_______
The temple shook violently.
Cracks spread across the ancient stone walls as waves of dark mana crashed against the structure from outside.
Dust and fragments of stone drifted through the water.
Izumi tightened his grip on his sword.
"They're already here…"
Mira stood near the entrance, her two short daggers glowing faintly with shadow and blood magic.
Her playful expression was gone.
"…Yeah."
"This isn't just one guy anymore."
Dianara raised her staff, scanning the surroundings with sharp eyes.
"There are multiple presences."
Her voice became tense.
"And at least one of them is stronger than Kareth."
Lior stepped back, clutching the glowing fragment.
"I—I can feel them…"
The fragment pulsed rapidly, reacting to the approaching danger.
The Core of Nerathis flickered in response.
Warning symbols appeared again in the air.
The system was becoming unstable.
Izumi looked toward the temple entrance.
"We can't stay here."
Dianara nodded immediately.
"This place is no longer safe."
"If they breach the temple…"
She looked at Lior.
"…you'll be their first target."
Mira smirked slightly.
"Then we just don't let them in."
Before anyone could respond—
BOOM.
The temple doors shattered.
A massive shockwave blasted into the chamber.
Stone fragments scattered across the floor.
Dark mana flooded the room.
Through the broken entrance—
Figures appeared.
Five of them.
Each radiating dangerous energy.
At the front stood Kareth, his calm smile unchanged.
"Miss me?" he said casually.
Mira rolled her eyes.
"Not even a little."
Kareth chuckled.
Then he stepped aside.
"Allow me to introduce my companions."
The figures behind him moved forward.
Each one carried a different type of aura.
One radiated raw physical strength.
Another emitted cold, sharp killing intent.
One figure stood completely still, surrounded by faint illusion-like distortions.
Dianara's eyes narrowed.
"…Elite agents."
"Not just followers."
Kareth nodded slightly.
"Correct."
He looked at Lior.
"And now… we take the fragment."
Izumi stepped forward immediately, placing himself between them and Lior.
"You'll have to go through us."
Kareth tilted his head slightly.
"Yes."
"That is the idea."
Dark mana surged.
The entire chamber shook again.
The Architect agents spread out.
Surrounding them.
Mira clicked her tongue.
"…Five of them."
"Annoying."
Dianara whispered quickly.
"We can't fight them all at once."
Izumi nodded.
"Then we break through."
But before they could move—
One of the Architect agents stepped forward.
A tall man with heavy armor and a massive weapon resting on his shoulder.
Without a word—
He swung it.
BOOM.
A shockwave of pure force blasted through the chamber.
Izumi barely blocked it.
The impact pushed him back several meters.
"…He's strong."
Mira vanished instantly.
She reappeared behind another agent.
SLASH.
But her blades stopped mid-air.
A distortion of space blocked her attack.
The illusion-type agent smiled faintly.
"Too slow."
Mira jumped back.
"…Great. One of those types."
Dianara raised her staff.
Water mana surged violently.
"Stay together!"
But Kareth raised his hand.
"No."
His voice was calm.
"Separate them."
The agents moved instantly.
Perfect coordination.
One rushed toward Izumi.
Another toward Dianara.
Two moved to block Mira.
And Kareth—
Walked directly toward Lior.
Izumi's eyes widened.
"No you don't!"
He tried to move—
But the armored agent blocked his path.
Their weapons clashed.
CLANG.
The force shook the entire chamber.
Mira tried to break through—
But the illusion agent distorted the space around her again.
"Focus on your own fight," he said calmly.
Dianara was forced back by another opponent.
The formation was broken.
Lior stood alone.
Frozen.
The fragment glowing wildly in his hand.
Kareth approached him slowly.
Step by step.
"You've done well," Kareth said softly.
"But your role ends here."
Lior stepped back.
"I won't give it to you!"
Kareth sighed.
"You misunderstand."
Dark mana gathered in his hand.
"I'm not asking."
He reached forward—
And suddenly—
A flash of golden light exploded into the chamber.
BOOM.
The entire battlefield froze.
Kareth's hand stopped inches from Lior.
Everyone turned.
A new presence had entered the temple.
The water itself shimmered with holy energy.
A figure stood at the shattered entrance.
Clad in white and silver armor.
Holding a massive glowing blade.
Her aura was calm.
But overwhelming.
Mira's eyes widened slightly.
"…No way."
Dianara recognized her instantly.
"…A Paladin."
The newcomer stepped forward.
Her voice echoed through the chamber.
Cold.
Clear.
And commanding.
"You will not touch that child."
The holy blade in her hand shined brighter.
Kareth slowly turned toward her.
His smile returned.
"…Interesting."
The battlefield had changed.
The chamber trembled under the pressure of two opposing forces.
Dark mana from the Architect agents.
And now—
A radiant wave of holy light.
The newcomer stepped fully into the ruined temple.
Her armor shimmered in silver and white, engraved with ancient symbols of the Paladin Order. A long, flowing mantle drifted behind her in the water, glowing faintly.
In her hand—
A massive greatsword of light.
Its blade shone like a piece of the sun itself.
Mira clicked her tongue.
"…You've got to be kidding me."
