Chapter 64: Judgement Day
Loraine’s chest heaved with the exhaustion and emotional frustration as she explained the incident to them, unknowingly re-opening emotional wounds that she had been carrying as tears pricked at the corners of her eyes, the air going silent as no one dared speak for a while.
Margret’s eyes flickered, genuine shock reflecting in them as she stared at Loraine, unable to process her words as she remained silent for a while, the rest of the maids gazes falling as they didn’t know how to proceed, staring at Margret as they awaited their orders.
Loraine’s eyes turned towards her best friend, genuine sadness in them as she saw how her head lowered, a silent dark cloud manifesting over her head as old wounds from the incident opened from Loraine’s words, guilt settling in her chest at the thought of Sarah being so hurt.
"I almost died that day," Loraine spoke up in the silence, glancing at her hand as she thought back to how she was critically injured. "I know I spoke out of line, I know I did something reckless and foolish," She said, her gaze hardening as the rage inside her began to surface once more.
"But I don’t regret doing it, I didn’t care if I died that day, I wasn’t going to let that monster hurt my best friend ever again!" Loraine said with conviction in her voice, her fist clenching at her sides. Margret snapped out of her stunned gaze, the shock and slight tinge of guilt in her gaze disappearing immediately as she snapped back immediately.
"You acted reckless! All of us could’ve died!" Margret said, turning to the maids around her. Loraine simply shrugged, not bothered in the slightest as she didn’t care one bit about the other maids.
"And? Am I supposed to care about these people?" Loraine asked, her detached tone shocking Margret as the old woman’s eyes widened once more. "These same people that constantly abused me, ridiculed me, and treated me less than human just because I was unawakened."
"And honestly, I wouldn’t have cared if all of you died. It would’ve made my day personally," Loraine said, her tone turning cold as she turned around her, the maid’s eyes widening in shock as they had never seen Loraine with such detached eyes before, she looked like someone who could stare in the face of the end of the world and not even give a singular reaction.
"Unawanekened beings are-!"
Loraine rolled her eyes, genuinely tired of the same narrative being repeated over and over again, just when was this going to change?
"Don’t start with that bullshit again, I’m tired of hearing that nonsense!" Loraine interrupted Margret once more, her tone turning deadly as her crimson eyes glowed with malice, her magical energy erupting off of her in waves as the air immediately felt hot and charged with rage.
"I knew from the moment I heard about the truth, that none of you would ever have done anything!" Loraine said, pointing her finger at Margret in an accusatory tone. "It didn’t matter if I told this to you, or anything else in the mansion, as my words held no weight in this house, and you all would’ve wanted her to live with this tragedy placed on her shoulders!"
Margret felt cornered, every argument she would try to bring up and justify her actions would immediately be countered by Loraine, and with each word being thrown at her, it felt like a blow to her pride and the power she held as the mansion’s head maid.
’Tch.....’ Margret grit her teeth in rage, eyes locked on the white haired maiden with such disdain and fury.
"You think all of that matters now?" Margret asked, a confident smirk returning on her lips as she thrust her hand forward, a force of magical slamming into Loraine as she felt her body being held by a powerful grip, Margret casting [Magical Grasp] on her to keep her held in place.
Loraine tried to move around in her hold, but found it futile as she hadn’t expected Margret’s ability to be this strong, her crimson eyes locking onto Margret’s eyes with cold fury.
"You think this is going to do anything?" Loraine asked, raising a brow. "Once I get out of here, every single one of you are going to pay very dearly for all of your sins."
Margret blinked at her words, an amused laugh tearing from her throat as she didn’t expect Loraine to answer like that, amused by the white haired maiden’s attempt to sound threatening.
"Don’t be foolish, you think you can break free from my grasp? I’ve trained with this ability for years, my grip is as tough as steel!" Margret said, turning her attention to the rest of the maids as she cocked her head to the side. "Break her in, let’s remind her of her place and just where she belongs!"
The maids nodded, grabbing their weapons as they closed in on Loraine, Loraine’s gaze firm as she stared at the maids around her, not an ounce of fear in her eyes.
