Chapter 108 – Exposed?!

What was going on??

A flicker of shock crossed the Divine Princess Elf’s face. Even with her enhanced perception, she hadn’t noticed when Teresa had vanished into the forest.

Back within the woods, Teresa moved like a giant roc diving into the sea. She swiftly climbed a treetop, loosing a flurry of deadly arrows at the enemy’s rear line.

Without Litt as their “barrier,” the light arrows pierced the fortress unobstructed and slammed into the heart of their defense.

The Divine Princess Elf suddenly felt a chill at her throat. A sense of imminent danger made her hairs stand on end—it was as if a cold, sharp object was about to pierce her neck.

At that critical moment, a pale hand caught the flying arrow. A resolute gaze cut through the foliage, fixing on the tree where Teresa was hiding.

“Thank you, Your Highness,” the Divine Princess Elf exhaled in relief and expressed her gratitude to Astrid.

Astrid gave no reply. Her full attention was on Teresa, brow lightly furrowed.

Was it just her imagination, or had Teresa’s strength suddenly jumped an entire tier??

Was she hiding her true power earlier? But if she were really this strong, there was no reason to conceal it.

Why? What had changed to boost her strength so drastically? The only difference... was the battlefield.

Could it be...?

Doubt flickered in Astrid’s eyes, but it was quickly overridden by denial.

No, impossible. Teresa was definitely human. And besides... if she were an elf, why would she hide her race?

As she pondered, Teresa seemed to sense Astrid’s gaze. Cursing elf perception in forests, she quickly relocated—always firing and moving.

Astrid was momentarily stunned. She hadn’t even taken action yet, merely locked onto Teresa with her senses—and the girl noticed.

Such sharp perception was unsettling, even if logically impossible.

Hidden in the trees, Teresa began another surprise volley—this time targeting the cleric Divine Princess, Hanyuan.

Astrid intercepted with her silver blade, knocking the arrow aside with a chilling flame.

But Teresa’s stealthy sniping made it nearly impossible to defend consistently. Astrid might block a few shots, but mistakes were inevitable.

Another round of arrows. Astrid deflected them again…

“Ugh!” A pained cry sounded. Astrid looked quickly to see the Divine Princess Elf hit in the arm and Hanyuan shot in the stomach.

What? She was sure she deflected them—so when did these new ones appear?!

Unanswered, Astrid didn’t realize the previous shots had only been a prelude. Now the arrows rained from all directions.

The Divine Princess Elf stood dumbfounded, feeling as though they were surrounded by an army in the forest that had once felt like home—but now served as their prison.

The enemy’s unpredictability shattered her composure. It was as if her natural affinity with the forest had become a lie.

Could that human clone herself? How could she fire so many arrows at once?! Could her Divine Authority even support that??

The sheer deluge of “raindrops” drowned three of them. Litt, trapped beneath the vines, was the only one spared.

“Everyone, don’t panic...” Hanyuan hurriedly activated her Divine Authority, radiating soft blue light that soothed her allies.

But there were just too many arrows. Unlike cleric Divine Princesses who had domain protection, the Divine Princess Elf became a pincushion.

Pierced by multiple arrows, her token shattered—eliminated.

The silver-haired elf closed her eyes as a force lifted her gently into the air. Behind her, the image of the [Exalted Maiden of the Full Moon] dimmed—three of the Seven Star Constellations went dark.

From seven stars, down to four.

Meanwhile, Teresa—still weaving through the woods, raining arrows—suddenly felt something lock onto her.

Looking up, she saw Astrid floating in mid-air. Her silver veil-like hair fluttered, and the constellation behind her now held only four stars.

Three had vanished.

A flash of surprise crossed Teresa’s face.

She didn’t fully understand what the dimming stars signified and activated Divine Appraisal to investigate.

As before, the mass of corrupted characters drained her mental energy, revealing only a few incomplete phrases.

But now Astrid held a translucent, moonlight-colored longbow in her hands.

Could it be a derivative skill of a [Lock-On] Divine Authority?

Teresa trusted her instincts—this shot couldn’t be dodged, even if she fled to the ends of the earth.

If it couldn’t be avoided...

She nocked two arrows at once—one aimed at Hanyuan, one at Astrid—and began charging.

The arrowheads glowed brilliantly like miniature suns.

Normally, she wouldn’t dare do this. Simultaneously charging two light arrows was mentally draining. But in this forest? She had the upper hand.

Astrid raised her gaze and gently stroked her moonbow. Drawing it without a string, a soft, moonlit arrow coalesced—its form graceful, its aura divine.

Teresa narrowed her eyes.

One above, one below. One grounded, one airborne. The two archers aimed at each other.

Emerald eyes and moonlit eyes locked for a breath—then both released.

Golden solar arrows blazed toward Astrid. Silver lunar arrows dived toward Teresa.

