"It will still take them some time to reach us. Ignore them for now." Chu Lian could tell at a glance that the dragons were not flying straight toward them. Instead, they circled in the air before advancing, as though hesitating about something. That was why their approach was so slow.
"Liliana, should we have them withdraw for now?" Ainz Ooal Gown asked after swinging his swords and beheading a group of monsters around him. He turned toward Chu Lian.
"There's no need. I can slaughter them." Chu Lian shook her head. If they were as powerful as the giant dragon in Miami, she would have immediately ordered everyone behind her to retreat without hesitation.
But these few had not even reached the Earth tier. They were merely at the peak of Spirit level, at most half a step into Earth level. For her to kill them would not require much trouble at all.
"Liliana, should I prepare fifth-tier magic?" Narberal knew that dragons generally possessed scales or exoskeletons that granted them magic immunity. Ordinary spells inflicted very little damage—sometimes none at all.
Her question was merely a pretext to ask whether she could use seventh-tier magic. No matter how formidable those dragons were, they would not render her helpless. If she unleashed her full power, eliminating them would not be difficult, only time-consuming.
But Chu Lian would not allow her to reveal her strength so easily. Even while suppressing her own power, she already appeared overwhelmingly strong, which had likely shocked the people behind them enough.
If the maid were to cast seventh-tier magic, even if they could not recognize it outright, they would begin to speculate about their origins.
Of course, they were already deeply suspicious about where Chu Lian and her group had come from. Such overwhelming strength was not something an ordinary family could cultivate—especially when she appeared to be only thirteen or fourteen.
Yet suspicion remained only suspicion. The world had never lacked geniuses. Even if a teenager reached the Hero realm as a warrior, it would only astonish them, not provoke excessive doubt.
Magic was different. It was a discipline and profession that required time to accumulate power. If a girl this young could cast fifth-tier—let alone seventh-tier—magic, they might very well associate her with the Slane Theocracy. That would be troublesome.
Regardless of whether they investigated further, once word spread, the resulting impact would certainly expose them to the light—unfavorable for their future plans.
"Nabe, just be careful and watch yourself." Chu Lian shook her head, refusing to let the maid use abilities beyond what humans should possess. She herself did not mind. Everything she was doing now was meant to eclipse Ainz's prominence, so that when she walked the world in the future, she could assume a unique identity.
As for Ainz and the others, they only needed to remain half-hidden in the shadows. They did not need to participate in certain aspects of her plan. Thus, she intended to weaken Ainz's influence.
This would not negatively affect Nazarick's future strategy. On the contrary, it would concentrate most of the attention upon her—the mysterious girl who had suddenly appeared—making it easier for Ainz and the others to arrange their own matters in secret.
Ainz likely understood her intentions, which was why he did not insist she restrain herself further. As long as it was not too excessive, there was no need to worry.
"Peter, Lukrut, keep an eye on the surroundings. I'm worried more monsters might rush out." Chu Lian glanced at the grassland extending from the forest. Most of the magical beasts and monsters had already been cleared, but scattered enemies continued to emerge from the woods. It was impossible to know just how many were gathered within.
"Miss Liliana, please rest assured. Though our strength may not be much help to you, we can at least handle vigilance—"
Before Peter Mauk could finish speaking, an arrow shot out from the forest at the side, flying straight toward his forehead.
"This is bad…"
Terror seized his heart, yet his body was completely locked by the arrow's killing intent. He could not move, could only watch helplessly as it streaked toward his face.
"Next time, don't casually raise a flag."
Teleport.
Chu Lian appeared the instant before the arrow struck Peter's forehead, catching it between her fingers. She smiled at the pale, shaken man.
However, though she caught one arrow, she could not catch them all. Dozens more arrows immediately followed from the forest, all aimed at her.
"To use a bow before me… how laughable."
Her eyes lifted slightly as she looked toward the source of the arrows. Within the dim forest, dozens of figures darted back and forth.
Her longsword moved. Chu Lian's hand flickered through the air, striking each incoming arrow and knocking them aside.
She had once sought guidance from Kurosaki Satsuki on the Flowing Wind Thirty-Seven Blades and learned a few of its techniques. Though its style differed somewhat from her own streamlined path, she could still imitate parts of it.
Thus, the arrows that arrived in intervals of two or three seconds became her practice targets. None could break through the curtain of blade light she wove before falling.
As though unwilling to accept such an outcome, the shadows running through the forest abruptly stopped. At the same moment, they released volleys of arrows—wave after wave—hundreds forming a rain that blanketed her position.
"I already said… laughable."
Her right hand planted the Senra Longblade into the ground. Light flared in her left, and the Seven Illusions Bow appeared in her grasp.
