CHAPTER 125: TO BATTLE WAS TO DECEIVE!

Mel POV

"Summon: Owl Knight."

One magic circle from Mel’s front materialised an Owl Knight from mid-air.

The owl’s familiar blue dress fluttered in the cold breeze, her armour sparkled in a silvery white as she faced down the Liquid Knight from afar.

Mel must confess: even she failed to recognise what Knight that Undead Summon was, her knees folding on Ka-broom with a conflicted expression.

She couldn’t have if this were Nyrel’s exclusive summon, as she died the earliest in the Original Game Timeline, defending her Master against the Witches’ assaults.

"Don’t let your guard down."

The Owl Knight’s broad shoulder tensed, her beastly eyes locked ahead, grip steady on shield and sword.

Then she leapt, her giant frame towering over the Knight as she arched her sword upward.

Slash.

Downward slash met liquid sword; the silvery gel eerily rubbed against the steel momentarily.

Before the sword plummeted down.

The Liquid Knight, cleaved in half, wobbled before falling unceremoniously.

Yet Mel’s brow raised in caution; the two halves now ’melting’ into pools of puddles.

"That skull was originally from an ancient hero that dated back in the Elven War Era, with mastery over the concept of Convergence, something I’ve repurposed into Regeneration for his body with some... modification."

Nyrel’s voice, low yet carried an arrogance, echoed. "Mere steel won’t touch him. Surrender now."

The two puddles then rose to form two more Liquid Knights, both of the same size as the original.

Their blades shone as they struck the Owl Knight, liquid splattering against her steely shield.

Yet as the Owl Knight defended the onslaught, Mel hummed as a panel flickered.

[ Nyrel was a well-taught child who wouldn’t expose her Undead’s ability. ]

[ Then... Mel. ]

’Yes.’ She nodded, the magic circles spinning as she prepared the Shield Bug summon.

’That too was a distraction, hoping to occupy my mind to unravel the puzzle.’

And like a child who celebrated an annoyance cleared, that glimmer of satisfaction would’ve served as a distraction.

"Really..." Mel sighed. "Maybe I should’ve let Lila freeze it all."

Despite the stress, her smile never faltered, watching as her dearest Owl Knight blocked off another attack.

Smart. Not swinging to increase the enemy count, and waiting for her Mistress’s order.

She squinted, holding up her staff. "Summon: Violin Clowns."

Clowns in red suits, laced with golden sparkles, stepped out from the magic circles, their black cube-shaped hats wrapped around their heads like cubes, with a little cover on the top.

Pristine posture straightened, and their masks were tinted two dots and a smile, lacking the flair of a typical clown.

With violins sprawled up their shoulders, they prepared as her Master ordered.

"D-Minor, please!"

They played the tune together, yet only chaotic off-tune rhythm drummed the air instead of melodic beats.

The Liquid Knights’ swords paused mid-swing, the liquid twitching as if in utter pain.

"Now."

With her Master’s order, the Owl Knights glared behind at the annoying performance by the Clowns, the neutral smile looking like they suffered from their music.

With a sigh, she swung her sword again.

The two Liquid Knights are perfectly cleaved into two.

A spin on her sword, then the Owl Knight slashed again.

Flurries of blows fluttered instantly, liquids chopped into particles before the breeze died down with the Owl settling her sword aside.

The Liquid Knights disspaited without a trace, the tune of Chaos disrupting their ability to converge.

"Impressive," Nyrel said, voice laced with reluctant praise. "A sound-based summon... that is the first I’ve encountered in centuries."

Mel’s eyes narrowed, her staff retracting to her side as she twirled with an idle boredom.

"Anymore surprises?" She glanced up at the snowy sky, admiring Lila’s creation rather than spending time chatting with Nyrel.

"None. But I can assure you the time bought is more than enough!"

And then, the land shook with a fervent cry, as roots sprouted from the empty ice wasteland.

A closer look, and Mel’s frown deepened with a slight disgust; lust brown spots were tainted spots of white, and leaves on the twigs were coated in ashes like a child’s prank in a funeral.

"Witness, the Erdtree’s Resurrection!"

A tree then shot forth, the bark attached was grey snow with little tatters of ice here and there.

Mel’s eyes glimmered with amusement, as no unholy modification was forced on the Erdtree.

"Even incomplete, it has just now consumed all the sustenance and trees in the area."

With that declaration, Nyrel’s shout boomed louder. "From what I observe from other sites, you seemed to need time to take down those roots, didn’t you?"

A chuckle escaped Mel’s lips as she grinned. "Yep! My summons are still playing ping-pong with your comrades now!"

"That doesn’t change how those roots have yet to be destroyed by your summons!"

Those roots coiled and lashed about, mimicking ’rage’ from its owner.

Mel’s frown relaxed; the over-the-top acting shone through as the roots’ shadows pounded against the glittering ice.

Watching her beloved Lila’s magic being shredded to pieces, an annoyance swelled within the Witch.

"Come on." She swept the staff forward. "End this quickly before I laugh at your poor acting skills."

Nyrel now sounded, for all intents and purposes, like a third-rate villain.

[ Don’t be fooled, Mel! ]

’I know."

A smirk curled up on the Witch’s lips as the roots shot forward at her.

"I will knock you off your seat first, Witch!"

The Owl knights returned, her shield hoisted against the bark-thrust.

The impact landed, her dress fluttered as her boots groaned against the ice.

Two clowns, at the side, duck behind her master, their motions eerily calm and robotic.

"G Major now, please."

As if on cue, the clowns’ arms flapped with their violins; the roots that barely grazed their shoulders didn’t deter their irritation.

They only wished to sow chaos! Not calmness!

How could the master of terrorism and war crimes, the ones that taught her those values, not retain her promise?

"Come on now." Mel chuckled. "Or no patting for tonight."

The skeletons froze, then their posture returned to play their violins at lightning speed.

Cruel Master. They prayed, inside, that she would be made a mess on the bed later tonight!