Boom! Crash!

Nael and Beatrice clashed, the shockwaves shaking the ground. The Ezer army, caught in the middle, faltered in confusion.

“W-What’s going on?”

“She’s fighting one of the Demon King’s Four Generals?!”

“What are we supposed to do?”

The morale of the Ezer soldiers had been sky-high after routing Krata’s western army and reaching the capital. But that confidence had only ever been in facing Krata.

Now, with Nael suddenly battling one of the Four Generals, they were left paralyzed, unsure what to do.

“Lilien.”

The one to step forward was none other than Tia. She turned to the Imperial Guard Captain.

“Take Ezer’s army and return.”

“Wh-What? Your Majesty, if we withdraw now, we’ll be handing Krata’s capital over to the Demon King’s army!”

“If not for them, Ezer’s army would never have entered this city to begin with.”

Tia’s voice was sharp.

“Beatrice is the Demon King’s greatest force. She’s beyond what Ezer’s troops can handle. And with Nael having struck her nerve, she’ll only grow more furious. Do you truly think we should remain here?”

“That...”

“I’ve heard the Demon King’s army will also withdraw, leaving only enough troops to occupy the city. You do the same. I’ll handle the rest.”

“Your Majesty...”

“Lilien.” Tia’s gaze turned steely, “Don’t make me repeat myself. We don’t have the luxury of time.”

Her tone was firm. Lilien swallowed hard.

‘So this is how it ends...’

Even after leading a nation’s army here, in the end they could only retreat—because this battlefield was beyond them.

With bitter resignation, she lowered her head.

“Understood.”

She had no choice but to accept it. This was no place for ordinary humans—nor could they even stand by and watch.

“I’ll pull Ezer’s forces back.”

Still, she resolved on one measure.

“We’ll leave behind the elves assigned to us. They’re few, but at least they’ll be of some aid to you.”

Seeing Tia nod in agreement, Lilien turned and shouted to her men.

“All troops, retreat! Except the elves—everyone back to Ezer!”

The order to withdraw.

The soldiers, who had only just reached Krata’s capital, groaned aloud.

“W-We’re leaving?”

“After coming all this way...”

Frustration and disappointment weighed heavy in their eyes.

“But what could we do if we stayed?”

“At least if we leave, we’ll live.”

“Hurry, let’s move.”

They knew the truth. Against Beatrice, the strongest of the Demon King’s Four Generals, and Nael, the legendary warrior, this was no battlefield for them.

Without Nael, they never would have made it this far anyway. And so, with little hesitation, the Ezer army began its retreat.

“Your Majesty, are you truly staying behind?”

Lilien asked, worry etched across her face.

“If you remain, you’ll be entangled with the Demon King again.”

Her concern wasn’t just for the moment. She was thinking of the very real chance Tia might soon cross paths with Clay again.

“I understand your feelings, but you are the Empress of Ezer.”

As ruler of her nation, staying here alone meant leaving her empire unguarded.

“Lilien.”

Tia spoke softly.

“You know why I chose you, don’t you?”

Her eyes locked with Lilien’s.

“Few would show such loyalty to me, even in times like this.”

“Your Majesty...”

“So I entrust it to you.”

Her words carried her true heart.

“Go. Guard our nation in my absence.”

“I...”

“Don’t worry. I don’t intend to stay here forever.”

But there was still something she had to resolve.

“Go.”

“...”

“Now.”

Nael and Beatrice’s battle was escalating, explosions rocking the surroundings like bombs. Lilien could delay no longer.

“...Yes, Your Majesty.”

Bowing deeply, she turned away. Soon mounted, she led the Ezer army out of the city.

Only once they were gone did Tia lift her gaze.

‘Nael...’

Nael fought with raw physical might alone, while Beatrice bore both the innate power of a highborn race and her mastery of magic. The match-up was poor for Nael.

Boom! Crash!

Dodging Beatrice’s torrents of fire, Nael darted through the wreckage. Tia bit her lip.

‘I should stop her, not encourage her.’

She could not take Nael’s side. Even if Clay’s Brands had been erased, the brand on his heart remained.

Just because his body appeared as it once had, he was not the Hero again.

If they tried to drag him back to humanity by force, they might strike a nerve deeper than ever.

‘If he even has such a nerve left to strike...’

Regardless, Tia had to act. She turned to the elves gathered nearby.

“Restrain Nael.”

Only by stopping her could they preserve what fragile ties they still had to the Demon King’s army.

“Do it without provoking Beatrice further.”

The elves nodded and leapt into motion. Bounding from the buildings, they swarmed toward Nael’s side.

“!”

Nael, dodging Beatrice’s flames, reacted instinctively—her leg lashed out.

Boom!

