Volume 1 Chapter 693

Chapter 693: Internal Strife

The descending blade met its counterpart midair with a thunderous clash.

"CRASH!!!"

The deafening impact made Lolth’s eardrums throb faintly, though still within tolerable limits.

Yet this was no conclusion.

As Kanor completed her leaping strike—dragging that colossal silver blade nearly double her size—she defied biomechanical logic. Twisting midair with serpentine grace, her petite frame channeled renewed power through her core, hoisting the gleaming weapon once more…

…And brought it crashing down toward Garland with unstoppable momentum!

"BOOOOM!!!!"

A more catastrophic collision erupted.

Spiderweb fractures raced across the flagstones beneath Garland’s boots. The pale warrior staggered three full paces backward, her face drained of color.

Observing her opponent’s state, Kanor exhaled steadily.

"I’ll hold this ground… Master."

"You and Sister Dorothy—proceed onward."

At these words, Lolth’s gaze flicked to Dorothy. The younger disciple hesitated briefly, eyes lingering on Garland before nodding.

"We entrust this to you… Senior Sister Kanor!"

Only then did Lolth stir into motion. With Kanor interposed between herself and Garland—and two earth-shaking strikes already forcing the Holy Domain expert back—the path to the inner sanctum lay unobstructed.

"Exercise caution. Though…" Lolth paused, her warning carrying layered meaning. "…moderation remains advisable."

The archmage vanished into the shadowed corridor with Dorothy. Kanor watched their retreating forms, drew another measured breath…

…And unleashed her third strike.

Still no magical enhancements colored her assault—only tempered muscles forged through relentless discipline. Here stood a Superlative Level warrior, mirroring her senior’s weapons and techniques while mounting an audacious rebellion against Holy Domain supremacy.

Not mere challenge… but calculated defiance.

Though not inherently cruel, Kanor’s capabilities bordered on the surreal. Her preternatural adaptability—honed through Lolth’s teachings of transcendent combat principles and augmented by the morphic Versatile Kitchenware—allowed near-perfect replication of any opponent’s physical techniques…

However, Kanor neither enjoyed nor felt comfortable doing so.

As Lolth had previously remarked, this exceptional "gift" allowed her to gaze down upon all others, nurturing the most profound arrogance this world had ever witnessed.

Thus, Kanor herself maintained vigilance against this very inclination.

Even before Lolth’s observation, this caution had existed.

She refused to employ combat methods that "degraded" her opponents—whether facing the insolent Philtes of "Never-ending Night" or confronting dishonorable mercenaries and adventurers.

None could provoke Kanor to seek victory through humiliation.

For this aspiring chef, battle served merely as a tool rather than an aspiration or ultimate purpose.

Therefore…

Her current actions toward Garland were unmistakably deliberate!

This creature had betrayed Sister Dorothy—her cherished junior sister, her master’s beloved companion…

Kanor’s wrath burned fiercer than any flame she’d ever known.

The concept of "betrayal" pricked at her soul with unnatural sensitivity.

Though never personally betrayed…

Perhaps some unborn tragedy in her destiny sharpened this instinct.

The colossal blade whirled like a tempest in the girl’s hands, relentless strikes cascading like monsoon rains.

Yet watching her foe stagger backward, barely parrying each blow, only stoked Kanor’s fury higher.

"Strike back—you coward!"

She’d forsaken her Death Authority, abandoned her mastery of magic, engaging solely as a warrior in primal combat.

But her opponent hoarded more secrets than she.

A Holy Domain practitioner…

Who refused to unleash her Holy Domain.

No—worse than that…

This woman hadn’t launched a single counteroffensive.

She’d done nothing but defend.

Remained utterly unmoved by every provocation!

"Unleash your Holy Domain!!"

"Show me your combat arts!!!"

"FIGHT ME!!!!"

Kanor’s screams echoed futilely against endless deflections.

Until finally—

*Crack!*

The extraordinary black greatsword—no common blade—shattered beneath their ceaseless clashing.

"Clang!"

The giant sword snapped, its severed half slicing through the air between Lalea and Patricia. The blade grazed their garments before embedding itself in the earth.

Garland gripped the remaining half of the fractured weapon, still raising it with deliberate slowness to shield herself.

Kanor observed her and released a measured breath.

She then uncurled her fingers from the silver-white greatsword.

The massive blade dissolved like quicksilver, pooling molten metal across the stone floor.

"Does this ease your conscience?"

Kanor’s voice held no trace of earlier fury.

Her tone carried a cold mockery, yet held a thread of genuine curiosity.

At Kanor’s question, Garland finally broke her silence.

"Perhaps…"

A bitter smile twisted her lips as she lowered her weapon.

"That’s truly the face of one burdened by history…"

Kanor’s eyelids dipped fractionally.

"But none will care for your justifications. All that drivel about loyalty and friendship – once you choose your path, motives become irrelevant."

"Betrayal remains betrayal. Were I you, I wouldn’t wallow in this pathetic limbo. I’d embrace ruthlessness – employ every stratagem, commit every evil, dedicate my entire being to annihilate the target."

As Kanor spoke, Garland’s silence stretched between them.

"What purpose would that serve?"

"Had you done so, Master Lolth might have slain you outright today. I’d have gladly delivered the blow myself… sparing you this exquisite torment."

Kanor settled onto the stone steps as she spoke.

"Presently, you hold no interest as prey… Remain here and savor your self-flagellation."

