The Violet Snow Ice Emperor Flower detonated with catastrophic force, its destructive bloom flattening the sprawling manor—hundreds of acres—into instant ruin.
Before the shockwaves from the explosion had even fully dissipated, a man clad in blue armor burst from the roiling smoke, staggering forward in utter disarray.
Within Akira's field of vision, the familiar status panel materialized.
[Kade (Elite)]Level: 65 (? / 45500)Race: HumanStrength: 1252 / Agility: 1015 / Mana: 1011 / Constitution: 1328Growth: 8 (Gains +8 to all attributes per level)Skills: (Expand)Status: Severely Wounded (Combat Power -80%)
"What the hell is going on…?"
Akira watched as Kade was blasted clear of the explosion, surprise flickering across his eyes.
He hadn't even made a move yet, and the mission target was already critically injured?
Still, he didn't rush in.
Instead, he scanned the surroundings with deliberate calm, searching for hidden presences—any lingering magical signatures.
Once he confirmed that whoever had triggered the explosion wasn't on-site, he immediately issued his command.
"Roselyn!"
The moment the order left his lips, Roselyn moved.
Her soul-light wings unfurled in a radiant sweep, beating once as she descended almost instantly before Kade. The Oath Sword in her grasp flashed with icy brilliance, thrusting straight toward his vitals.
"Bastard! Another assassin sent by that bitch Vivian?!"
Kade roared in fury. A blinding golden aura erupted from his body, his presence surging violently in a short burst.
His heavily wounded frame—astonishingly—recovered to roughly seventy percent of his peak combat capacity.
"You think you can kill me? Don't make me laugh!" Kade spat. "When Prince Laps ascends the throne, that slut of a princess will pay dearly for what she's done!"
Before his words had fully faded, he swung his blade in a savage arc toward Roselyn.
Even at seventy percent strength, his overall attributes still slightly surpassed hers.
Yet under layers of combat amplification—buffs from equipment, traits, and Akira's command bonuses—Roselyn met his assault head-on.
She didn't retreat.
She dominated.
Within mere exchanges, Kade felt it.
Danger.
"Damn it! How is she this strong?!"
His expression darkened instantly. He had not expected her swordsmanship—or her battle instincts—to outclass his own so decisively.
Run.
The realization struck him like ice water.
If he stayed, he would die.
Without hesitation, Kade pivoted to escape.
But the moment he turned—
The water spirit coiled around Roselyn's waist spat out a surge of liquid that transformed midair into flexible, binding threads, snapping tight around Kade's limbs.
At the same time—
Two massive fireballs ignited overhead.
They burned like miniature suns, locking onto Kade—who was already locked in Roselyn's relentless assault.
"Damn it!"
He struggled desperately, trying to tear free from the watery restraints, but Roselyn's blade left him no breathing room.
"Are you insane?!" Kade roared. "Magic of that magnitude will incinerate you too!"
He could not comprehend it.
Was she truly willing to die just to hold him in place?
Was this woman not afraid of death?
Roselyn gave him no answer.
Only the cold gleam of her Oath Sword.
"Madwoman!"
Kade cursed.
But it was too late.
Beatrice and Flora released their high-tier magic in perfect synchronization—
Flame Annihilation.
In an instant, apocalyptic fire swallowed both combatants whole.
Within the inferno, Kade's eyes widened in utter disbelief as he stared at Roselyn.
Impossible.
Amidst flames of such terrifying magnitude—
She stood completely unharmed.
Not even her hair was scorched.
How?
Was she even human?
The question never found its answer.
His body disintegrated under the raging blaze, reduced to ash and scattered into nothingness.
As the flames gradually receded, only Roselyn remained in the sky.
[Mission Target Eliminated — Kade!Bonus Reward: EXP +10000!Enforcement Knight Medal +1!]
"Didn't expect a bonus drop."
Akira glanced at the rewards, a satisfied smile tugging at his lips.
Roselyn descended gracefully to his side, holding the insignia that symbolized the Star Knight's identity.
"Yay~ We did it~!"
Beatrice and Flora cheered in delight. Their magic had successfully slain a Level 65 Star Knight—it was more than enough reason to celebrate.
"Good work. Let's return."
Akira prepared to activate the teleportation array—
And then—
The air around them crackled.
Blue arcs of electricity flickered violently through the atmosphere, and the teleportation magic was forcibly interrupted by an unseen force.
"Enemy!"
Akira's expression hardened instantly, his gaze sweeping outward like lightning.
An opponent capable of disrupting a teleportation circle and saturating the entire area with lightning-element energy—
Was no ordinary threat.
Roselyn and the others shifted into combat stance at once. The air itself seemed to grow heavy with tension.
Then—
Clang. Clang. Clang.
The sound of metal armor colliding. Heavy footsteps approaching.
An elderly knight with snow-white hair stepped into view, walking toward them with unhurried certainty.
The moment Akira saw him, his brows knotted tightly.
A status panel surfaced.
[Morris (Epic)]Level: 78 (? / 62400)Race: HumanStrength: 1980 / Agility: 2435 / Mana: 1866 / Constitution: 2102Growth: 10 (Gains +10 to all attributes per level)Skills: (Expand)Trait: [Lightning Flash] (Defeating this unit grants this trait!)
"Level… 78?"
Akira's expression darkened.
This was the strongest enemy he had encountered since arriving in this world.
And judging by the armor—
A Star Knight.
A Level 78 Star Knight ranked within the top ten of the Order. Even within the entire Star Kingdom, such a figure stood among the absolute elite.
Why was someone like this here?
Coincidence?
Or—
"To kill a Star Knight within the borders of the Star Kingdom… You lot are quite bold."
The old knight's voice was cold and heavy.
Yet his eyes were not on Roselyn or Mare Rhine.
They were fixed on Akira.
"Take the Guild Master and go!"
Roselyn stepped in front of Akira, blade raised. "I'll hold him off!"
Mare Rhine shot the old knight a dismissive look. "Is this geezer that strong?"
"He's the Thunderlight Knight—ranked tenth within the Star Knight Order," Roselyn explained, channeling power into her Oath Sword. "He has received a fragment of blessing from the stars themselves. He… is powerful."
Akira's heart sank.
Even with their recent power growth, their odds against a Level 78 Star Knight were slim at best.
Even Mare Rhine—with her terrifying Growth value of 20—was completely outmatched in raw attributes.
And sacrificing Roselyn to ensure escape?
Unacceptable.
There was only one option.
All-out.
No holding back.
He still had two uses remaining of the Elf Queen's Blessing.
The stored power of the Vampire Progenitor remained untapped.
And he had just mastered a high-tier spell—
Elemental Burst.
Perhaps…
Perhaps this battle wasn't entirely unwinnable.
"Hey, human."
Mare Rhine's voice suddenly sounded beside him.
"Today, I'll show you what true power looks like. I'm tired of you underestimating me."
Her crimson eyes burned with fierce confidence.
"But to do that… I need your help."
"What do you need me to do?" Akira asked.
She turned fully toward him.
Her scarlet gaze gleamed.
"We—fuse."