Usurper… Someone capable of seizing a power that would not normally belong to them. That was the word she had heard the most since entering the forest. Uttered as whispers by the mist.

  What does that have to do with me? Carol had to wonder.

  There was something calling out to her. With every illusion she created, the feeling got stronger. Just what lay beyond her illusions?

  She was in the middle of a messy battle, and sure, her illusions came in handy. A distraction could help her land a hit. Could help redirect an attack. Nothing too spectacular. She used them as a weapon, but it was hard to understand what the big fuss was all about. Why would her illusions send so many monsters into a frenzy? She did whatever she could to withstand the attacks thrown at her, but they were so persistently focused on her that Galene and Iroha had to constantly cover for her.

  No two ways about it… She was being a burden. Plain and simple. How infuriating… It’s like she’s back to how she used to be…

  Just what is this power? What is calling out to her? It’s all bullshit! What a pain in the ass… If they’re going to force her to go through this shit even though she hasn’t done anything, then she’s going to usurp. Not sure what, but she has to, as payback. All these monsters eager to target her are all going to be sorry very soon…

  But those were all meaningless words. The power she glimpsed before was completely out of reach…

  “Did we do it? The werewolves stopped attacking…”

  Defending our backline was hard work. The pigmen were whatever, but every time one of the werewolves charged at us, we had to be on point. Forcing them back right there and then was the only way to protect Ririna, Abby, and Hecate, who weren’t ready for a direct fight. Same with Sarasa and Flanne, who were busy creating a way out of this for us and wouldn’t like getting attacked from behind.

  After a good five or ten minutes of us fending off their attacks, the trio took a little break and watched from afar.

  “I think we tired them out… About time.” The ones who weren’t tired were the pigmen and the undead, which surrounded us on both sides. Galene cleaved through a few of them with ease, shouting her skills. “How is it going on your side?”

  “Not good… The undead are blocking us!” Flanne was a bit overwhelmed but still managed to respond. I remember she had a skill that let her imbue her weapon with something that looked pretty holy. Those strikes were good at taking the undead down. The other hits, not so much. And they were popping up faster than she could use her skill.

  “Worse yet…” She continued. “There’s a strange undead over here too… Looks like an elf, and he’s surprisingly nimble… Sarasa has her hands full dealing with him.”

  “Yep yep! That’s me! Very busy!” Her voice came out a bit strained. Can’t even afford to mess around.

  They exchanged blows while weaving between the sluggish monsters, sometimes using them as platforms, and they chased each other around. The elf used a pair of daggers just like her. He swung when he caught up with her, but Sarasa deflected and counterattacked. “Dammit! This isn’t fair! I’m better than him, but even when I attack, he doesn’t take damage! I hate undead so much!” Attacked with more than her blades, it seemed.

  If only monsters had feelings…

  “Ririna! Don’t you have something for me? What stupid thing are you tinkering with back there? Wake up!”

  The small lantern Ririna often carried with her was the target of Sarasa’s insult. “Don’t distract me, okay? I’m bailing you out like always, so just wait!”

  *Smack! Screw…* And voila! “It’s done!” Ririna raised the lantern.

  “What’s that?” What a cutie… She seems so proud of it. Maybe Sarasa was right, and she did forget we were in the middle of a battle.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

  Ririna pointed the lantern, and a beam of light cut through the mist, illuminating the undead at the back. “Aha! I knew it! Iroha, can you see it?” Illuminated now was a zombified elf holding some kind of orb.

  “Yeah…?”

  “That orb he’s carrying is some kind of magical artifact. My guess is that it is what controls the undead and keeps them alive. Maybe… Not really sure…” Huh…

  The implication was clear. I should go and break it. “Thanks. That’s good enough.” Since the werewolves decided they needed some time to chill, this is my chance! “Carol, Galene, I’ll be right back.”

  The one with the orb is their commander. Take out the commander, and the undead stop. Doesn’t take care of the Fairies, but it’s a good start.

  We were trying to escape the plaza, but the commander was still there, hiding behind the front line. There were pigmen, both alive and undead, gathered there waiting for their turn to attack us. The stacks would be so nice, but my goal is the commander. If I leave my girls for too long, the wolves might attack again…

  I used the walls and the rubble as platforms to avoid fighting, only to remember that there is more than one elf. A second elf wielding daggers showed up, lunging at me while I was on a wall. Behing him, another with a bow shot as soon as I dodged.

  Burst Dash… Tsk… this is annoying… I bet they know I can’t be away for too long…

  But exactly because of that, I have to force my way through. I run straight for the commander, and the dagger elf tried to intercept me. Nice try… He swung his daggers down as he landed, but I blocked. Not only did I stop his attack, but the swing opened a gash in his chest.

  Right… He’s an undead… I gotta do better than that. “Nice of you to remind me before I get to your boss. Bye!” Another arrow was fired, so I jumped out of there. I don’t have to deal with you.

