Reborn As Noble

Chapter 1463: A Nightmare to Prevent a Reality ( 1463 )

Just as Liana’s blade was about to descend, a flash of white light erupted from the side. Gloria’s massive white-ore warhammer materialized in a brilliant flash, slamming into the dark blade with a deafening clang that echoed through the training hall. The impact sent a shockwave of force rippling outward, dispelling some of the surrounding miasma.

”Liana! Stop it! She’s your little sister!” Gloria’s voice was sharp, her eyes locked onto Liana’s terrifying form.

Liana’s gaze slowly shifted toward Gloria and the others. Her blood-red eyes narrowed, and a chilling, distorted smile spread across her lips.

”Ara~?” Her voice was no longer melodic, but a layered, dissonant whisper that came from all directions at once. ”You all dare to interfere...?”

Her presence grew heavier, the dark miasma swirling violently around her. The shadowy figures halted, their glowing red eyes turning toward Gloria and the others.

”You should not try to stop me...” Liana’s voice echoed, carrying a weight of ancient, terrifying authority. ”This is a lesson she must learn. A truth she must face. If you stand in my way... you will learn it too.”

Lyzia watched in horror as Gloria gritted her teeth, her glasses cracking under the pressure before she was blown backward by a single, effortless swing of Liana’s blade. Gloria landed with one hand gripping her warhammer behind her, the other hand pressed against the ground, her body crackling with mana and power as she shouted toward Liana.

”There are other ways to teach her, Liana! She can still train! She can still learn! You don’t have to break her like this!”

”No~” Liana’s voice was cold, final. She swung her blade through the air, sending dark, crescent-shaped projectiles toward Felicia.

Felicia’s eyes widened in panic, barely managed to draw her twin white-ore swords and block the incoming attack, her feet skidding backward from the force.

Gloria slammed her warhammer into the ground, creating a powerful repelling shockwave that pushed the dark miasma back. Her eyes were wide, her voice urgent.

”She’s not Liana! It’s the... Zaythan! Everyone, prepare yourselves!”

Lyzia trembled violently, her eyes darting around the training hall. The moment Gloria shouted the name ”Zaythan,” her blood ran cold. Zaythan was a name from elven folk legends, a demon of pure malice and destruction, a being that devoured souls and feasted on despair.

Her heart pounded in her chest as she saw Mimi lying motionless on the floor, bleeding, Delya crushed against the far wall, her chocolate jar shattered beside her, and countless Armand personnel scattered lifeless across the ground.

Zaythan...

No... this can’t be real...

Gloria swung her warhammer toward Liana, but Liana simply raised a foot and kicked the massive weapon aside with terrifying ease. The force sent Gloria flying backward, crashing into a wall with a sickening thud before she slumped to the floor, bleeding.

G... Gloria... isn’t she as strong as... Sister...? And... one of the elite... battle maids?

Felicia was panting hard, her white-ore swords glowing with mana as she unleashed a flurry of strikes. Liana walked toward her, unfazed, and casually grabbed her neck, lifting her into the air. Liana smiled wickedly before slamming Felicia into the floor with a deafening crash. Felicia screamed once before falling silent.

Lyzia panicked, her eyes darting to Celine, who hung lifeless beside her, still wrapped in the dark thorny vines.

”Faelar!!! Help!!” she screamed, her voice raw with desperation.

”Ara ara~? Faelar? Who is that~?” Liana turned, her voice a chilling melody of malice. She walked slowly toward Lyzia before her dark vines rose, revealing Warden Faelar, one of Lyzia’s elven escorts, a powerful magic and sword user, now lifeless, thorny vines piercing through his chest.

”You mean~ this weakling? Hmm?”

”A... aaaaa... aaaaaaaaa!!! Someone!! Anyone!! Help!!!!!” Lyzia cried louder, her fear overwhelming her.

Liana leaned closer, her blood-red eyes gleaming with cruel amusement.

