NOVEL WEB Chapter 23: Irelia's Will
Immediately after, she slowly advanced toward Hurriclaw.
At this moment, Hurriclaw stood up, staring at the hollow in the tree, its eyes brimming with greed.
It stretched out its hand, five razor-sharp claws reaching for the object inside the hollow, when suddenly, a flash of light shot straight toward its head.
BAM!
The beam collided with the scales covering its body and instantly dissipated—without leaving so much as a scratch.
However, it had the effect of infuriating Hurriclaw.
Slowly, it turned its head to look behind.
Irelia stood tall, one hand behind her back, the other gripping her willow sword, held upright—her gaze full of determination and fighting spirit, fixed on Hurriclaw.
Though there was still a trace of fear and anxiety in her eyes, at this point, she could no longer turn back.
GRAOO!!!
Hurriclaw opened its mouth and roared, the sound reverberating through the entire forest.
Flocks of birds sleeping on high branches were startled awake, flapping their wings in a frenzy as they scattered.
The creatures of the forest, upon hearing that terrifying roar, all turned to look in its direction before quickly fleeing the other way.
Their instincts screamed that if they didn't run, they would surely die.
Back to Irelia—a terrifying aura, like a massive boulder pressing down on her shoulders, forced her to hunch over, nearly dropping to her knees.
From the cracks in Hurriclaw's neck, streams of green wind erupted, swirling around its body.
"What the hell?!" Irelia gasped, biting her lip in disbelief. "It… it can wield elemental power."
"It's not a level 2 monster—it… it's already reached level 3."
Irelia saw the green gusts swirling around Hurriclaw's neck and instantly realized that the beast could use elemental power.
If it could use such power, Hurriclaw was no longer merely a level 2 monster, but had broken into level 3.
Or, if it was still level 2, it would have to be at late-stage level 2, just on the verge of reaching level 3.
The difference between each sub-stage of a level was already immense—let alone the difference between whole levels.
That was why Irelia was so shocked and terrified.
Her hands began to tremble, the grip on her willow sword no longer as firm as before.
"That girl only has rank F potential—she'll never go far."
Suddenly, the voice of the person she hated most echoed in her mind.
No, it was her own memory, replaying vividly in her thoughts.
Irelia knew exactly whose voice it was—yes, it was her father's.
But it wasn't just her father's voice; she seemed to recall the voices of her mother and other relatives as well.
"That's right. What can anyone do with rank F potential, anyway?"
"Tsk! I thought she'd be exceptional, but she's just rank F after all."
"We can't just throw her away, though. We've raised her for eighteen years—at the very least, we should get some benefit out of her, shouldn't we?"
"That's true. I heard the baron in the South is looking for a concubine."
"A baron? Tsk! Just a baron—how could that possibly be worthy of our family?"
"Still, with her potential only at rank F, it should be an honor for her to have a baron want to marry her."
"I think we should give her to the earl in the West."
"I agree. We should maximize her value to this family."
"Bringing benefit to the family is your duty."
"Irelia, you must obey me."
"Just rank F, hahaha…"
"Shut up!!!" Irelia snarled through gritted teeth, her loosened hand now clenching tightly around her willow sword.
She furrowed her brows, a fiery light flickering in her eyes as she muttered, "I am not a tool for your benefit."
"My fate belongs to me!"
Irelia shouted: "Moonlight!"
Her willow sword drew a crescent arc like the moon, then slashed out.
Whoosh!
The sound of slicing wind rang out—a faint crescent-shaped blade of light shot swiftly toward Hurriclaw.
Hurriclaw glanced at the blade, snorted in disdain, and casually swung its hand, swatting at the attack.
BAM!
The crescent blade shattered like paper, bursting into countless motes of light before vanishing.
Irelia gritted her teeth—she was only a Knight, Initiate Rank – Mid-stage, and using a skill like that had already cost her half the energy in her body.
Yet that bear had destroyed her attack with ease, as if it were nothing but a child's game.
It was clear just how immense the gap between their levels was.
Irelia never truly thought she could defeat the bear. She glanced at it, then quickly darted into the forest.
GRAOO!!!
Suddenly, Irelia felt something—her instincts screamed that her life was in grave danger.
She turned, eyes wide, just in time to see a crescent-shaped beam of green light hurtling toward her.
It was so fast, she didn't even have time to cry out or dodge before it was upon her.
In that split second, facing death, Irelia's body surged with newfound strength—adrenaline exploded through her, allowing her to twist her body to the side.
Smash!
