NOVEL NEXT Chapter 76 : A Tragic Life
"ORIGIN SKILL: IUCIDICIUM REX MAHAMIGARD!!!"
(HAHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!????????)
Alice was utterly shocked that someone below level 150 could unleash an Origin Skill. One of the absolute requirements to use an Origin Skill is to be at level 150.
This left Alice completely stunned, nearly causing her to gape in disbelief at what was happening.
Lisa's red sword instantly changed to a deep, glowing crimson. Then, all the red color in the sword, as well as in Lisa's hair, transformed into a red spirit form.
That red spirit then morphed into the shape of a massive, long red dragon that quickly charged toward Edward, likely intending to kill him. After using the skill, Lisa's sword turned black, and her once-red hair also became black.
Tears welled in Lisa's eyes after releasing the skill.
"Father, I did it."
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Ranoa City, Migard Province, Navian Empire, Year 746.
A young red-haired girl was holding hands with a man who also had red hair. They were father and daughter, strolling through the garden of their home.
"Father, father, why are we the only ones with red hair?"
"That's because our family descends from one of the founders of the Navian Empire, alongside the first Emperor of the Navian Empire."
"I see... Can I change my hair color? Red seems too flashy."
Her father then knelt and lovingly looked into his daughter's eyes.
"Why change it? You look so beautiful with that red hair."
His words naturally made the little girl blush, and she lowered her head, delighted by the compliment.
"Thank you, Father."
"And one day, that red hair of yours may become your weapon."
"A weapon? This hair?"
The girl grabbed her hair with an innocent expression, checking to see if it was sharp.
"But my hair isn't sharp."
"The weapon isn't in the form of your hair, but in its color. That red will become your weapon for survival in the future."
"Really? Isn't that cool!? I didn’t realize my hair was this amazing! Yay!"
"And, we also have a hidden treasure that can resonate with our red hair."
"Really? When will you show it to me?"
"When you're grown up, you’ll learn the location of that weapon, and only the pure descendants of our family can wield it."
"I see. I’m going to eat a lot so I can grow up fast!"
"Yes, eat well so you grow up quickly, my little princess!"
"Hehehe!"
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After Lisa's brutal attack, thick smoke billowed up, making it extremely difficult to see. Lisa appeared to have nearly exhausted all her energy in this attack.
"Did it work?" she wondered.
Alice simply gave a slight smile, already knowing who the victor would be. The smoke began to clear, revealing Edward, gravely injured, with shards of armor scattered around him.
"How is this possible?"
Lisa was, of course, shocked that Edward had managed to withstand her attack.
"YOU ALMOST KILLED ME, YOU WRETCH!" Edward roared.
He then lunged at high speed and struck Lisa with his gauntlet so forcefully that she was thrown 30 meters away.
On the other hand, Lisa was already running out of energy due to her earlier attack, causing her agility to drop significantly.
"This battle is over," Alice said.
Alice then whispered something to Boo.
"Keep an eye on this fight until it’s finished, Boo. I have to leave for now."
"Understood, Alice-sama!"
Meanwhile, Lisa struggled to dodge and counterattack Edward, who was furious. But as time passed, Lisa was getting more and more wounded from Edward's strikes.
"Is this the end...?"
"Father, forgive me. I can’t continue our family’s legacy."
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Ranoa City, Migard Province, Navian Empire, Year 747.
One evening, young Lisa was playing with her dolls in her room. The night was particularly quiet, more so than usual.
While playing, Lisa overheard her parents arguing, their voices reaching her room.
"What’s wrong with Father and Mother?" Lisa asked innocently.
Carrying her small teddy bear, Lisa left her room and headed towards her parents’ bedroom.
She eavesdropped on their conversation, but couldn’t understand what they were talking about.
"HOW COULD WE BE ACCUSED OF COLLABORATING WITH THE LUNARIAN THEOCRACY?"
"So, what now, dear? Has the Ice Princess’ faction agreed to support us?"
"They’ve given no response yet."
"How could that be? Aren’t we descendants of the founders of the Navian Empire?"
"It’s likely because we didn’t support Emperor Raymond when he was overthrown by the current Emperor."
"Have you met with the Ice Princess directly? If we don’t have a faction to back us, we are doomed."
"Yes, we might be finished. The only ones supporting us from afar are the Lunarian Theocracy. We have indeed established ties with them as a precaution."
"Dear, should we evacuate tonight? We must leave the Navian Empire as soon as possible. Both the Imperial faction and the Ice Princess' faction are dangerous to us."
The civil war in the Navian Empire lasted for about 15 years, starting in 741 and ending in 756. The conflict began when Emperor Raymond Navia was overthrown by a noble faction led by Duke Rex in 726. However, Emperor Raymond Navia's daughter survived the massacre of the imperial family.
