Outside the vicinity of the Yultim volcanic region, a lone naked famine figure tore into a beast meat, devouring it after burning it with fire magic.
From one look, her body seemed powerful and well built for battle rather than beauty, though she possessed both. Long limbs, a muscular frame, and a wild, untamed face gave her a fierce presence. Standing at 178 cm, slightly shorter than El, her athletic hourglass figure and DDD cup breast along with long and sturdy legs carried an undeniable allure.
As she chewed through the beast's flesh, her attention suddenly shifted. In the distance, she sensed an enormous surge of magic. It wasn't just strong, it was… unique and familiar to her own but stronger.
Her eyes narrowed and a wild smirk appeared on her lips.
The next moment, a deafening explosion tore through the horizon. The thick, ashen sky formed by centuries of volcanic residue was blown apart, revealing a clearing no ordinary human could create.
Someone was fighting, someone strong.
The ground around her began to melt under the heat radiating from her body, mirroring her excitement. Without hesitation, she leapt into the air. Flames erupted beneath her feet, propelling her forward at blinding speed, fast enough to break the sound barrier.
At that pace, it would take her less than a minute to reach the battlefield. Her blood surged like molten lava, anticipation building with every passing second.
Then a condensed arrow of light shot toward her from the distance shadow.
She twisted midair, shifting her trajectory with ease and continuing forward, dismissing the attack as a weak distraction.
But the next instant, a portal opened directly in her path.
She clicked her tongue and dropped to the ground with a heavy thud, eyeing the distant explosions still echoing across the volcanic region. Her gaze shifted to the shadow beneath a nearby tree, sensing the presence of intruder.
"What business do you have with me?" Mereoleona Vermillion asked, with clear impatience. The battle in the distance was growing more intense by the second.
"My companion is fighting there," Nacht Faust replied calmly, deliberately keeping his gaze turned away from the naked body of Royal in front of him. "And it would be troublesome if you interfered in his battle, Lady Mereoleona of House Vermillion."
She raised an eyebrow slightly.
"You know me… but I don't know you. Who are you supposed to be?" she asked, her interest piqued but her focus still pulled toward the distant clash.
"I am Nacht Faust, vice-captain of the Black Bulls," he answered. He was buying time but knowing her personality he knew it wouldn't last.
"From Yami's squad Ha…" Mereoleona considered him for a brief moment before letting out a low hum.
"Very well," she said. "I am a warrior. I won't interfere in a duel already in progress."
"But once it's over," she continued, a fierce grin spreading across her face, "your friend better have the strength to face me."
"Very well. If you wish to observe, please allow me to escort you," Nacht said, already thinking ahead.
Once this fight ended, whatever happened between that wild woman and El would be El's problem to deal with.
Still, having someone like her around wasn't entirely unwelcome. If El failed and the monstrosity called Mahoraga was unleashed upon this world, an extra pair of hands might come in handy.
A shadow rose beneath them, swallowing both figures. In the next moment, they sank into it and reappeared within the shade of a distant volcano, hidden from the battlefield yet close enough to witness everything.
Mereoleona's gaze locked onto the clash instantly.
A towering, white demon, relentlessly fought against a muscular man whose presence alone bent the atmosphere around him. The exchange was brutal, almost savage. No tricks, no hesitation, just raw power which matched her style well.
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
The way that creature fought… it felt familiar. Straightforward, overwhelming just like her own. And yet, the man in front of him wasn't just holding his ground, he was forcing the demon back.
For the first time in her long life, she felt something unexpected.
'Can i fight like that?'
The thought lingered only for a moment before her resolve hardened.
'I won't know it until I fight him myself.'
Her gaze shifted to the man's back, where a red lion tattoo stretched across his skin. Her heartbeat quickened looking at that majestic sight.
'I'm getting that tattoo… it looks… Fierce.' As if sensing her intent, the man turned slightly.
Their eyes met.
"He is a member of the Black Bulls," Nacht said quietly. "He's performing a taming ritual. If we interfere now, All his efforts will be in vain."
For a brief second, the fire burning within Mereoleona faltered. Compared to what she felt from him, her own flames seemed like a small ember before an actual sun.
That single moment of distraction was enough. The white demon struck his sword across the wide chest of the man, but the man didn't even flinch.
Mereoleona's lips slowly curled into a savage smile.
'I finally found you.'
She didn't break eye contact. Instead, a dangerous, almost gleeful smile spread across her face like a predator who had just discovered prey who could keep her entertained for the rest of her life.
***
'What am I doing…? This isn't my style of fighting.'
Since the battle had began, El had been holding back, raising the intensity of battle bit by bit instead of ending it outright. It went against his style. His usual approach was simple: stay cautious, find the opening, and finish it fast.
This… wasn't him.
Using the S-rank card had proven far more dangerous than he expected. With A-rank cards, he could still resist the will of their original owner, keep his thoughts his own. But now… he hadn't even noticed when his mindset had shifted. Even as he realized it, the idea of using a cheap trick or ending the fight quickly felt unnatural.
El raised his palm flatly.
Once again, a miniature sun formed above it, three feet in diameter, burning even fiercer than before, its heat warping the air around him.
By now, Mahoraga had fully regenerated. Its massive frame stood tall once again. The sword in its hand glowed brightly in the dark, as if it had awakened from its slumber.
El vanished.
In the next instant, he appeared above Mahoraga, already driving the blazing sun downward toward the rotating wheel and his head.
Mahoraga reacted instantly.
Its sword rose to meet the attack, piercing straight into the miniature sun.
For a split second, El's control slipped.
He teleported away. Pulling back and clenched his fist, his gaze locking onto the unstable sun
'That blade isn't ordinary'.
"Pride Flare."
The unstable sun stabilized for a second, then surged forward, chasing the retreating Mahoraga before exploding in a blinding burst of heat.
The impact was once again catastrophic.
The ground trembled violently as a shockwave tore through the volcanic region. Within a three-kilometer radius, dormant volcanoes erupted in response, spewing ash, fire, and molten rock into the sky. The temperature spiked to unbearable levels.
Chunks of burning stone crashed toward El, but he didn't move to dodge. With casual swipes of his arm, he knocked them aside, as if brushing away insects.
Then he charged straight into the fading explosion.