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Bete, as a werewolf, belonged to a race that relied almost entirely on physical combat and durability.
Yet he possessed something extremely rare for his kind.
Magic.
Hati.
"…!"
As the spell finished, crimson flames erupted from Bete's hands and feet.
The magic Hati allowed him to absorb magical energy and damage, converting them into power.
It worked similarly to the berserker-like frenzy of the Amazon sisters, but with one terrifying difference.
Its power could grow without limit.
Not only attacks, but even barrier-type magic could be absorbed.
However, the chant forced him to confront the wounds of his past, the pain he carried deep inside.
Because of that, Bete rarely used it.
In theory, Anos's Eight Trigrams Formation could also be considered a type of barrier magic.
If Bete truly pushed his ability to the limit, it might cause Anos some trouble.
But against Anos's current weapon…
That magic wasn't even qualified to matter.
Because the Silver Hand of Severance was not magic.
It was divine authority.
And no magic designed to absorb magical damage could possibly devour the power of a god.
As for Anos's own strength, Bete couldn't absorb that either.
Because the energy within Anos was not mana or spiritual power.
Before his reincarnation, perhaps this ability might have troubled him slightly.
But now…
What flowed within his body was divine power.
Or more accurately, a unique energy created by the evolved race he now possessed.
Similar to divine power.
But not quite the same.
"Bete actually used that ability…"
Ais watched the battlefield calmly.
"Yeah… he really went all out."
Tione muttered bluntly.
Even though Anos clearly didn't look like a Level 2 adventurer, they still believed he wasn't lying about something so easily exposed.
Which meant Bete had gone far beyond what was necessary.
Hati was essentially his trump card.
"Did you notice something strange?"
Finn suddenly said.
"Bete's expression isn't the same as when he normally fights."
"What?!"
Everyone immediately turned to look at Bete.
"Tch…"
Bete clicked his tongue.
He had noticed it too.
He didn't feel the usual feedback from activating his magic.
What the hell was going on?
Was that power not magic at all?
"Looks like it's about time to end this."
Anos glanced at the dagger in his hand and smiled.
For the first time since the fight began—
He moved.
Just as he had said earlier, he hadn't moved a single step while fighting Bete.
Until now.
Fourth Secret Sword. Mirage Wolf.
As Anos stepped forward, multiple afterimages suddenly appeared before Bete.
By shifting the rhythm of his footwork between rapid acceleration and sudden pauses, Mirage Wolf created illusions that distorted the opponent's perception of distance.
Afterimages could appear to the left, right, above, and below.
"Huh?!"
Bete was instantly thrown off.
After all, he was an adventurer accustomed to fighting monsters, not humans.
Monsters didn't use techniques like this.
And suddenly—
Anos moved again.
First Secret Sword: Rhino Strike.
Five afterimages lunged toward Bete simultaneously.
Their target…
Wasn't Bete himself.
All five Anos figures slashed their silver daggers directly at Bete's greatsword.
Crack!
The sharp sound rang out.
Bete's massive blade snapped in half.
Rhino Strike was a technique that concentrated every vector of force into a single point through superhuman body control.
Among the Seven Secret Swords mastered by Anos, it was known as the ultimate anti-object technique.
"You—!"
Before Bete could finish speaking—
"Pfft!"
Thin red lines suddenly burst across his body.
Some bled slowly.
Others sprayed violently.
Blood instantly drenched his entire figure.
"What?!"
Finn almost rushed forward in shock.
When had that happened?
He was certain Anos had only attacked Bete's weapon.
Fifth Secret Sword: Wild Sakura.
From the very beginning of the duel, Anos had been quietly applying this technique.
Its unnatural sharpness meant the victim wouldn't even realize they had been cut.
Only after movement, strain, or Anos's own will would the wounds suddenly reveal themselves.
A delayed sword technique.
Thud!
With so many injuries erupting all at once, Bete collapsed to the ground.