  But the elves were persistent, and they switched roles. The one I passed by threw his daggers at me. They missed, but the undead near the commander caught them. He was the one with the bow before, but he threw it before catching the daggers.

  Now he’s lunging at me. I’m not like Sarasa, you know? The next attack I land will finish you off! Parrying Strike! Hit both daggers and destroyed his balance.

  *Vosh!* With perfect timing, the other elf fired an arrow. They’re actually incredibly skilled… Very impressive… But it doesn’t matter! “Slash Flurry!” I’m still cutting your buddy to pieces! The arrow hit my back, but between the dress and my stats, it didn’t do much. Just pull it out.

  The commander staggered, seeing my decision and seeing me being completely unharmed. Heart Piercer! “You’re next!” I pierced the orb along with his chest.

  The battlefield immediately changed.

  The vast majority of the undead fell to the floor right away, with the remaining few becoming completely disorganized and attacking everything on instinct.

  I did it… We can get out of here… Flanne can easily cut through the remnants and we-

  “Now!” “Hurry!” “Kill the usurper!” “Now!” “Hurry! Hurry! Hurry!” The whispering was followed by a loud roar. Why now?

  The werewolves were back in action.

  Crap… Right now? Unlucky timing… Were they waiting for this?

  The roar made the ground shake, and Carol adjusted her sword. The three werewolves ran forward, ready to pounce on them. It was the first time they were attacking at the same time, and she and Galene had to stop them on their own. Completely.

  But how? Galene can do it. She’s strong enough to stop one of them on her own. She herself, however, wasn’t so lucky. But Carol had teamwork. A well-placed shot from Hecate at the right time, and she can stop one too. Iroha’s abilities weren’t even a question, but she’s not here.

  The third one’s going to get through! “Hecate!”

  “I know… I know…” The monsters didn’t wait. One of them clashed with Galene, who was able to block a swipe and stop the charge.

  *Bang!* Now it was her turn. Hecate knocked the second off balance, letting Carol stop his claws from swinging. *Bang! Bang!* Hecate’s shots didn’t stop. If she hit the last one enough, someone might be able to get there in time.

  It helped. The bullets didn’t stop him, but they slowed him down. Even as holes opened in his body, he still pushed through.

  “Abby, it’s your turn now!”

  “Static Barrier!” The final attack bounced off a wall of light, giving Galene enough time to put herself between the werewolf and the others.

  She did it… A few swings of her sword, and she managed to push him back. That was close… We actually managed to stop the three of them at onc-

  “Carol, behind you!”

  “Huh?”

  What an idiot… Stopping them was not the same as eliminating them… Of course they were going to try again… And they’re going to target her… Their true objective all along.

  The claw swung down. No matter how she responds, it’s not gonna be pretty… What will it be? An arm? A leg? Worse? Iroha was running off the corner of her eye, but even she gave up. She practically stopped and started walking. One step forward.

  “False Flower…” Iroha blinked white, and when her foot reached the ground, it did so in front of her. In the way of the werewolf’s attack.

  “Ehh?” H- how? And why…? She’s just going to get hurt instead of… “Me?”

  The instant one of the monster’s sharp nails so much as grazed her, she disappeared. She dashed in every direction at once, and her afterimages unleashed slice after slice. No matter how resilient these guys are, with wounds open all over, even the werewolf stumbled and pulled back.

  But it wasn’t good enough. Iroha gritted her teeth… “No way… Damage resistance?” Apparently, there was more to it than just making sure we slash deeper than we think we need to. She was regretting that assumption.

  “Iroha… What was that?”

  How did she save her? She teleported? Was that a new move? It was worse. “That… was my trump card…” And it failed to kill…

  “I see…” Her trump card wasted on saving her… She hasn’t helped at all this whole time… “All because of me… Can’t let that stand!”

  Carol raised her arm and focused her magic above, slightly ahead of her. A small translucent crown manifested up there, almost like a beacon in the mist. No more hesitation… This is the next step, isn’t it?

  “The crown?” Flanne immediately recognized the light. “Carol, what are you doing?” She left Sarasa by herself and immediately ran over.

  The crown slowly descended, as if lighter than a feather. “I’m claiming it… I’m taking it for myself!” The power that was beyond her grasp, calling out to her, dropped until it was right in front of her.

  “You can’t! That crown is too dangerous for you! It’s not worth it! You’re gonna suffer because of it.” Flanne recognizes it, huh? Her hand landed on Carol’s shoulder, stopping her from reaching forward.

  She shook her off. “If a little pain is what it takes to get us out of this, so be it.”

  Just by bringing her hand closer, hundreds of small cuts appeared on her hand. Cuts from sharp glass… As sharp as the crown in front of her. Makes it hard to even move her hand…

  Go!

  The biggest gash opened when she clenched the crown. The small cuts stopped, but her blood now covered the crown, staining it red…

  “Much better…”

  A confident little flick, and she pulled the crown over her head. Slight turns left and right, and perfect. Nicely hovering up there.

  “Besides, I think red suits me well lately.”