Third day of the Eldorin showcase.

Although Amon was incapacitated and Yue had to remain by his side, the showcase went on as planned. The first reason was simple: they could not afford to show weakness before the Demon Cult. Moreover, Amon and Yue's original objective still stood: to bring Eldorin's members into the public eye. If they backed out now, the Demon Cult would know that their tactic worked, and they would openly start their operations.

The second reason was more strategic. They intended to lure out the Demon Cult's hidden supporters—the politicians, the businessmen, and all those influential figures who operated from the shadows. Right now, in the capital, the Demon Cult held the advantage.

The only thing they knew about them was that they had the Church of Utopia under their grasp. From there, they could deduce that the Paradis Conglomerate, which had publicly funded the Church of Utopia, was somehow connected to the Demon Cult as well. Other than that, Yue and Eldorin were entirely in the dark.

Thus, the showcase continued… and in Amon and Yue's place was a familiar face to most.

"L-Lord Alrock Solaris! W-What brings you here today?"

"Is it wrong for me, the Solaris Lord, to support my Knight Order?"

"N-No, of course not!"

"Besides, I'm only here to support my grandson. It hasn't been long since he became the Vice-Commander of Eldorin, and I'm here to see his progress."

"..."

Leon sat next to his grandfather while hiding a wry smile. Due to Amon and Yue's absence, Eldorin needed a strong backer during their showcase. And there was no one better than the Solaris Lord himself, Alrock Solaris. Being part of the High Council of Hyades, Alrock had a right to do almost anything in the capital, but he chose not to exercise his right.

Supervising a mere showcase wouldn't draw any protests, but it did raise some eyebrows, mainly from the other members of the High Council.

"Sir Alrock! You've grown old!"

"I don't want to hear that from you, young'un."

"Young'un? BAHAHAHA, Sir Alrock is probably the only person who would call me that!"

Gerrick Ironblood, the Grand Marshal of the Hyades Army, bellowed in laughter. He was unquestionably one of the most powerful and influential figures in all of the Hyades Republic. Yet, he was treated like a youngster by the Solaris Lord. And well… In Alrock's eyes, Gerrick was a youngster.

Almost a decade fresher than he was, Gerrick was reaching the end of his prime. But Alrock was of retirement age!

"Lord Alrock, as always, it's a pleasure. Have you eaten my hundred-year ginseng?"

"Mmmm, it was delicious. At least one young'un knows manners."

Alrock was pleased with Lady Katrina Voss's greeting. During his birthday celebration, the President of the Demon Hunter League presented the Solaris Lord with one of his finest presents, an aged ginseng that helped nourish the body.

"It is an honour."

Katrina Voss smiled and gave a humble nod. And while her eyes were focused on Alrock, her mind was actually occupied with the young man who sat next to him.

Leon's sudden appearance in Zephys took everyone by surprise. They had been told he was injured and recovering, hence his absence from the medal ceremony. Yet here he stood, the very image of a Knight.

For many, this was their first time meeting the young Hero whom the Solaris House had long kept hidden from public view. None objected to the change; in fact, many welcomed it. Amon Solaris was undoubtedly a top Knight; many even regarded him as Leon's superior, but Leon was the Hero of this generation.

A single handshake from him was enough to boast about for an entire year, and people eagerly flocked to win his favour. Ever the amiable soul, Leon met their enthusiasm with his signature smile, effortlessly charming men and women alike. His warmth and humility quickly won over the entire crowd.

But Katrina Voss, who cared little for appearances, found herself intrigued not by his looks or mannerisms, but by something deeper, something innate.

'This kid… he's strong…'

Katrina was decently surprised. If her memory served her right, Leon should have recently passed his coming of age, yet… the strength he possessed was unfathomable. Amon was a similar case. His strength was hidden, but the seasoned veteran could tell that Amon's might surpassed hers. As for Leon's… she didn't think that she would lose against Leon, but it would be a tough fight.

"Young Hero, you're plenty strong as well! Do you want to join the army?"

"Hoh? You're getting bold. Trying to poach my grandson from under my nose."

"..."

With a serene smile, Leon waved off the pressure and spoke:

"Instead of exchanging pleasantries, let's focus on the show, shall we? We have plenty of time to discuss matters at our dinner."

"BAHAHAHA, what a mature lad you are! I wonder what Sir Alrock fed you growing up."

"That too can be discussed at dinner."

"BAHAHAHA, what a lad!"

