The Rise Of The Unwanted Girl (Athena) novel Chapter 294

Chapter 294

As the black–clad assailants lunged at her, Athena met them with an unnerving smile playing on her lips.

The men exchanged bewildered glances at the sight before them, as if thinking, “She’s at death’s door… and still smiling?”

Just as they were raising their blades, every one of them suddenly clutched their chests, their movements freezing mid–strike.

The next instant, blood gushed from their mouths as they collapsed to the ground.

A searing pain ripped through his chest. One of the assailants staggered, eyes wide in shock as he glared at Athena. “You… you poisoned us?” he gasped before collapsing.

Athena slowly rose to her feet, brushing the dirt from her clothes. With an icy smile, she said, “Without poison, how else could I kill you scumbags?”

Her master taught her to keep compassion in her heart, but also warned her: when facing the truly wicked, extraordinary measures are necessary. To show them mercy is to be cruel to herself.

When facing these black–clad assailants, she feigned weakness to lull them into a false sense of security.

Then, when the opportunity arose, she struck them down with a single, lethal blow.

All the black–clad assailants collapsed, blood gushing from every orifice as they died.

Athena stepped over their lifeless bodies with chilling composure.

Just then, one of the dying black–clad assailants suddenly locked his arms around Athena’s leg with a desperate burst of strength.

Blood gushed from his mouth and nose as he glared up at her with manic eyes, clearly intent on dragging her down to death with him.

“Forget it! Let go!” she said.

But Athena’s injured leg gave way, and with a sudden yank, the black–clad assailant dragged her hard to the ground.

Seeing her fall, the man’s face contorted into a crazed grin. He said, “If I’m going down, you’re coming with me!”

The dying black–clad man raised his dagger and lunged at Athena.

Athena instinctively snatched up a blade and, without a moment’s hesitation, slashed down at her attacker’s arm.

The black–clad assailant was already on his last legs, so when Athena severed his arm, he collapsed without a sound.

Athena kicked the corpse aside. Gritting her teeth, she dragged her injured leg and painfully limped away.

The mountain path was treacherous, the night obscuring her vision.

With each painful step, Athena moved forward, chasing the faint shimmer of distant light.

Jessa will surely come for me,‘ Athena thought with certainty.

Suddenly, a noise carne from behind. Athena’s heart skipped a beat as she quickly scrambled under a large boulder for cover.

The footsteps grew louder. Athena saw several more black–clad assailants appear on the slope above her.

“That damned woman!” one of the black–clad assailants snarled. “She’s killed so many of our men. When I get my hands on her, I’ll tear her limb from limb!”

Realizing these were more of the black–clad assailants‘ accomplices, Athena pressed herself deeper beneath the boulder and stilled her breathing.

Only when their footsteps had faded into the distance and Athena was certain the danger had passed did she finally emerge from behind the boulder.

“Found you at last,” a cold voice came from behind, freezing Athena in her tracks.

Athena whirled around, only to find those black–clad assailants staring at her with murderous glints in their eyes.

Little did she know, they had been patiently lying in ambush all this time, just to lure Athena out into the open.

1/3

9:14 PM

0

Chapter 294

With no escape in sight, Athena subtly clenched her fists, bracing herself for a desperate last stand. If she was going down, she would take them with her.

The black–clad assailants, seemingly consumed by a frenzied hatred for Athena, swung their long blades and rushed at her.

With a swift motion, Athena unleashed a volley of hidden blades from her sleeve.

Aware of the hidden blades‘ deadly nature, the black–clad assailants frantically swung their swords to parry.

A sharp metallic clang sliced through the night with startling clarity.

However, the black–clad assailants only faltered for a split second before charging at her again.

The whistling of blades sliced through the air behind her, so close that Athena could almost taste the metallic tang.

If that blade struck true, it would surely be her end.

In a desperate move, Athena threw up her arm, ready to sacrifice it if that was what it took to survive.

Suddenly, at this critical moment, a dark figure flashed across Athena’s vision.

sickening sound of a longsword piercing flesh filled her ears.

The black–clad assailants let out blood–curdling screams and crumpled to the ground all at once. The forest reeked of blood.

Athena’s terrified gaze snapped to where a lone swordsman stood, sword still in hand.

The dim light only revealed the man’s silhouette and his taut, narrow waist.

Only when Athena’s eyes adjusted to the dim light did she finally make out the man’s face.

“Prince Xander!” Athena gasped in surprise.

Xander flashed to her side, finding Athena leaning against a boulder, her body swaying precariously.

The commotion had already alerted the black–clad assailants lurking in the distance.

Xander swiftly pulled Athena close, his arm encircling her waist as he murmured urgently, “We need to leave now.”

Athena nodded. The next instant, she suddenly felt weightless. Xander had effortlessly scooped her up in his arms, cradling her against his chest.

The wind whipped past Athena’s ears as the world blurred by in a dizzying rush.

Suddenly, Xander’s deep, urgent voice rang in her ear. “Hold on to me. Tight!”

His voice carried both urgency and deadly intent. Athena immediately wrapped her arms around his neck.

Xander tightened his grip around Athena’s waist and whirled. His longsword flashed, steel rang out as he cleaved an incoming arrow

clean in two.

Seeing them try to flee, the assassins let loose a hail of arrows to seal off their path.

Xander swept his longsword through the air, unleashing a devastating surge of sword energy that lashed out at the black–clad assailants.

Seeing this, the assailants scattered for cover. Seizing the moment, Xander had already dashed nearly a hundred yards away with

Athena.

Now beyond arrow range, the black–clad assailants were forced to abandon their pursuit.

Clutching Xander’s neck, Athena broke out in a cold sweat at the sight.

Had it not been for Xander’s incredible martial prowess, they would both be corpses by now.

But what truly awed Athena was Xander’s ability to block the enemies‘ retreat, all while holding her securely in his arms.

In the entire Petanion, no one could hold a candle to his courage and strategic brilliance.

Xander landed softly once he spotted a safe place.

2/3

9:14 PM

Chapter 294

Ο

0

Yet he didn’t release Athena. Holding her close, he carried her forward.

Pressed so closely against him, Athena felt a flush of embarrassment. “Put me down,” she murmured, “I can walk on my own.”

Xander gave her a measured glance, but the fierce intensity in his eyes made Athena look away.

Verify captcha to read the contentVerify