Thunder struck the sky again—
but the attack never landed.
Archelle moved first.
The lightning bent away from her like the world refused to let it touch her.
A domain reaction.
The rules themselves were obeying her presence.
Then—
the earth collapsed.
A massive earthquake cracked through the city, splitting roads, buildings, and entire districts into floating fragments of rubble.
Everyone lost balance instantly.
Even Mark Angelo and Desiree staggered for a moment.
Just that moment.
Enough.
Jhonathan landed on a broken street pillar, stabilizing himself mid-collapse.
Below him—
Archelle's shadow expanded.
Not growing.
Claiming.
From Jhonathan's side—
spectral aura creatures emerged.
Constructs born from his energy, shaped like knights, beasts, and distorted spirits.
They charged forward as one unified force.
But the moment they entered the domain's radius—
they shattered instantly.
Not destroyed.
Erased.
Like their existence was denied permission.
Cracks formed in reality where they died.
Desiree clicked her tongue.
"This domain is rejecting all outside interference."
Mark Angelo narrowed his eyes.
"It's rewriting survival rules."
Roots burst from the ground violently.
They coiled around Archelle's body, piercing and binding her tightly.
For a brief moment—
it looked like she could be restrained.
Then—
fire erupted.
A massive explosion of dark-red flames detonated from her body outward, engulfing entire blocks of the city.
Civilians screamed.
Buildings melted.
The roots burned away instantly.
Archelle's voice echoed calmly through the inferno.
"I control the very existence of this world."
She stepped forward through the flames unharmed.
"No other skill can damage me…"
"…until the food here is gone."
Silence.
That statement didn't sound like a metaphor.
It sounded like law.
Mark Angelo froze slightly.
"…Food?"
Archelle smiled faintly.
"Everything here feeds me."
"The world itself is my meal."
Then—
Mark Angelo closed his eyes.
And made a decision.
"Telepathy—activated."
A pulse of pride energy spread instantly across the battlefield, linking every surviving ally.
Jhonathan's mind flickered as the message entered.
Clear.
Sharp.
Unavoidable.
DESTROY EVERY FOOD YOU SEE.
For a moment—
no one moved.
Then chaos began.
Civilians panicked as stored food, shops, and supplies were suddenly targeted by awakened fighters trying to disrupt the domain's foundation.
Structures of nourishment collapsed across the city.
Even magical food sources began dissolving under concentrated attacks.
The domain reacted violently—but instability began forming.
Jhonathan looked down at himself briefly.
His body, which had been under constant strain, shifted.
His "flabby" exhausted core hardened—
muscles tightening, structure correcting.
Not cosmetic.
Adaptive.
His body was responding to survival pressure.
Absorbing battle intent.
Archelle frowned slightly for the first time.
"…Interesting."
The shadow silhouette surrounding her began to distort.
Cracks formed in the domain.
Not destruction—
transition.
Mark Angelo exhaled slowly.
"She's destabilizing."
Desiree tightened her stance.
"This is just the beginning."
Above them—
Archelle raised her hand.
The entire battlefield went silent again.
Her eyes locked onto Jhonathan.
And smiled.
"Now…"
"…the true battle begins."