The beautiful wings of a butterfly appeared at Snow's back, and with a single flap, he shot forward, traversing the distance between them in an instant.

His eyes shimmered like green glimmers were trapped within, and in the next moment, Godfrey found himself standing on a cliff. Deep darkness stretched all around him, endless and suffocating, and even one step in any direction would send him spiraling downward into the abyss.

A war exploded between his mind and body. He knew this wasn't real, but his body screamed otherwise, the fear of death, as anyone would face in such a situation, plagued him relentlessly. No matter how much Godfrey tried to deny it, he just couldn't force his feet to take that one deciding step.

"Is he fighting with himself? What's he doing?" Elisabeth frowned as she watched Godfrey glance around, confusion etched on his face.

"He's in an illusion. Snow has grown up perfecting his illusions, and by now he's already a master. It would be difficult for anyone to differentiate his illusions from reality," Seraphina replied, her tone calm yet faintly impressed.

Snow finally grew satisfied watching Godfrey struggle and threw a punch straight at his face.

"Know your place," he muttered, only for his eyes to widen as Godfrey caught his fist mid-air.

Godfrey held Snow's fist firmly and slammed his own into the white-haired boy's abdomen.

Snow flapped his wings in panic, launching himself backward and out of Godfrey's reach, his expression twisting in disbelief.

Godfrey had sensed Snow's incoming blow, and that minor crack in Snow's concentration allowed him to break out of the illusion. As realization struck, Snow's face grew uglier.

Without a word, Godfrey was about to move when he suddenly realized his leg was stuck. Looking down, he saw his feet had turned to stone and the petrification was spreading fast.

'Invisible Glimmer... I was wrong. His advanced skill wasn't an explosive kind,' Godfrey sighed inwardly as the stone crept over his arms, chest, and neck.

"He didn't even last against Snow. It's a pity that Snow's abilities are too versatile," Seraphina said, sighing as Godfrey's body turned completely to stone.

Seeing this, Snow scowled, but unbeknownst to him, a good distance away from the venue, a glowing diagram flared, and Ballista stepped out from its center.

He aimed his giant bow upward and launched an arrow that streaked through the night sky like a golden meteor.

"What's that?!" Gasps rippled through the crowd, making Snow turn sharply. His eyes widened at the golden projectile, it was already upon him. He hastily activated *Aegis Shield*, forming a barrier of glimmer, but the arrow tore straight through it, slamming into his chest with such devastating force that Snow was launched backward and into the pool, a massive arrow protruding from his body!

Blood spread out, staining the sparkling blue pool crimson, and in the same moment, shock and fear painted every face.

Edric couldn't believe his eyes, Lucian's face turned deathly pale, and Rosalind fled into the crowd in terror.

She knew what had happened, it had to be that eyeless, frightening-looking knight with the giant bow.

Even with the tenacity of summoners, seeing Snow floating there, wide-eyed and blood soaking the pool, terrified even the aloof elites in the mansion. Those whose summons could heal rushed to his aid before he bled out completely.

Snow could indeed petrify the body, but the mind remained conscious. It was supposed to be a form of torture, but in Godfrey's case, it had become an advantage.

"I'll kill you!" Edric roared, leaping over the massive pool, his punch set straight for Godfrey's head. But someone caught his blow and even then, the shockwave blew hard against the faces of those behind them.

Edric's eyes locked onto Percival.

"What do you think you're doing?" he hissed.

"Defending someone who isn't in the state to fight back. And haven't you embarrassed yourself enough?" Percival snapped coldly, his tone sharp as ice.

While they faced each other, Elisabeth, Seraphina, and several others noticed the petrification fading. It wasn't supposed to fade unless Snow himself used his glimmer to undo it. However, there was another reason, and Seraphina realized it at once.

"He's a dual summoner. His physique is naturally stronger than Snow's, so the petrification was bound to be temporary. It would've been different if it was done by his summon," she explained quietly to the perplexed Elisabeth.

"This isn't how I planned the party, and I am not happy that such a disturbing individual was brought here."

Alistair, who stood on the rooftop beside Jon and a few others, spoke with controlled anger. His eyes locked on Godfrey, who had fully recovered.

"You will be punished for destroying the mood of this party."

The moment he said that, several broad, muscular men in suits emerged. They were highly trained bodyguards from one of the most prestigious security firms in Manhattan, the Red Wolves, known simply as RW.

Fifteen of them stepped out, huge, broad-shouldered, and stone-faced. Their cold eyes fixed on Godfrey without the slightest recognition that this was just a teenager standing before them.

"To make it fair," Alistair said with a smug grin, "you'll have to defeat all of them without a summon and without any skill."

The statement drew laughter from several corners of the crowd.

"It's impossible!" someone exclaimed.

"Defeat a team from one of Manhattan's top security firms without a summon or skill? I might as well be hanged," another muttered, shivering at Godfrey's fate.

Godfrey frowned deeply.

"This is unfair," Percival said sharply, glaring at Alistair.

But Jon stepped forward.

"Percival, if you don't step away, I and the rest of Nexus will be forced to act." His voice rose as he continued coldly, "He almost killed our newest member right before our eyes. From henceforth, Godfrey, you are banned from becoming a member of the Nexus Club."

Percival's brows furrowed.

Being banned from Nexus meant Godfrey could forget about his dreams of becoming Valedictorian or even reaching the top ten because so many mission points were reserved for club members. Those outside the club could only chase after the scraps that remained.

"He's finished," Elisabeth muttered softly as Godfrey suddenly burst into laughter. His laughter was sharp, unrestrained, yet beneath it, everyone could feel the heat of his anger.

He laughed hard, then scowled, eyes cold.

"I would never want to be found among people like you anyway," he said flatly.

"Just what gives him the mind to laugh?" Nathaniel, who stood behind Alistair, whispered in disbelief, while Percival silently watched Godfrey, his expression unreadable.

'What did I expect from the son of the man who stood alone against one hundred thousand orcs…'

....

A/N: "...."

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