The Demigod's assault on Kartora did not stop.

In fact, the moment Daniel appeared, the attack intensified to its absolute limit.

The Demigod of the Blade Domain swung his long crimson blade with terrifying speed, cleaving through the air and releasing a massive arc of scarlet light that tore toward Kartora like a wave of death.

Kartora had planned to counter by using Time Stasis to halt the attack momentarily, then slip away while the strike was frozen.

However, as expected, her time manipulation was disrupted by Kalbira.

To make matters worse, Daniel's sudden appearance disturbed Kartora's mind power, shaking her mental focus.

Because of that brief lapse—just a fraction of hesitation—her reaction slowed by the tiniest fraction of a second, enough for her to miss her only window to evade.

As the scarlet energy engulfed the skies and came crashing toward her, Kartora did not panic.

Instead, her eyes softened, turning toward Daniel's direction with a gentle gaze.

"Lord Crossbridge…" she whispered.

In the next instant, Daniel's figure flashed into existence before her.

He raised his hand calmly—activating [Shield of Reflection]—and with effortless grace, deflected the Demigod's attack straight back at its origin.

For Daniel, reflecting the strike of a Demigod Rank opponent was trivial.

Long ago, when his strength was far weaker, his [Shield of Reflection] could already rebound the attacks of gods themselves.

Now, having transcended several realms beyond what he once was, the shield's effect had evolved into something vastly superior—divine, even.

To him now, reflecting a Demigod's attack was as easy as breathing.

The crimson arc of energy struck the Shield of Reflection with a resonant clang, then immediately reversed direction—redirected like a serpent back toward its master.

The Demigod never could have imagined that one day, his own killing strike would be turned against him.

Yet, as one worthy of the Demigod title, his instincts were sharp and his reactions swift.

Within a heartbeat, his form began to distort—his entire body shimmering, merging, and transforming into a colossal blood-red blade.

From a distance, one could easily see that the shape of his new form was eerily similar to the very attack he had unleashed moments ago.

Thus, in the next breath, the heavens trembled as the two identical crimson blades collided—one massive, one small—locked in a violent explosion of energy.

Unsurprisingly, the smaller of the two shattered almost instantly, unable to withstand the overwhelming force of the original. The difference in power was immense—on the surface, it seemed as though the reflected attack had accomplished little.

But Daniel's Eye of Insight saw the truth hidden beneath appearances.

The Demigod was wounded.

It was not a mortal injury, but it was of the type that was difficult to heal.

Without Kalbira's intervention—without her performing Time Reversal—the wound would remain, refusing to mend completely for a long while.

As the booming echoes faded, the sky cleared, and the storm of crimson energy gradually dissipated.

The Demigod of the Blade Domain returned to his human shape, though his expression now was dark and twisted with fury.

After all, for anyone—especially one of his rank—being harmed by one's own attack was the ultimate humiliation.

He glared venomously toward Daniel, his entire frame trembling.

Daniel could feel the waves of killing intent rolling off the man, heavy and oppressive like a tidal wave.

Daniel frowned, then shifted his gaze toward the puppet Kartora.

He had already activated Psychic Perception, allowing him to read the truth beneath the surface.

The "puppet" was no longer merely Kartora's vessel—it was Kalbira, a completely separate consciousness, a being of her own.

After a moment of thought, Daniel spoke first.

"Kalbira, I don't think we need to be enemies."

At that, the Demigod—who had been about to attack again—froze in place.

Kalbira raised a single finger and flicked it gently through the air.

Immediately, the Demigod stopped as if struck by an invisible force, his limbs stiffening like a marionette whose strings had been seized by an unseen puppeteer.

"Cease."

Her command was soft, yet absolute.

Though the Demigod's face twisted with reluctance and resentment, he obeyed. His transformation into a weapon dissolved, his aura retracting.

Then, Kalbira turned her gaze toward Daniel, her tone calm but laced with something disturbingly affectionate.

"Lord Crossbridge, I knew you would come."

"You wish for me to release Kartora? That is not impossible. But in return—"

Her lips curved into a faint smile.

"—you must stay here with me. For eternity."

As her words fell, she waved her hand lightly.

A battered metallic construct materialized beside her—an ancient automaton, broken and motionless, its once-brilliant surface dulled and scarred.

"Lord Crossbridge," Kalbira said softly, "the defective creation you once left with me—this one here—was stripped of its operational directives once my strength had grown. I erased every rule it followed."

Her gaze lingered on the broken automaton, her voice almost tender.

"But I did not destroy it. I couldn't bring myself to harm something made by your own hands. Do you know why?"

Her crimson eyes shimmered.

"Because I hate substitutes. Even if it is your clone, even if it looks exactly like you—it is not you. I only want your true self."

Daniel's brow furrowed.

Through Psychic Perception, he could see into her mind—her obsession was not driven by affection or loneliness.

This was a twisted form of vengeance.

Her so-called desire to "keep him forever" was merely a method of punishing Kartora—an elaborate act of retaliation against her creator.

After a few seconds of silent reflection, Daniel looked toward Kartora.

Their gazes met, and in that instant, a bridge of mind power connected them.

Their thoughts intertwined like threads of light.

In that shared mental space, Daniel instantly understood everything—every fragment of memory, every choice, every pain Kartora had endured.

"Lord Crossbridge, please don't agree to her."

Kartora's mental voice trembled slightly, yet carried a firm resolve.

She shook her head in warning, silently urging Daniel to refuse.

But Daniel's expression did not darken.

Instead, a faint, confident smile spread across his lips.

He turned his eyes back to Kalbira, his voice calm but unyielding.

"Kalbira, you're far too confident."

"Do you truly believe you are qualified to negotiate with me?"

As he spoke, Daniel's arm wrapped protectively around Kartora's waist.

His mind power flared—he was ready to activate Flashback, a technique that could instantly transport him out of this realm.

It was not foolproof, of course.

Kalbira possessed authority over time itself, far beyond a simple god-level ability that merely touched upon the temporal domain.

Her mastery came from being born of the same law, wielding it as her native element.

Escaping her grasp would not be easy.

Even so, Daniel's calm never wavered.

He trusted Kartora, and with her assistance, he was certain they could break free.

Across from him, Kalbira's expression also softened into a smile.

Her tone turned almost gentle, yet every word carried venomous intent.

"You're right. I never really planned to bargain."

Her eyes gleamed faintly.

"Since that's the case, you may leave—take her, if you can."

Then she added, her voice low and dangerous:

"But know this— the moment you succeed in escaping, I will ascend. I will transcend into Demigod Rank, and I will hide myself completely within this era, erasing all traces of my existence."

Her gaze shifted toward Kartora, her expression chillingly serene.

"Kartora, you'll have no chance to find me ever again."

A faint, haunting smile curved her lips.

"Everything that's happening right now," she said, "was already within my design."

And as her words faded into the air, the space around them began to distort.

Time itself trembled, as though reality were acknowledging her threat—confirming that Kalbira's plan, whatever it was, had already been set in motion long before Daniel's arrival.

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