Crushing flags and claiming the Villainess

Chapter 303: Chapter 302- Call themCharlotte let out a tired sigh as she saved yet another squad from falling to a chimera’s assault.

The monster was soon taken down, giving her a brief moment to catch her breath.

A Hellstain had broken loose near Headquarters, and she had been the only one available to respond.

William was still in the south, busy inspecting Drenovar.

He had reported a few days ago that war was imminent.

Originally, the Council hadn’t planned to get involved.

That hadn’t changed—but now, they were paying closer attention because of two individuals from Eryndor.

Charlotte understood why they’d take an interest in that girl...

Valerie, if she recalled correctly.

But she hadn’t expected another S-rank to emerge from Eryndor.

According to the report Hannah submitted, the attacker—the one who severed both her arms—wasn’t merely a D-rank.

And it didn’t stop there.

The officers at the eatery were all high-ranking.

Yet when the backup team arrived, all they found was a pile of unconscious soldiers.

When questioned, the soldiers said they hadn’t even gotten the chance to fight.

A single wave of energy had struck them— And then everything went black.

Charlotte couldn’t believe them even though she trusted them and Hannah.

Someone who was registered as a D-rank and was at the bottom of his class...

damaging an S-rank and knocking out more than thirty people with just his aura.

Yes.

Impossible.

"Commander!

" The shout snapped Charlotte out of her thoughts.

She turned sharply toward the cave—the source of the Hellstain.

THUMP THUMP Her heart dropped.

The pressure in the air shifted—something massive was approaching.

The ground shook with every step, sending loose pebbles skittering.

The soldiers instinctively backed away, fear etched across their pale faces.

It emerged, a towering beast cloaked in thick, matted fur that moved with deadly grace.

A jagged, stone-like shell covered its back like a fortress, and its long, muscular tail ended in a spiked club that smashed through trees and shattered boulders alike.

Despite its size, it moved like a predator—silent and precise.

Its sharp yellow eyes scanned the field with cold intelligence, missing nothing.

Hooked claws glinted under the light, ready to tear through anything in its way.

Charlotte’s frown deepened.

This was bad.

The soldiers weren’t equipped to fight a high A-rank beast.

And she— She was a support-type mage.

The moment the beast’s form emerged from the cave’s shadow, chaos erupted.

"Form ranks!

" a captain barked, rallying the soldiers into a shaky formation.

Spears bristled.

Shields locked.

But the fear in their eyes was unmistakable.

The monster didn’t wait.

With terrifying speed, it charged.

CRACK!

Its tail swung wide, smashing into the front line.

Metal crumpled.

Bones shattered.

Three soldiers were flung like ragdolls into the trees—lifeless before they hit the ground.

Charlotte stepped forward, slamming her palm onto her shard.

A burst of white light surged from the core, and a shimmering hexagonal barrier erupted in front of the beast.

BOOM!

The creature slammed into it, claws screeching against the barrier as its momentum slowed.

The shield creaked, but it held—just long enough for the soldiers to regroup.

"Fall back in pairs!

" Charlotte yelled, her voice cutting through the panic.

Another volley of soldiers rushed in.

One, wielding a glaive-shaped shard glowing with red runes, slashed at the beast’s leg.

It left a shallow mark—barely a scratch, but it bought time.

The beast roared, then lunged.

Its claws tore through the man’s torso, silencing him in an instant.

Charlotte narrowed her eyes.

Her shard pulsed again.

"Bastion—Expand!

" The shield split into multiple translucent barriers, fanning out across the field.

Each intercepted a strike or protected a soldier on the verge of death.

But the beast was adapting—clever.

It avoided the barriers now, sweeping low and fast.

One soldier with a hammer-shaped shard leapt, swinging down with all his strength.

The weapon released a shockwave on impact, slamming into the beast’s shell.

A chip broke off.

Cheers rose for a moment—short-lived.

The monster twisted, impaling the man with its tail spike, then hurled him into the trees.

"Enough!

" Charlotte roared.

The center of her shield opened, revealing a glowing core—its true power.

She planted it into the earth.

Runes ignited across the ground.

"Sanctum Break.

" A dome of light erupted outward, blinding the beast for a heartbeat.

From within it, golden energy shards launched in a wide arc, striking the creature’s limbs and face.

