long, countless armed clones resembling her appeared.

Violet dashed down the dim underground corridor with her clones. Enemies facing her rushed to attack.

“What the heck? Did she grow that much?”

“Shut up and shoot!”

Weak attacks were blocked by the clones. Dangerous things, like crossbow bolts and giant monster rounds, were deflected by sword strikes.

Tens of clones slashed through the barrage like a group of dancers.

“What kind of monster…! Prepare for close combat!”

Enemy members who had been firing put down their guns and drew swords and axes.

At that moment, the swords held by the clones transformed in an instant into spears. Violet and her clones accelerated at explosive speed.

“Gah…!”

“Ahhh!”

The clone Violets, performing unbelievable maneuvers for puppets, weaved through the enemy’s blade energy.

Soldiers pierced by spears met their demise.

Like reapers harvesting grain, the Violets sliced through the enemies, making their way through the fifth floor.

“…The, enemies are increasing! 30, 50, 100!”

“Impossible! How could they die like that? What’s going on here?”

Members were cut off one by one, screaming.

Red dots suddenly increased on the holographic map. The sight froze Valefor’s face slightly.

At this rate, they would soon rise to the surface.

The guard team leader, witnessing the carnage, sent for reinforcements.

– Kwang!

“Ugh…!”

As they ascended to the fourth floor, Violet hastily ducked her head.

When a clone tossed its body and evaporated from the magic hit, she felt a minor pang. Perhaps because there were fewer, her pain distribution ability didn’t operate properly.

“You can’t get through here!”

Continuing to generate clones, she attempted another head-on assault.

This time, guards armed with shields and swords collided with her. The first charge barely held back, and retaliations flew.

“Thrust!”

A blazing blade approached her.

The clones withdrew their spears to evade the attack.

In the blink of an eye, the clones behind switched places, exploiting gaps. Flawless movements.

“Kuahh…!”

Body parts without heads fell continuously to the ground. Severed limbs flew towards the ceiling.

The mages who had bought time with frontline casualties aimed their staffs.

At the moment when beams would fly from the end of the staffs, the clones pulled their right arms back widely, like a pitcher preparing to throw a fastball.

“…?”

With a whoosing sound, the chained spears flew.

– Peow!

“Ugh! Activate the defense magic!”

“Get down!”

The spears, generating shockwaves as they flew, pierced through the retaliating mages like shells. As the shooting formation crumbled, the clones surged in once more.

-Team Leader! The enemy’s level is different! They seem like different people! Ahhh!

Screams echoed one by one from the radio. Witnessing the sudden shift from an offensive to a defensive situation, Valefor hurriedly issued orders.

“Guard team leader, retreat all members to the first basement level. I don’t know why, but this is a different level than before. Minimizing damage is a priority.”

“…Understood.”

One of the subordinates, watching the holographic map, shouted.

“The bastards have entered the third basement level!”

“There’s a lockdown system from here. Activate it while evacuating! Hurry!”

As the command fell, the members rushed down the corridor.

The warning lights on the ceiling flashed red, signaling the activation of the lockdown system.

A guard retreating felt the right wall break.

“Don’t come! No!”

A clone that had broken through the wall stabbed him in the belly. The moment he stumbled, dozens of swords tore through his body.

“Ahhh! Help!”

Hearing the scream, a member turned around, urged by his superior.

“You fool! There’s no time to help! Run!”

Before their eyes, a thick metallic barrier was descending.

The members dragged their injured bodies through the barrier.

Far down the corridor, a female member trailing behind hurriedly rushed over.

“Wait a moment, let’s go together! Don’t close it yet!”

“Hurry up!”

The movement of the barrier paused for a moment.

The member, trembling in fear, dashed toward the barrier. Waiting colleagues reached out, urging her on.

Just as she thought she would make it, a burning pain surged from her belly.

“Uh…?”

Startled, she looked down.

A spear protruded from her abdomen.

“Ah, no. Just a moment…!”

As the female team member reached out pitifully, the chain connected to the spear made a metallic clank as it dragged on the ground.

“Ahhh!”

“Hey! Grab my hand! Quickly!”

“Ah, no!”

The clanking noise of the chain pulling fiercely on the floor. She was desperately being dragged away down the corridor. Pitifully, her hands clawed the ground.

The screeching sound and ten lines etched into the floor.

Witch Violet cruelly grinned as she observed the target drawn in by the spear.

“A nice catch, isn’t it?”

She lightly tossed the member to the back where her clones were waiting.

The clones swung their swords simultaneously.

“Save me! No! Nooo!”

Body parts scattered in all directions, blood splattering everywhere.

As the corridor became drenched in crimson, Violet faced the cowards beyond the barrier and laughed maniacally.

“Kyaaaahhahaha!”

Covered in blood, Violet gleefully grinned. The clones joined in her laughter.

The mad witch’s laughter reverberated throughout the entire third basement floor.

Members stunned by witnessing their comrades’ brutal deaths snapped back to reality and retreated.

“Damn it! Close it fast! It’s coming! It’s coming aaahhh!”

– Clank!

The killing machine rushed in. The moment they met the mad, glowing eyes, the metal shutters sealed the passageway to the second basement level.

“She’s alive…”

Thud, thud. Strong vibrations battered the door. A sharp sound gnawed at the barrier. The members stepped back from the door.

“…Mage! We’ve held them off!”

The guard captain switched one of the CCTV screens to show Valefor.

Countless clones were scraping the wall and barrier with their red-tinted blades.

Behind them, a new barrier dropped down.

The blonde woman glanced around.

“Hmm, I think she will try to breach the ceiling again. Is that all?”

