The demon soldiers roared as demonic mana surged through their bodies.

One demon slammed his weapon into the street.

"Activate [Blood-Forged Battle Art]!"

Red light flared across their armor.

Their muscles swelled, veins standing out sharply as their breathing grew rough and loud.

Another demon raised both hands. "[Demonic Suppression Field]!"

The air twisted.

Arden stiffened. "The mana just got heavier."

Dion frowned and took another drink, his eyes narrowing. "Yeah. They're serious now."

Dahlia grinned at first and charged again, wings snapping open as she pushed forward.

She smashed into the front line, claws tearing into armor.

One demon was sent flying, crashing into a wall hard enough to crack it.

But this time, she didn't break through.

A shield slammed into her side.

Dahlia clicked her tongue and slid back several steps, boots scraping against the stone.

"Oh? That actually hit."

A demon stepped forward, blade glowing black. "[Demon Cleaving Slash]!"

The attack tore through the air.

Dahlia crossed her arms and blocked, but the force still pushed her back.

Her heels dug into the ground as she stopped herself.

Dion whistled. "Looks like you're getting pushed back."

Dahlia laughed, shaking her arms. "Don't get excited. I just wasn't expecting teamwork."

Three demons rushed her at once.

"[Chain Hunt Formation]!"

Their movements synced.

One attacked high, one low, and one straight in.

Dahlia twisted aside, but the low strike clipped her leg.

She stumbled half a step.

Her grin sharpened. "Okay. That's better."

Eliza appeared behind one of the demons. Her hand struck cleanly.

The demon's body stiffened. "[Demonic Reflex Guard]!"

A dark barrier snapped into place just in time.

Eliza's attack slid off, and she immediately retreated, vanishing again.

Dion cursed under his breath. "They're adapting fast."

A demon turned toward him. "Support unit spotted!"

"[Mana Severing Thrust]!"

Dion stepped aside and blocked with his forearm.

The impact still rattled him, pushing him back a step.

He exhaled slowly. "Alright. Guess I'm not just drinking today."

He moved in, striking fast and clean.

His punch slammed into a demon's ribs, followed by a knee to the stomach.

The demon flew back, coughing.

Another demon roared and rushed forward.

"[Demon Core Overdrive]!"

The aura around him exploded outward.

He charged straight at Dahlia, ignoring injuries.

His punch landed squarely against her guard, forcing her back again.

This time, she slid several meters.

The street went quiet for half a second.

Dahlia rolled her shoulders and straightened up. "…Okay. Now I'm warmed up."

Dahlia planted her feet firmly on the cracked street.

Her smile faded, replaced by focus.

Mana poured out of her body, no longer leaking in sparks but flowing in a steady, heavy surge.

The air around her trembled.

She clenched her fists.

"Let me test something," Dahlia said calmly. "I want to know just how strong I really am."

The pressure spiked.

Wind stirred at her feet.

Loose dust and broken stone began to slide across the ground, circling her boots.

Her hair lifted slowly, strands rising as if pulled by unseen hands.

One demon stepped back. "What is she doing?"

Another tightened his grip on his weapon. "She's gathering power. Stop her."

"Attack!" the leader shouted.

Several demons rushed forward at once.

Too late.

The wind around Dahlia spun faster.

It wrapped around her legs, then her waist, then climbed higher.

Her wings spread wide, steady against the growing force.

The swirling air thickened into a roaring spiral.

A tornado began to form.

Dion stared, eyes wide. "She's serious."

Arden swallowed hard. "That's… that's going to hit everything."

Eliza had already moved.

She retreated further back, her eyes fixed on Dahlia, alert and ready.

The demons charged into the wind.

Big mistake.

The moment they crossed the edge of the spinning air, their footing broke.

One demon was lifted off the ground, arms flailing as he was slammed into another.

Shields were ripped from hands. Weapons were torn away and hurled down the street.

Dahlia lifted one hand.

"[Sky Pressure Lock]."

The wind compressed inward.

The tornado tightened, shrinking but growing denser.

The demons caught inside screamed as the pressure crushed them toward the center.

Dahlia stepped forward, walking calmly into the storm she created.

Her voice carried clearly through the roar. "Stand firm. I want to see how long you last."

A demon roared in desperation. "Activate [Demon Core Overdrive]!"

Dark energy exploded from his body.

He forced himself forward, muscles tearing as he pushed through the pressure.

Step by step, he charged toward Dahlia, teeth clenched.

He raised his blade. "Die!"

Dahlia smiled.

She disappeared.

The next moment, she was above him.

Her heel came down hard.

The impact shattered the ground.

A shockwave blasted outward, tearing apart the tornado from the inside.

The demon was smashed into the street, buried in broken stone, unmoving.

The remaining demons were thrown outward like debris. Bodies hit walls.

Some slid across the ground, coughing blood. Others did not move at all.

The wind slowly faded.

Dust settled.

Dahlia landed lightly, brushing debris from her shoulder. "Huh. That felt good."

Dion let out a low whistle. "You always go that far?"

She glanced back at him. "Only when I get pushed."

Arden stared at the ruined street. "I don't think they're getting back up."

Eliza stepped forward, eyes scanning the fallen demons. She nodded once. Clear.

Garion walked past his disciples, hands still behind his back.

He stopped beside Dahlia and looked at the destruction.

Garion nodded once.

"Really good, Dahlia. I didn't expect you to control it like that. You're getting better."

Dahlia smirked and rested her hands on her hips.

"Of course, Master. I didn't train for nothing."

Garion's gaze stayed on the destruction, but his thoughts were already moving.

So far, his strength had always been direct.

Close combat. Pressure. Crushing force. It was efficient. Reliable.

But watching Dahlia reshape the battlefield made something clear.

Relying only on close combat was limiting.

'I trained the body,' Garion thought calmly. 'But combat doesn't have to stay close-range.'

Power like this could control space. Control crowds.

End fights before they even reach him.

'I should create something similar,' he continued.

'Not a spell that relies on mana tricks. A technique that comes from the body itself.'

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