The Stonehearted Knight
Chapter 111: Confronting a mother

Chapter 111: Confronting a mother

"Be careful. Remnants of divinity are still inside her!"

Wallen warned Hex before they engaged in battle. The warning also served to help Hex understand why Lira had those golden veins on her body and why her eyes were glowing.

Hex could tell with one glance that the woman before him was deranged. She wasn’t the same beautiful and cheerful lady he was familiar with.

He didn’t pity her. From the bits and pieces he heard from Hestia and Althea, she was one of the culprits behind the Witch’s resurrection.

Lira growled at them threateningly. She stood before them with a slightly arched posture as if she had a hump on her back. Thick, viscous saliva dripped from her mouth each time she opened it.

Hex glanced at Wallen, who nodded at him. They didn’t exchange more words. It wasn’t necessary. Hex moved, activating his Flex Step.

The ground where he stood, shattered. The very next moment he reached Lira. At the same time, he activated his second Blessing. His muscles contracted. He sensed the energy flow into his fist. He did a half turn in the air and launched his fist at Lira.

But fast as he was, Lira was still faster. She dodged the ball of energy, coming at her from inches away, by tilting her head.

Sssss

Hearing the sizzling sound, Hex looked at her neck. She dodged the concentrated energy but it still damaged her skin. Even at the Squire stage, Hex’s concentrated energy was enough to threaten a Knight. Now that he became one himself, the power of the second Blessing increased tremendously.

Before Hex could rejoice at the sight of her charred skin, Lira lifted her leg, rotated on her supporting leg, and kicked Hex in the stomach. The frail-looking woman’s kick caused Hex to slam against the remnants of a wall. The power in the kick was great enough that Hex’s collision with the wall caused it to crack.

"Arg. Cough."

Hex coughed blood. The kick messed his insides up. Any normal Knight might have been unable to continue. But Hex wasn’t a common Knight. As soon as he coughed blood, a faint layer of green light appeared around his abdomen. Hex sensed his muscles and flesh being healed.

Lira didn’t stop. She was already running towards Hex. When there was a meter left between them, she jumped, ready to deliver a flying kick. Hex saw her but was still recovering. He wouldn’t be able to dodge.

Lira’s leg came closer, and closer. He saw it reach his face...and then go through it. In a blink, Lira had passed through him. With a start, he looked toward Wallen, who stood there with a raised hand and a glowing circle on the back of it.

"Hurry. I can’t keep the space open for a long time," he urged Hex. The butler prevented the space around Lira and the infant from locking again. It took tremendous effort, rendering him a bystander and support role in the battle.

Screech.

Hex heard Lira’s shriek behind him. It was close. She was coming at him again. Thankfully, the regeneration took little time. Without turning, he stepped against the ground when he sensed the change in air behind him.

With a backflip, he dodged Lira’s attack. She passed him when he was above her. He landed behind her.

A thin cloak wrapped around his fist while a spectral form of a dragon bear appeared behind him. The moment Lira turned her head, he hit her in the face. The cold snow froze her mouth just before she could shriek.

Bam.

His fist hit her square in the face. Her head jerked back. Lira staggered. Hex kicked her in the stomach, making her keel.

Her saliva was mixed with blood. Hex saw it drip on the floor. His heart ached. He didn’t like hitting people he had been on good terms with. But it didn’t stop him.

He grabbed her and jumped in the air. At the highest point, he flipped downward, holding her beneath him, and performed the Flex Step.

Bang.

Debris flew around as he crashed with her on the floor. In a moment of inspiration, he tried to aim at the infant, hoping to crush him with Lira. But the moment he tried that, the space trembled and threw him off.

A god was not easily killed.

Hex stood up and checked on Lira. She was still alive and squirming. The golden light around her had dimmed considerably. Hex was also hurt by the fall, but he ignored it. The green light was already healing him.

Hex stumbled across the area and picked up a large piece of concrete that had broken off the wall. He dragged it and when he reached Lira, he lifted it. Giving her one last look, he smashed the concrete block on her.

He saw her legs flair for a while but then she went limp. The golden veins on her limbs had disappeared. Lira had died.

Hex gasped for breath. The fight wasn’t long. It was tedious. It required fast reflexes and thoughts. Ultimately, Hex used the most brutal method available to finish her off. The armor and weapons inside the tower were broken, compelling him to use an action he wasn’t proud of.

"Destroy him now," Wallen shouted with gritted teeth. Hex noticed that the butler was under a lot of strain. Lacerations were appearing on his skin. The space around him was fighting back. And sooner or later, it would win.

Hex hurried toward the infant. The golden light was blinding but up close, Hex could see him better.

"He is a baby. Just a fucking baby," Hex muttered, clenching his fist. He knew what he had to do. Yet, he hesitated. He fought most of the time without caring about status, age, gender, or race but killing something incapable of defending itself felt wrong.

Boom!

While he hesitated, the sky above seemed to explode. The noise made everyone on the ground hold their ears. Hex felt a stinging pain.

Thud.

Suddenly, he saw something flash and fall not far from him. The next moment, calm returned. Carefully, Hex removed his hands and looked ahead.

Wrapped in silver chains lay Silvera. Her eyes were wide open and blood flowed from the corners of her mouth. Hex was stunned by her lifeless body.

’The baron.’

He couldn’t help but raise his head as he worried about his master. But he didn’t see anything. Even the dark clouds were dispersed, although for a moment only. They seemed to be trying to reform.

"Argh!"

He heard a scream and another body landed beside him. Wallen was still alive but barely. His body was badly mangled. He coughed blood.

"My son..."

He was about to rush to him when a sound fell on his ears. The words were the same as he heard a short while back. But unlike the last time, this wasn’t a whisper. It was more like a wail.

Subconsciously, he turned and then froze. Inches from his face stood the Witch, gazing into his black eyes with hers.