The woman didn't look at her.
Her eyes were locked on Kareth.
Cold.
Unshaken.
"Step away from the fragment bearer."
Her voice carried authority.
Kareth smiled faintly.
"And if I refuse?"
The Paladin lifted her blade.
The water around her parted.
"Then I remove you."
A brief silence followed.
Then—
Kareth laughed.
"Very well."
He stepped back slightly.
"Let's see if the Paladin Order still lives up to its name."
The other Architect agents shifted their positions.
The battlefield was about to explode.
The Holy Knight
Dianara stepped closer to Izumi, her eyes still on the newcomer.
"…She's not an ordinary Paladin."
Izumi nodded.
"I can feel it."
Mira scoffed.
"Yeah, yeah."
She pointed her dagger toward the armored woman.
"That's Seraphina Valeris."
Izumi blinked.
"You know her?"
Mira smirked slightly.
"Everyone in the Paladin Order knows her."
Her voice carried a mix of annoyance and respect.
"She's one of the strongest."
Seraphina didn't react to Mira's words.
Her focus remained on the enemies.
Dianara spoke quietly.
"Seraphina Valeris…"
"…The Holy Knight."
The Battle Begins
Without warning—
One of the Architect agents charged.
The armored warrior from before.
He swung his massive weapon toward Seraphina.
BOOM.
The attack shook the entire chamber.
But—
CLANG.
Seraphina blocked it effortlessly with her greatsword.
The impact created a shockwave of light and force.
The agent's eyes widened slightly.
"…What?"
Seraphina didn't respond.
She pushed forward.
Her blade glowed brighter.
"Radiant Cleave."
SLASH.
A wave of golden light cut through the water.
The agent was sent flying across the chamber, crashing into a pillar.
Stone shattered on impact.
Izumi stared.
"…That was insane."
Mira crossed her arms.
"Told you."
"She's annoying."
Two more agents rushed toward Seraphina at once.
One using speed.
The other using illusion distortions.
The battlefield warped.
But Seraphina didn't hesitate.
She closed her eyes for a brief second.
Then—
Her aura expanded.
A sphere of soft golden light spread around her.
"Sanctuary Field."
The illusions shattered instantly.
The distortions disappeared.
Everything within her range became clear.
The illusion-type agent froze.
"…Impossible."
Seraphina opened her eyes again.
"Your tricks do not work on me."
She moved.
Fast.
Faster than before.
SLASH.
The illusion agent was struck directly and thrown back.
At the same time—
Mira clicked her tongue.
"Alright, fine."
She jumped into the fight again.
"Don't take all the fun."
Shadow exploded around her.
She appeared behind another agent.
"Blood Shadow Dance."
Her daggers moved like lightning.
Multiple strikes landed in seconds.
The agent struggled to defend.
Mira grinned.
"Keep up."
Meanwhile—
Izumi faced the armored agent again.
This time—
He was ready.
Cold mana surged through his body.
"Glacial Vortex!"
Ice spiraled around his opponent, slowing his movements.
Dianara followed up immediately.
"Hydro Lock!"
Water chains wrapped around the enemy.
For the first time—
They gained the advantage.
Kareth Moves Again
But in the center of the battlefield—
Kareth stood calmly.
Watching.
Analyzing.
Then his eyes moved toward Lior again.
"…Enough distractions."
He raised his hand.
Dark mana condensed into a sharp spear of energy.
"Let's end this."
He launched it.
Straight toward Lior.
Too fast.
Too direct.
Izumi couldn't reach in time.
Mira was occupied.
Even Seraphina was too far.
Lior froze.
The fragment flared in panic.
Then—
A golden barrier appeared.
The dark spear shattered instantly.
Seraphina stood in front of him.
Her blade raised.
Her voice calm.
"You will not harm him."
Kareth sighed softly.
"You're quite persistent."
Seraphina pointed her sword at him.
"Leave this place."
"This is your only warning."
Kareth smiled again.
"Or what?"
The air grew tense.
The entire chamber vibrated again.
The Core of Nerathis pulsed violently.
Stronger than before.
Dianara realized it instantly.
"…No."
Her voice trembled slightly.
"The battle is destabilizing the system."
Cracks of light spread across the chamber floor.
The Core flickered.
The ground beneath them rumbled.
From deep below—
That same ancient presence stirred again.
Stronger this time.
Even Seraphina felt it.
Her expression changed slightly.
"…What is this?"
Dianara answered quietly.
"…The thing sealed beneath Nerathis."
Kareth's smile widened slowly.
"…So it's real."
He stepped back.
"Interesting."
He looked at all of them one last time.
"This changes everything."
Dark mana gathered beneath him.
A portal began forming.
"We will withdraw… for now."
Mira frowned.
"Running again?"
Kareth chuckled.
"No."
His eyes glowed faintly.
"Preparing."
The portal expanded.
"Next time…"
His voice echoed.
"…we will take everything."
He and the remaining agents disappeared.
The chamber fell silent.
But the Core continued pulsing violently.
The danger had not passed.
It had only begun.
Seraphina lowered her blade slowly.
Her eyes moved toward Lior.
Then toward Izumi's group.
"…We need to talk."