Gerrick was clearly pleased with the friendly Leon, who was a great contrast to the stoic and mysterious Amon. As suggested, everyone turned down to the training field where four members of Eldorin stood firm. Well, they weren't only Eldorin, but true Solaris Knights who had been knighted before joining the new Order.

Rufus, Lydia, Gale and Adelia stood in formation, and like a well-oiled machine, they showcased their prowess.

Rufus stood as an indomitable shield, unmoving even against the fiercest of beasts that charged his way. Though he was the only one among the four without Solaris blood, his presence on the battlefield was nothing short of invaluable. Not a single beast managed to break through his defence, and those that tried to slip past him were swiftly crushed beneath his mighty mace.

Around him manifested a moss-covered sanctuary, an aura that bolstered his allies' defences while clouding the minds of his enemies. The sight drew gasps from the audience, especially from Gerrick, who couldn't help but marvel at Rufus's sheer power and composure.

"A defence domain! Goodness gracious, and he's not even thirty! Sir Alrock, you-..."

"Don't even think about it."

"Tch, stingy…"

Gerrick clicked his tongue and fell back into his seat. He'd thought that since Rufus wasn't a bloodline member, there was a chance, but the Solaris Lord's hardline stance triggered curses from his mouth. In his mind, he was conspiring on how he could bring the young, talented Knight into his army.

It was a defence domain!

One of the most valuable abilities a shield Knight could possess. Not only did it strengthen him, but it also strengthened any of his allies in the vicinity. In large-scale battlefields, a defence domain would unquestionably be the centre point of every army, and enemies would do everything in their power to squash the user.

Which was why it was imperative to have high defence.

But the surprise didn't end there.

The next to step forward was Gale. Wielding his signature blade, Blue Tempest, he unleashed a roaring tsunami of azure fire that consumed over a dozen beasts in an instant. Though they were captured creatures meant for spectacle, their ferocity was far from diminished. The mutated blue flames radiated such intensity that the crowd shivered, feeling an unnatural chill despite the searing heat.

Gale moved with lethal grace, each strike precise, each motion fluid, bludgeoning through the beasts with the elegance of a dancer and the force of a storm. His overwhelming power defined him, and the savage beauty of his display left the spectators utterly speechless.

Then came Adelia.

Her expertise lay in swift, calculated strikes. The Argent Sun in her grasp screeched like a banshee, its cry carried by the wind with every elegant swing. Trails of flame lingered at the rapier's tip, a testament to her absolute control. Not a single movement nor a drop of mana was wasted; every action precise, every outcome perfect. That was Adelia's mastery.

Against such an impeccable duo, the captured beasts stood no chance.

At this juncture, their shared nickname came to everyone's mind.

"Gale and Adelia Solaris… The Dancer and the Beast. Aptly named."

Lady Katrina mused, completely enamoured by the display. Although the beasts were weak, their absolute skills were hard to deny. Even if they didn't bear the Solaris name and waved the Eldorin banner, Knight Orders all around the world would be lining up to sign them. Even Katrina Voss was somewhat tempted.

But the best was yet to come.

Lydia Solaris ascended into the skies, her Mythic-grade Mageweaver sword shimmering with gathered mana. She looked down upon the beasts with disdain, as if their very existence was beneath her notice.

And to a certain extent, she was right. None of them could so much as scratch a single strand of her hair. Then, five radiant Suns manifested around her, and both Alrock and Leon instinctively tensed.

Five Suns… the unmistakable mark of a Guardian Knight, the pride of the Solaris House.

Becoming a Solaris Knight was already a monumental feat, but to condense Five Suns was to stand among the elite few who transcended the ordinary. And Lydia wasn't even thirty. Aside from Amon and Leon, she was undeniably the most gifted Solaris Knight of her generation. Had those two not existed, her very name alone would have been enough to make the Solaris House tremble.

Yet… that was just the beginning.

Lightning tendrils wreathed the slim lady as the skies darkened. Lightning bolts powered by her seemingly endless lake of mana struck down like heavenly vengeance, destroying everything that they struck. In less than thirty seconds, every remaining beast was eradicated, leaving the party nothing more than a scorched earth as their opponent. That move alone was enough to send the mages watching this into a frenzy, as they realised what Lydia was accomplishing.

"A Knight who walks the path of magic…"

"If she weren't a Solaris… she would have been a spectacular mage."

"... are there only monsters in Eldorin?"

The crowd was particularly pleased with Eldorin's quick showcase. Many applauded the four Knights, praising their ability and cohesive balance. But there were a few who wore grim and sour faces.

And that was all… captured by Leon.

'I've remembered their faces… Let's have Yue investigate their ties to the Demon Cult.'