The scene shifted like overlapping images. 

Crystallized cocoon that shimmered under the reflection of lights.

Snap... 

The wind whistled under one's ears, clouds drifted lazily above, and zoom! 

A figure darted across the sky like a flickering light, like a bullet even, dress flapping at the back, dancing along the wind. 

After earning a few thousand points from that brief but intimate grind against Liam’s crotch, Mize quietly left and made her way toward the battlefield.

Once she arrived there.

She hovered above the raging clash, suspended in the air like a calm observer, watching as the horde below threw itself recklessly against Liam’s shadow forces.

Boom!

Boom!

Boom!

Claws scraped against steel, blades tore through flesh, and the sheer sound of battle was relentless. 

A tide of darkness rampaging against the tide of red and flesh.

From afar, the field looked like a sea of chaos, roars, clatters, and more. 

It was overwhelming.

The scale of it felt unreal, especially with those uninterrupted barrages of dark fireballs raining from the rear lines. 

Dozens flew with each volley, screaming through the air before detonating in clusters, swallowing hundreds of monsters every second. 

The constant thunder clap noises echoed like a long chain, never ending, and surely this would be hell for any normal lord to partake in. 

The battle of this level had already exceeded the scope of what most lords might be able to handle.

Even so, despite their staggering losses, the enemy’s numbers didn’t seem to thin. 

If anything, it felt like they were increasing.

Mize’s expression tightened slightly as she scanned the battlefield. Comparing it to the prior waves and without a doubt, the number of the horde creatures increased visibly.

She estimated the enemy forces to be about 1.2 million strong now.

If she factored in the tier 4s, and a handful tier 5s presences scattered in the crowd, it was probably closer to 1.25.

And that number was worrying. 

'How many will there be on the last day…?' she wondered grimly. 

'Three million? Five?' 

Or possibly more? 

Mize doesn't know whether Liam's shadow army could keep up with the enemy or not. Hell, she doesn't even know how Liam was able to continuously summon more and more of his shadow soldiers. But one thing was clear, it wouldn't be easy. 

And from the looks of it, the warp seemed to be testing them in these early waves. 

Mize doesn't know why, but she felt that these waves were just a teaser before the real deal will come later. 

Testing the water, a term that she would've never thought of but surprisingly so, the warp might be doing it against them.

At this pace, continuing with the same tactics would be suicidal. 

Liam’s previous advantage, the crushing power of his shadows, was slowly being drowned out by the sheer volume of enemies.

And Mize didn’t think Liam could just rely on that massive, monstrous form she’d once fought. 

It was too constrained, or perhaps, there was a requirement, or a restriction that prevented him from using that form here. 

Too limited.

She knew in a way that Liam couldn't bring that form out here. Unless if he could bring these monsters to that place. 

His real strength, at least outside that restricted space, lay in his control, summoning, formations, and strategy.

These were his specialties. 

But from the looks of it, Liam seemed to rely solely on his summoning only. 

Where were the formation techniques that he used before?

Where were the genius tactics in the so called battle practices? 

Well... 

She lifted her gaze, discerning the almost never ending horde, "It would be meaningless to use them against such a large number? Huh... "

Boom.

Boom.

Boom.

The air shook around her as thundering impacts echoed across the field. 

Mize’s eyes narrowed.

Out from the heart of the horde, massive figures began to emerge, each one towering like a walking fortress, tens of meters tall and shaped like nightmarish mountains of muscle and bone. 

Tendons tight, the muscles outlined coupled with the visible red fleshes dangling down on all sides. 

Blood... 

Blood was practically pouring down from the tin gaps of their fleshes, constantly...

The horde...

What kind of a creature is this?

Moments later, another group appeared in the sky above Liam’s army. 

They floated forward with imposing presence, clad in ornate armor so heavy it groaned and scraped like an ancient beast moving through stone. 

With a single glance, these huge figures looked like walking structures that somehow could fly. Easily ten meters tall, Mize noticed how their sizes could be increased casually as they walked across the air. 

