Reborn as the General's Useless Daughter-Chapter 116: Mercenary Mission (Part-4)

"Alright. Then be careful."

A trace of doubt and surprise flickered through Sylvandria’s eyes. Raphael’s concern toward Zora felt... different.

She had known Raphael for quite some time. He was gentle and courteous to everyone, yes, but this level of attentiveness and caution was something she rarely saw. Instinctively, she sensed that this concern was not entirely ordinary.

"Be careful."

A cold, low voice suddenly followed.

Alaric Von Seraph’s dark eyes rested on Zora, a faint but unmistakable seriousness hidden beneath his usual indifference. This kind of battle was never easy, especially for someone who was entering such a fight for the first time.

Zora’s phoenix eyes shimmered slightly, surprise flashing through the calm depths before turning into a confident smile.

"I will."

Her exquisite face bloomed with that smile, radiant and dazzling, like flowers bursting into life all at once.

In the next instant, Zora drew the Blue Ice Sword.

Her figure shot forward with a sharp whoosh, agile and fierce like a cheetah unleashed. In the blink of an eye, she appeared behind the armored rhinoceros.

Alaric Von Seraph’s eyes narrowed sharply.

That speed... was anything but ordinary.

Clang!

Without hesitation, Zora surged her energy. Frosty blue light flared along the Blue Ice Sword as she thrust it forward, aiming straight at the soft underbelly of the armored rhinoceros.

Every beast had its weakness.

The armored rhinoceros’ hide was terrifyingly hard, nearly impossible to break head-on. But its abdomen was far more vulnerable. Striking there was the fastest way to end the battle.

A sharp, subtle piercing sound rang out as the blade struck the target.

Then—

"ROAR!"

The armored rhinoceros let out an earth-shaking bellow. Agony exploded through its body as it finally realized it had been attacked. Before this, it hadn’t even sensed a human approaching.

Fury erupted.

With a thunderous crash, the massive beast charged straight toward Zora.

Boom!

Its enormous body surged forward like a living battering ram, jaws wide open, jagged fangs glinting with brutal coldness and bloodlust. If those jaws closed, Zora would be torn apart in an instant.

Yet her expression remained calm.

There was no panic, no hesitation. Her gaze was steady, composed even in the face of imminent danger.

Instead of retreating, Zora suddenly accelerated, rushing straight toward the charging armored rhinoceros!

The three spectators’ expressions changed instantly.

"What is she doing?" Sylvandria gasped, genuine worry flashing across her face.

Alaric Von Seraph’s brows knitted together as his energy surged. His body tensed, ready to leap forward at any moment.

Just as it seemed inevitable that Zora would collide head-on with the beast, her body twisted.

Like water slipping past stone, she slid sideways at the last possible moment, brushing past the armored rhinoceros’ massive form.

The rhinoceros, charging with full force, completely missed its target.

Unable to stop its momentum, it thundered forward, its hooves tearing into the ground.

At that instant, Zora seized the opening.

Her figure rose with the motion, Blue Ice Sword flashing once more.

An ice-blue sword light streaked through the air, followed by a dull, sickening impact as the blade struck home again.

"ROAR—!"

The armored rhinoceros screamed even louder, its massive black eyes flooding with blood-red madness as it spun around, abandoning all caution.

Driven purely by rage, it charged once more, determined to tear Zora apart.

"The armored rhino has gone completely berserk." Alaric Von Seraph’s voice was low and restrained. Beneath his cold, half-lowered lashes, darkness surged like a deep, silent abyss, impossible to read.

"Zora struck only twice," Raphael said softly, admiration evident on his refined features. "Her strength, judgment, and composure are all flawless. For a first-time expedition, that’s exceedingly rare."

"An enraged armored rhino will enter a violent frenzy," Sylvandria added gently, her tone calm and flowing like water. Her delicate expression betrayed no obvious emotion. "It won’t be easy to deal with."

Raphael’s lips curved into a confident smile. "For some reason, I believe Zora can handle it."

In their line of sight, even while facing a rampaging armored rhinoceros, Zora remained composed. Her eyes were clear and steady, without the slightest ripple of panic.

Boom!

The armored rhinoceros charged again, shaking the ground as it thundered forward.

This time, Zora met it head-on.

Instead of dodging, she leapt straight into the air.

Her body twisted gracefully midair before landing squarely on the beast’s massive back.

The movement was fluid and precise, as though she had calculated everything long before making her move. The clarity of her strategy left no room for hesitation.

Graaaa!

The armored rhinoceros let out an enraged roar, violently thrashing its body in an attempt to throw her off.

Yet no matter how wildly it twisted, Zora remained firmly planted, her balance unshaken.

Attacking the beast’s back would have been the fastest way to end the fight. However, their task required an intact set of rhinoceros armor, so she deliberately avoided damaging its hide.

Vital energy surged through her body, the aura of a mid–Xuanyuan Realm cultivator erupting in full.

Brilliant light gathered around her right fist as power condensed rapidly.

"Storm-Breaking Fist!"

Her cold shout cut through the air.

The punch came down with explosive force, carrying overwhelming momentum as it slammed into the armored rhinoceros.

Boom!

A heavy, muffled crash echoed through the clearing. The massive body of the armored rhinoceros collapsed, shaking the ground as it fell.

Its enormous eyes slowly dimmed, the last traces of vitality fading away.

Raphael, Sylvandria, and Alaric Von Seraph all stared in astonishment. "Wha..."

None of them had expected Zora to defeat the armored rhinoceros so cleanly.

Based on their estimations, even if she possessed considerable strength, the battle should have been fierce and drawn out. Yet what they witnessed was a seamless, almost effortless victory.

Alaric Von Seraph’s gaze deepened. This was no fighting style of a novice.

Every reaction of the armored rhinoceros had been anticipated. Every strike targeted its vulnerabilities with surgical precision. Her movements were calm, decisive, and seasoned, like someone who had survived countless battles in the mountains.

Zora calmly retrieved the demon crystal from the fallen beast.

Just as she straightened—A massive shadow suddenly loomed overhead.

Her eyes lifted sharply.

Another armored rhinoceros was charging straight toward her!

"Be careful!"

Raphael cried out, worry flashing across his usually gentle features. The distance was too great, and the second beast’s appearance was far too sudden.

By the time they reacted, it was already upon her.

"Heh!"

A razor-sharp sword intent burst forth, blindingly fierce and swift enough to steal everyone’s breath.

"Shadow Kill!"

Zora’s figure twisted midair, her body folding and rolling away from the charging armored rhinoceros with flawless precision.

In the next instant...

Slash!

The second armored rhinoceros was cleaved apart. Blood sprayed violently across the ground, the massive body crashing down without even a chance to howl.

In the blink of an eye, Zora had already extracted the demon crystal from its corpse.

Boom!

The enormous beast collapsed heavily, the entire sequence from its sudden appearance to its death lasting no more than a few breaths.

Alaric Von Seraph, Raphael, and Sylvandria rushed to Zora’s side.

She stood calmly amidst the carnage, her bearing as steady as a mountain breeze. Her eyes were dark and tranquil, without the slightest trace of shock.

A few drops of fresh blood dotted her flawless face, lending her an added edge of wild, dangerous beauty.