11 Desperation

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A little girl who looked to be no older than 8 years old was running along the unsteady path of the forest.

Her pale-pink eyes darted around, looking out for danger.

The shell-pink hair that covered her head flowed freely in the wind with every step she took.

However, one could see that there was worry deeply hidden within her eyes.

'Is Regis fine…?'

A thought that had repeatedly haunted her since he left Regis a little close to an hour earlier.

'Should I go back…?'

Dahlia shook her head, dispersing the thought of going back to Regis.

She knew that she was no match for the demonic humans and that going back could only foil Regis's plans.

Thus, no matter how much hesitation, worry, and nervousness she felt, she continued running forward with all her might.

'Still… Aura sure is amazing…'

Dahlia had never felt more free in her life.

Even back in the days where she could originally move, she was still easily tired.

After all, she was only a little kid.

However, with aura, she was able to sprint at her full speed consecutively for almost an hour.

Adding to the fact that she was still not feeling close to being tired.

Such were the mystical properties of aura.

Its specialty lay in the fact that, unlike mana, it was compatible with a living being's body which made it more efficient in strengthening their bodies.

However, her happiness did not last long.

Rustle— Rustle—!!!

"Haha!!! I see you kid!!!"

A demonic human exclaimed as a crazed expression appeared on his face.

The insanity and bloodlust he was radiating was enough for Dahlia to feel nauseous.

'Fucking hell!' Dahlia cursed in her mind as she could feel the distance between them closing in.

"Hahahahhaa!! I got you~!!" 

It only took the demonic human a moment in order to catch up with Dahlia.

Dahlia could feel the demonic human's hands reaching for her neck at an unimaginable speed.

Just as the hand was about to touch her neck, she quickly dived to the floor.

Swoosh—

'Ah fuck!'

Her face curled in pain as she felt the friction between the ground and her body, leading to scratches and various wounds appearing on her being.

"Oho?! Haha!! You're crazy too, just like the boy earlier!"

The demonic human laughed crazily as he looked at the little girl before him in amusement.

The fact that she would do everything she could do just to escape his grasp amused the demonic human to no ends.

However, hearing the demonic human's words, Dahlia glared at him.

The demonic human raised his brow as his mouth curled up in a grin, "A feisty one too, huh? Are you siblings, perhaps?"

Dahlia kept her silence as she glared at the demonic human.

"Hahaha!"

The demonic human laughed crazily as he slowly walked towards her.

"I've said this to your little friend earlier…"

"I'm a swordsman at the Two Star Realm."

"Petty tricks of a little kid like you wouldn't work on me even if you have awakened aura."

Although the demonic human had a nasty expression on his face, he was internally shocked upon sensing the aura in the little girl.

After all, he was aware of how difficult it was to obtain primers normally.

Not to mention that their target was the Toran City's slums.

Still, it did not stop him from finishing his mission.

He soon arrived in front of the little girl.

"Hmmm… Now that I've seen you closer. Even as a child, you're quite the beauty… It wouldn't hurt if I had a little fun before I surrender you to the leader, right?"

The demonic humans said crazily as he licked his lips.

Dahlia remained silent and slowly crawled backwards.

"After all, I deserve a little reward for all my hard work… right??"

"Right… right…. Righttt!?!?"

The expression on the demonic human's face became crazier as he slowly became insane.

'Weird fuck.'

Was the thought in Dahlia's mind as she slowly backed off.

"Hey, don't be scared…"

The demonic human said as the drool kept coming out from his mouth.

He then slowly leaned down and reached out his hand slowly towards Dahlia.

However, just as he was about to touch her, Dahlia splashed the handful of sand in her hand that she gathered earlier as she crawled backwards.

"Arghh!!"

Caught off guard, the demonic human covered his eyes.

Dahlia did not waste any time.

She picked up a big rock in which she was walking towards earlier, and used all her might and aura to throw it onto the demonic human's private parts.

Thud—!!!

"Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!!!"

The demonic human screamed in pain as he held his private part.

He looked through his hands with his pitch black eyes as hatred and rage filled his mind.

"You! Fucking! Brat!"

He unsheathed his sword and rushed towards Dahlia.

"I don't care anymore! I'll kill you! I'll kill you!! I'll kill you!!!"

However, Dahlia's expression remained calm as she silently stared at the sword that was slowly closing in on her face.

'I've done the gamble… let's see if it works.'

"Grrrrr!!" Inhumane sounds came from the demonic human.

However, no matter how much force he exerted on his sword, it did not touch even a breadth of Dahlia's hair.

"Fuck! What's happening!?"

The demonic human cursed in frustration, his pitch-black eyes radiating both anger and confusion.

"It looks like I won the gamble…" Dahlia's calm voice resounded in the area.

"W-What gamble!?" The demonic human stuttered, clearly feeling that something was wrong.

'As expected of the highest Diamond-grade Gift…'

Dahlia smiled as she remembered the information that filled her brain upon awakening about an hour earlier.

[You can use every sword in the world]

[Every sword in the world worships you]

[Every sword in the world will obey your will]

[You will be able to sense every sword near you]

[You are the one and only Sword Goddess]

…

[You will never be killed by a sword]

[You are the…]

[Goddess of Swords]

…

'Goddess of Swords, huh??' Dahlia sighed as she recalled the name of her gift.

'What now?' Dahlia thought as she stared at the unmoving demonic human in front of her.

She riled him up so that he would unsheathe his sword.

It was the plan she came up with the first moment she saw the sheathed sword on her pursuer's waist.

Although she was still quite confused about the information regarding the gift, she did all the best she could in the limited time that she had.

And fortunately, it was successful.

However, now comes the hard part.

Even though Dahlia could not be killed by a sword, she knew that she also had no means to kill the demonic human before her.

'Fuck!'

Dahlia held her head with her hands, feeling dizziness and nausea filling her entire being.

The price of utilizing a Diamond-grade Gift with the aura of a newly awakened could only be said to be very steep.

'Fuck! Is this it for me!?'

Endless cursing was all that was in Dahlia's head as she slowly lost consciousness.

The demonic human only looked to be more confused as the little girl suddenly collapsed.

"Ha..Haha… Hahahahaha!! The Devil hasn't forsaken m—"

Splurt—!!!

"Huh?"

Was the demonic human's last word as his head was sent flying.

"Hmmm… What do we have here?"

A deep voice resounded in the area.

***

'Huh?'

'Where am I…?'

'It's dark…'

"Mfffmmm! Mfhghmmm!!"

A blindfolded boy could be seen struggling relentlessly.

However, no matter how much he struggled, the ropes in his body and the gag in his mouth prevented him from doing anything.

Unable to see anything…

Unable to feel anything…

Unable to say anything…

All that accompanied him was darkness…

Endless darkness.