Heavily armoured shrouded in twisting membrane of shadow

She recognized them immediately.

“Tier 5s ” Mize muttered under her breath.

Her senses flared as she scanned the growing tension. 

Hundreds of strong tier 5 auras were surging from the enemy side, and each was responding aggressively to the approaching presences from the sky.

Snarls tore through the air. 

The pressure spilled into the air like thick liquid, space visibly dimming under the weight of their bloodlust.

Then, like ascending some invisible staircase, the monstrous giants rose into the air. 

Their forms resembled none of what Mize knew. 

Not to be outdone, Liam’s armored titans moved to meet them mid-sky.

A breath later.

Light exploded across the heavens.

Dazzling streaks of energy sliced through the clouds, each clash erupting like a firecracker in the sky. 

Boom!

Boom!

Boom!

The whole sky lit up with bursts of blue, crimson, and gold, warping the very air with violent shockwaves.

Even from far away, anyone paying attention would be able to witness the spectacle.

The ground trembled beneath the weight of their battle.

Winds howled and tremors rippled outward, It was like nature itself recoiled from the clash of so many high-level forces.

Far above the main city, atop a church’s observation tower, Harapan stood by the railings with both hands folded neatly behind his back.

His expression was composed, but his narrowed eyes were fixed in the distance, right where Mize was. 

Or where the battlefield was. 

Such a huge scale of war, such a scene of death and chaos. 

This turmoil couldn't be left unnoticed even if Liam wanted to hide it. Not just the natives, but the lords themselves were paying attention to what was going on currently in his territory.

His pupils contracted slightly as the distortions in the air reached even this far.

“…Has the battle already escalated to this stage?” he murmured.

Footsteps echoed softly behind him.

An elder emerged, bowing respectfully. “Master. Our scouts report a large-scale clash between tier 5 beings. Several hundred are now engaged.”

Harapan said nothing, so the elder continued.

“The Lord’s army has been holding the front for hours without rest. But now it seems both sides have unleashed their top combatants. This may determine the winner for today"

Harapan gave a slow nod and waved a hand. “Continue to monitor the battle and report everything directly.”

He paused for a beat.

“And what of Mother? Any word?”

“No, Master. As always, her whereabouts remain elusive. Even the castle staff rarely catch a glimpse of her.”

Harapan’s reply was faint but calm. “Expected. Mother can be anywhere… or everywhere.”

He glanced down at the city streets.

“How about the knights?”

That question brought a moment of hesitation to the elder. He lowered his gaze before speaking carefully.

“...The situation is shifting. The monsters have started moving in organized groups, unlike before"

"And our prior skill that allowed us to detect them in large numbers doesn't work any longer. It seems they have found a countermeasure"

"Over the past three days, we’ve taken heavy injuries. There’ve also been several deaths.”

“The sentry guards have reported more missing cases than ever. It’s caused rising unrest among the people.”

Harapan turned slightly. “And Lord Elias?”

“Lord Elias has done what he can to suppress panic. For now, it’s working.”

The elder sighed, then added, “Even the guards from Lord Harb’s command have been summoned to help defend the city. But… the alleys are a mess. The creatures are adapting. They’re harder to root out now.”

“I see.” Harapan’s voice lowered, thoughtful. “At least the sentries are finally involved. That’ll buy us time.”

“But Master,” the elder said, a note of unease in his voice, “the enemy’s numbers grow at a terrifying pace. We kill one, and two more take its place.”

“They grow stronger depending on how much they consume. If left unchecked, even tier 3 threats will begin to appear in the city soon.”

“And after that, tier 5s?” He exhaled shakily. “If it reaches that point, we’ll lose our only edge in high-end combat.”

“I know,” Harapan said flatly, eyes narrowing. “That’s why we need more believers. We must expand the church’s influence. Faith is the source of our knights’ strength.”

“Faith?” the elder asked, surprised.

