This time, Lilya didn’t lead the charge. The enemy’s situation was unknown, and she needed to maintain a clear mind to assess and command the overall situation. These regular enemies could be handled by her troops and Shadow Guards.

 

Although the living dead had nearly limitless stamina and fewer vulnerabilities than regular people, they could only be killed with severe damage to their brains. However, these black-robed figures’ strength was not particularly exceptional, and even in one-on-one combat, Lilya’s elite soldiers would not be at a disadvantage.

 

There were only a little over three hundred enemies, and even if some of her forces were left to guard the perimeter, they were now essentially fighting in groups of four or five silver-armored warriors surrounding each enemy. Some of the cavalry who had not dismounted were even galloping in to join the battle, catching the enemy off guard.

 

The current problem lay in the unknown number and strength of the Seats.

 

With the commotion outside, even if the enemy had no prior preparation, they should have reacted by now.

 

Suddenly.

 

“What the heck, get lost!”

 

Violet, who was by the princess’s side, shouted urgently, stepped forward, turned to the side, and swung her elegant and noble-looking, yet seemingly only used for hitting people, long wand into the air!

 

Ding! Thud!

 

Two consecutive, clear and heavy collisions sounded in her ears, and a gust of wind brushed by. Lilya was momentarily stunned, and then she suddenly realized, cold sweat covering her spine.

 

A jet-black, sharp claw had passed within a few centimeters of her face!

 

When did this happen? She hadn’t noticed at all!

 

Not only Lilya, but also the Shadow Guards accompanying her and even Flora were unable to react in time!

 

If it weren’t for Violet’s timely action, Princess Lilya might have died on the spot!

 

However, the lethal attacks kept coming. A whistling arrow tore through the air from the central hall, aimed straight for the princess’s heart, and the timing was separated from the previous assassination attempt by a hair’s breadth. It was a series of assassinations!

 

At this moment, Violet had just used her priestess staff to deflect the initial attack and even knocked the unknown assailant away. She hadn’t had time to turn around, theoretically making it impossible for her to rescue Lilya.

 

Clearly, this arrow with blazing tail flames wasn’t something the current Princess could withstand.

 

Clang!

 

The bowstring trembled sharply, and another arrow raced from not far away, narrowly deflecting the deadly arrow. Both extremely similar metal arrows clanged to the ground with a crisp sound, finally revealing the hidden Scarlet Flame Flora.

 

“Ah!”

 

The attack appeared in an instant and was instantly defused.

 

It wasn’t until now that Lilya belatedly exclaimed, and several Shadow Guards, led by Emily, also realized what was happening and immediately surrounded her, vigilantly scanning their surroundings and prepared to use their bodies to shield their mistress from further attacks.

 

It wasn’t that they were slow to react, but in the intense clash that was at least above legendary level, it was extremely difficult for those unprepared at the lower levels to even realize what was happening.

 

“Good shot, Little Flora. After a few years apart, your strength has improved quite a bit. I’m truly delighted.”

 

With praise in his voice, a seventy-year-old man with a longbow slung across his back and a rugged face, his hair and beard all white, slowly walked out of the central hall of the stronghold.

 

He didn’t look at Lilya or the distant battlefield where the fighting was ongoing. Instead, he cast a curious glance at the black-haired priestess who had just saved the princess. Then, he turned his aged but sharp gaze towards the red-haired woman who had revealed herself at some point.

 

“Your strength hasn’t improved in the slightest.”

 

Flora’s expression was indifferent and icy, more complex and filled with hatred than her usual self.

 

“Heh, mastery of archery isn’t solely determined by physical qualities. It can only be achieved after a long process of understanding, enabling one to grasp the highest form, the Six Forms. You should be aware of this, right?”

 

“Is that the reason you escaped death and turned into your current state, neither human nor ghost? Anthony Stevenson!!!”

 

Flora suddenly lost control and screamed in anger. Her face turned bright red, and even Princess Lilya, who was just watching the drama unfold, trembled in shock upon hearing this name.

 

“Huh? Anthony Stevenson?! Isn’t he the founder of the Crimson Flame Archery, the former world’s number one archery master? And I remember he…”

 

“Little Flora, you’re still so impulsive. I’ve warned you before, the most important quality for an archer is calmness and detachment. In the face of an avalanche, your expression shouldn’t change. You still need…”

 

“Shut up! Don’t use that affectionate address with me! My teacher, Mr. Anthony Stevenson, died five years ago. You, this disgusting imitation, one of them…!”

 

Flora seemed to be losing control of her emotions. Her eyes were bloodshot, and tears had barely welled up before they evaporated in the surging aura and momentum emanating from her body. She drew an arrow, stretching her short bow to its limits and ignited an unprecedented crimson flame.

 

“I see… then let’s say hello with arrows, one of them…”

 

The old man, too, unslung the longbow from his back. His calm gaze instantly turned sharp and dangerous, with the arrow on it igniting a fire similar to the one surrounding Flora.

 

“Crimson Flame!!!”

 

“Crimson Flame.”

 

There was no sound of a released string, but the crimson flame, burning to its limit, seemed to consume the air around the arrow. Two blossoms of fire burst open in the air, only to simultaneously vanish into nothingness.

 

“Good!”

 

Anthony nodded in appreciation, devoid of the killing intent one might expect when facing an opponent. His expression showed pure satisfaction and the will to fight.

 

“The first form, Crimson Flame. You’re not inferior to me in that. But I wonder, how many arrows of the Legendary Six Forms can you shoot now?”

 

“…You’ll find out soon.”

 

“So be it.”

 

The former master and disciple locked eyes in a fierce exchange in the air. They both understood, perhaps with a premonition, that today was the moment to resolve all past grievances.

 

Flora and Anthony Stevenson, only one of them would survive today.

 

The old man and the young girl leaped into the air simultaneously, and after several rounds, they had already disappeared deep into the valley. The showdown between them did not require interference from others.

 

“I see…”

 

Violet did not intervene in Flora’s actions. Instead, she suddenly understood many things when she witnessed this scene today.

 

For example, why did Flora ask for no compensation and traveled thousands of miles to follow Lilya to this harsh and cold western territory to fight against the beastmen?

 

Even if they were best friends, her actions seemed overly selfless. Did this cold-hearted woman truly care about what Lilya could bring to the kingdom’s better future?

 

Hypothetically, if Flora had been secretly investigating and tracking her former mentor, Anthony Stevenson, who had joined the 【Eternal Throne】, and she had somehow learned that the latter had finally appeared in the border region of the Beastman Kingdom. Then, she was entrusted by her good friend and the princess, Lilya, to go to the Western Frontier to resist the beastmen…

 

What kind of answer would Miss Flora provide at this moment?

 

It goes without saying.

 

By selectively killing those necromancers and forcefully ending the life of the tigerfolk Kunnir, who might have had contact with the 【Eternal Throne】, Flora, in a sense, ensured that Lilya could bring her to this place in her own way. Her goal was most likely to find her former mentor.

 

So when Flora mentioned that she had fought the “Sixth Throne” of the Eternal Throne five years ago in the Empire, it was quite clear who this “Sixth Throne” was.

 

Although Flora deliberately spoke vaguely about their battle, saying something like, “their strength was not inferior to mine,” Violet suspected that Flora had likely lost to Anthony in that battle.

 

Oh my, who would have thought that the seemingly straightforward and reserved Miss Crimson Flame had so many hidden thoughts. Poor little Lilya!