Chapter 180: Casey Gabriel
"HELP!!!"
A scream ripped through the air, echoing off the ancient trees as an unknown stranger burst from the treeline and stumbled into a small clearing. In a flash, two figures appeared before him—a man and a woman.
"Why are you screaming like a baby?" the woman demanded, her hands on her hips, her gaze as cold and sharp as winter ice.
"Princess! There... are..." the man gasped, struggling to catch his breath:
"There is a giant and Mercenaries out there." He stammered, pointing frantically back the way he came.
".....?!"
The princess and the man, exchanged a grave look. Arthur was a known coward, but he never lied or joked about anything that could endanger their lives. This was serious.
"Send word to the crew—"
BEEEEP!!!
The princess began, but was cut short by the alarm.
"....?!"
Her eyes snapped to the barrier behind Arthur, where nine golden-armored mercenaries were charging at full speed.
"This is impossible!" she muttered, stunned, but quickly regained her composure. "Battle formation!"
The man beside her, a man of unwavering loyalty, nodded and swiftly sent a message with his cosmic brain.
"These mercenaries aren’t ordinary," the princess said to herself, as the nine warriors slammed into the barrier. The force of the impact pushed them back, leaving the princess with a grim realization:
"They can see through my illusion..."
She stretched out her hand towards the shimmering, invisible wall. "In the whole nation, I am known as the Queen of Illusions and Barriers." She infused her celestial energy into the barrier, her expression hardening.
Arthur and the man watched as the mercenaries drew their long swords and struck the barrier in unison.
BAM!
The combined force of the attack was tremendous, forcing the mercenaries back once more, but the princess clutched her chest, a flash of pain contorting her face.
"Princess! Are you alright?" the man asked, his voice thick with worry.
"Yes," she said, exhaling slowly. "I can hold on—"
Her words died in her throat as a man and a little girl appeared before the barrier. With a simple wave of the man’s hand, her strongest barrier and illusion shattered like fragile glass.
PIFFFF!!
A mouthful of blood erupted from the princess’s lips as she stared at Sunny and Ellen in horror.
"Princess!"
The man quickly summoned a broadsword, a grand-class armor forming over his body as he took a defensive stance before her. Arthur, true to form, moved behind the injured princess, seeking cover.
"Intruders!"
The man yelled as more men and women of various races rushed forward from the small camp, forming a protective circle around their princess. Ten warriors stood defensively, with the exception of the cowering Arthur.
Sunny’s gaze swept over the crew. "Hmm... A crew made of twelve members. Five are in the heavenly rank, six in the half-heavenly rank, and one, in the grand master rank..."
His eyes landed on Arthur, the weakest link, before moving to the princess, who was at the peak of the heavenly rank.
’This man is a demigod. Not to mention that kid, who is at the peak of the celestial rank. She alone can defeat us all,’ the princess thought, her mind racing, calculating their success rate. It was zero.
She glanced at the nine mercenaries and the towering giant behind the two. ’We have no chance of winning, and I won’t let my crew die here. We’ve already lost too many.’
She raised a hand. "Wait."
Her ten warriors looked over their shoulders at her, and with a firm nod from their princess, they lowered their weapons and parted, making a path for her.
Sunny watched the silver-haired woman approach, stopping a few meters away.
"Who are you?" She asked.
His eyes scanned her, noting the bloodlust and death that clung to her despite her young appearance. This woman had killed more than she could handle.
{Name: Casey Gabriel.}
{Race: Half-Elf.}
{Bloodline: Cosmic Shadow.}
{Rank: Heavenly. Stage 5.}
{Strength: 1,600.}
{Agility: 2,000.}
{Stamina: 1,400.}
{Defense: 3,000.}
{Attack: 1,500.}
{Celestial Energy: 3,000.}
{Magic Resistance: 50%.}
{Note: These stats will change if she puts on her equipment.}
’Gabriel...’ Sunny frowned, but a smile touched his lips as he spoke.
"I am King God Wolf, and this here is my daughter." He pointed at Arthur. "He destroyed one of my mercenaries."
Arthur’s face turned pale, sweat beading on his forehead.
"He destroyed a mercenary?" Casey’s gaze fell on Arthur, a silent reprimand in her eyes:
’This coward... if not for his bloodline, I wouldn’t have brought him along.’ She turned back to Sunny.
"Em... God Wolf, I, Casey, apologize for my member’s stupid actions. Is there a way I can repay you?" she asked calmly.
Sunny considered her for a moment, then shook his head. "You don’t know me, do you?"
The young men and women of her crew exchanged glances, then shook their heads.
"You can’t blame us," Princess Casey said. "We’ve been away from our nations and the news for years. We don’t know what’s happening outside this planet."
"You call yourself a Princess... Which nation do you belong to?" Sunny asked, a frown creasing his brow. He knew the Elf nation didn’t have two daughters, especially not one who was half-elf and half-human.
"I am from the Star Nation. My mother is Queen Matilda." Casey answered, her voice even.
"...?!"
Sunny froze, the words replaying in his mind. After a tense ten seconds, he nodded. "Your father?"
"My father’s name is Gabriel," she replied.
’Senator Gabriel...’ Sunny slowly nodded.
"I apologize for my questions, but your mother is married to the King, not Senator Gabriel," he said.
Casey’s eyebrow arched at his words. "The King is my stepfather... It’s not a big deal."
Sunny chuckled at her casual remark, then changed the subject. "You asked how you can repay me. This is how." He pointed a finger at Arthur.
"Tell me how you destroyed my mercenary with one strike, and why you were so happy seeing a ship."
"...?!!"
The crew was stunned, the air thick with tension as they waited for Arthur’s or Casey’s answer.