When Valefor asked, the team leader shook his head and replied.

“Of course not! When I thought about it…there’s this!”

When the team leader pressed a few buttons, a barrier formed around the area where Violet was trapped.

Though the Violets wielded their swords to stab this and that, they were helplessly deflected.

Feeling relieved, the team leader said in a cheerful tone.

“Got it! Originally intended for monster escape prevention, but it can work this way too. Do you see? We have trapped that monster girl. We can just take our time subduing her now!”

“Well, I’m not sure if that’s enough.”

“Rest easy. The surrounding walls are made of super concrete, and the barrier is constructed with rare metal and mega steel. Plus, it’s now equipped with the latest magical absorption barrier technology. That girl won’t escape, not at all.”

As the words finished, the guard team leader looked at Valefor, hoping for praise.

But he was taken aback by an unexpected demeanor.

Valefor was looking at the team leader with a somewhat displeased expression.

His eyes carried traces of annoyance and disdain.

“…Team leader. You may think this is the ramblings of an old man, but listen carefully. One thing I’ve learned over my century of living is that absolutely nothing exists in this world. Don’t let your guard down.”

Under the reproach of his far superior, the team leader bowed his head. Valefor stared at the surveillance camera screen in a corner of the hologram.

Just then, the woman was gazing straight into the CCTV.

For an instant, Valefor felt as if he had locked eyes with her.

‘What is it…?’

As the woman reached out into the air, a huge sword with a rectangular shape appeared.

The surveillance camera screen crackled and cut off.

– Clank!

The barrier shattered into pieces.

Violet swaggered out with an exaggerated gesture.

“Behold! The burning soul! Not even chains can bind me! Not even prisons can confine me! I cannot be tamed, the storm! I cannot be subdued, the waves! Hahaha!”

As she recited another line from an unnamed play, the army of clones advanced to the second basement level.

Valefor issued orders to the Vanguard agents behind him. Some of them descended below.

The pale guard team leader urgently shouted into the radio.

“Come back up! Quickly!”

– It’s impossible! Surrounding us are her clones!

A subordinate screamed, swinging his sword through the radio. Before long, the number of clones had increased into the hundreds, rampaging and hunting down the members.

“Don’t shoot! It’s friendly…”

“Hahaha!”

The clones charged forward, using the captured members as human shields.

Taking advantage of the hesitance from the moment of confusion, more clones invaded. Up, down. Left, right. Front, back.

“Ugh, aahhh!”

A member cornered by clones screamed in terror. Inevitable slashes flew in from every direction.

– Kwang!

As the member screamed, a gigantic lightning whip cracked between Violet and the remaining guards.

The clones disintegrated into ashes.

“Damn it! Get up! We’ll buy you time, so hurry out!”

One by one, the members rose from their positions.

A Vanguard agent wielding a halberd took the lead among his fellow comrades. The witch tilted her head in intrigue.

“Hooh?”

Finding it interesting, she charged at the reassembled guards and Vanguard soldiers alongside her clones.

A downpour of bullets rained. They collided.

After exchanging several attacks, she felt a sense of both fun and regret at the simultaneous realization.

“Not bad. Yes. Normally, I’d…”

Sadly, she couldn’t afford to play with them any longer. She was running out of time.

Violet stepped back for a moment. The Vanguard agent, thinking her retreat was borne out of desperation, aimed the halberd menacingly.

“Are you getting tired now? You devilish witch! You must be feeling smug with your little unique ability. I’ll turn that pretty face of yours into ashes!”

Instead of responding to the provocation,

She pulled out two short swords.

The clones followed their main body’s movements, discarding the weapons they were holding and generating dual swords in midair.

“Fire!”

The barrage of magic split the air. Flames imbued with destruction flew forth.

In a very brief moment, Violet and her clone army slightly bent at the waist, knees slightly bent—as if preparing for a sprint.

“Attack—”

Violet unleashed another skill she knew apart from her unique ability.

Special augmented close combat technique, Raikes-Haiven Style: Type 1.

– Kwoom!

A short explosion occurred as the magical power blasted up from her feet. The floor was dented from the shock.

Her body radiated magical power and accelerated like a rocket.

With a fierce sound of splitting air, the witch’s forces zipped between the soldiers like bullets.

And silence.

“…?”

Within a blink, the soldiers noticed Violet and her clones had moved behind them.

That was the last scene they ever saw in their lives.

– Chwa-hah!

The soldiers on the second basement floor were shattered into dozens of pieces, scattering everywhere. The results of the forgotten battle techniques created by the old federation were horrific.

The surroundings turned red. The floor became sticky.

Violet could not contain the thrill coursing through her spine.

“Kyaaaahh! This is it. I certainly haven’t forgotten!”

The clones shook off the blood clinging to their swords, and the boundless witch spread her arms in ecstasy.

“Witness my awe!”

As she broke through the ceiling, a brilliant light enveloped Violet.

Joy was short-lived as she discovered the enraged and terrified enemies closing in on her.

And amongthem, a troublesome foe with a staff glared at her ominously.

“Oh dear, can’t you just let me go?”

Violet shrugged and smiled.

Valefor aimed his staff silently. He commanded his subordinates.

“Everyone, get outside.”

“What? But…!”

“You all are no match for that girl. You need to live, don’t you? Back away now. There are many who require you. Hurry!”

Reluctantly, the Vanguard agents and guards retreated.

As the footsteps faded away and the broad space filled with silence once more, Violet realized that the grand mage in front of her wouldn’t let her leave.

“Oh no, this won’t do.”

She and her clones raised their weapons simultaneously.

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