[Moments Earlier]

'This is a very important mission...'

Barron, known for all intents and purposes as Elon Tusk by the group he was traveling with, was currently in deep thought as he sat in the carriage.

The world outside was currently shrouded in darkness, which meant this was the perfect moment to think.

His eyes fluttered open, and then he closed then soon after, thinking of the current state of his father's company.

...His birthright.

He took a deep breath, half-closing his eyes as he considered his next steps.

'Right now, I have to convince the Jaune Councilor.'

Each member of the Obsidian Council had a codename attached to their real names.

His father was the Rump Obsidian Member, and right now, the plan was to convince the Jaune and Gerte Members respectively.

"Lord Gerte is too far," he mused, "so we'll start with Lord Jaune."

They could reach Lord Jaune's estate within the hour if they pressed on in this pace, but it felt unthinkable to arrive unannounced at such an hour.

'There's still etiquette to consider, and we can't just intrude on another's property at such an ungodly hour.'

As such, the eventual plan became for him to simply camp outside their territory and wait for dawn to break before proceeding any further.

'Yeah, that'll work.'

Peering through the carriage window, Barron observed the two entourages that sat on their mounts on either side, with one trailing behind, and the coachman guiding the way, making it a total of four individuals.

'Let's hope the delegation ends well.'

Even though his father, Ronald Rumpan himself, wanted to be the one to lead this delegation, it would be too risky for him to leave their main area of business.

That was practically announcing vulnerability to everyone who was around.

'Besides, if father comes for this delegation, the other Groups might think we're desperate and we might lose considerable Bargaining Power.'

In the end, this arrangement was the best they could manage.

As the carriage left the green shrubberies behind and reached the tunnel at the end of the lush greenery that surrounded them just earlier, Barron felt a sense of relief.

'It should be smooth sailing from here.'

If he used his Magic Artifact, he'd likely be able to see the Jaune stronghold from where he stood.

"We should set up camp here," he murmured, bringing out a pair of enchanted glasses from his pocket.

At his signal, the entourage halted, and Barron stepped out of the carriage, stretching his legs. The journey had been a bit stressful, especially since they had to travel at nights, but it wasn't something they couldn't handle, though. As the sole heir to ExRump Corporation, he was determined to show he could handle at least this much and make sure he was at least this capable.

'I better confirm the state of the Jaune Industries...'

He put on the glasses and activated the artifact's effect. A bright blue glow emanated from the lenses, sending a wave of shimmering light across his field of vision.

Then-

'Impossible! What is this?!'

What greeted Barron's already enhanced eyes was a sight so horrible that one could practically chalk it up to a nightmare.

The entire buildings within the vast compound were on fire, and he could see corpses buried in their entrails and blood. Some couldn't even be qualified as 'corpses', given the messed up states of their bodies.

'This is bad!' Barron's thoughts echoed as he narrowed down his vision and could see a few people fighting, but that was about it.

It seemed like the Jaune House desperately needed help. If the ExRump Corporation assisted them here, it could swing the upcoming negotiations heavily in their favor.

Barron knew he couldn't take any chances, so he decided to rush towards the infernal flames and sea of blood that greeted his sight anytime he focused on the view.

'Let's not get distracted and get this over with!'

The darkened moon hovered him and his subordinates as they prepared to dive into the inferno and quickly save their potential allies.

Amidst all the preparations and impatience that swirled within the group, a worrisome thought kept on plaguing Barron's thoughts.

'This could only have been done by the Mercenary Gang. No one else has enough power or even the nerve to try this to an Obsidian family member.'

Barron's stomach tightened as he considered the implications, 'I didn't think they'd stoop this low! Does that mean Sir Ghost was right? Did they go to the enemy side?! If so, then our plan crumbles from the start. Still...'

A bead of sweat fell from Barron's face as he composed himself well.

'I should first go to their aid and hope for the best!'

With his choice already made, Barron and his men parked their carriages and Land Dragons in a secure location, one of them casted a sort of protection Spell, while the other made an Illusion Spell so that their means of transport could not be detected naturally.

Once all of this was done, they proceeded towards the blazing stronghold.

------------------------

It took nearly ten minutes to cover the distance. Even though they augmented their speeds with Mana and rushed as fast as they could, the journey was longer than Barron had anticipated. But as they arrived, what greeted their sight was the bloodshed and flames that engulfed the entire compound.

'This is just...'

It felt like watching an entire empire crumble to the ground, and Barron couldn't help but wonder if his own home might one day suffer a similar fate.

'Never! Father will figure this out. Sir Ghost is also helping out!'

This thought gave Barron more resolve than ever.

'I have to play my part too.' He looked at his entourage and told them to split up and search for clues.

"Don't get in any unnecessary combat. Retreat when you encounter an opportunity and come back with the information you've gathered."

With his men dispersing into the chaos, Barron chose to embrace the storm by walking straight into the entrance. He was here as an emissary from the ExRump Corporation, but what he was about to step into was more than mere diplomacy.

'I better be careful.'

Barron was known to be considerably strong, but after what he had experienced in the past couple of days, perhaps even a week or two, he was sure he was still a novice.

'I'll have to take this very seriously!'

------------------------

"Haaa... haaa..."

