Death Guns In Another World

Chapter 1854 - 1643: Manticore 2

Incursio stood firm, meeting the manticoreʼs menacing gaze, her ruby eyes narrowing as she sized up the king of monsters. She could sense the raw power radiating from the beast—this fight would require all her skill, and she knew she would need to wield more than just her sword. With a calm exhale, she centered herself, feeling the elemental energies pulsing through her veins, ready to be unleashed.

The manticore lunged first, its wings creating a powerful gust as it charged forward. Incursio stepped into her stance, her sword flashing as it ignited with a brilliant blaze. Fire swirled around the blade, casting a crimson glow across her form. She brought her sword down in a sweeping arc, releasing a wave of fire that rolled forward like an inferno, scorching the earth in its path. The manticore recoiled, its fur singed, but it charged through the flames with a fierce roar, unfazed.

In an instant, Incursio switched tactics. She summoned a current of wind, her body becoming light as air as she dashed around the manticore in a blur. Each step left behind a gust that whirled around the battlefield, creating a vortex that began to limit the manticoreʼs movements. Enraged, the beast swung its barbed tail, aiming to impale her as she darted past, but she leapt high, dodging with an effortless grace. From above, she struck downward, lightning crackling along her blade as it made contact with the manticoreʼs hide, delivering a powerful shock that rippled through its body. The beast snarled, momentarily stunned, but quickly shook off the paralysis, its fury intensifying.

With a roar, the manticore spread its wings wide and took to the sky, hovering above her. It opened its jaws, a ball of dark energy forming within its mouth before it launched the attack, a destructive bolt aimed directly at Incursio. She reacted instantly, slicing through the fabric of reality itself to open a rift in space. The dark energy bolt vanished into the rift, reappearing a moment later behind the manticore, striking it in its unprotected back. The beast roared in pain and fury, its wings faltering as it was forced back down to the ground.

Incursio seized the opportunity. She called upon the wind, speeding forward in a blur as she struck the manticore with a series of rapid, pinpoint blows, each infused with an elemental force. Fire, lightning, and wind merged with her swordsmanship, creating a storm of flashing steel and blazing energy that overwhelmed the manticore, forcing it to retreat with each strike.

The manticore, now bloodied and enraged, lashed out with its tail in a wild, desperate swing. Incursio dodged, but the tail grazed her shoulder, tearing through her cloak and leaving a shallow wound. She winced, but her expression remained calm, her resolve unshaken. She raised her hand, and a shimmering portal opened beside her, her mastery of space bending reality to her will. Stepping through the portal, she reappeared behind the manticore, catching it off guard as she plunged her sword deep into its hind leg, fire and lightning crackling from the blade as it burned and shocked the beast from within.

The manticore roared, twisting to dislodge her, its tail thrashing dangerously. She leapt back, landing lightly as she prepared for the final phase of her attack. She extended her free hand, summoning the very winds around her. They responded in a violent storm, swirling into a spiraling cyclone that rose up to trap the manticore within it, lifting the beast off the ground. As it struggled against the relentless winds, Incursio raised her sword, lightning arcing down from the heavens, drawn to her blade. It crackled and coiled around her weapon, amplifying its power until it glowed with a fierce brilliance.

With a calm but deadly focus, Incursio dashed forward, her sword blazing with lightning and fire. She struck with devastating precision, her blade piercing the manticoreʼs chest as a blinding surge of elemental energy erupted from the point of impact. The lightning surged through the creatureʼs body, and flames consumed it from within. The manticoreʼs final roar was swallowed by the cyclone, which dissipated as the beastʼs body collapsed, scorched and lifeless, to the ground.

Incursio withdrew her sword, the elements fading from her blade as she stood victorious. Her breath was steady, her gaze calm as she surveyed the battlefield. The villagers who had watched from afar erupted in cheers, their fear replaced by awe and gratitude. Incursio, however, simply turned, her face expressionless as she sheathed her sword, her mind already moving on to the next mission awaiting her back at the floating fortress.

After ensuring the survivors were safe and had what they needed to recover, Incursio finally set off back toward the floating fortress. She traveled swiftly through the dense forests and over rolling hills, but as she approached a familiar village nestled along the roadside, her pace slowed. This was no ordinary stop—this small, unassuming village was renowned for its bakery, a place known far and wide for its freshly baked bread and pastries.

Incursioʼs serious demeanor softened slightly as she entered the village and made her way to the bakery. The warm aroma of freshly baked bread and delicate pastries filled the air, blending with the faint scent of vanilla and cinnamon. She stepped inside, the little bell above the door chiming gently, and was greeted by rows of neatly arranged loaves, buttery croissants, and an assortment of pastries filled with fruits, creams, and chocolates.

She moved quietly along the counter, selecting a variety of items. A few warm, flaky croissants, golden loaves dotted with nuts and seeds, and an assortment of pastries with sweet fillings—she made sure to get a balanced mix. But her eyes lingered on the chocolate pastries the longest; rich, dark, and filled with a luxurious chocolate ganache that she knew would pair perfectly with the bar of fine chocolate she had tucked away for moments just like these.

After packing her selection, she thanked the baker with a polite nod and made her way outside. With her bag of treats in hand, she found a quiet spot overlooking a tranquil pond just outside the village. She took a seat under a tree, unpacked her pastries, and unwrapped her chocolate, savoring the rare moment of peace. She took a bite of a croissant, the flaky layers melting in her mouth, followed by a piece of the rich chocolate, each taste carefully enjoyed. The world seemed to slow, and for a moment, the battles, the monsters, and her duties felt far away. Simple joy like these she learned them after meeting that man, she couldnʼt been grateful.