”No one will be able to save you now~ Not your guards, who you said would protect you~ Not your sister, who you thought would always be there~ Not even your best friend, who lies dead beside you~ You are alone, Lyzia. Truly, completely alone~”

Liana’s smile widened into a cruel, predatory smirk. She raised her dark blade, its edge gleaming with malevolent energy, and slowly lowered it toward Lyzia’s trembling hand.

”Now, now~ Let’s see how much you can take~”

With a swift, casual motion, she plunged the tip of the blade through Lyzia’s palm. The metal pierced flesh and bone with a sickening crunch, pinning her hand to the thorny vine behind her.

Lyzia’s scream tore through the air, raw and desperate, her body convulsing against the searing pain. Tears streamed down her face as she sobbed, her voice breaking.

”It hurts! It hurts!! Please... stop!!”

Liana leaned in, her blood-red eyes gleaming with sadistic delight. She twisted the blade slightly, making Lyzia shriek again.

”Hurt? Really? I seem to recall you saying to your sister, ’I can handle myself just fine!’ Hmm~?”

She tilted her head, her voice dripping with mockery. ”Was that a lie? Or did you just not understand what ’handling yourself’ truly means?”

She pulled the blade out slowly, watching Lyzia’s face contort in agony before plunging it into her other hand, pinning it as well.

”This is what it means to be helpless. This is what it means to be weak. This is the price of your arrogance~”

Lyzia trembled violently, her entire body shaking with pain and terror. Sobs wracked her frame, her breathing ragged and shallow. Tears blurred her vision, mixing with the blood that dripped from her palms. Her voice was nothing more than a broken whimper, her earlier confidence completely shattered.

”How boring~” Liana’s voice was flat, devoid of emotion. ”Your cries are so predictable. So... disappointing. I expected more from the daughter of the Elven King. But you’re just like all the others; weak, pathetic, and utterly forgettable.”

She tilted her head, her lips curling into a cruel smile.

”It’s time to end this~”

Lyzia’s eyes widened in terror, her lips parted, but no sound came out. Her body shook uncontrollably, her heart pounding violently, the world around her seemed to slow, every detail burning into her memory; the gleam of the blade, the cold red glow of Liana’s eyes, the suffocating weight of the dark miasma pressing down on her.

No... no, no, no...

I don’t want to die...

I don’t want to die like this...

She squeezed her eyes shut, her tears hot against her cheeks. Her breath came in short, panicked gasps as she braced herself for the end. Her fingers curled into weak fists, her nails digging into her wounded palms.

Then... a gentle flick on her forehead.

Lyzia’s eyes snapped open. The pain was gone. The darkness was gone. The blade was gone. She was standing in the middle of the hall, completely unharmed. Celine stood beside her, also unharmed, looking just as confused and shaken.

And standing before her, arms crossed, face serious, was Liana.

Lyzia blinked, her vision still blurred with tears. Her body was still trembling, her breath still coming in shaky gasps. She looked down at her hands, expecting to see blood and wounds, but her palms were smooth and unmarked.

She stared up at Liana, her chest still heaving, her cheeks still wet with tears. Her voice came out as a broken whisper.

”S... Sister...?”

Liana’s gaze softened slightly, but her voice remained firm.

”Now do you understand, Lyzia? The world outside is filled with people far more cruel than anything I could ever show you. People who will not stop at an illusion. People who will hurt you, break you, and enjoy every moment of it. And if you are not strong enough to protect yourself, that nightmare will become your reality.”

Lyzia’s lower lip trembled, fresh tears welling in her eyes. She opened her mouth to speak, but only a choked sob came out.

Liana’s expression softened as she pulled Lyzia into a gentle embrace, holding her close.

”You are my little sister. I love you more than you know. That is why I did this. Not to hurt you. But to make you understand.”

She stroked Lyzia’s hair softly, her voice barely above a whisper.

”Because I would rather break your pride now than lose you forever.”

( End Of Chapter )