Blood. Gore. The brutal remains of twisted and scattered elves, an atrocity so vile it seemed to poison the air.

'This isn't right.'

Barron, still catching his breath, forced himself to scan the carnage for survivors with the several blurs of red that danced in his eyes, though he already knew the answer.

There were none.

The flames had claimed everyone in the burning building as they all were cooked to an overwhelmingly fine degree. Some bodies lay whole, while others were scattered in pieces, yet in death, they had all been made equal.

He pressed forward with the heat licking at him as he struggled through the inferno, silently grateful for the protections of his Enchanted Cloak. Its heat resistance and durability spells kept him from joining the dead around him, as did the other magical artifacts he wore.

The central manor of the Jaune Counselor had several areas, but Barron was focused on only one.

The man, Lord Jaune's, office itself.

'There's not much use for a man who has lost his resources, but a Counselor is still a Counselor...'

With this line of thought, Barron navigated his way through the burning hallways and made his way into the place.

Unfortunately for this, when he arrived in Lord Jaune's office...

"By the Gods..."

Lord Jaune's body had been arranged on the wall, diced into horrific pieces that barely formed a recognizable whole. Flames licked around the grisly display, filling the air with an aroma disturbingly close to roasted meat, a nauseating contrast to the scorched stench outside.

Once Barron saw this, he knew he had struggled for nothing.

'He's dead.'

With the Councilor dead, there was no longer any need to be here. But his suspicions had been confirmed.

'This merciless execution... only the Mercenary Gang could be so ruthless.'

Had they been hired by Scyllary? Had they truly joined her forces?

As Barron had these thoughts, he moved closer to the corpse, perhaps to find a clue about what had happened before his arrival, a clue to make sense of the ruin around him.

Then-

"I wasn't expecting any guests today..."

A voice echoed from behind Barron. However, the moment he turned to look, an explosion of flames rushed towards him.

It felt like a floodgate had been opened, and the overwhelming burst of fire charged in his direction.

WHOOSH!

Utilizing his Passive [Quick Casting] Skill and [Basic Elemental Affinity] Skills, the Merman quickly channeled a gust of wind to shroud himself and out of the building to escape the wave of fire.

BOOOOOOMMM!!!

BOOOOOM!

The building's fragile walls broke apart like cookies, but Barron was able to escape the wrath of flames that would have melted him down to his bones. Sparks danced in the air as he cast a Wind Spell mid-air and steadied his descent with gentle gusts that softened his landing.

Gusts of wind danced around him, lessening the impact he would have on the floor as he landed safely.

His gaze shot upward to the floor he'd just leapt from.

A certain man stood there, his body shrouded by flames so it was difficult to see.

Before Barron could even respond, the man jumped down from his heights.

BOOM!

The earth shattered as it welcomed his glorious landing, and his dark silhouette soon began to form the image of a man.

'T-this man...!'

As the dust settled, Barron took in the sight before him. The stranger wore a long, hooded cloak, though the hood was brought down, exposing his face.

He wore no shirt, and he had black trousers under his cloak.

Markings, like crimson red tattoos, were drawn all over his body, and his spiky red hair gave him an air of intimidation.

He was well-built, with muscles that appeared perfectly toned.

He looked like he would be a great warrior, but Barron had witnessed enough magic to know this man was also clearly a mage.

He had a few more markings on his face, marred by the maniacal grin he had on.

"You know who I am, kid?" the man asked, his intimidating presence burning itself into Barron's mind.

Despite appearing no older than his thirties, he called Barron, still in the guise of Elon Tusk, a "kid."

Whether he saw through the disguise or was simply looking down on him, Barron couldn't be sure. But he wasn't about to protest.

"You're... Anukus... the World-Burning Warlock?"

Barron's body trembled as he watched the man's grin widened in delight and his eyes gleamed with dark amusement.

'It really is him!'

Barron had heard tales of Anukus but had never imagined meeting such a being face to face.

Anukus was one of the Deadly Three, the most feared trio among the Eight Heads of Destruction. Known as the World-Burning Warlock, he wielded flames capable of incinerating anything, even adamantite, in seconds.

Everything about him was destruction personified. His skills, his class, his very nature, they were all geared towards consuming his prey and tearing them apart.

'They say he has the strength of a warrior and the skills of a mage.' Barron gulped as he instinctively lowered his stance.

There was no point in fighting him.

"I apologize for intruding. If you don't mind, I'd like to take my leave."

Barron's eyes darted to the left and right as he searched for his subordinates. Once he spotted them, he would give his signal, and they would all retreat as fast as they possibly could.

'We might lose some people, but I'll make sure as many of us survive as possible!'

The Members of the ExRump Corporation were what made up the group.

Without them, the leader was nothing.

That was one of the first lessons that his father taught him, and even till this moment, it remained an essential part of his life.

"I do mind." Anukus shrugged, his tone chillingly casual. "You're standing right in front of me. Why shouldn't I strike you down?"

It was clear that he simply desired bloodshed.

'I didn't want to play this card, but I had no choice.' Barron took a steadying breath.

"I'm an emissary of the ExRump Corporation. Lord Rump won't be pleased if I'm found missing... or killed by the Mercenary Group."

