The man did not answer immediately.
His eyes remained fixed on the Hell Bear before him.
His sword was still raised.
Black blood dripped from the tip of its blade onto the ash-covered ground.
Several meters ahead of them, the Hell Bear staggered.
One of its claws had been severed.
The severed limb fell to the ground with a heavy thud.
But—
not even three seconds later—
something moved.
The black flesh around the wound began to writhe.
Dark fibers extended from the base of the arm like roots growing too quickly. They wove together, forming muscle, bone, then black skin that once again covered the entire severed area.
KRAK...
KRAK...
New bones formed.
Claw fingers appeared one by one.
Within moments—
the claw was whole again.
The Hell Bear raised its arm.
Moved it several times.
As if confirming that its body was functioning again.
Darian narrowed his eyes.
"...just like the others."
He gripped his sword tighter.
"Its regeneration is insane."
Rasa drew a long breath.
Her body still felt weak. The side of her stomach still stung from the Goblin Rider's spear graze earlier. But seeing the figure standing before her made some of the tension inside her ease.
Not because she felt safe.
But because at the very least—
she was no longer alone.
"Darian?"
This time her voice was a little clearer.
"If you're here..."
She turned her head to look behind Darian.
"...does that mean the others?"
Darian finally turned.
His gaze met Rasa's eyes.
For a moment, he said nothing.
As if confirming that the woman before him was truly someone he knew.
Not a shadow.
Not a memory.
Not someone who existed only in his mind.
"Rhett, Bram, Kael, and Harlan are in this village."
Darian's voice sounded calm despite his still-heavy breathing.
"They're searching for villagers who can still be saved."
He glanced briefly at the large earthen wall behind Rasa.
"We split up."
Then his eyes returned to Rasa.
"And I sensed this mana."
Rasa fell silent.
Then—
the corner of her lips slowly lifted.
A small smile.
A tired smile, but sincere.
"You can still sense mana like before."
Rasa let out a breath.
"Former knights really can't be underestimated, huh..."
Darian was silent for a moment.
Then—
he smiled faintly.
"If you can still joke in a situation like this, then you haven't changed."
Rasa laughed softly.
"Unfortunately, my body has changed."
She raised her staff slightly.
"My mana isn't what it used to be."
Darian glanced at the staff.
The staff with the dark brown crystal still pulsing faintly.
"So you really are using it again."
Rasa stared at the staff in her hand.
For a moment, her expression changed.
Softer.
Farther away.
As if she were looking at someone who was no longer here.
"...it's been so long."
Darian nodded.
"I remember."
Rasa turned her head.
"Hm?"
"You once told me that earth magic isn't about destroying."
Darian looked at the ground beneath his feet.
"It's about controlling the battlefield."
Rasa smiled.
"Yes."
"You also said..."
Darian drew a breath.
"...a mage doesn't have to be the strongest person on the battlefield."
"As long as they know how to make the enemy fight in the wrong place."
Rasa laughed softly.
"Goodness."
She shook her head.
"You still remember that?"
"How could I forget?"
Darian looked at her.
"The person who taught me that was a member of the Raven party."
Rasa fell silent.
That name.
Raven.
A name she had not heard from anyone else's lips in a long time.
A name buried along with her youth.
A name that carried too many memories.
And without realizing it—
Rasa smiled.
"So you still remember that time."
"Of course."
Darian let out a breath.
"I still remember the first time I met you."
Rasa tilted her head.
"Really?"
Darian nodded.
"I was still seventeen then."
Rasa laughed softly.
"Ah..."
"A rookie knight."
"Correct."
Darian smiled faintly.
"And you were twenty-two."
Rasa raised an eyebrow.
"Why does my age have to be mentioned?"
"Because back then you looked far more mature than me."
"Hey."
Rasa pursed her lips.
"I am older than you."
"I know."
"So don't say it as if I'm old."
"I didn't say you were old."
Darian held back a smile.
"You said it yourself."
Rasa fell silent.
"..."
Then she snorted softly.
"You've apparently been good at talking back since long ago."
Darian laughed quietly.
But that laughter lasted only a moment.
Because the roar of the Hell Bear once again shook the air.
Both of them immediately turned serious again.
The massive monster lowered its body.
Black aura flowed around its body like smoke.
The Hell Wolf on the left began to move.
The Goblin Rider also raised its spear.
Darian spun his sword.
"Looks like our nostalgia has to be postponed."
Rasa nodded.
"What a shame."
Meanwhile—
far from the village of Eldwyn.
Far from the sounds of battle.
Far from the blazing flames and the screams of monsters.
Lilya opened her eyes.
"..."
No sound.
No wind.
No scent of wet earth.
No smell of smoke.
Nothing at all.
Only—
white.
White filling her entire vision.