Just as the two were about to collide, the lunar arrow curved sharply, bypassing the solar one.

Boom boom boom!! The audience erupted in awe.

The silver moon arrow curved with intelligence, striking Teresa in the head. Radiant moonlight enveloped her golden figure.

This was Astrid’s powerful move—[Deep Silver Comet], unleashed at the cost of three stars.

Its terrifying might shattered Teresa’s wooden bow instantly, sending her tumbling from the treetop. At the same time, something fell from her head.

On the other side, Teresa’s golden arrow hit Astrid’s neck—precise as always.

Astrid fell from the sky, crashing to the ground.

The other golden arrow also struck Hanyuan’s throat, eliminating the cleric in the forest’s embrace.

Trembling, Litt watched the scene unfold. What she thought would be a sweep was now a deadlock.

It felt like this entire match had always been a one-on-one showdown between Teresa and Astrid. The rest of them were just side characters.

“Gods battling while mortals suffer”—that was exactly what this was. She and the others had all been collateral.

But since Astrid’s [Three-Star Deep Silver Comet] had struck Teresa’s head, surely she was eliminated now?

Astrid had taken a critical hit too—but her legendary Divine Authority resistance might let her walk it off. Teresa? Not likely.

And yet... no elimination chime. No announcement of a champion.

What? Was Teresa not considered eliminated?

How could that be? Her bow was shattered, her head hit, and no domain left to protect her.

Litt stared at the collapsed golden-haired girl. She didn’t understand.

But the result wasn’t bad. Teresa was unconscious. Astrid got up slowly and was walking toward her.

Wait—when Teresa got hit, didn’t something fall off?

From this distance, she couldn’t see clearly. Teresa had fallen facing her.

Then a few soft groans echoed. Teresa, holding her head, struggled to rise.

She could still stand?!

Astrid gripped her curved blade, ready to finish it—yet seeing Teresa rise groggily, clutching her head, she froze. Eyes wide, feet rooted. She missed her moment.

“...Huh??” Not just her. Litt blinked in confusion, unable to process what she was seeing.

Still dazed, Teresa leaned against a tree, drenched in sweat.

Then, noticing two strange gazes upon her, she looked up—seeing Astrid, frozen mid-pursuit, and Litt, still tied up like a dumpling, both staring at her in shock.

What was going on?

Teresa frowned. Her domain didn’t have any stun effect—so why were they looking at her like that after her domain shattered?

“Teresa... Miss?” Litt’s usually blunt tone turned cautious, even nervous.

“Y-you’re... who are you...?”

What nonsense was she spouting?

Who else would she be, if not Teresa?

“Is this today’s joke, Miss Litt?” Teresa chuckled politely, still oblivious.

“...”

Litt said nothing, just stared at her. Teresa’s scalp tingled under the intensity—Astrid was doing the same.

“I recall the Elf Tribe doesn’t like being stared at by strangers,” Teresa said. “And this match isn’t over. Might I remind you—this is a tournament?”

“Instead of gawking at me, please focus on the match, yes?”

“Ah, y-yes ma’am!” Litt blurted out, startled by her firm tone.

Now Teresa was even more confused. Had she messed up somehow...?

“Miss Teresa... no, Lady Teresa.” Astrid suddenly spoke. She wrung her hands, uncertain how to proceed, her expression complicated.

“Why have you hidden your identity all this time?”

“Was it due to hardship? Were you forced? Or was it for another reason?... If I’m right, then why didn’t you seek aid from your own people?”

“Lady Astrid, what are you talking about?” Teresa’s expression shifted. “Forgive me, I don’t understand. What identity have I hidden?”

“...”

Astrid lowered her head—and made a gesture. She rubbed her ear.

“...”

Teresa’s pupils contracted. Her expression changed. Slowly, she raised her hand to her ear.

Pointed.

Not covered by the earpiece.

“...”

Teresa froze, her expression blank. The usual twinkle in her eyes disappeared.

How...?

When did she get exposed?!

Outwardly calm, inwardly her heart surged with panic.

The earpiece. Where was it??

She frantically searched around.

“I believe you’re looking for this,” Astrid’s gentle voice came as she extended her hand—holding a black-and-white earpiece.

“...”

Teresa stared blankly as she accepted it. Her head swam. From the blow... or from something else.

She had been exposed. Her identity was revealed. She’d been caught by the Elf Tribe.

What now?

Surely they would report this to the Elf Empress Bilodis. Once she knew Teresa was still alive... What would she do?

The experiment might have succeeded, or not—but that didn’t matter. What mattered was that Teresa was not the real Teresa, but a human male soul inhabiting her body.

What would Bilodis do? That answer was obvious.

No one would let a filthy human soul desecrate the body of their beloved sister.

Her fate now... might be soul extraction and eternal imprisonment.

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