A maid raised her broom, her arms poised and ready to attack, Sarah’s eyes widening in shock as the broom crashed down hard against Loraine’s head, the impact shattering the broom with a strong slam.
Break!
[-12 HP]
The broken piece of the broom fell to the ground, Loraine remaining unshaken, as with a slow turn of her head, she turned to give the maid who hit her a fierce death glare, the maid’s eyes widening in shock as she took a step back.
Realizing that she had messed up big time.
"You shouldn’t have done that...." Loraine muttered against her breath, her body erupting with a powerful magical energy as [Aura Of Haste] activated, a powerful gust of wind blowing everyone back as Loraine’s power increased dramatically, shocking everyone present.
Loraine’s body underwent change as she became athletic once more, a toned and powerful physique atoning her once more as all her physical stats multiplied by 6x, the power radiating off her body sending a wave of shock, fear, and awe through the entire crowd.
’L...Loraine?’ Sarah thought to herself, eyes wide with shock as she watched the power radiating off her best friend, unable to believe her eyes at what she was seeing.
’Just when did she get so strong...?’
Margret’s eyes widened as the effects of [Magical Grasp] was immediately nullified by Loraine’s raw power, the Skill dissipating easily under her aura alone as Loraine was freed from her constraints, a wave of panic rushing down her spine as things had taken a drastic turn.
Loraine simply cocked her head to the side, seeing the shocked look on Margret’s face, cracking her knuckles calmly as she surveyed her opponents around her, a small confident smile blooming on her lips as her eyes gleamed with malice, her mind flashing back to the bandit incident.
’These people are no different from them, disgusting creatures.’ Loraine thought to herself, referring to the maids and how they looked at her with terror in their gazes.
"I guess it’s my turn to attack now, right?" Loraine asked, a small chuckle escaping her lips as in the next instant, she had vanished from her spot immediately, appearing behind a maid who had a knife in her hand, the woman unable to react in time as she was punched in the face with wind-shattering force.
BOOM!
The shockwave exploded from the collision, everyone’s jaw’s dropping as the woman was knocked back with supernatural strength, her body sliding across the ground as she had been rendered unconscious.
[HP: 3/100]
’She’s still alive, I made sure to hold back just enough to not kill her instantly.’ Loraine thought to herself, the battle erupting into chaos as every maid immediately charged at her, a small laugh escaping her lips, her movements quick and agile as she avoided every single attack they made.
Woosh!
Dodge!
BAM!
CRASH!
Loraine moved like a blur of motion, her movements quick as lightning as she dodged every single attack the maids could throw at her, countering with blows that dealt catastrophic damage and knocked them out instantly, a twisted sense of glee flooding her veins.
’Yes...yes...!’ Loraine roared inwardly as she continued to dominate the fight, each blow to a maid sending a huge wave of joy and euphoria blooming in her chest, a feeling of triumph and overcoming flooding her being as she never felt more liberated!
’Every single day, every ounce of punishment...abuse...and mistreatment! All of it has culminated into this very moment!’
"This...this is bad....what the hell is happening!?" Margret muttered to herself, watching as every one of her maids were being handled like mere prey, Loraine dispatching them one by one and showing off a level of power even she wasn’t aware about.
’What skill is she using? It couldn’t be [Aura Of Haste], right? Its just way too powerful!’ Margret thought, panic rising in her veins as she realized that her maids were in danger, and she needed to act fast and protect them from Loraine, at all costs!
"That’s enough!" Margret said, thrusting both her hands forward as she used [Magical Grasp] on Loraine, a powerful force of magic travelling to the white haired maid.
Loraine reacted with super human speeds and reflexes, thrusting out her own [Magical Grasp], her hands covered in a bright ethereal light as her attack immediately surpassed Margret’s, the two telekinetic forces colliding in a massive clash that quickly ended as Loraine’s magic wrapped around the old woman, pulling her toward the white haired maiden.
Grab!
Clench!
Loraine’s hands wrapped around the old woman’s neck, lifting her into the air easily as she watched Margret struggle to breathe and break out of her grip, her eyes glowing with an immense hatred as she tightened her grip on her neck, cutting off her air supply.
"You know, I was actually going to save you for last. But now that you interfered, I guess I’ll get you out of the way first!"