Several elves were struck, hurled to the ground. The others pressed on undeterred, closing in around her.

“What are you doing?”

Nael snarled, swinging her fist.

“Out of my way!”

The strikes were rough, lacking finesse—but her speed and strength made them devastating. More elves fell.

And still, those left ignored their wounded and locked onto her arms and legs.

Snarling, Nael bared her teeth.

“I told you—”

Crack!

“—out of my way!”

With just a flex and twist of her body, the elves restraining her were flung off like ragdolls.

“Truly, you live up to the title Beast-King.”

Beatrice’s mocking voice rang out.

“But it makes you look all the more foolish.”

She snapped her fingers.

Fwoooosh!

Waves of fire surged forth. Nael’s eyes widened as she sprang aside.

“Running away?”

Beatrice’s voice was laced with scorn.

Beatrice looked down at her from above.

“Yes. That’s all you’re capable of.”

Thud.

Nael, who had been sprinting forward, suddenly spun around. She raised one leg high, then drove it into the ground.

True Step.

In an instant, a crushing pressure erupted outward, blasting apart Beatrice’s flames in a wide radius.

“One strike.”

Nael’s eyes blazed with intensity.

“I’ll end this in one strike.”

Boom!

She kicked off the ground, her body surging forward at incredible speed. Beatrice unleashed fire to chase her, but Nael was already far too fast.

“!”

Limit Break.

Her movements transcended human limits. In a blink, she had stomped off the ground beneath Beatrice, leaping high into the air.

“Got you.”

Nael’s voice rang out as Beatrice raised her arm to guard. But—

“Khuk?!”

The impact crushed her body, folding it inward. Nael’s rotating kick struck with brutal force, sending Beatrice spiraling downward.

“Not yet.”

Nael’s monstrous leg strength propelled her after Beatrice. Just before she hit the ground, Nael’s kick slammed into her once more.

Kwooooom!

Beatrice bounced off the earth like a doll. Nael closed in, her fists and legs hammering her relentlessly.

Each strike landed clean, Beatrice’s body sent tumbling like a toy.

“This is the end.”

Nael pulled her shoulder back, fist clenched tight, preparing the final blow.

But in that moment—

Flash.

Beatrice’s eyes snapped downward as she pressed her hand to the ground.

“Inferno.”

Kwooooooosh!

The earth split, magma and fire erupting skyward.

Nael faltered for the first time, stumbling. Beatrice seized her, twisting her body.

“Trying to dodge?”

A crooked smile spread across her lips.

“Impossible.”

And with that, Beatrice drove Nael straight toward the flames.

Sssshhh—!

Or rather, she tried.

Nael’s face should have been seared by fire—but instead, a barrier of holy light stopped it cold.

“?”

Beatrice turned her head, and there she saw her.

Tia, standing firm, hand raised.

In that instant, Nael tore free of Beatrice’s grasp and leapt back to safety. But Beatrice’s eyes never left Tia.

“What are you doing?”

“I’ll restrain Nael and take her away. Please, stop this here.”

“This isn’t a time for jokes.”

Beatrice’s expression hardened into ice.

“That beast is simple-minded. She doesn’t care what Clay wants. She only does what pleases her brute instincts.”

“I’ll apologize in her stead.”

“I’m not asking for your apology.”

Beatrice gave a mirthless laugh.

“And aren’t you just the same? Attacking, interfering, acting on your own. Don’t meddle again.”

“...”

Tia said nothing, staring as Beatrice readied herself once more.

Just then—Nael came charging from behind her.

“Ha...”

Tia sighed helplessly, turned, and thrust out her hand.

Barrier.

A wall of holy power flared to life, halting Nael mid-step.

“Stop this, Nael.”

“Move.”

Nael’s voice was low.

“If you don’t, you’ll be caught in my strike.”

“You can’t break my barrier.”

“You think so?”

Crack!

Her short punch split the barrier with fissures.

“You’ve never traveled with Clay like I have. You don’t know me.”

Nael’s voice was hard.

“My body was forged through hardship, made to break what ordinary strength cannot. That’s how harsh our journey was.”

She closed her eyes briefly, recalling.

“This is just another hardship. I don’t deny my foolishness played a part in making Clay what he is. But I cannot leave him in a place he doesn’t belong.”

“Even if it’s too late?”

“Even if it’s too late.”

Her voice carried unwavering resolve.

“I will do it.”

“I see.”

Tia’s reply was quiet. She stepped aside.

At that moment, Beatrice—who had folded her wings, hiding behind Tia’s form—lunged forward, hand extended.

“Forgive me.”

Tia’s whisper was drowned out as Beatrice’s clawed hand struck toward Nael.

(End of Chapter)