"Ack!" Irelia cried out in pain, but fortunately, the green beam only grazed her waist.
The pain made her grimace and grit her teeth, but she knew that if she stopped now, she would surely die.
Blood gushed like a stream, soaking her white clothes. Luckily, the wound wasn't too deep and hadn't damaged any vital organs.
With one hand clutching her willow sword and the other pressing tightly to her wound to staunch the bleeding, Irelia pushed forward.
"Irelia!" Suddenly, Lucien shouted.
Hurriclaw, hearing his voice, immediately turned to look his way.
"Hm?!" Lucien started in alarm.
Seeing Irelia injured, his eyes went wide, his emotions growing more chaotic by the second.
However, a single glance from Hurriclaw snapped him back to his senses.
In the darkness, the beast's eyes glowed green—wild, savage, and brimming with such murderous intent that Lucien felt as if he were standing in an ice cellar.
His body trembled instinctively, cold sweat running down his back.
He wanted to run, but his legs simply wouldn't obey.
Pff! Pff! Pff!
Each breath Hurriclaw exhaled released a stream of green wind.
Just standing there, looking at Lucien, was enough to fill him with overwhelming terror.
Whoosh!
Suddenly, a gust of wind whistled through the air—a streak of silvery light shot toward Hurriclaw like an arrow.
Kleng!
The sound of metal clashing rang out. The beam struck the black scales on Hurriclaw's body and immediately dispersed into countless sparks, vanishing into the air.
Although it didn't cause Hurriclaw any harm, it succeeded in enraging the beast.
GRAO!!!
Its roar echoed through the forest, the sound transforming into a tempest that swept out in all directions.
"You bastard! I'm right here!" Irelia shouted, then turned and sprinted into the forest.
Before she ran, she glanced back at Lucien, giving him a reassuring look and a confident smile.
Irelia's figure gradually melted into the shadows beneath the trees, but Hurriclaw still charged after her.
Lucien, finally free from Hurriclaw's gaze, let out a shaky breath, though his hands were still trembling slightly.
He recalled the scene just now, remembered Irelia's gaze and smile, remembered her getting hurt—anger welled up inside him.
He bit his lip so hard it bled.
Lucien hated himself for being so weak, for being so afraid that he couldn't even run when faced with the monster.
"Damn it! Why am I this weak?"
"Why? Why am I trembling?"
Lucien muttered to himself.
He looked toward the tree hollow, then back in the direction Irelia had fled, making a reckless decision in his heart.
…
"Ha… ha… ha…" Irelia ran, gasping for breath, her hand pressed over the wound at her waist, now soaked with blood.
Her face was ashen, her legs so tired she could barely feel them anymore.
The only thing keeping her moving was pure survival instinct.
GRAOO!!!!
Whoosh!
Hurriclaw's roar echoed behind her, accompanied by a terrifying gust of wind.
Startled, Irelia found her legs could no longer support her weight and she stopped.
Thud!
She collapsed onto the ground.
Whoosh!
At that very moment, a streak of green light swept past her head, slicing off a few strands of hair before shooting off into the distance.
It severed a tree trunk over 20 centimeters thick, then embedded itself in another tree farther away before finally vanishing.
Irelia shuddered, feeling as if she'd just walked through the gates of hell and come back.
The pain from her waist flared up again, painfully reminding her of reality.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
The sound of footsteps drew closer and closer, but Irelia could no longer stand.
Two green points of light gleamed in the darkness, making her shiver.
Gritting her teeth, Irelia tried to crawl backward, but each movement sent agony shooting from her wound, threatening to make her faint.
"Damn it!" Irelia cursed inwardly. "I can't die here!"
"I have to prove to them… I'm not worthless."
"I… I…"
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Hurriclaw slowly advanced toward Irelia, its murderous aura and heavy breaths a herald of Death itself.
It didn't attack her immediately, thinking her too weak, wanting to toy with its prey a little longer.
Hurriclaw stopped in front of Irelia, less than ten meters away, its killing intent so intense it made her tremble with despair.
"So this is the feeling of despair and death?" Irelia gave a bitter smile. "Looks like… I really am useless."
"Maybe… even if I die, no one will care."
"But at least… I was useful. At least I helped him get the relic."
Clutching her willow sword tightly, Irelia struggled to her feet, blood pouring from her wound like a stream.
Her face, pale from blood loss, nonetheless radiated a terrifyingly strong will.
She gritted her teeth, glaring at Hurriclaw, and shouted defiantly, "Come on, you bastard!"
GRAOO!!!