LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 411: Inferno and Steel
Anya's sleek supercar tore down the highway, the engine roaring as she sped through the open road, her hands gripping the wheel.
A small, triumphant smile lingered on her lips. She couldn't deny it—something about her conversation with Alister made her chest feel lighter.
If she weren't driving, she might've taken a picture of herself to capture this rare moment of pride.
Then, in an instant, that feeling vanished.
A female figure appeared ahead, standing in the center of the highway. Cloaked in black and red armor with a small red cape beginning at her waist, at the front and back of her body, she held a long black spear with a red blade gripped in her right hand. Curved, reddish-black horns protruded from her head, a long tail covered in black scales swayed behind her, and red eyes glowed from the visor of her helmet.
A massive, reddish-black aura erupted from her body as her crimson eyes focused on Anya.
She twirled her spear with enough force to cause the air around it to ripple.
Anya's instincts screamed at her even before the figure moved.
With a sharp swing of the spear, a massive bladed discharge of reddish-black energy tore through the air, heading straight for her.
Anya's reflexes kicked in, and she jerked the wheel to the side, the tires screeching as she narrowly avoided a direct hit. But it wasn't enough.
The energy slash sliced through her car cleanly, splitting it in half.
In the next instant…
BOOM!
A massive explosion of flames erupted as her car was torn apart, sending shrapnel and debris scattering across the road.
Behind her, cars swerved to a halt, horns blaring, some drivers panicking at the sudden devastation. Smoke and fire rose into the sky.
The armored figure slowly strode forward, the clank of her heavy boots against the asphalt echoing.
The intensity in her eyes made it obvious to anyone—she was here for a fight.
"You know, if all you wanted was a fight, all you had to do was ask. I would never have turned you down."
A voice suddenly spoke from the raging flames.
The armored figure halted in her tracks, her eyes narrowing as the voice spoke again.
"But now you've gone and pissed me off. That car was really expensive. And it was the latest model too."
Suddenly, from the raging flames, a figure emerged.
Anya.
Despite the flames, despite the sheer force of the attack that had obliterated her vehicle, she stood completely unharmed—her body covered in a shimmering crimson aura. Her outfit, though slightly roughed up from the impact, remained intact, untouched by the flames.
She rolled her shoulders, flexing her fingers, her stance relaxed but ready to attack.
She cracked her knuckles, the sharp pop of her joints audible through the flames.
Then, rolling her neck, she revealed a glimpse of her sharp, shark-like teeth. The way they caught the firelight made them seem even more menacing.
"So, do you mind introducing yourself and telling me why you're here—before I proceed to cave your head in?"
The armored figure tightened her grip on her spear. Then, in a single smooth motion, the helmet shifted, revealing the face beneath.
Silver hair cascaded down, partially covering a pair of striking crimson eyes—not human eyes, slit pupils narrowing like a predator locking onto prey.
"I am Mar'Garet Von Abyss-Void, and I am my lord's one true love. I am here to erase you, human vixen, for daring to believe you can stand at my lord's side."
For a fraction of a second, Anya's eyes widened.
"Wait… aren't you one of the dragon women that was beside Alister earlier? Why are you—"
"SHUT UP! A mere human like you is not worthy of speaking his name!"
Mar'Garet's expression twisted into one of pure disdain.
Her teeth clenched, her crimson eyes flaring with barely contained fury.
"A mere human, thinking she can steal my lord from me, even going as far as locking your vulgar lips with his—something even I haven't had the pleasure of doing yet!"
"Such a heinous act cannot go unpunished!"
Then, as if responding to her rage, something ignited.
A blood-red crest, shaped like dragon fangs, pulsed above her chest plate, glowing with searing intensity. The air around her rippled.
Before Anya could react, an unseen force slammed into her—like being struck by the claw of an unseen dragon.
She barely had time to register the impact before she was sent flying, the shockwave tearing through the air in her wake.
The sheer force of Anya's impact shattered the glass of nearby buildings, sending sharp fragments raining onto the streets below.
Civilians screamed, instinctively ducking for cover—some shielding their heads with their arms, while others bolted into alleyways, desperate to escape the unfolding destruction.
Then—Mar'Garet vanished.
No blur of movement, no sign of a charge—just gone.
An instant later—BOOM!
The very spot she had been standing in caved in, a crater the size of a truck swallowing the pavement whole.
The sheer force of her sudden burst of speed sent cracks spiderwebbing across the road, debris shooting outward like bullets.
Anya landed on her feet a distance away, her boots skidding across the asphalt, carving deep trenches into the road as she absorbed the force.
She finally came to a stop and flicked her gaze toward the civilians still frozen in their vehicles, their wide eyes locked onto her in shock.
"The hell are you all staring at?" she snapped, shaking off dust. "Unless you've got a death wish, I suggest you high-tail it out of here."
One man blinked rapidly before fumbling for his seatbelt. "S-She's right! Let's go!"
"Holy crap, wasn't that Guildmaster Anya?!" someone gasped.
"She's fighting an armored woman? Should we—?"
"Hell no! Floor it before we get caught in this!"
Engines roared to life as cars swerved, tires screeching as panicked civilians sped away from the battle.
And then—
Anya's muscles tensed.
A shadow loomed before her.
She barely had time to react before Mar'Garet reappeared in front of her, standing as if she had always been there.
Her eyes were wide with that lifeless yet intense look in them as she spoke.
"I'll be sure to make this quick so I can swiftly return to my darling's side."
Anya locked eyes with Mar'Garet, her gaze equally intense as she gritted her teeth in irritation.
"If you think I'm gonna be some kind of easy target, then you are sorely mistaken."