The air stilled.
Three challengers.
One legend.
The swordsman tightened his grip.
The mage steadied his breath.
The dagger-user vanished into motion.
Lira… stepped forward.
No aura.
No buildup.
Just movement.
Then—
She disappeared.
"…Wha—"
Too late.
The dagger-user reappeared—
But Lira was already behind her.
A light tap.
THUD.
She collapsed.
Not injured.
Just… done.
The mage raised his staff instantly.
Spells forming—layers upon layers—
But Lira was already in front of him.
She poked his forehead.
POF.
The magic shattered.
The mage dropped.
Eyes spinning.
"…Huh…?"
The swordsman swung—
A perfect arc.
Precise.
Fast.
Lira caught the blade.
Barehanded.
"…Good," she said.
Then—
A gentle push.
CRACK.
The swordsman slid back—
Then fell to one knee.
Silence.
Three S-rank level challengers—
Defeated.
In less than a second.
Shun exhaled.
"…Yeah… that's about right."
Eldarin nodded slowly.
"…They never stood a chance."
Lira stood there.
Looking at them.
Then—
She smiled.
Not her usual blank one.
Not her small amused one.
A real smile.
"…Fun," she said.
The swordsman looked up, stunned.
"…That was… everything?"
Lira nodded.
"…You're strong."
The dagger-user groaned from the ground.
"…We didn't even see it…"
The mage blinked.
"…That wasn't speed…"
"…That was… inevitability…"
Shun smirked.
"…Welcome to reality."
Eldarin crossed his arms proudly.
"…You have witnessed greatness."
"…You didn't do anything," Shun said.
"…Moral support."
"…You always say that."
Lira turned back to the road.
"…Let's go," she said.
They followed.
Behind them—
Three adventurers lay on the ground.
Not broken.
Not defeated in spirit.
Just… awakened.
Because now they understood—
The stories were true.
And Lira—
Had grown even stronger.
To Be Continued…