Unable to continue.
[Ding!]
[The green treasure chest opened.]
[Reward obtained: Monster Card – Savior Dragon.]
[Ding!]
[Purple treasure chest opened.]
[Reward obtained: Item – Synchro Disk.]
The two chests opening simultaneously perfectly reflected the level of shock Loki Familia was experiencing.
[Savior Dragon: Fusion material for Savior Star Dragon. When used as Synchro Material, it cannot be used for a Synchro Summon unless the monster's name includes "Savior."]
[Synchro Disk: A mysterious device that allows Synchro monsters to be summoned without fulfilling normal Synchro conditions.]
"Huh… so this lets me summon Savior Star Dragon like a fusion monster?"
Anos muttered quietly.
It felt strange not using traditional tuners for Synchro summoning.
"So that means Savior Star Dragon can finally be summoned."
"I'm looking forward to seeing what that monster can do."
In the system space, the two cards combined and produced a new one.
Synchro Monster: Savior Star Dragon.
A monster with sealing abilities far superior to Stardust Dragon.
Originally, Anos had treated Stardust Dragon as a one-time golden sword.
But now things were different.
Because of Savior Star Dragon's effect.
After using its power, it would revert to Stardust Dragon.
Effect:
When an opponent activates a spell, trap, or monster effect, you can release this card to negate that activation and destroy all cards your opponent controls.
Once per turn, you can target one face-up monster your opponent controls. Its effects are negated until the end phase, and this card gains those same effects.
At the end phase, this card returns to the Extra Deck and special summons one Stardust Dragon from your graveyard.
Savior Star Dragon's abilities were absurdly powerful.
Which was why it could only remain on the field briefly.
But that was more than enough.
Because unlike Stardust Dragon, Savior Star Dragon didn't just seal an opponent's ability.
It could also steal it.
Of course, if Anos personally used the ability, its power would be reduced.
Just like how the Dark Magician Girl card only slightly increased his magical capacity.
Even so…
It was still extremely valuable.
"Relax, they're just surface wounds. With your physical ability, you'll recover in a few days."
Anos said to Bete.
Even though he was lying on the ground, Bete still stared at him with fierce, defiant eyes.
Anos simply smiled.
It seemed Bete misunderstood something.
Anos had never been interested in competing with ordinary adventurers.
Not Bete.
Not even Ottar.
None of them were his real targets.
"Bete!"
Only now did Loki Familia fully react, rushing forward to check his injuries.
Just moments ago the fight had looked even.
Then suddenly Bete collapsed.
The reversal was so abrupt that no one had processed it in time.
But that shock instantly fulfilled Anos's system objective.
"Looks like Orario is about to become much more interesting."
Finn smiled.
He had imagined Bete losing.
But never this quickly.
Yes, Bete had underestimated his opponent.
But more importantly, the gap in technique and mentality between him and the captain of Hestia Familia was enormous.
Finn couldn't help picturing the future arguments between Loki and Hestia over Anos.
That thought made him chuckle.
"Hey! What's going on here?!"
A familiar voice suddenly echoed from the distance.
Finn's smile froze.
That voice…
He slowly turned his head.
As expected.
It was Loki.
"Ah… Lady Loki, you came pretty fast…"
Tiona scratched her head awkwardly.
This situation was about to become very difficult to explain.
"And why are you all standing around a pile of something red?"
Loki asked, confused.
She had rushed over after hearing that her Familia had clashed with Hestia's.
But judging from the scene…
It seemed like the fight had already ended.
"Hm?"
Suddenly Loki realized something terrifying.
If the fight was already over…
That meant someone had been defeated.
There was no way she could imagine a Level 5 adventurer from her Familia losing to some new recruit from Hestia's tiny Familia.
Which meant…
That red thing on the ground.
The one everyone was surrounding and treating.
Was obviously Hestia's captain.
Right?
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