Medusa slowly opened his eyes.
Before him stood a figure…
One hand raised—
effortlessly stopping the monstrous beam.
The figure slightly turned back and said casually,
"Hey… fighters don't fall asleep in the middle of a battle."
Medusa coughed, blood spilling from his mouth.
"…W-who… are you?"
A calm, confident voice replied,
"My name… is Mike Celester. Nice to meet you."
Then, without even turning fully,
"We can do introductions later. First tell me… this monster—
it's not the one the Adventure Organization described, right?"
Medusa stared in disbelief.
He's blocking that attack… like it's nothing…
The beam slowly weakened…
and now Medusa could see him clearly.
Silver hair… shining like moonlight.
Black eyes… deep, as if they held an entire cosmos within.
He wore a black knight uniform,
the symbol of the Adventure Organization glowing faintly behind him.
Not a single stain on his clothes.
As if…
he didn't belong to this battlefield at all.
When the beam finally vanished,
Mike lowered his hand and casually stretched his back.
"Hey… I asked something."
Medusa snapped back to reality.
"Th-this monster… it just evolved—"
Before he could finish—
BOOM!
The monster attacked.
Its massive arm slammed into Mike, sending him flying.
Medusa's eyes widened.
"What…?"
The monster turned again—this time aiming for Medusa.
But before the strike could land—
Blink.
Medusa suddenly found himself standing on top of a building.
"…What?"
He looked around in shock.
Beside him stood Mike… dusting off his clothes like nothing happened.
"Go on," Mike said calmly.
"Finish what you were saying."
Medusa stared at him.
That attack… didn't even scratch him…
"…This monster… it evolved. It's far stronger now."
A wide smile appeared on Mike's face.
"Good."
"…Now I can test my new spell."
Medusa froze.
This… is no ordinary knight…
A faint silver aura began to flow around Mike.
Divine. Calm. Terrifying.
Mike turned slightly.
"You rest. I'll finish this."
Then—
WHOOSH!
He vanished.
A shockwave followed, dust exploding everywhere.
As the dust cleared, Medusa saw—
A massive crater in the rooftop.
He jumped… from here…
Meanwhile—
The monster rampaged through the streets, crushing everything.
Suddenly—
BOOM!
A powerful punch landed on its back.
The monster was sent flying, crashing into multiple buildings.
It roared and stood up again, dark energy forming claws around its limbs.
It charged at Mike.
Mike casually swung his arm back—
…as if reaching for something.
But—
"…Huh?"
He paused.
"…No… not again…"
He checked again.
"…I left my sword in the forest."
Before he could react—
The monster's claw slammed into him.
CRASH!
Mike was thrown back at high speed—
But mid-air…
He stabilized.
Then slowly raised his hand.
"…Looks like…"
"…it's time."
Far away, inside the Adventure Organization—
Mr. Hardson stood in a dark room with another figure.
A deep voice echoed from the shadows.
"Mike has reached there… do you think he can handle it?"
Hardson replied confidently,
"Yes. He gets lost in battle… but he always finishes the job."
A faint laugh echoed.
"That's exactly the problem."
"He gets lost… and forgets everything else."
"That's why… we never gave him the knowledge of a 7th-stage spell."
Hardson's tone lowered slightly.
"…But isn't that unfair?"
"We're holding back a genius."
The shadow replied calmly,
"You know what a 7th-stage spell can do."
"If Mike learns it completely…"
"He could turn an entire battlefield… into dust."
Back on the battlefield—
The monster charged again.
"AAAAAAHHHH!"
Mike slowly closed his eyes.
His hand rose near his face.
"…Now…"
"…it begins."
Elsewhere—
Medusa was desperately searching for Sota.
He followed the strange magical energy through broken houses…
Until—
He burst open a door.
"Sota! Are you here?!"
A weak voice replied—
"…M-Medusa…"
Medusa rushed to him.
Sota raised his trembling hand.
"…Today… I saved someone…"
Medusa quickly cast healing magic.
"White Dragon Healing Spell… First Stage—
Restore."
Sota's wounds partially healed.
"…He's badly injured… we need to move."
Medusa lifted Sota onto his back.
Sota groaned in pain—
"Ahh…!"
"Just a little more," Medusa said.
"We'll get out of here."
But as he stepped outside—
He froze.
His eyes widened.
He slowly looked up.
Above… stood Mike.
"…This is…?"
Mike slightly opened his eyes.
And spoke—
"Star Spell… Seventh Stage…"
"…Fallen Star."