"Hm?" Anukus tilted his head, as if in slight confusion.

"You were contracted to eliminate the Jaune Group, so I understand that. But I do not think I was part of your execution contract. Making an independent action against me will have-"

"You said you're from the ExRump Corporation, right? Led by Rump, who isn't part of Scyllary's New Order...?"

The air suddenly grew heavy as Anukus asked the question.

Barron felt like any answer he gave at the moment would be wrong.

"You don't get it yet, do you? If so, let me spell it out for you, kid," Anukus' grin widened, and his face seemed to morph into something ugly and malevolent. "There's no contract. No rule or code of conduct that stops me from eliminating you. The Mercenary Gang has allied with Madam Klinton and her New Order, which means 'you' lot are the enemy!"

Barron's heart began to beat rapidly. He had suspected this, but he always hoped it was just paranoia and him overthinking.

'No... no! If that's the case, then...'

"Once we're done with Jaune and Gerte, who do you think is next?!"

As Anukus raised an eyebrow and grinned intensely, Barron could feel a weight rest upon him.

"Your side is doomed already. You already lost!"

The words echoed in Barron's ears like a death knell, and a cold dread settled in his chest.

This was indeed the worst case scenario.

"Hahaha... HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!"

Laughter of chaos filled the air as Anukus stretched both hands out and grinned with utter malevolence.

"Look at your face... the despair written all over it!" He beamed at Barron's shocked expression. To him, it was comedy gold.

'Should I go a step further...?'

He could tell the man before him was on the verge of breaking down, so he leaned in to twist the knife.

"Oh, by the way, I'm guessing you knew those four men who were scouting the compound?"

The moment Barron heard this, his eyes widened and he looked at Anukus' face, praying it was just a cruel joke. But the look on Anukus's face shattered that hope.

'They're... dead?'

"I butchered them," Anukus drawled, his grin widening. "Roasted them nice and slow. They had that tender, helpless smell only weaklings carry."

As Anukus went on into further details about how they screamed and writhed in pain, Barron could not help but feel disgust.

Sure, he had done his fair share of interrogations. He had also been involved in torturing enemies, but never for enjoyment, never for the sake of cruelty itself, never to such a despicable extent.

And it wasn't like he boasted about his feat too.

In the end, torturing people had always been a calculated measure, a means to an end. He only did it because of a particular benefit that the action would bring to the ExRump Corporation.

But this monster was different.

'He tortures because he truly enjoys it. He's not someone I can reason with.'

Now that all four members of his entourage were gone, Barron knew he had no reason to stay.

'I need to get out of here fast!'

He had to hurry and inform his father of the terrible news that had befallen the entire Business World.

"You're thinking of escaping? Don't bother. The moment you turn your back against me is the moment you die."

Barron didn't think the man was joking based on his tone, which left no room for doubt.

'Damnit... what should I do?!'

Barron's mind raced. He had tons of Magic Artifacts and Enchanted Items stored in his Spatial Ring, but it has a limited space that can contain these stuff, and even if he was armed to the teeth, Barron doubted he stood a chance against someone who is at the level of a Transcendent like Anukus.

'Is there no way to escape? Any way at a-?'

As Barron was about to complete his thought, sudden chime came from his pocket. It was his Magic Communication Device that connected directly to his father.

'This wasn't part of the plan... Has something happened-?!'

SWISH!

Before Barron could even reach for the artifact, a slicing sound radiated through the air, and barely a second later, the Magic Communication Device was slashed into two, now spilling out of his torn trouser pocket.

It was a swift, instantaneous strike.

Barron was too shocked by what had just happened to even think of moving.

'Just now... what if it was my throat he targeted?'

It would have been the end.

"Do you understand now? Killing someone is no fun if you can do it so easily and quickly."

Anukus slid both hands in his pocket as he keenly watched Barron's trembling figure with a predatory gleam.

"I'll admit it, kid. I could sense that you're pretty strong. It's just that we're on totally different levels."

And Anukus wasn't wrong.

Barron was a prodigy among Mermans, Those of his race who only specialize in Water Magic, he is one of the few who has a rare talent that could wield not just Water Magic, but also Fire, Earth, and Wind. His affinity for Water Magic was especially potent, thanks to his Racial Class. But here, miles from the nearest body of water, that advantage was all but useless.

Compared to most Mermans, Barron was strong, particularly for his young age. But that was where it ended.

When monsters like Anukus came out of their dwelling place, it was no longer a contest of strength.

This was simply a slaughter waiting to happen.

"Now that I've made it perfectly clear that I can end your life very easily if you choose to run or stand still, I'll give you your only option if you want to stay alive a little longer."

Barron didn't need to guess as he already knew the answer.

'He wants me to fight him.'

"You're going to have to fight, kid," Anukus said as his wicked grin intensified. "Fight until there's nothing left in you. Only then I'll kill you."

How was this a fair deal, or any kind of deal at all? Barron knew there was no chance he could beat a monster like this.

But he didn't want to die.

'Is there a way that fighting him will somehow buy time for a rescue team to come?' He wondered.

He dismissed the thought almost as soon as it crossed his mind. It was better for him not to think down that line at all.

