The Crystal Marsh was shaking.

Mana waves were bursting out of the wetlands like a hurricane.

The Green Serpent loomed above the clearing, casting its shadow over the sea of Green Poppy Flowers.

Golden eyes were staring at the small figure of the little white-haired girl standing before it.

A girl who should have been terrified.

A girl who should have ran.

A girl who should have realized the difference between her and a monster which ruled this marsh for centuries.

But...

She was smiling.

---

The monster hated this smile.

Instinctively.

Deeply.

Like predators hated their prey.

---

A powerful roar echoed from its throat.

The sound shattered nearby crystal formations.

Water burst into the sky.

Trees bowed under the pressure.

---

Jennie just stood still.

White hair was waving gently.

Crimson eyes were calm.

Watching.

Analyzing.

---

The former Sword King had fought dragons bigger than castles.

Ancient demons who were able to destroy cities.

Legends named warriors.

Compared to them...

This Green Serpent was powerful.

Very powerful.

But not unbeatable.

---

"Interesting."

Jennie tilted her head.

"I’d say around Fourth Circle Monster Rank."

---

The serpent attacked.

---

BOOM!

---

The earth exploded under its leap.

Its enormous jaws rushed towards her.

Gleaming crystal fangs were shining in the sunlight.

Each of them was bigger than a sword.

---

A usual person would have died instantly.

---

Jennie vanished.

---

The serpent’s jaws crashed against the empty air.

The impact shattered the earth.

Water and mud exploded in all directions.

---

Several meters away, Jennie reappeared.

Not by teleportation.

Just by movement.

By footwork technique.

---

The monster’s eyes widened.

---

Quick.

Much too quick.

---

Jennie raised one hand.

Mana surged.

The water in the marsh responded immediately.

---

Unlike the modern mages, Jennie didn’t chant any spell.

Didn’t recite formulas.

Didn’t use any spell circles.

---

She commanded.

---

The water obeyed.

---

Thousand droplets raised from the marsh.

Floating around her body.

Dancing in the air.

Spinning faster.

And faster.

And faster.

---

Until they became blades.

---

Hundreds of sharp water blades were floating around her.

Glittering in the sunlight.

Shining like diamonds.

---

The monster roared again.

The shockwave burst out of it.

Trees broke.

Flowers bent.

Water rumbled violently.

---

Jennie pointed forward.

---

The blades rushed.

---

SHHHHHHHHK!

---

Even the sky was screaming.

Hundreds of water blades struck simultaneously.

---

The monster’s scales were exploding.

Sparks were flying.

Crystals of the monster’s crystal armor were scattering across the marsh.

---

The monster staggered back.

---

Its eyes were widening.

---

It was hurt.

---

Not critically.

But hurt.

---

The realization stunned it.

For centuries nothing within this region could injure it.

Nothing.

---

And this small human had drawn its blood.

---

A red line appeared on its scales.

---

Jennie smiled.

---

"Good durability."

---

The monster didn’t like the praise.

---

Its mana burst.

The entire Crystal Marsh was shaking.

---

Suddenly the crystal formations around the battlefield were glowing.

Green light flooded the clearing.

Mana was forming around the monster.

Thousands of crystal spears were forming from the earth.

---

Excalibur immediately announced.

"Master."

---

"I know."

---

"It is upset."

---

"A sharp eye."

---

The sword sounded happy.

"Thank you, Master."

---

Jennie sometimes forgot that Excalibur was an ancient.

But when it was talking, she reminded it.

---

The crystal spears were launching.

---

Thousands of them.

---

The sky was darkening.

---

A rain of crystal death was falling upon her.

---

Jennie sighed.

Then reached towards her hair.

---

Black dragon-shaped hairpin appeared in her hand.

---

The world stopped.

---

Ancient mana was stirring.

The air was trembling.

The monster immediately felt the danger.

Real danger.

---

For the first time...

Fear was appearing in its golden eyes.

---

The hairpin was expanding.

Growing.

Lengthening.

Forming.

---

A black sword was appearing under the heavens.

Elegant.

Perfect.

Ancient.

---

Excalibur.

---

The legendary sword was humming happily.

Like a loyal knight welcoming the battle after a long absence.

---

"It is good to stretch again."

---

Jennie gripped the hilt.

The familiar weight became comfortable in her hand.

Like coming home.

Like meeting the old friend.

---

For a brief moment...

Jennie Queens disappeared.

---

Leonis KingHeart was standing here instead.

---

Sword King.

---

A man who was protecting a whole kingdom before.

---

The crystal spears were falling.

---

Jennie swung once.

---

One swing.

Nothing else.

---

The result was ridiculous.

---

A wave of blue mana burst from Excalibur.

The attack rushed across the battlefield instantly.

---

The crystal spears were shattering.

Each of them.

---

The wave was continuing.

Cutting through the marsh.

Cutting through the sky.

Cutting through a distant hill.

---

Silence followed.

---

Jennie froze.

---

Excalibur froze.

---

The monster froze.

---

Distantly...

Half of the hill was sliding apart.

---

"..."

---

"..."

---

"Master."

---

"Yes?"

---

"I think that is excessive."

---

Jennie pointed at the hill.

"YOU did that."

---

"We did that."

---

"I am starting to dislike that phrase."

---

The monster decided to attack again at this particular moment.

---

It was a wise decision.

Because this conversation started to become strange.

---

The monster was surging forward.

Covered with mana.

Crystal energy was exploding around it.

---

Its strongest attack.

Its last attack.

---

This Green Serpent was planning to kill this human before she would be able to make the next swing.

---

Unfortunately...

Jennie was already moving.

---

The world was slowing down.

---

Water droplets were hanging motionlessly in the air.

The wind became silent.

Everything seemed frozen.

---

Except Jennie.

---

One step.

---

Another step.

---

She crossed the battlefield.

---

Passed under the attack of the monster.

---

And appeared directly before its head.

---

The monster’s eyes were widening.

---

Jennie raised Excalibur.

---

Then swung it.

---

One swing.

Pure.

Clean.

Perfect.

---

The sword flashed.

---

Silence.

---

The monster froze.

Its enormous body was remaining motionless.

---

For some seconds...

Nothing was happening.

---

Then a thin line appeared on its neck.

---

The monster slowly collapsed.

---

The earth was trembling.

The marsh was shaking.

Water was flowing out.

---

And the ruler of the Crystal Marsh fell down.

---

Dead.

---

The battle was over.

---

Jennie was looking at the corpse.

Then turned her gaze at untouched field of Green Poppy Flowers.

---

Bright smile appeared on her face.

---

"Now then."

---

She put Excalibur into the scabbard.

---

And started picking the flowers.

---

After all...

The terrifying Head Maid Martha Morius was waiting.

And somehow...

This idea was scarier than fighting monsters.