Lilya blinked several times.
Her eyes slowly adjusted to the light filling the room.
"...where...?"
Her voice sounded small.
She looked down.
Both her feet were still planted perfectly on a hard surface that felt cold through the soles of her shoes.
She moved her fingers.
Her hands were still there.
Her body was still there.
Her sword was still hanging at her waist.
No wounds.
No blood.
No sign that she had just been transported by light from the sky.
Lilya drew a slow breath.
Then—
she raised her head.
Only then did she realize how vast this place was.
A white room stretched out before her.
Immensely vast.
Far larger than what had been visible from Claudia's monument.
Its floor was composed of white stone tiles so clean they reflected the soft light from all around. Giant pillars towered high on both sides of the room, supporting a dome that was almost invisible because of how high it was.
No windows.
No visible doors.
Yet the entire room was illuminated by a soft white-golden light.
Lilya slowly turned.
Her gaze swept across the entire room.
And then—
she saw it.
Before her.
A giant carving filled the white wall.
A woman stood with dignity.
Her long hair billowed as if struck by an invisible wind.
One hand gripped a sword.
Its blade was drawn and pointed upward, as if challenging the heavens themselves.
Her expression was resolute.
Her gaze full of courage.
Behind the woman—
six figures stood.
Each had a different form, weapon, and posture.
They stood like six pillars supporting a single legend.
Lilya fell silent.
Her eyes slowly widened.
"..."
She recognized that image.
She recognized it all too well.
Those seven statues were part of this world's legend.
Claudia Silverstone and her 6 followers.
Cecilia used to tell Lilya about them as bedtime stories.
"I'm already in the Sword Saint Sanctuary?"
Everything she saw matched exactly what was in her memories—and in Hikaru's as well.
But there was something different.
And that difference was starkly visible within this sacred room.
A massive pitch-black crystal in the center of the room emanated a revolting aura.
A small robed figure with pale purple skin stood watching her, its aura of killing intent unmistakable.
Then Lilya's heart suddenly stopped—she saw a figure who should not have been in a place like this. The person she cherished more than anything else now appeared floating in the air beside the pitch-black crystal.
"Cecilia?!!" Lilya screamed.
Her position was still quite far from Cecilia.
Without delay, Lilya moved.
[Quick Step]
Her steps were light, fast, nearly soundless. The white floor beneath her feet reflected the golden light, revealing her slender shadow moving like an arrow loosed from a bow. Her blue-golden mantle billowed behind her, its edges sweeping the air like invisible wings.
Cecilia—only a few dozen meters away—
But only three steps in—
something struck the air.
Not a sound.
Not a scream.
But pressure.
Like a mountain falling from the sky. An invisible mass—yet real enough to make the air around it tremble—slid straight toward the nape of Lilya's neck.
[Battle Instinct]
The world narrowed in a fraction of a second.
Attack path. Angle. Momentum.
Lilya spun half her body around.
[Parry Counter]
CLAAANG—!!!
Her sword rose just in time.
But—
that collision was no ordinary collision.
Her body was pushed back a full three steps, her armored shoes scraping the white floor, leaving faint marks on a surface that should not have been scratchable.
Her hands trembled.
Her wrist felt as if it had just been struck by a sledgehammer.
"..."
Lilya clicked her tongue in annoyance. Not because of the attack—not because of the pain. But because of what had just attacked her.
The white dust swirling in the air slowly thinned.
And before her—
a gigantic figure landed with a heavy sound that shook the marble floor.
Hell Kong.
Its black body towered like a living tower. Muscles bulged along its arms, the same dark aura—the one that could not die—pulsing wildly across its entire body. Its eyes blazed red. But this time, it was not alone.
From the left—
two small shadows darted in.
Hobgoblins.
But—
not the hobgoblins she had fought before.
Their bodies were larger. Denser. Their black skin gleamed like wet obsidian stone. One of them gripped a large double-edged sword—its blade coated in a purple aura that dripped like living poison. The other held a spiked chain—each link bearing a small hook that rotated slowly, as if searching for flesh to tear.
Lilya stepped back once more, maintaining distance.
Her sword still pulsed with the remnants of the [Parry Counter] she had just used.
Her eyes swept quickly—Hell Kong in front. Two Hobgoblins on the left. And behind them—
That small figure in the worn robe still stood beside the black crystal.
Unmoving.
Only watching.
With a thin smile she could not read.
Lilya gritted her teeth.
"So you won't let me get close, huh..."
She raised her sword slightly.
Golden aura began flowing along its blade, pulsing softly like a second breath.
And within her chest—
that resolve hardened once more.
Cecilia was still waiting.
Lilya pressed her foot against the floor.
Her gaze locked onto the three opponents before her.
And onto one figure far beyond them—
whom she had not yet reached.