The clash shook the sky.
The air split apart, the ground cracked deeper, and shockwaves swept across the battlefield without mercy. Leo and the Grand Executor locked against each other, their powers colliding like two worlds refusing to yield.
But on the other side of the battlefield—
Death moved.
Silent.
Unseen.
And unavoidable.
Slash.
A soldier of the Noble Council froze in place. His eyes widened, his body remained standing for a moment… before his head slowly separated from his shoulders.
No one saw the one responsible.
Slash.
Two more fell.
Without sound. Without warning. Only a faint trail of blood in the air bore witness that something had passed through.
Veil Basten had arrived.
He did not run. He did not charge. He simply moved—lightly, barely touching the ground. His body merged with the shadows, disappearing and reappearing through the cracks of chaos.
His blade did not shine. It emitted no aura.
Yet every swing—
Was fatal.
A soldier tried to shout a warning.
Too late.
Veil's blade had already pierced his throat. Blood burst out, his body collapsed—and Veil was already gone.
His eyes were cold. Without emotion. Without hesitation.
On the battlefield, mercy is weakness.
And Veil had long since discarded that weakness.
But deep within him—
There was a reason.
He did not fight for honor.
Not for victory.
But for one simple thing—
The Rodieck family.
The only place that accepted him without condition. Without judging his past. Without demanding anything in return.
And for that—
He would slaughter anyone who threatened it.
Slash.
Five soldiers fell almost at once.
His movements grew faster. More efficient. The ground around him became a silent zone of death.
Above the battlefield, the sky trembled.
Anna stood there.
The wind spiraled wildly around her, carrying dust and remnants of unstable magical energy. Her hair lifted in the growing storm of mana.
Magic circles appeared.
One.
Two.
Ten.
A hundred.
And still increasing.
Each circle larger than the last. More complex. Denser—filled with energy no ordinary human body could ever withstand.
Anna's body trembled.
Blood slowly trickled from the corner of her lips.
But her eyes remained focused. Unshaken.
"I… won't let them die…"
Her voice was soft, nearly swallowed by the roar of war.
But her resolve—
Shook the air itself.
Below her, the Rodieck forces were being pushed back. Their defensive line was on the verge of collapse. Relentless attacks forced them to retreat step by step.
But—
Anna raised her hand.
And the world answered.
Thousands of spears of light formed in the sky—dense, blinding, and filled with lethal energy.
For a moment, the battlefield fell silent.
Even the Grand Executor turned his head slightly, eyes narrowing.
"Interesting…"
Anna lowered her hand.
And the apocalypse descended.
BOOOOM!!
Thousands of spears of light shot down like a meteor storm of destruction. Each impact triggered massive explosions, tearing through the Noble Council's ranks.
Screams echoed. Bodies were thrown. The earth split apart.
Explosion after explosion shook the world without pause.
Veil paused for a brief moment, glancing at the sky—then moved again, taking advantage of the chaos to slaughter even more.
At the center of the destruction—
The Grand Executor was struck directly.
The explosion swallowed him whole, burning everything in blinding light.
BOOOOM!!
His body was hurled away, crashing into the ground and creating a massive crater.
Dust and debris rose high into the air.
For a moment—
Silence.
Then faint cheers rose from the Rodieck forces.
Hope.
But that hope was fragile.
Leo moved.
The moment Anna released her attack, he dashed toward her without hesitation.
He arrived just as her body began to falter.
Before she could fall—
Leo caught her.
Holding her tightly.
Anna's body felt light.
Too light.
And cold.
"Anna…"
Leo's voice was low, but a subtle tremor ran through it—something rarely seen in the midst of battle.
Concern.
Anna smiled weakly.
"It's okay…"
Her breathing was heavy, uneven.
"As long as… they're safe…"
Leo's grip tightened unconsciously.
For a moment, the sounds of war faded. Explosions, screams, and clashes seemed to drown in an unnatural silence.
What remained was only—
The woman in his arms.
And the creeping fear of losing her.
But the world gave no time.
In the distance—
Something rose.
From the crater where the Grand Executor had fallen, dark mana began to seep out. Like fog… but heavier, denser, filled with pure rage.
The ground cracked deeper.
The air turned cold. Suffocating.
Then the figure stood.
The Grand Executor.
His body was wounded. His robe torn. Blood flowed from various parts of him.
But his aura—
Was far more terrifying than before.
His eyes glowed with darkness.
He looked around—at his troops, the destruction, and the looming defeat.
And something inside him—
Snapped.
"Enough…"
His voice was low, yet it echoed across the battlefield.
Dark mana exploded from his body, spreading like a storm devouring everything.
Soldiers too close trembled. Some fell to their knees, unable to withstand the crushing pressure.
Veil stopped.
For the first time—
He felt a real threat.
In the sky, Anna's magic circles began to fade.
Her body weakened further.
But Leo had already turned.
His gaze met that figure.
And he knew—
This was not over.
The Grand Executor stepped out of the crater.
One step—the ground collapsed.
Second step—the air trembled.
Each step carried greater pressure, as if the world itself was being forced to kneel.
Then—
Without warning—
He vanished.
BOOM!!
The ground where he stood shattered.
And in an instant—
He was already in front of Leo.
The attack came without sign. Without pause. Pure destruction.
Leo reacted on instinct.
He twisted his body, shielding Anna completely, and raised his sword—
BOOOOM!!!
The collision erupted.
Shockwaves tore outward, ripping the earth into long cracks like wounds across the world.
Leo's body was pushed back, his feet dragging against the ground.
But he did not fall.
Did not waver.
His eyes ignited.
His sword trembled.
And his aura—
Exploded.
The Grand Executor stared at him more intently than ever before.
"I will end this."
His voice was cold. Emotionless. Yet filled with absolute killing intent.
Leo did not respond.
He only lowered Anna gently onto the ground, as if the slightest mistake might break her.
"Rest…"
He whispered softly.
Then he stood.
Facing his enemy.
The aura around him changed—darker, wilder, more dangerous.
The blood flowing from his body trembled.
As if alive.
As if answering his call.
In the distance, Veil appeared once more. His sharp gaze shifted from Leo to the Grand Executor.
Without a word—
He moved.
Not retreating.
But advancing.
This war was not over.
And in a world torn apart—
Blood and fate collided once more.
Harder.
Crueler.
More decisive.