She drew the bow and condensed an arrow. Thousand Feathers shot forth in an instant, splitting midair into hundreds of arrows, each targeting an incoming shaft.
Jingle jingle~
The small bell at her neck rang lightly with her movements. The Thousand Feathers she released collided with every incoming arrow in midair, knocking them down one by one before continuing onward toward the hidden archers.
Fortunately for them, they sensed the danger and scattered immediately. Only a few unfortunate ones, trapped beneath the overwhelming rain of arrows and unable to escape in time, died beneath the long arrows formed from her magic power.
"A bow is not so weak and powerless…"
Her eyes sharpened like an eagle's. Having set aside her blade, the aura around Chu Lian grew as keen as the sharpest arrow—capable of piercing the heavens.
"Arrow of Lanfeng…"
Magic power surged. A blue-green radiance swirled around her fingertips, and an arrow shimmering with boundless brilliance took shape. It was the power of wind.
She released it.
The arrow stirred a fierce gale, pressing the surrounding grass and trees low, as though a sudden tempest had descended from the sky.
Boom…
Leaves were shredded by the arrow's force. Even towering trees trembled violently beneath the impact.
A figure hidden behind one such tree had just been rejoicing at not being among the fallen when an arrow suddenly shot from behind, piercing through the trunk and out through its chest.
It reached up to touch the wound—its blood already swept away by the wind. Its vision went dark, and consciousness faded completely.
A strand of spiritual sense attached to the Arrow of Lanfeng reflected the enemy's figure back to her. A trace of understanding flashed through Chu Lian's eyes.
"So they're centaurs. That explains the strength of their archery."
Just because she had easily dismantled dozens of them did not mean they were weak. It was simply that the Seven Illusions Bow was too formidable—and that her strength far surpassed theirs.
She could assert with certainty that among humans of equal strength, there were very few who could surpass centaurs in archery.
Even a well-trained army of three hundred would be slaughtered if faced with this group of centaurs. Their arrows were not only accurate, but steady—and carried an additional effect that sealed the target's mind.
Those of insufficient strength could not evade them at all and would be shot dead with a single arrow. Even opponents of equal level would find themselves with few options unless they could close the distance at a speed exceeding theirs. Otherwise, resistance would be futile.
"Even centaurs are joining the fun? What kind of irresistible delicacy am I?"
Though she now knew who the attackers were, Chu Lian felt no relief. Wave after wave of different enemies had already shown her the terror of being the source of the aberration.
What source of the aberration? It was clearly a source of calamity.
All those who benefited from the aberration treated her as their primary target, willing to fight to the death just for a chance to kill her. It was simply bullying.
"Lian'er, be careful. The strength of the enemies drawn by the source of the aberration is determined by the central origin—that is, your power. So even if you refrain from using your full abilities, it will still judge you as level 45 at most and only dispatch Spirit-level enemies against you. But if I intervene, it will factor my power into yours. At that point, Heaven-tier enemies—perhaps hidden, perhaps not yet revealed—may appear. That would be true trouble."
Hearing Ayase's explanation, Chu Lian's delicate brows knit slightly.
"If I use the Seraph-Type IS Armor, will it judge my strength as Earth-tier and send enemies between level 51 and 80 to hunt me?"
She knew her IS armor was S-rank equipment. Once equipped, her strength would instantly rise to Earth tier.
But she could not be certain whether an external device that forcibly elevated her power would be counted as her own strength.
"Yes. Because it is an extension of your body, not like a weapon you hold in your hand. A weapon is used by you but does not inherently raise your level. That armor, however, increases your strength when worn. Though both are 'used,' the distinction is clear. Of course, if a weapon in your hand allowed you to leap from Earth tier to Heaven tier the moment you wielded it, it would judge you as Heaven tier as well. That is how it works."
"It seems that until I understand what this aberration truly is, I can't use the IS armor."
Chu Lian exhaled softly, a hint of helplessness beneath her relief. Another trump card effectively sealed.
But she had no time to dwell on it.
The dragons were already very close—only a hundred meters away—circling overhead.
Massive dragon heads turned toward them from time to time, as if observing—or evaluating—something.
"Level 49. Immune to sixth-tier magic and below. Truly troublesome opponents."
Pale blue virtual numbers flickered in Chu Lian's eyes as she instantly derived part of their data. Strangely, each was marked with a mysterious symbol—something like a swastika, yet also like a spiral. It was impossible to discern its meaning.
She dismissed the Seven Illusions Bow and wrapped her right hand around the hilt of her blade. Her gaze rested quietly on the distant dragons.
Her heart was still as calm water.
Now, there was only one thought.
Dragon-slaying…