Published at 3rd of November 2026 6:32 am

Chapter 2162: Pace of the Fight

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Dealing with the first opponent had been the easiest. The second had proven slightly more difficult. But the remaining two were a completely different story.

They already knew Genevieve’s position, forcing her to constantly move through the forest, find suitable angles, and wait for the right moment to strike.

She had set traps wherever possible, but here enemies had grown wary. They no longer moved carelessly through the forest, and every arrow she fired focused them to become even more cautious.

All she could do was employ guerrilla tactics, gradually whittling down their strength while avoiding direct confrontation.

After all, Genevieve wasn’t a close-combatant like Adam.

Her strengths lay in tactics and strategy. Given sufficient time to prepare, she could devise a plan to lay even a Mana Seed Magus to waste.

But this battle had allowed her no such luxury.

She hadn’t had enough time to study her opponents, establish a proper battlefield, or prepare the traps she would have prepared.

So...

She could only be bold.

Genevieve took a deep breath and tightened her grip on her bow.

The two Cavaliers had spread out, moving through the forest while keeping their eyes peeled for any sign of her.

They were no fools. After falling victim to her traps and ambushes, they had become considerably more cautious.

But that did not mean she was out of options.

Genevieve nocked an arrow and waited.

The moment one of the Cavaliers stepped into the narrow passage between two towering trees, she released the string.

Whoosh!

The arrow shot through the foliage.

Clang!

The Cavalier reacted quickly, deflecting the projectile with his sword. "Found you, bitch!"

But that was precisely what Genevieve wanted. The corner of her lips curled into a smirk.

The moment the man shifted his weight to deflect the arrow, the ground beneath his feet suddenly gave way. He stumbled into the concealed pit, losing his balance for a split second.

Genevieve immediately drew another arrow.

Thwock!

This time, the arrow pierced the enemy’s shoulder. The Cavalier roared and leaped out of the pit, his mana surging as he charged toward her position.

Genevieve immediately retreated. She knew better than to engage the opponent in a direct contest of strength. But she also knew that running forever wasn’t an option.

Her fingers brushed against the rapier at her waist.

The Cavalier emerged through the trees, his sword raised high.

Genevieve used the observation technique, which she usually utilized for constructing psychological profiles, in combat. She used it to sense movement. And she was rapidly improving.

She waited until the enemy was almost upon her, the world around her slowing down and her visual acuity focusing. Then she swiftly stepped sideways.

His blade swept past her shoulder. At the same time, she drew her rapier and thrust it toward his exposed side.

Clang!

The Cavalier twisted his body, narrowly deflecting the thrust with the edge of his sword. He retaliated immediately.

Geneveing leaned back, but not quickly enough. His blade grazed her upper arm, tearing through the fabric of her sleeve and leaving a shallow cut.

A sting of pain shot through her arm, and she grunted.

Then she kicked him squarely in the knee and jumped backward, creating some distance.

The Cavalier staggered.

Genevieve raised her free hand and wove a simple seal.

Mana gathered around her, and a flock of spectral cranes materialized among the trees. Their pale forms glimmered faintly in the darkness beneath the canopy.

The Cavalier’s eyes widened. Before he could react, the cranes flapped their wings. Hundreds of feathers transformed into sharp projectiles, shooting toward him from multiple directions.

He raised his sword and desperately deflected the incoming feathers. His armor absorbed several impacts, but others slipped through the gaps, cutting into his arms and legs. He roared and rushed forward, determined to reach Genevieve before she could launch another attack.

But Genevieve had already anticipated his movement. All probabilities accounted for. In fact, she counted on it.

She nimbly sidestepped his charge, allowing him to rush past her. Then she pivoted and drove her rapier into the gap beneath his armor.

The Cavalier froze. Genevieve twisted her blade.

His strength faded, and he collapsed to the ground.

She stepped back, breathing heavily.

One down.

But that battle had taken longer than she had anticipated.

Just as she feared, she barely had time to recover before a shadow rushed toward her from the left.

The second Cavalier had finally found her. "Caught you!"

His sword descended with the weight of a mountain. Genevieve barely managed to raise her rapier in time and parry the blow.

CLANG!

The impact sent a jolt through her arm, forcing her backward. She stumbled against a tree, and the enemy immediately followed up with another strike.

Genevieve ducked frantically. The blade scraped against the bark above her head. She retaliated with a thrust of her rapier, accurately aimed at the gap in the armor.

She forced the enemy to retreat. Then she raised her bow with her other hand and fired at point-blank range.

Thwock!

The arrow struck his thigh.

The Cavalier roared in agony, almost losing balance. But he remained standing. He snapped the shaft and charged toward Genevieve, his face twisted with fury.

A clash of swords. The Cavalier swung his blade like an enraged madman. Genevieve continued to desperately parry. She didn’t dare directly block the attacks.

Despite her attempts, his attacks forced her to take back one step after another.

The Cavalier’s next strike slashed her side, cutting through her clothing and leaving a gaping wound in her stomach.

Genevieve’s breathing faltered, but she forced herself to focus.

Don’t let your opponent dictate the pace of the fight.

She remembered her combat instructor’s words.

She rapidly retreated, drawing the Cavalier deeper into the forest. He followed, convinced that she was finally running out of options.

Then she abruptly stopped, turned around, and shot back toward him.

The Cavalier was momentarily startled before bursting into a diabolical grin. He could see Genevieve readying her rapier. He could see she intended to thrust the blade into his heart.

But what he couldn’t see was a crane shooting toward him from the side, silent as a specter.

SPLAT!

The red-crowned crane pierced his head with its sharp beak.

The Cavalier’s head exploded. His body lost control, its momentum taking him past Genevieve. The headless figure twitched for several seconds before falling still.

Genevieve finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Long before the battle began, she had scattered her cranes throughout the forest to act as scouts or her hidden blades.

One of the smaller cranes flapped its wings and landed on her shoulder.

"All enemies have perished," it said. "Only one remains. The strong one. And he’s fighting the madman."

Genevieve chuckled, but immediately grimaced.

"Thank you, Milo," she said gently. "Can you please heal my wounds?"

Milo affectionately rubbed his head against Genevieve’s cheek. He then flapped his wings, enveloping his summoner’s injuries in a verdant green glow.

The Longevity Cranes of Mount Enark were gifted in the healing arts.

Almost a minute later, Genevieve’s injuries had been completely healed, leaving only faint scars behind. Although her strength and stamina had been nearly depleted, it did not matter. She had completed her mission, clearing the remaining enemies so Adam could fight without worrying about her.

All that was left was for Adam to kill the final enemy.

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