His father would notice the broken communication line, but what good would it do? Did the ExRump Corporation have anyone capable of defeating a member of the Deadly Three?

'Sir Ghost might be able to hold his own... but he's back in the city, hundreds of miles away.'

And other than him, no one came close. Not even his father, Ronald Rumpan, would be a match for the Top Three of the Eight Heads of Destruction.

Anukus was simply on another level.

'Even if the best attack team rushed here now, I wouldn't last long enough, and even if I did, they'd only be marching to their deaths.'

It was all pointless.

Despite everything, though, Barron had a fire burning in his eyes with a fierce resolve.

'I don't want to die. Not after coming this far!'

He knew it was inevitable to try and preserve his life. In the end, only the most painful demise awaited him no matter how hard he was about to struggle. But still...

'I won't give up.'

All of Barron's skills were passive, each one woven into his very being, no activation needed. All he had to rely on were his spells and enchanted artifacts, but he would use every ounce of them to survive.

His opponent stood before him, wearing a mask of twisted amusement and deep wickedness.

'I won't let you have your way so easily.'

Crouching even more and forming fists with his hands, Asher prepared himself for the fight of his life.

Unlike many others, he had no need for active skills. His mastery of magic and natural growth in strength, speed, and power made such skills redundant. His arsenal was built on knowledge and instinct.

With [Quick Casting], he could unleash a spell in an instant. [Basic Elemental Affinity] allowed him control over the core elements, while [Magic Knowledge] granted him insight into his opponent's spells and boosted his own magic's potency. With all these factors combined, Barron had always been confident in any fight he wound up in.

He had enough power and intelligence to emerge victorious.

Well, none of that confidence could be seen here.

Breathing raggedly, he clenched both of his fists and concentrated his Mana, his eyes blazing with an intense green glow.

"With this Sacred Word, I summon..." He muttered, causing more Mana to gather around him like a violent storm.

Drawing on every ounce of power, he prepared to unleash the one defense he could muster as his thoughts raced, analyzing his best chance to survive the clash ahead.

"...Elemental Guardians!"

That very instant, four entities materialized from the excess Mana that swirled around Barron's body, each embodying a distinct element and purpose.

The first was a figure of blazing fire, its body a fierce mix of red, orange, and flickering yellow. Encased in burning armor and wielding a sword of flame, it looked every bit the warrior, taking a defiant stance in the vanguard.

Behind the sentinel stood a massive earthen figure, resembling a gladiator, covered in green moss and built like a fortress. With a colossal shield raised, it was clear that this guardian was designed to withstand anything thrown at it.

To the right stood a ghost, composed entirely of wind, with its shape constantly shifted in a breezy swirl to form a man, an archer. This archer distorted the area around him with intense winds, and it stood proud with a faintly glowing bow resting in its hands, ready to unleash a torrent of arrows with the speed and unpredictability of a gale.

Finally, to the left, there was a figure cloaked in water, a priestess or mage, perhaps, with a hood obscuring its face and a staff raised.

Being a merman, Barron had an affinity for water, and he knew this guardian would hold the strongest magic of the four.

Positioned in formation, the Fire Warrior took the lead, flanked by the Earth Tank behind it to shield Barron. The Wind Archer claimed the right flank, and the Water Mage took the left, ready to cast protection spells against the inevitable wave of flames.

This was the current formation that Barron chose to employ, given that his opponent was right in front of him and was a straightforward opponent.

'I would have summoned a superior water elemental, given his fire affinity,' Barron thought, 'but this is the best I can do.'

He could only summon one set of elementals at a time, so the lineup would have to suffice. Each guardian had a role, with the Fire Warrior to strike at the front, the Earth Tank to absorb blows, the Wind Archer to harry from a distance, and the Water Mage to defend and counter any flame attacks Anukus might unleash.

'This formation is my best bet.'

The effort drained Barron's mana reserves heavily, but he was banking on his guardians buying him enough time to recover for another round if it came to that.

'I'll keep my distance, coordinate their attacks, and lend my water spells when needed. Five against one... but it's "him" we're up against.'

A bead of sweat slipped down Barron's forehead as he watched the man, Anukus, The World Burning Warlock, remove his cloak and reveal his bare, muscular frame with fiery tattoos that embraced the darkness of the night. His body glowed ominously under the sparks dancing around him that served to highlight his immaculate form.

'He looks like an expert combatant, so I can't let him get too close!' Barron narrowed his eyes and took in a deep breath.

"Come!" Anukus roared, stretching his arms wide with a wild glint in his eyes as if daring Barron's summoned forces to challenge him like a careless man driven into insanity

'As you wish!'

WHOOOSH!

In one swift move, the Flame Warrior rushed forward, sweeping past the barrier of distance that separated it from the enemy with blinding speed.

Its flaming body danced as it raised its blade and prepared a heavy frontal assault.

Meanwhile, the Wind Archer slid a little further down the flank where it guarded, already drawing its bow and locking onto the target. The Water Mage, already gathered a massive orb of water, steadily growing larger in anticipation of a fire attack. The Earth Tank positioned itself between Barron and the battlefield with its bulky form and massive shield raised in defense.

All of this happened in a heartbeat, and before the formation was fully established, the Flame Warrior was already upon the enemy.

SWOOOSH!

