SSS Awakening: I Can Class Change at will

Chapter 177: Battling the heretics [2]

On the opposite side of the settlement gate where the main violent conflict between Moon and the Heretic forces was currently unfolding with intensity, Selene and Mirage were slowly infiltrating from the undefended rear perimeter.

The Heretics had diverted the overwhelming majority of their combat-capable warriors toward Moon, but they weren’t completely tactically incompetent, a crew of sentries had been deliberately left behind to monitor for potential flanking maneuvers or ambush attempts.

The Heretics had correctly accounted for the possibility of a two-pronged attack. However, they’d catastrophically failed to account for the fact that Selene was powerful enough to eliminate their rear guard forces in complete stealth before they could raise any alarm.

Sharp wind blades, as silent as the gentle breeze itself, sliced cleanly through the throats of two guards stationed at the rear watchtower. The sentries died instantly without managing even a single warning cry, their bodies collapsing quietly as Selene vaulted smoothly over the primitive wooden fence without encountering any resistance.

Selene glanced back at Mirage before giving him a quiet instruction. “Wait here for my signal. I’ll extract them first, then bring them to this position. Stay ready, okay? I will whistle if anything goes wrong.”

Mirage let out a soft, understanding neigh as if verbally accepting the plan.

“Good boy,” Selene smiled briefly before turning and slipping deeper into the settlement’s interior.

She’d successfully penetrated inside the fortified area, which was surprisingly spacious and filled with dozens of fabric tents arranged in rough organized clusters.

Selene could detect several Savi figures visible inside these shelters through the material, but they didn’t register as immediate threats to her. She correctly identified them as elderly non-combatants and young children—those incapable of meaningful combat contribution had wisely remained sheltered while every able-bodied warrior rushed to confront Moon at the main gate.

The continuous sound of Moon’s devastating explosive attacks completely masked Selene’s careful footsteps as she walked between tents. His powerful spells were constantly detonating with thunderous force, providing perfect auditory cover for her infiltration while simultaneously offering reassuring confirmation that he remained alive and actively fighting.

After approximately one minute of cautious movement through the settlement’s winding pathways, Selene finally arrived at the central execution area. Her eyes immediately found Yara and the surviving Savi warriors, all of them completely drenched in blood—both their own and their fallen guardian’s.

Surrounding the bound prisoners stood several vigilant Heretic guards maintaining alarmed defensive postures, their attention fixed intently on the main gate where combat sounds continued echoing. They’d clearly trusted the watchtower sentries to provide early warning of any rear approach, assuming their vigilance toward the front was sufficient protection.

Their overconfidence in the dead sentries made Selene’s infiltration approach much easier, as the guards completely ignored the direction she was advancing from.

As Selene crept closer while using tents and supply crates as concealment, she gained clearer visuals of the prisoners’ conditions. Her eyes widened with shock as she took in the horrifying sight of one of the prisoners. He was one of the Savi warriors they had spent considerable time with over the past days.

It was the same warrior whose arm had been completely severed. His body hung completely motionless and limp against his restraints, no longer even attempting to struggle. Selene wasn’t able to see his eyes from this angle, but if she could have viewed them directly, she would have found them utterly void of light and awareness.

’He’s already dead. They killed him before we even arrived,’ Selene thought with rising anger that she forcibly suppressed and controlled.

’I need to extract Yara and the others first. We’ll deal with proper revenge and justice later,’ she reminded herself coldly, turning her anger into focus rather than reckless action.

Beside Yara and the surviving warriors stood three Heretic executioners with their weapons positioned directly against their vulnerable bodies, ready to deliver killing strikes at the first sign of rescue attempt, or so they believed.

Selene took a slow, deliberate breath to steady her racing heart and sharpen her concentration. She wasn’t personally afraid of the Heretic guards themselves, but if any complications occurred during the rescue attempt, Yara and the others might die within a single moment’s notice before she could prevent it.

Precision and timing were absolutely critical.

WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!

Three perfectly aimed wind blades were sent hurtling silently toward the unsuspecting guards. The sharp blades struck the Heretics from directly behind, decapitating all three simultaneously. The heretics died without knowing how.

’Perfect execution! Yes!’ Selene exclaimed internally with relief. If she’d missed even one target or failed to achieve instant kills, the situation could have turned catastrophic.

Yara and Gratis, who remained bound tightly to the wooden execution poles, couldn’t physically turn their heads to look behind them due to restrictive ropes. But they immediately understood that their captors had just been eliminated, the sudden spray of warm blood washing over them wasn’t particularly difficult to notice.

Selene rushed forward and immediately deployed weaker, more controlled wind blades to carefully slice through the binding ropes without injuring them.

As the restraints fell away, Selene quickly moved to check the motionless warrior she’d observed earlier with growing dread.

’He’s definitely dead, gone before we could save him.’ she confirmed internally with grief tightening her chest. It appeared that he had died some time ago, perhaps on the way to this place from blood loss.

Yara collapsed to the floor the moment her bonds were cut, her legs unable to support her weight after the torture and injuries she was afflicted by. Selene caught her instinctively before she could hit the ground.

“Selene…” Yara’s voice emerged as a pained whisper, her eyes struggling to focus. “You came… I thought… we were dead…”

“Save your strength,” Selene responded urgently while supporting Yara’s weight. “We need to move immediately. Can you walk at all?”

Yara attempted to stand but her legs buckled beneath her instantly, fresh blood seeping from multiple wounds. “I… I can’t… everything hurts…”