A sizzling sound echoed as the blades streaked through the air, their forms buzzing with unrestrained energy before the black blade pierced into the charging warrior. His face scrunched up in pain, but before he could even utter a whisper, his body shriveled up—his vitality and soul immediately devoured.

Before he fell to the ground as a husk, the sword slipped out of his grasp.

The white blade did the same, piercing into the two mages beside Eira. It burned them with a purging light, reducing their bodies to wisps of energy that were absorbed into the blade before it greedily stormed off once more, seeking another target.

A sonic boom rippled as the ground beneath Aurelian's feet shattered. His form sprang forward, appearing in front of Auron—the healer of the group—who had already turned tail, his form flickering in the distance.

The gap was closed in seconds. He appeared before him, startling the man as he froze in fear.

Before Auron could react, Aurelian reached out, grabbing him by the neck.

"Spare... me," the healer growled, struggling to speak as Aurelian's fingers clenched tighter around his throat.

The thought of imminent death made him tremble.

"Too late for mercy," Aurelian breathed. The moment they had decided to threaten him was the moment they sealed their fates.

As the thought crossed his mind, he applied more pressure to his palms, crack* breaking the man's neck and dropping him to the ground, lifeless.

Then, a shriek in the distance pulled his focus.

"Aurelian! You'll pay for this!" Eira yelled, watching the carnage unfold around her—her teammates reduced one by one before her eyes.

Her lips twitched, mouth frothing with rage.

"Even with all your power," she growled, "the one we serve is far beyond you. His power and potential are limitless. You don't know who you're messing with!"

Her hysterical breakdown was cut short as Aurelian blinked in front of her, his obsidian eyes locking with hers before a smile cracked across his lips.

"Is that so?" he groaned, taking a step forward.

Amused, he watched as she stumbled back, conjuring spells and launching them at him, all of which shattered uselessly against the shimmering defense of the SS-rank Aegis of Illusion that protected him.

"You're almost making me curious about this mysterious figure," Aurelian said, his smile widening as he stretched out his arm.

The abominable dark blade that had been about to pierce through the archer stopped mid-motion, then abruptly changed direction, shooting toward him and landing firmly in his grasp.

"But I'll tell you this," he continued, raising the large black sword into the air as Eira collapsed to the ground.

The murderous energy the blade had accumulated pressed down on her, giving her a taste of true power.

"How about you go and warm up hell for him?" he groaned, swinging the blade before she could even react.

The sword sliced cleanly through her neck, sending her head flying. Blood spattered everywhere as her body fell limp, life draining away. The blade jumped from his hand and drove itself into her corpse, sucking her lifeforce and soul together.

His words trailed after her husk.

"Because I'll be sending him down with you soon."

Just as he was about to get smug and relish the moment, a series of groans in the distance pulled his attention. The sight that met him made his lips twitch repeatedly.

Amber was crouched atop the collapsed archer, the only surviving member of the group, her fists raining down on his face as her flustered voice echoed.

"Tell me," she groaned, "…who sent you?" she whispered menacingly, unable to keep her curiosity in check any longer.

"That girl," Aurelian breathed. "Looks like I'll have to punish her a little bit later," he mused, then paused, a bit astounded as he looked deeper.

On the surface, it looked as if she was merely pummeling him. But through the Aegis of Illusion, he could see far beyond that. She was weaving illusions simultaneously with each strike, and the soulless grimace twisting the archer's face told him it was not something pleasant.

"Impeccable," Aurelian whispered in genuine admiration. It seemed as if her talent had fully sublimated with her being, or perhaps she simply had an insane affinity with illusions.

Whatever it was, it worked. Arthur groaned, spitting out blood and teeth, his eyes locking with the sparkling violet ones above him. True terror burned within.

He didn't care what anyone said, but now, in retrospect, this girl was far from sweet as he'd once thought. She was a monster incarnate—and possibly even more terrifying than Aurelian himself.

The pain, he could take that. But reliving his worst nightmares, over and over again, was something else entirely. He just wanted it to end. To make it stop. Even death's embrace seemed far more merciful than enduring another second with her.

"O-okay… f-fine…" he stammered, trembling. "I'll tell you… just promise to kill me quick."

Pausing at his words, Amber blinked, a sweet smile coloring her face before whispering softly, "I promise."

Lunatic. A true lunatic! Arthur screamed internally, watching the quick switch as that sweet smile spread across her face.

He inhaled sharply, wincing as pain surged through his body, before his lips parted in a final whisper. "H-his… his name is… Azrael Chaos."

As soon as the words left his mouth, Amber didn't have to do anything, his body simply went limp.

The injuries were far too grave for him to endure. But she paid him no mind, turning to Aurelian excitedly, about to speak before pausing.

His face had darkened visibly.

Did the name mean something to him?

Off to the side, Aurelian breathed deeply, the smile fading from his face as the dying archer's final words echoed in his ears.

"This…" he groaned, a familiar figure once more coming to mind. His power wasn't the concern, at least, he thought it wasn't, but the plan. It would take a terrifying turn if he was involved.

If he truly was the mastermind behind it all, then he must have orchestrated everything long before they ever met. Had he predicted his potential even before their fight? He didn't know what promises had been made to the others, but they must have been lucrative, given the lengths they'd gone for him. What Aurelian couldn't understand was why he'd go through all that trouble just to get to him.

They could have settled everything back in the Raging Boar Dungeon. He'd already defeated him once...so what was different this time? he mused, his brows furrowing in question.

His answer came almost instantly. The golden screen high above shone with blinding brilliance, the top figure's points skyrocketing by ten thousand in an instant.

Tilting his head up to scan the change, Aurelian's frown deepened. That could only mean the figure had slain a D-rank monster. The power of a D rank being?

"So that's why," he whispered, a knowing light flashing in his eyes.

"It seems I underestimated you… sorely," he growled, eyeing the trembling ground below, heralding the charge of the incoming horde.

"Time to change that," Aurelian muttered, tightening his grip on his blades as he surged forward.

Casting his appraisal over the beasts, a faint smile tugged at his lips as he read their names. Ironblood Wolves?

It was time to even the field, before delving deeper for answers.

This Azrael… he was getting more interesting by the second.

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