CHAPTER 62: RANK TWO

Ace was spent, but the danger to Seraphina and Heaven Village wasn’t over yet.

He tried to stand and fight, but his legs gave out and he dropped to his knees. He’d gone past his limits, and his weakened hands throbbed as if they’d split.

His body craved oxygen even though he’d been absorbing blood from Cherry. Blood carries oxygen bound to red blood cells, so it wasn’t as efficient as breathing.

Sanguine Graft wasn’t meant for that. Still, it let Ace push on and fight in this burning world.

Gesta’s gaze bored into him—as if she’d appeared on the battlefield.

He looked up and saw a 160‑centimeter‑wide orb rising from where the Totem had perched. A deep hole gaped—possibly Ignis Caro’s respawn point—as the orb emerged fully and drifted upward.

Is it a bomb?

If it exploded now, Ace wouldn’t survive. Thankfully, Gesta’s orb didn’t seem built for that. It rose through burning buildings as cinders and ash spiraled around it.

Gesta spoke in his head. Her voice was cold and lifeless, even for a priestess of the Withered Shrine of the Immolated.

I see Tava’Az has favored you. You are likely to survive this encounter. Will Seraphina Griffin survive? You had many chances to end her and did not. You would offer her to the Drowned... use her against me? It is of no consequence. She is my pawn; she will wither as my pawn.

Her words faded as the orb reached the sky; it shrank, then hung high above.

Sunset vanished for a moment. The light brightened. Then the orange sky returned.

The orb stayed fixed in the sky.

I can’t remember much about the Immolated... After the incident with the Totem, they were dealt with fast. Knowing that priestesses are equal, it couldn’t have ended like that. This shrine’s defeat couldn’t have happened so early. It means the Sixteen who defeated them in my first life concealed all tracks about them. And the one who beat them was—

[Rank 2 Veis Einwisdam]

Speak of the devil.

A hand clamped on Ace’s shoulder. He craned his neck and met the Rank Two’s stare. The lanky man in robes pressed a small potion into his hand.

"You did well, Ace Avalanche," Veis said. "Drink this potion and finish her off. You deserve it after saving Heaven Village from the traitor."

Ace didn’t reply. He didn’t have the strength to drink; his throat and lungs burned. He wanted to tell Veis to leave Seraphina alone, but Veis had other plans.

"I see... you need urgent healing. Fine. I’ll deliver the final blow," Veis said, extending his hand toward Seraphina’s throat and spreading his fingers.

An invisible force gathered in his palm. Seraphina’s head tipped back and lifted, pulled toward his hand.

Ace’s heart went cold.

In his first life, Veis was famous for the Grim Reaper’s Grip. He crushed throats—rankers, monsters, anyone who barred his way.

Ace had watched him do it more than once. Sometimes the pull was so strong it looked like his enemies walked into his grip.

Terrifying, one‑sided power.

When all hope for Seraphina seemed lost, Chaewon flashed between them, knees bent and her sword in a reverse grip along her shoulder. She stepped into Veis’s pull and took the brunt of it, pinning herself to the scorched ground and staring him down. Her shoes had burned from the ash, cinders, and flames licking the ground, but she didn’t care.

"Rank Five... Chaewon Smith. What are you doing?" Veis asked.

"Ace doesn’t want her dead. Leave them be," Chaewon said.

"That can’t be. Seraphina Griffin is in league with the Withered Shrine of the Immolated. She caused this disaster and cost us too many lives. There’s no way we can let her live after that. Besides, how can you be so sure this is Ace Avalanche’s will?" Veis asked, tilting his head.

Chaewon straightened and met the Rank Two’s eyes. "A woman’s intuition is most reliable with the man she loves. I love Ace, so I know this isn’t what he wants."

Ace’s eyes widened.

She must have watched me versus Seraphina—even if she saw only shadows at best. That was enough for her to catch my goal. Chaewon, you’re really looking after me.

Veis smiled. "That’s a valuable bond between Rank One and Five... but I still can’t let you save her."

He raised his hand and yanked Chaewon closer. The pull hit harder against a healthy Rank Five; she lost her footing for a beat.

As she closed, she waited until she was within reach, then drove her katana into the ground. Using it as a pole, she spun and kicked Veis in the stomach, knocking him back.

It was a move Ace had used against Ignis Caro. She’d learned from her father; now she was learning from the man she loved and wanted to stay by his side, drawing from their strengths and folding them into her own style.

"Don Capo’s Rook’s here, baby! Use me how you want, Godmother!"

Alex joined the fray, Mercer right behind him.

Chaewon nodded and looked at Mercer. "Mercer, heal Ace’s throat so he can drink a potion."

"Got it, Godmother!" Mercer said, grinning.

Chaewon blushed.

Many people heard her confession in the heat of the moment. Her focused expression and flushed cheeks turned heads. Numerous rankers grew jealous of Ace Avalanche and wanted to get stronger—to win favor or the attention of strong women like Chaewon.

For many, she was just so hot and sexy as she confessed her feelings in battle mode.

Mercer and Alex would have teased her for it, but there was no time.

Mercer immediately cast Rejuvenation Flux on Ace’s throat. It began healing quickly as he applied what he’d learned—focusing his healing on a single point. Even Veis and the Sixteen’s Bishops were surprised by its efficiency.

Marko sprinted across the burning soil and joined the gang, passing a unique potion to Mercer.

"Take this!" Marko shouted.

Trusting Big Marko, Mercer took the potion and helped Ace drink it.

His wounds began healing rapidly.

"What’s that potion, Big Marko?" Mercer asked.

"The guy Don Capo told me to meet... turns out he’s one of the three Heaven Kings! He’s a freak alchemist, but he’s so good!" Marko replied. "It’s one of his upgraded small potions!"

"Wow!" Mercer exclaimed.