The first strike of both sharpness and intense heat radiated forth. It would have burned the foe before finally cutting through their body like a hot knife through butter.

The man named Anukus easily evaded the strike and vanished in an instant before reappearing behind the Flame Warrior.

Barron, controlling his summoned guardians as if playing a delicate game of chess, urged them to strike from every angle.

FSHOOO!

Wind arrows whistled through the air and streaked toward Anukus, but he danced around them and easily evaded every one as well, twisting his body in a wild dance of expert combativeness.

However, as Anukus evaded the arrows, the Flame Warrior was already on his heels with its sword swinging down with greater force.

BOOOOM!

The earth trembled as the blade missed its mark, causing a fiery explosion that split the ground. Anukus grinned as he stood just inches away from the strike while wearing a wide and cruel smile on his face.

The Flame Warrior swung its sword again, combining its assault with the incoming wind arrows. But Anukus merely chuckled, and his brightly crimson eyes glowed with an eerie, malevolent light

"Alright..." he whispered, his voice dripping with dark amusement. "...Let's get a bit more serious!"

WHUUSH!

The flaming blade clashed with the wind's arrows, causing a roaring tempest to be born.

Slashes of fire rose to form a torrent of whirlwind as the arrows burst in a wind vortex.

The cyclone of fire ascended high, completely shrouding Anukus within its heated embrace. Arcs of wind slashed through the air, igniting into searing blasts as they collided with the flames. Surely, no one could survive this inferno.

FSHUUUU!

In an instant, the inferno dissipated and scattered into a flurry of embers. Standing at its heart was Anukus, with one hand raised and his face twisted into an insane grin.

Barron could see it, and he didn't like the sense of foreboding that coursed through his mind.

His brain quickly worked up a solution, but before he could think of one, something bright was glowing from Anukus' hand.

BOOOOOOMMMM!!

A wave of intense fire erupted from Anukus' hand, an intense blaze that consumed the Flame Warrior in flames far more fiercer than what it was composed of.

"Hehehe... hahaha... HAHAHAHAHA!!!" Anukus laughed madly as more flames roared from his other hand and flowed mercilessly over the Flame Warrior's body.

Ordinarily, a Flame Elemental would shrug off fire attacks, but this was different. A lesser elemental could still be overwhelmed by fire of far greater intensity.

It was almost like being involved in a fist fight.

Flesh hitting flesh, only the superior kind of flesh, with better muscles and sturdiness, would emerge the winner.

The Flame Warrior, unable to move, began to dissolve under the relentless heat that bathed its body.

"Guh! Attack!" Barron grew so desperate that he yelled despite not needing to.

He was talking to his Water Mage, who had managed to generate a massive sphere of water, which could be enough to fill a whole pond, for situations like this.

WHOOSH!

She launched her 'WaterBall' at the enemy, and it moved quickly for its size.

In no time at all, it would traverse the distance and reach the enemy.

But-

VWUUUUMMM!

A wall of fire suddenly rose from the ground to stop the enormous water sphere.

And, believe it or not, the flames and water were evenly matched in strength!

"No way... I prepared for this WaterBall... and it still can't break through!" Barron's mind reeled at the impossible sight before him.

SHUUUUUUUU!

In the end, both clashes ended in a hissing cloud of steam, spreading from the impact site and cloaking the area in a thick white mist. But the steam's influence did not last very long as a distant explosion shattered the silence, sending waves of heat and pressure that cleared the mist in an instant, paving the way for an image of destruction itself.

"A-ah..." Barron's eyes widened as he took in the aftermath.

The Flame Warrior, the conjuration he had poured so much mana into, was in shambles and its embers dying into feeble sparks.

That was one down... out of four.

Anukus, with his back to Barron, slowly turned his head with an expressionless face, yet his glowing crimson eyes bore down with chilling intensity.

"Next," he whispered.

A shiver raced down Barron's spine, and panic began to claw at him. He commanded the Water Mage to prepare another massive WaterBall, but before the mage could finish, a searing pillar of flame erupted beneath it.

The swirling flames engulfed the Water Mage instantly, consuming every trace of moisture until nothing remained, not even a lingering wisp in the air.

From a hidden vantage point, the Wind Archer took aim and fired a powerful wind arrow at Anukus with a force capable of shattering the earth itself.

However...

"Weak."

...The wind itself tore to pieces, slashed by an invisible blade that none could see.

Before the Wind Archer could flee from its compromised position, or even react to the shocking defeat of its strongest arrow...

"[Severance]."

...It too was ripped into shreds.

The very personification of wind, sliced into pieces beyond recovery.With no trace left, it faded from existence, with its power snuffed out into silence.

In the end, Anukus stood alone in the field of devastation, surrounded only by Barron and the Earth Tank that had been meant to protect him.

"Now then... shall we continue?"

Anukus began to move from his position, each step of his seeming to send tremors through the ground beneath him with a twisted grin spread across his face as he watched Barron quiver where he stood.

Barron was paralyzed with terror, and for good reason.

Before he could even think of a new plan, Anukus was already in front of the Earth Tank. The massive Elemental lunged forward with its sturdy shield, but before it could land any meaningful movements, Anukus was already behind it.

And then...