"Pursue them if you wish."

Having spoken, Kanor assumed the posture of patient expectation – as if merely awaiting her master and Dorothy’s return from within the sanctum.

Garland might as well have vanished from existence.

The fallen knight gazed toward the chamber’s shadowed depths, watching Dorothy’s retreating silhouette fade.

Ultimately, she turned from the threshold, descending the stairs with leaden, solitary steps.

Meanwhile…

Within the hollow grandeur of Golden Peacock Palace’s throne room, Lolth and Dorothy approached the dais.

Upon the elevated seat sat Maria Diana, resplendent in court regalia.

"Such long absence, beloved niece…"

Even cornered, she maintained her imperious poise – that artful smile of false warmth clinging to her lips.

"And reunited at last, succubus."

Lolth gazed at her opponent and bared her teeth in a grin.

"Address me as your ancestor."

The words momentarily stunned even Maria Diana, who’d seemingly prepared for every contingency.

"What?"

At Maria Diana’s bewildered response, Lolth chuckled darkly.

"Seems your understanding of your own lineage remains incomplete…"

"Are you truly unaware? Succubus blood courses through your veins."

Maria Diana rose from her throne, the movement sharp.

"Accursed succubus… Is this your ploy?"

"To unsettle my composure with cheap theatrics?"

The regal challenge hung in the air as Lolth responded with a derisive snort.

"Would I bother with schemes against the likes of you?"

Maria Diana found herself silenced once more, the memory of their last encounter—when she’d been incapacitated by a single strike—flaring painfully.

Yet…

The queen had no intention of waiting helplessly this time.

"Then may that arrogance sustain you through what comes next!"

A snap of her fingers summoned an enormous tome behind her, its obsidian cover shuddering as pages flipped autonomously with parchment whispers. Simultaneously, the palace floor erupted in eldritch luminescence—violet sigils resembling ancient spell diagrams pulsed with malignant energy, their twisting patterns coalescing into tangible magic that carved Maria Diana’s dominion into reality.

This realm, harmonizing with the levitating grimoire’s dark rhythm, manifested a God’s Domain surpassing even those of typical demi-gods in complexity.

"Cursed Tome… drain her strength! Chain her flesh!"

Though not a formal incantation, Maria Diana’s command resonated through the shimmering air as primal power incarnate. The words themselves became binding forces that coiled around Lolth like ethereal serpents, sapping her magic while immobilizing her limbs.

"How tediously villainous… a curse?" Lolth mocked through constricting energies. "Is this trinket the Hell Demon God’s reward—a Divine Artifact tailored to your God’s Domain? Or did this bauble enable your pathetic demi-god ascension in the first place?"

Maria Diana maintained her glacial silence.

"No matter where my power originates… to face my curse without evasion is true arrogance!"

"Do you truly believe you can engage me as casually as before?"

At these words, Lolth couldn’t help but release a dry chuckle.

"Ahahaha… Don’t mistake this for underestimation. Though I called it ‘banal’ and villainous, curses do embody that stereotypical antagonist flair."

"Mind you—whether tedious or mysterious in origin… I never implied weakness!"

"Truth be told, it’s rather potent… commendable, even—should you crave my validation."

Lolth drawled lazily, remaining motionless within the curse’s binding with no apparent effort to resist.

This unnatural composure sent uneasy ripples through Maria Diana’s instincts.

"What scheme brews in that succubus mind?"

She inquired through narrowed eyes, voice soft yet piercing.

"Schemes? None whatsoever… merely, my dear obtuse junior…"

Lolth laced fingers behind her head, posture relaxed.

"If pressed for strategy… mine was simply this—from the beginning, your opponent was never meant to be me."

As Lolth spoke…

Realization dawned in Maria Diana’s eyes, her gaze sliding past the succubus to the figure beyond.

There stood her niece, scion of Golden Peacock royalty—

Dorothy Diana.

Though today’s spectacle purported to be "The Princess’ Return and Retribution," Maria Diana had dismissed the girl’s presence as mere pageantry.

In this realm where might dictates right…

What threat could a Superlative Level child pose to a demi-god?

Her niece’s sole advantage, Maria had presumed, lay tethered to this meddling succubus.

Yet Maria Diana miscalculated one crucial detail—

For Lolth, ensuring Dorothy’s ascension as protagonist justified any sacrifice.

And truth be told…

Such arrangements proved laughably simple for the demoness.

"Your stage awaits, Dorothy!"

At Lolth’s declaration, the young princess nodded solemnly.

"Understood… Mentor!"

For the first time, Dorothy stepped before her teacher.

Timidity still clung to her features like fading mist, that habitual air of invisibility.

Yet in this moment, Maria Diana perceived with crystalline clarity—

Her niece stood no longer in the succubus’ shadow, but as her own entity.

"A pleasure long overdue, Aunt."

Dorothy’s voice carried steel beneath its melody.

Maria Diana sensed it then—the metamorphosis.

No longer the pliant child from palace corridors, nor even the fledgling glimpsed at Church of Light…

This version of her niece radiated the razor-edged aura of Maria’s most formidable adversaries.

"So… your wings have finally unfurled."

Maria observed coolly, fingers accelerating the curse tome’s pages.

Arcane sigils cascaded from fluttering parchment.

Despite Dorothy’s newfound poise…

The demi-god’s curiosity prickled.

Confidence from a Superlative Level opponent? When even her demonic patron refrained from interference?

What secret weapon could possibly…?