"Elira, that puppet's all yours next," Ethan said, his voice sharp and focused. "Everyone else, stick with me. No solo fights—stay in formation and push together!"

He'd already mapped out the battle plan in his head, wasting no time.

But even as he spoke, the Overlord from the Dungeon—Mordrakar—was already closing in, a cruel smirk twisting across his face. His arrogance practically oozed from every step he took toward them.

"So, you're the so-called Lord of Emerald Castle?" Mordrakar sneered, his voice low and mocking. "First time we've met, sure, but I've heard your name tossed around for a while now. Doesn't matter though—this is where it ends. You made it this far, now leave your life behind."

Without another word, he lunged straight at Ethan.

"RAAAHHH!"

With a thunderous roar, Mordrakar unleashed his power. It exploded from him like a shockwave, flooding the battlefield with a suffocating, oppressive aura—all of it aimed directly at Ethan.

"Master, let me handle this—" Seraphina stepped forward, her voice urgent.

But Ethan raised a hand, stopping her cold.

"No. I've got this."

Power surged through him, his aura flaring to life. In a flash, the Dreadforged Armor materialized around him, its dark plates pulsing with raw energy. His presence spiked, rising fast—so fast it felt like he was on the verge of breaking through to the next tier entirely.

"Tier 15? No… just a power boost?" Mordrakar narrowed his eyes, his voice dripping with disdain. "Tch. Pointless resistance."

He raised a clawed hand and slashed down with terrifying force, aiming to tear Ethan apart in one brutal strike.

Now, in theory, a Lord like Ethan should be stronger than the average Hero Unit of the same tier. That's the advantage of being a Lord—you get a power boost from your bonded Hero Units.

And Ethan was no exception.

Sure, he didn't usually fight on the front lines, but that didn't mean he was weak.

Far from it.

In fact, aside from Elira, Ethan was probably the second-strongest fighter in all of Emerald Castle.

But the truth was, he still hadn't reached Tier 15.

So—

Boom!

Ethan took a deep breath and charged straight into Mordrakar's attack, throwing a punch with everything he had.

The impact was brutal.

In the next instant, he was sent flying backward like a ragdoll, crashing into the ground with a thunderous quake that shook the battlefield.

"Master!"

Seraphina's face went pale, her eyes wide with panic. Fury surged through her.

But before she could act, Ataneya's voice rang out like a whipcrack.

"Seraphina, don't lose your head!"

And with that, Ataneya launched herself into the fray, charging straight at the enemy lines. Her eyes gleamed with a wild, almost feral light.

She wasn't just any fighter—she was a peak Tier 14 SSS-rank Crimson Ultimate Hero. And more than that, she'd awakened the devouring bloodline of her Shadow Fox clan.

This was her moment.

If she could absorb enough of the enemy's Primordial Force, she might just force her way into Tier 15.

And if that happened?

Then they'd finally have a real shot at winning this.

With that thought burning in her mind, she didn't hesitate. She dove into the enemy ranks, targeting the strongest among them—SS and even SSS-rank Crimson Ultimate Heroes—hunting them down like prey.

The battlefield erupted into chaos.

The war had officially begun.

Seraphina clenched her fists, her heart still burning with rage and humiliation. But seeing Ataneya charge in, she forced herself to hold back. She couldn't afford to lose control now.

Instead, she regrouped with the others and launched a coordinated assault on the enemy.

This wasn't just a battle—it was a meat grinder.

And once it started, there was no stopping it.

In no time, the fighting reached a fever pitch. The clash of steel, the roar of spells, the screams—it all blended into a single, deafening storm.

The death toll on both sides climbed fast—too fast to count.

Corpses floated in the air, suspended in the chaotic energy that filled the space.

And at the center of it all, the most savage of them was Ataneya.

She tore through the enemy ranks like a demon unleashed, targeting the strongest foes she could find. Every kill fed her, every victory brought her closer to that elusive Tier 15.

She was relentless.

And with each strike, each devoured spark of power, she grew stronger.

Seeing what was happening on the battlefield, a flicker of hope finally sparked in Ethan's eyes—and in everyone else's too.

"Everyone, support Ataneya! Help her take them down—now!" Ethan shouted, his voice strained but commanding.

Even though he was locked in a brutal clash with Mordrakar, the Tier 15 Crimson Ultimate Hero who was absolutely wrecking him, Ethan still held his ground, refusing to back down. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, but his eyes burned with determination.

He wasn't giving up. Not now.

And neither was anyone else.

As the battle raged on, Ataneya's devouring ability kicked into overdrive. She started with Tier 14 SS-rank Crimson Ultimate enemies, tearing through them like paper. Then she moved on to the SSS-rank ones—still Tier 14, but far more dangerous.

Didn't matter.

She was faster. Deadlier. More ruthless.

With every kill, her power surged. Her aura grew heavier, darker, more intense—until it felt like the very air around her was warping.

And then—

No one knew how much time had passed.

But suddenly—

BOOM!

A violent shockwave ripped through the battlefield. A beam of light shot down from the sky, slamming into the ground not far from where Ataneya stood. Her entire body lit up with a blinding glow, and behind her, six massive tails unfurled into the air.

Each tail shimmered with golden runes, floating and spinning in intricate patterns. The energy they gave off was overwhelming—raw, primal, and apocalyptic.

"Did she… did she do it?" Ethan gasped, eyes wide with disbelief and awe.

At that moment, he could feel it—Ataneya's power was skyrocketing, climbing higher and higher, until it exploded past the threshold.

And then, in his ear, the long-silent system voice finally returned.

Ding!

"Player Valkarion, please note: Congratulations. Your Hero Unit, Shadow Fox Ataneya, has evolved to Tier 15. Her racial status is undergoing transformation…"

"Yes!" Ethan shouted, his face lighting up with pure joy. "She did it! She actually did it!"

And right then—

Ataneya moved.

Whoosh!

"Shadowflame!"

In a flash, all six of her tails ignited with roaring black fire, and she unleashed them in a devastating wave toward a nearby Tier 14 SSS-rank Crimson Ultimate enemy.

The flames hit before the enemy could even react.

And just like that—he was gone.

Reduced to ash.

A corpse before he even hit the ground.

The battlefield froze.

Everyone—friend and foe alike—stared in stunned silence, eyes wide, jaws slack.

"What the hell?!"

"No way—she evolved?!"

Mordrakar's face twisted in shock and fury. His smug arrogance shattered in an instant, replaced by something he hadn't felt in a long time—fear.

"Damn it… this can't be happening!" he growled, his voice low and venomous.

...