Bonk!

...The Earth Tank crumbled to the ground, reduced to nothing but scattered blocks of stone. Its once-impenetrable shield had been broken to pieces before it even realized it, and its body followed not long after as it became nothing more than rubble. It was yet another effortless display of power by the one known as Anukus.

"It's just you now. Got any other way to entertain me?"

Barron was speechless.

'I... I haven't recovered enough mana yet!'

He had thought his Elementals would be able to buy him enough time. He had even been generous about the time by placing his estimation to the lowest possible time possible.

But even that had failed him. This was beyond anything he had anticipated.

'I barely have enough to summon one Elemental, and even then, what good would that do?!'

His enemy was strong. Overwhelmingly strong.

The reason he chose the Elemental Strategy was to create a variation of attack patterns in order to see which would be more effective.

This would allow him to learn more about his opponent, finding his weaknesses, observing his reactions from a safe distance. He had hoped to gain insight, to find some pattern or flaw he could exploit, all while keeping his distance and preserving his life.

But, it turned out all of that was pointless.

There was no 'weakness' to exploit here. There was no 'attack pattern' to be studied either.

There was only Anukus, and the trail of chaos he left in his wake.

'Is this really the way it ends? Is this all I can do?'

As the unfair truth rubbed itself in Barron's face, he felt the invincible being pulled closer. He could already smell the sulfur and smoke, and the heat itched his skin.

This was truly the end...

"Hm? Who's that?"

...Or was it?

Anukus stopped before he reached Barron as his gaze focused on something in the distance behind Barron, who was still crouched and paralyzed by fear.

Clank!

A small object suddenly dropped between them.

"What the he-"

BANG!!!

Before any of them could realize, the thing exploded, sending out a blinding and deafening explosion that disoriented them both.

"AGHHHH!!"

"AGHHHHH!!"

Due to their enhanced senses of hearing and eyesight, the effects of the flash grenade heightened which caused both to feel worse and left them momentarily incapacitated.

'Argh!! What's happening?!!'

Before Barron could process anything, he felt himself lifted onto someone's shoulder and the wind rushed past as if his rescuer was moving at an incredible speed. The world blurred, his ears ringing, until, just moments later, everything came back into normal.

"H-huh?" He noticed that, somehow, Anukus was further away from him than before.

They had been mere inches apart before, but now it was more like seventy to a hundred meters.

'What happened?'

Still confused and dazed, he noticed he was being carried by someone.

As he took his eyes off the nightmare that was Anukus, he looked at the one who was carrying him to see his face was covered by a strange mask with strange black clothes.

"Who are you?!"

"I work with Rile... I mean Sir Ghost," the rescuer quickly replied. "I'm here to find and save you! I came as fast as I could. I hope I'm not too late."

The young man in an older fellow's body shook his head profusely.

"N-no! Not at all! Thank you for coming!"

Somehow, the fear that had pervaded his body slowly became nonexistent. It was soon replaced with a bright ray of hope.

"Good. Stick close to me. Everything's going to be fine!"

'He is here to help me alone. He even said he is a subordinate of Sir Ghost. If Sir Ghost sent him to save me alone, then he must be very strong.'

If this ally couldn't help him... then perhaps there truly was no hope left.

"He uses slash and flame attacks," Barron said, struggling to convey whatever information he had managed to gather in the fight.

It wasn't much, but he hoped it would be of some use to his rescuer.

"I can see that."

His savior's response was calm, almost amused. Barron couldn't help but laugh awkwardly.

"A-ahh... okay."

The man kept running, still carrying Barron, when Anukus's voice echoed through the air.

"You both have some nerve trying to run from me."

Anukus's voice seemed to hang in the air, thick with menace. At that, Barron's rescuer slowed to a halt, setting him down gently. The sheer intensity of Anukus's words made Barron's skin crawl as the man's very presence seemed to command fear.

But before Barron's dread could deepen, he heard his rescuer's steadying voice.

"There's no reason to fear."

At those words, Barron's heart felt lighter, and the trembling in his body stilled. He looked up, both in gratitude and awe, at the man who had come to save him.

"Thank you, Sir." Turning to face Anukus, Barron allowed a confident smile to cross his face, feeling courage he hadn't known before.

After all, he had an ally even more formidable than his enemy. That thought alone was enough to make Barron's heart steady and make him smile.

"He killed all my men and our supposed allies," Barron added with bitterness in his voice. "Please... don't end him too quickly."

It was a bold request, but he hoped his rescuer would honor it.

"Please make him suffer a little."

Barron felt the man's gaze leave him and turn in the direction of the man who waited across the field.

"...Fine."

------------------------

'This is not fine. I am so fucked.'

As Woods worked to calm Barron from his fear, Woods was the exact opposite of what he advised Barron to do.

Beneath that calm look, he was consumed by fear.

He had never been so fucked up in his entire life, not even during his worst days in college or the countless missions he'd survived with his team. Why was he the only one who got transported? In any other situation, he'd enjoy watching his captain crush some powerful foes with his new magic abilities. But now? He was completely on his own.

The instant he realized this, he drank the vial containing the Mana Symbiote without a second thought. While the process was every bit as excruciating as Riley had warned, the most he'd been able to manage so far was a slight boost to his speed with the MK-I Armor, nothing remotely close to Riley's [Absolute Mana Control] or Price's dragon power.

