An open field lay silent under the sky.
A single car stood at the center. Beside it were Lior, Yuki, Shai, and the four guild officials. One of the officials was already dead, while two others were severely injured.
Floating a few meters above the ground, a man watched them calmly—
Polgerius.
Without hesitation, Lior suddenly leapt into the air.
He rushed forward, sword in hand, aiming to slice Polgerius in one clean strike—
But Polgerius effortlessly dodged.
"Tataru."
A small magic circle formed in front of his hand and shot forward at high speed.
"!!"
Lior, still mid-air, couldn't dodge.
The attack struck him directly.
However, he managed to block part of it with his sword, reducing the damage—but the impact still threw him off balance.
He crashed hard onto the ground.
"Argh…!"
Lior clenched his teeth and glared up.
Then, angrily—
"Why are you standing there?! Attack!!"
"R-right!"
Yuki snapped out of it.
"I can't jump that high… I'll attack when he comes into my range!"
"Then I'll bring him down," Shai said.
"I'll handle the front," Lior added.
The three moved at once.
Lior and Shai leapt into the air.
"Fire Bullet!"
From Lior's left hand, five flaming bullets shot out.
Polgerius tried to dodge—
—but the bullets followed him.
"What…? These are tracking me?!"
One hit.
Boom!
A small explosion.
Then the rest struck in succession.
Before Polgerius could recover—
Shai appeared.
He swung his sword—
—but Polgerius caught it mid-air with his bare hand.
"What—?!"
With a single motion, he slammed Shai into the ground.
"Gah…!"
"You brats think it's that easy to defeat me?"
In an instant, Polgerius dashed toward Lior.
A punch—
Lior tried to dodge—
Impact.
The blow landed directly on his face.
He was sent flying, crashing into the car.
"Agh…!"
"Stone Spear."
A sharp spear formed and shot toward Lior—
But—
An official stepped in.
"No—!"
At the last second, another official jumped in front—
The attack pierced through him.
"P-please… deliver that item… safely…"
He collapsed.
Dead.
"NO!!" the last official screamed.
Lior pushed the bodies aside, groaning.
"Damn it… get off me… the enemy's still here!"
He stood up again, staring at Polgerius.
"Too easy," Polgerius muttered.
He landed near the car.
Suddenly—
"Haah!"
Yuki attacked from the side.
Polgerius blocked with his hand.
A cut appeared—but it wasn't deep.
Then—
Kick.
Yuki was sent flying into a rock.
"Agh…!"
He collapsed, unconscious.
"Damn it!" Lior cursed.
How did this mission become so dangerous…?
It's nothing compared to the war I fought two years ago…
But still—my friends are in danger.
No more sword.
A small portal opened beside him.
He placed his sword inside.
Polgerius narrowed his eyes.
"Why put your sword away?"
"…Because I'm not good with it."
"Oh?"
At that moment—
"Golden Kadi!"
Three glowing golden chains burst from Shai's hand and wrapped around Polgerius, binding him in place.
"What—?!"
Lior moved.
"Jujutsu…"
His physical strength surged.
In a flash, he reached Polgerius—
Punch.
The impact sent Polgerius crashing into a tree.
Lior followed up—
A kick—
—but Polgerius grabbed his leg mid-air and threw him away.
"Aah!!"
Polgerius tried to fly toward the car—
—but Shai tightened the chains again, pulling him back.
"Tch…!"
"Curse: Fika!"
The last official attacked.
The ground beneath Polgerius turned to sand and wrapped around his legs, crushing them.
"Argh—what the hell?!"
"5th Rank: Couldrin."
His legs glowed.
The sand fell away.
"What…?!" the official gasped.
Polgerius kicked—
One chain broke.
He was about to break the second—
—but Lior came rushing in at high speed.
BOOM!
A powerful punch slammed into Polgerius's head.
The remaining chain snapped.
Polgerius was blasted forward—
He crashed straight into another official—
Crushing him instantly.
Then slammed into the car.
Only one official remained, standing just a meter away.
"Ghn…!"
Polgerius stood, reaching for him—
But—
"Ground Throw!"
Spikes erupted from the earth.
They struck Polgerius from below, launching him into the air.
"Gah!"
He landed hard on the car roof.
…Tch.
They've been more troublesome than expected.
I've only killed three… four still remain.
But it doesn't matter.
Lord Deku's mission comes first.
"Summon!"
Suddenly—
Dozens of zombies appeared from the ground.
"Again?!" Lior shouted.
These aren't mine…
They're Lord Deku's zombies stored in my summoning space…
No time to waste.
Polgerius broke open the car door and entered.
"No—!! He'll take the item!" the official shouted.
"Then don't just stand there—attack!" Shai yelled.
They rushed forward—
But it was too late.
Polgerius burst out from the car—
And shot into the sky at incredible speed.
"I got what I came for."
"I'll finish this fight—and take my revenge—another time."
He vanished.
"…Tch!" Lior clicked his tongue.
"Sand Art!"
The ground responded.
Sand rose and swallowed every zombie, crushing them instantly—
Then returned to the earth.
Not even blood remained.
Only silence.