After 15 years of exile, the Ice Princess, Rika Alexander Eliza Navillera Navia, reappeared and led a rebellion to restore the Navian Empire's throne to Emperor Raymond Navia’s rightful heirs.
Thanks to her powerful and charismatic speeches, the Ice Princess garnered the support of the people, allowing her to launch large-scale guerrilla warfare and rebellions. Additionally, she was one of the highest-level ice magic users in the world.
"Yes, we must leave tonight, as the war is approaching our region."
Hearing this, Lisa only understood the words "war is approaching." She excitedly opened the door.
"Father, Mother! If the war is coming, shouldn't we just win? Aren't we strong?"
"No, that's not how it works, my dear princess," her father gently explained.
Suddenly, someone rushed into the room and knelt.
"Report! Sorry to disturb you, Sir, but the Ice Princess’ forces are attacking us from the south, and the Imperial forces are advancing from the north!"
The news shocked both of Lisa’s parents. They sat down on the edge of the bed in disbelief.
"What!? How could the Ice Princess and the Imperial faction be working together? Aren’t they in the middle of a civil war?"
"Dear, has the asylum request you sent to the Theocracy been answered?"
"It should arrive in a few hours."
"A few hours? Do you have any idea how insane the power of both the Imperial faction and the Ice Princess faction is? We’re nothing but dust in their eyes. One hour—no, we won’t last even 30 minutes, dear."
"GATHER ALL THE TROOPS! FORM THE FINAL DEFENSIVE LINE!!!"
"YES, SIR!"
Lisa's father quickly lifted her into his arms while she clutched her doll tightly. Lisa, of course, was confused and didn’t understand what was happening.
"Father, Mother, where are we going?"
"We’re leaving this place."
"Why are we leaving? My dolls are still in my room! I want to bring them all!"
"My dear, this is an emergency. We have to go."
"But Father... Isn’t our red hair supposed to be our weapon?"
"Yes, this red hair is also your future. When your hair turns black, it means you are worthy to be the heir of this family."
Suddenly, a woman with purple hair, her body surrounded by black lightning, appeared before them. She was wearing armor and had a large sword strapped to her back.
This woman was likely a hybrid Assassin/Magician or Fighter/Magician.
"Why is Elavia, one of the Four Rulers of Glacies, here?"
The Four Rulers of Glacies were the four strongest servants or subordinates of the Ice Princess. They were considered one of the most powerful groups in the Navian Empire, possibly even stronger than the Ten Guardian of the Emperor in the Igrasian Empire.
"Sorry, but the Ice Princess sent me here, so you won’t be able to pass."
"Why!? I’m neutral! Why are you all attacking us? Aren’t we descendants of the founders of the Navian Empire?"
"I don’t know about that, but this is the Ice Princess’ decision. It’s her order, and no matter what, I must follow it. Even if you were the Ice Princess' child, if she ordered me to kill, I would still do it."
"Da-damn it."
From behind them, a masked man appeared, holding a deck of cards. He was a summoner-type magician and a subordinate of the Navian Empire’s Emperor.
"Why are you working together? Aren’t you in the middle of a civil war?"
Lisa's parents were confused and alarmed, as two factions involved in a civil war were now targeting them. Lisa, terrified, covered her face.
"So, will you kill my daughter?"
"Fortunately for her, the Ice Princess’ order is only to kill the two of you. I don’t care about the child," Elavia replied.
"But I will kill her!" said the man with the cards.
"You won’t get the chance. After this fight, I’ll kill you too," Elavia retorted.
"Just try."
"Lisa, you are your mother’s most beautiful daughter, my sweet princess. Live as long as you can, because if you live and find happiness, I will be so happy. I love you, my darling," Lisa’s mother said tenderly.
"Lisa, you’re also your father’s daughter. It might be too soon for you to carry the Migard family name, but one day you must continue our bloodline. This might be my last message to you. Stay strong and protect yourself. I love you, my little one," her father added.
Lisa hugged her parents tightly.
"Father, Mother! Please protect me later."
Her parents then instructed her to escape through the secret tunnel. Lisa, understanding the gravity of the situation, sprinted away as fast as she could, silently crying.
She ran, clutching one of her favorite dolls.
Minutes later, she heard the screams of her parents, likely signaling their deaths.
"Father, Mother, I promise, one day I will carry on our family."
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Lisa’s vision was now extremely blurred after her battle with Edward, and she had sustained severe injuries.
"Is this the end?"
"Is it over?"
"Will the Migard family be wiped out?"
Edward, also gravely injured, appeared ready to make his final attack to kill Lisa. She began to cry, remembering her parents.
"Father, Mother, forgive me. I can’t continue the Migard family."
"I’m coming to join you, Father, Mother."