It took every ounce of his mental strength, courage, and all his years of training as a Special Forces operative to keep Barron alive in the face of an opponent who could wipe them both out with a mere flick of his finger.

The moment the enemy had recovered, Woods stopped because he knew that if he kept running, it would be over for both him and Barron as the man could catch up in an instant, no matter the distance.

To make matters worse, his radio had broken when he was near the flames, leaving him cut off from any backup. The only thing saving him from a similar fate was his mithril armor, which had protected him from burns.

'But seriously, what is it with these people and their need to make others suffer?' Woods thought, nearly sighing. He'd been told by Riley that Barron also had a history of torturing enemies, and now he was facing another who took similar sadistic pleasure in pain.

Despite everything, Woods had loved to come to this world at first. Now, he just felt sick of this insane world.

'I can see the justification for this, though. It seems this guy had done quite a lot of awful things.'

Woods knew Barron, his father, and the entire ExRump Corporation had their own list of sins. They were hardly ones to judge. But this enemy had crossed a line that Woods found unforgivable.

'This guy messed with the plan. He went and killed the people we were supposed to be allied with and even eliminated some from our own side.'

That alone was reason enough for Woods to want vengeance.

He glanced at his Mana-Monitoring Device as it completed its scan of the enemy.

[Magicule Levels: 71,418]

'According to the intel we've gathered, Anukus, the World-Burning Warlock, is one of the Deadly Three, the strongest Executives of the Mercenary Guild. This guy has immense destructive capabilities and a dangerously unstable personality, and well all know if you mix those together, it spells disaster. And so far, he's been recorded using Skills known as [Severance], [Homing], and [Absolute Ignition].'

It was impressive, no doubt. It was amazing how a person could have only three Skills, yet be considered very formidable due to how well they used them.

For Anukus, he had mastered them to a level that made him powerful beyond measure.

'I guess it's all about quality over quantity.'

"Haaa..." Woods sighed a little while giving himself a wry smile.

'Looks like I have to face him myself.'

"Alright, enough bitching." He brushed aside his doubts and lifted his AF-2 Magic Rifle, lining up the scope directly on Anukus's head.

'He didn't look pleased. I wonder why... Well, it doesn't matter.'

But beneath his focus, Woods could sense something unfamiliar, a faint pulse from the Mana Symbiote within him, as though it was urging him to release it. He'd felt it stirring since the beginning, a warmth spreading through his hands.

'Should I try to concentrate more?'

Feeling the Mana Symbiote pulsing stronger now, Woods steadied his breathing and attempted to channel it, aiming to cast even a simple spell.

"Alright, focus... just a little light," he whispered, visualizing a soft glow in the darkness.

As he exhaled, his mind cleared, and he imagined a flicker of light. Suddenly, a powerful surge tugged in his chest, and the Mana Symbiote pulsed harder, as if awakening on its own with an unexpected intensity.

------------------------

Unbeknownst to Woods, Anukus had already made his move and done something that he wasn't aware of.

While Woods focused on channeling his magic more, Anukus used his skill [Severance] mixed with [Homing], a sure-hit attack designed to obliterate anything in its path.

Anukus had used this attack on Woods, hoping for his head to get sliced off.

'That's your punishment for disturbing my fun!' Anukus thought, irritated by the stranger's sudden interference. He despised anyone intruding on his moments of enjoyment. If they wanted a fight, they could wait their turn!

'DIE!' he mentally commanded as he sent the attack hurtling toward Woods.

But then-

'Huh...?'

The attack didn't land.

Usually, this would be the part where his opponent's head would go rolling to the ground. But now, nothing happened. It was as though the attack had vanished, leaving his target entirely unaffected. In fact, Woods didn't even seem to notice.

'Maybe my aim was off...' Anukus wondered, momentarily forgetting that his attack had the [Homing] effect.

There was no way he could have missed, even if he wanted to!

'Let's try again!'

Again and again, Anukus launched his assault, yet every time, his attack failed to reach Woods.

Frustrated, he turned to test his skill on the man beside him, only for a radiant blue barrier to flare up, blocking his attack completely.

'A defensive barrier?!'

"Hey... the fight is between you and me. Leave my client out of this."

As the intruder raised his voice at Anukus, he felt an intimidating pressure in a way he hadn't felt in years.

It made a cold, unwelcome sensation rush through his body.

'Is this... anxiety? Impossible!' Anukus scorned himself. He had long ago outgrown these emotions, having gotten much stronger since the last time such a feeling was ingrained in his mind, and based on his current progress, it wouldn't be long before he reached the limits of his power.

Most people didn't even give him anything that improved his power when he killed them, considering how worthless and weak they were.

The intruder had called the other man his 'client', signaling he was likely hired by the ExRump Corporation, an enemy to be eliminated.

'If the ExRump could hire someone in their current state, there's no way they're that strong. Maybe he just has a strong defensive Skill...'

Anukus had a colleague who had a Skill called [Damage Nullification], so he was well aware of how annoying defensive Skills could be.

'But [Damage Nullification] is of no use if your opponent is stronger than you!'

