And that wasn't even the worst of it.

Behind the Puppet Sovereign Kane, several more figures stepped out of the shadows—each one radiating terrifying power. Among them were multiple Tier 14 SS-rank Crimson Ultimate Heroes… and even a Tier 14 SSS-rank.

But the one that made everyone's blood run cold?

Mordrakar.

The name alone was enough to send a chill down the spine. This wasn't just some high-tier lackey—this was the Overlord-class powerhouse who had appeared earlier in the Dungeon's throne hall. A monster who had already reached Tier 15.

"Tier 15?" Mordrakar scoffed, his voice low and disdainful. "So what?"

He turned to Kane, completely unfazed by Elira's presence.

"Kane, let's stick to our deal. Double the reward, as we agreed. She's strong, sure—but with the two of us? She's dead meat."

He smirked, then added with a casual arrogance that made everyone's skin crawl, "And if we manage to kill her, I'll even split her Primordial Force with you. Half and half."

He said it like he was talking about dividing up a meal.

Elira's expression darkened instantly.

She didn't say a word.

She didn't need to.

In the next heartbeat, she launched herself forward like a bolt of black lightning, heading straight for Mordrakar.

"Umbral Detonation!"

"Dark Requiem!"

Two of her most devastating innate abilities exploded into action at once, her power surging like a tidal wave of annihilation.

BOOOOOOM!

The sky cracked open.

A storm of pure darkness erupted, swallowing the battlefield in a cataclysmic blast. The shockwave tore through the air, flattening everything in its path. It was like the heavens themselves were being consumed.

But just as the attack was about to hit—

Kane moved.

Faster than Mordrakar.

He stepped forward, a cruel grin on his face, and raised his hand.

"Not bad," he said, voice dripping with mockery. "But let's see if you can handle this."

In a flash, a massive warhammer materialized in his grip—its surface etched with glowing runes, pulsing with raw magical energy.

He swung it down with brutal force.

"Hammerfall!"

KRRAAA-KOOOOM!

The impact was earth-shattering.

A shockwave of unimaginable power exploded outward, colliding head-on with Elira's twin attacks. The resulting clash lit up the sky in a blinding cascade of energy, the two forces grinding against each other, vaporizing everything in their path.

And then—

Silence.

The energy dissipated.

Both attacks had canceled each other out.

The battlefield was left scorched and trembling, but neither side had landed a decisive blow.

"…A draw?" Ataneya muttered, her voice tight with disbelief.

She stared at Kane, her expression grim.

He had just gone toe-to-toe with Elira—Tier 15 Elira—and held his ground.

That confirmed it.

He wasn't bluffing.

He really was Tier 15.

And now, there were two of them.

Meanwhile, the Puppet Sovereign Kane had already pulled back from the immediate clash, stepping just outside the combat zone. He stood tall, hammer slung over his shoulder, staring down at Elira from above with a strange, almost amused glint in his eyes.

"Well, well… didn't expect you to be this strong," he said, voice low and mocking. "Looks like you're not just any ordinary Tier 15."

He grinned, the corners of his mouth twitching with anticipation.

"But that's perfect. Makes things more fun."

SWOOSH!

In the next instant, Kane hefted his massive hammer and pointed it toward Elira, his tone turning cold and sharp. "Shall we continue?"

Elira didn't answer with words—but she didn't need to.

The fire in her eyes, the razor-sharp edge of her killing intent, and the sheer pressure rolling off her body said everything. She was ready to fight. More than ready.

BOOM!

WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!

Suddenly, a barrage of sonic booms echoed from the distance. A wave of figures streaked across the sky, cutting through the air like missiles.

It was Ethan—leading the main force of Emerald Castle's army.

"Lord Ethan!" Elira, Seraphina, and Ataneya called out in unison, relief flashing across their faces.

Ethan landed hard, his cloak whipping behind him as he took in the scene. His eyes locked onto Kane and the other figure—Mordrakar, the Dungeon's Overlord.

His expression darkened.

"…Who the hell are they?" he asked, voice low, eyes narrowing.

Then he felt it.

The pressure. The weight of their presence.

"…Tier 15?" he muttered, disbelief creeping into his voice.

"That's right," Elira confirmed, nodding. Her gaze was sharp, but there was a flicker of concern in her eyes. "My Lord, both of them are Tier 15."

Ethan's jaw tightened.

"Shit… that's bad."

He hadn't expected this. Not two Tier 15 monsters. He knew better than anyone what that meant.

Tier 15 wasn't just a number—it was a whole different league.

The power gap between Tier 14 and Tier 15 wasn't linear. It was exponential. A single Tier 15 Crimson Ultimate Hero could wipe out entire armies of Tier 14s.

And to even try to match one? You'd need at least ten—maybe more—top-tier Tier 14 SSS-rank heroes just to hold your ground.

Did he have that kind of firepower right now?

Hell no.

Aside from Elira, his strongest assets were Ataneya, Namyanna, Andona, Seraphina, and Feylora. That was five. Maybe six if he stretched it.

Still not enough.

And worse—those two weren't alone.

Behind the dragon-headed Mordrakar, more figures were emerging. A whole squad of high-tier elites—SS and even SSS-rank Crimson Ultimate Heroes—stood ready.

The numbers weren't just against them.

They were crushingly outmatched.

"Master," Seraphina asked, her voice steady but tense, "do we fight?"

Ethan exhaled slowly, eyes scanning the battlefield.

"…We don't have a choice," he said, shaking his head. "They're not going to let us walk away from this. So yeah—we fight."

He turned to the army behind him, voice rising.

"Listen up, everyone! Stay sharp! These enemies are not your average opponents. Don't rush in. Watch each other's backs, and don't get reckless!"

Even though they were at a disadvantage, Ethan didn't let despair take root.

Because war wasn't just about raw power.

Sometimes, it came down to timing. To guts. To luck. To the will to survive.

And sometimes, the underdog wins.

...