“Mother told me the true nature of the gift I carry,” Harapan said. “The power of the knights grows alongside the strength of the church. The longer they survive, the more they are nourished by faith, and the stronger they become.”

He tightened his grip on the railings.

“Only those who survive the chaos are worthy of power.”

“Then… the next recruitment?”

Harapan turned slightly. “Start on the first day of next month. Screen orphans. Those driven by vengeance or ambition. Children like that tend to bring… surprises.”

The elder gave a solemn nod. “Understood.”

“Oh, and one more thing,” Harapan added casually. “Include the mute girl.”

That made the elder stiffen. “…Master? Are you sure? That girl is frail. No talent. Weaker than even average children. Even if she awakens and receives a gift, I doubt"

“Do as I say.”

A pause.

“…Yes, Master.”

With a bow, the elder quietly exited the tower, leaving Harapan alone with his thoughts.

He glanced down at the city once more. The darkness seemed to creep a little closer each night.

“Let’s see how long you can last,” he muttered under his breath. “Scum of the dark.”

High above the ground, perched somewhere between a pair of slanted rooftops, a man stood quietly beside a rusted metal railing.

He leaned lazily against a cracked pillar, his frame relaxed, suit modest, making him appear like a gentleman. 

The breeze tugged faintly at the hem of his black coat, and his eyes, half-lidded, scanned the city with a half amused expression. 

From his breast pocket, he drew out a crisp handkerchief and dabbed at the edge of his lips. 

A faint smear of blood marked the white cloth. 

He chuckled softly.

“The fight near the border’s gotten lively,” he said, his tone light, almost amused.

Behind him, under the dim shelter of the rooftop’s overhang, the corpses of several men lay sprawled across the ground, limbs twisted, faces torn and half-eaten. 

Their expressions frozen in terror, features half-flayed as though gnawed on like meat left out too long.

The scent of iron clung to the air.

There was no mistaking who this was.

Sayfein.

A Raksasa, and not just any Raksasa.

One far too familiar.

Perhaps one of the first original. 

He tilted his head thoughtfully, fingers brushing his chin as he stared deeper into the cityscape.

“You know… I always wonder why we’re called Raksasa. It’s an odd name, don’t you think? Feels like it should mean something more.”

"As for why we now are required to refer ourselves that way, there's no helping it, or else the Master would be angry"

He hummed, not expecting an answer, his gaze drifting lazily toward the horizon. “Our numbers in those native human cities are rising fast. But here…” He clicked his tongue, brow furrowing slightly. “Here we’re being held back, by those strange knights.”

His lips curled into a faint, mocking grin. “And that freak too. The one that doesn’t die.”

"Is he cursed someway? He's so annoying"

He straightened up from the pillar, the playful air in his voice fading into something colder. “If they want to play rough, then fine. I can play rough too.”

He scoffed. “Quantity doesn’t beat quality? Says who?”

With a flick of his wrist, he let the bloodied handkerchief flutter down beside the corpses, then casually stepped back into the shadows. 

His heel nudged a severed leg lying near the edge, and he bent down, gripped it by the ankle, and without pause, took a savage bite out of the thigh.

The crunch of flesh and tendon echoed softly as he chewed, his eyes half-lidded like he was savoring a rare delicacy.

A low, delighted laugh slipped from his throat.

“The more people there are… the more of us there’ll be.” He swallowed, lips glistening under the light, shimmering. 

“Even if I can’t get rid of the church just yet… wiping out those irritating knights?” He grinned wider, licking the corner of his lips, "Now that’s doable.”

Again, he bit down, relishing the taste as if it were the finest dish known to him.

“For the lord!” he bellowed suddenly, voice ringing through the rooftop.

His laughter turned guttural, breathless. “For the lord!"

“I dedicate all these souls to the lord!”

"The dark master of  the void!"

"The one eyed divine!"

"The true lord of this world and beyond!"

The words echoed through the silence, echoing off against the walls.