It staggered—injured, but furious.

By now, Charlotte was exhausted too.

She had been fighting and protecting these soldiers for quite some time.

But the monster wasn’t done.

Its massive body began to glow with an eerie golden light.

It had stopped moving, eyes locked on Charlotte—unblinking, unshaken.

Her breath caught in her throat.

She knew that glow.

"Fall ba—!

" She didn’t get to finish.

In an instant, a golden dome of energy burst from the beast’s body, expanding like a shockwave.

Charlotte barely had time to raise her shield in front of her face—then BOOM!

The force slammed into her like a hammer.

DHAK!

Her body struck a tree with a heavy thud, then crumpled to the ground.

Pain shot through her side, but she forced herself up, shaking off the daze.

Dirt clung to her arms.

Her ears rang.

But her eyes searched the battlefield first.

Smoke and dust drifted across the ruined clearing.

Bodies were everywhere.

Of the fifteen soldiers that came with her...

only six were still standing.

Barely.

’We need backup...

’ Her grip on the shard tightened.

’We never expected a beast this strong to come out of that Stain.

’ Falling back was no longer an option or this beast would follow them to the headquarters.

But fighting it with so little manpower seemed like a suicide.

Charlotte bit her lip and decided to take some risk...

risk to her Shard.

The beast also turned to her, declaring her an opponent.

The two locked eyes, ready to deliver the finishing blow when suddenly, "You seem to be in a rough shape.

" A voice echoed, and the barrier user instantly turned to her left Sitting there casually was a blond teenager whom she didn’t recognise.

The Beast’s nose moved...

it smelled it.

The scent of blood.

Demonic blood.

It was potent and alarming.

The beast took a few steps back, ready to escape.

But then, "Time’s up.

" Austin snapped his finger and a barrier appeared behind the beast, blocking its path.

The inhumane being was smart.

It didn’t try to break the barrier, but rather chose to flank the left, only to crash again, *TNGG* Not so long after the other two sides of the beast were locked by the light green shimmering barrier as well.

The beast snarled and swung its massive tail at the wall—but, *TNGG* Nothing happened.

Just a shrill sound rang but the barrier showed no sign of breaking.

Charlotte couldn’t believe it.

Just now, she failed to contain the beast within her barrier because of its sheer strength and flexibility.

And here, this teenager was effortlessly using barrier magic without even summoning his Shard.

Her eyes widened at the realization as she turned her attention towards the boy and asked, "Are you a demon?

" Austin jumped from the branch as he asked, "Why did you land on that conclusion?

" "To my knowledge, no one from our side can erect such a strong barrier.

" Austin sighed, "So you believe you are the best in barrier magic?

" Charlotte didn’t speak but the answer was clear.

Despite being a support class warrior, she had made her way to the top by sheer hard work and strength.

Austin nodded before biting his thumb and drawing crimson blood, "Here...

it’s red, not black.

That means I am a human.

And...

" He turned toward the beast and clasped his open palm.

Instantly, the four walls of the barrier rushed towards each other, crushing the huge beast instantly into a mushy paste.

Charlotte’s lips parted in horror at the sight.

That...

could no longer be called a barrier.

That was not meant to protect or cage something.

The boy used his barriers to crush that whole thing into a bloody paste.

Austin appeared beside her, startling Charlotte as he said, "You see that?

" He asked, "The moment you believe you are the strongest, you are dead.

" Charlotte couldn’t believe someone so young was teaching her a lesson right now.

"Who are you?

" She asked, calmer now.

She realized he was on their side; otherwise, he would have killed everyone here with just a snap of his fingers.

Austin offered his hand to her, which Charlotte took before he offered his name, "Austin von Eryndor.

" "Huh?

" She blinked in surprise, "So you are the person...

who...

" "Yes.

I must say, your friend has a foul mouth.

" Charlotte’s expression turned bitter, "What do you want?

" Austin understood her caution but since they had met today for the first time, he didn’t continue the conversation and said, "In a week, I want every Council Head at the Headquarters.

I have a declaration to make.

" Charlotte scoffed, "And you believe they will come just because you want them to?

" Austin shrugged, backing away, as he said, "Well, it will be their loss.

See you.

" °°°°°°°°° A/N:- Ten more Chapters I guess.

Thanks for reading.