That meant this had to be something else.

'Maybe it's some kind of item,' Anukus mused. 'I'll need to get up close to find out.'

A grin spread across his face. His previous opponent had been a decent warm-up, but he craved something far more exhilarating.

'Maybe this one will actually entertain me.'

"Fine, then. Let's play..." Anukus stepped forward, feeling his blood ignite with excitement. "Come on!" he taunted, outstretching both of his hands as he awaited the attack of his opponent.

"Let's see how strong you are-!"

But before he could make another move, a sudden, blinding light flared before him.

Startled, everyone blinked in unison, feeling a shift in the air.

The ground trembled slightly, and a swirling, ethereal void appeared between them.

From within the void, a creature began to emerge, a radiant figure with pitch-black fur, dark as midnight, and marble-like red eyes gleamed like polished stones.

It had a small form, quadrupedal, with a strange appearance that startled everyone once they witnessed the entity that showed itself.

It was none other than...

"A rabbit?"

Though it had the face of a rabbit, its small, rounded body resembled a fuzzy cotton ball about the size of a basketball. Its long ears twitched, and it looked around with a deceptively innocent curiosity.

"What... how did you-?" Woods stammered, feeling completely baffled as he watched the creature sniff the air, seemingly indifferent to the chaos around it.

'It's... kind of cute,' Woods thought, 'like one of those fluffball creatures back in the New Guinea dungeons. But seriously? When I'm facing a literal pyromaniac, my 'special power' turns out to be... summoning a bunny? This has got to be some kind of magic trick joke!'

With a heavy sigh, Woods glanced at Anukus, expecting him to burst out laughing at the absurdity.

But to his surprise, Anukus, the most fearsome warrior-mage of the Deadly Three, looked pale with an uneasy expression as he took a cautious step back.

"Um... hey, man," Woods said, feeling confused. "Why do you look freaked out? It's just a fluffy rabbit."

"'Just' a rabbit?! Do you have any idea what you've summoned?!"

Woods turned to Barron, who looked equally horrified.

"You too? What's going on here?"

"You don't know what that is!?" Barron nearly choked on his words. "That's the Dark Nyxxelith! It's a Legendary Beast from the First Civilization Zone. Cute or not, that thing's famous for wiping out an entire squad of Dragon Generals, each of them were Tier 2 Transcendents!"

"So, you're telling me that this bunny is insanely powerful, enough to make dragons look like puppies?" Woods asked, still skeptical.

"...Yes."

"Yeah, right." Woods scoffed as he pulled out his Mana-Monitoring Device to scan the creature.

The screen lit up, displaying the result.

[Magicule Level: 700,000]

Woods nearly dropped the device, his eyes widening as he processed the absurd number.

He'd expected it to be strong, but not 'this' strong.

'What the fuck?!'

If his device wasn't lying, then Woods had somehow obtained a tremendously powerful familiar. Not just a new ally, this little creature was potentially a top-tier asset for the Austronesian Empire, perhaps rivaling even the Elf Queen in raw power.

No, scratch that, compared to the Elf Queen's 200,000 of Magicule Level, this little creature here far surpassed her by a margin.

'That tiny thing could probably tear through my entire squad, or even the whole military, with a single strike! Hell, it might even survive a nuclear bomb!' Woods' mind screamed as he tried to keep his shock under control.

But a question nagged at him, which is that how had the Mana Symbiote allowed him to summon a mythical creature from halfway across the world?

No one around him could answer, but here's the secret.

When the Mana Symbiote binds with Woods' bio-energy, it creates a powerful link known as "mana tethering."

This process aligns the Symbiote with Woods' unique energy signature, letting it resonate with mythical creatures whose mana frequencies match his own. In this way, the Symbiote would amplify his thoughts, forming an invisible "bridge" that connects Woods to compatible creatures tied to his own mana imprint and summon them without regard for distance.

When Woods initially bonds with the Dark Nyxxelith as his familiar, the Symbiote establishes a shared mana signature between them. This essentially links their energies across space, which allowed Woods to reach out to his familiar instantly, no matter where it might be in the world.

The Symbiote acts like an anchor, preserving a trace of the bunny's mana signature. When Woods focuses, the Symbiote can amplify his energy, tapping into the global mana network and using ambient mana to create a temporary pathway that pulls the familiar directly into his presence. The result is a seamless "bridge," enabling the bunny to appear instantly by Woods' side.

The Mana Symbiote doesn't just transport the creature, it holds the connection, making it seem as if the familiar has materialized out of thin air. This entire process relies on the unique properties of mana, transcending physical boundaries and allowing Woods to summon his ally with a mere thought.

He glanced at his new familiar, watching it curiously twitch its nose and tilt its head.

"I'm just going to call you Cottonball."

With a confident and determined look on his face, he locked eyes with Anukus and pointed directly in his direction.

"Now, Cottonball, get that motherfu-"

"[Absolute Ignition]." A cold, commanding voice interrupted, sending a shockwave through the air.

"Wha-"

Woods' raised eyebrows and words were answered by a roaring flame being manifested by his opponent.

The flames appeared intense, almost impossibly so.

And then, from the heart of the flames, a single figure emerged, an armored entity that radiated pure heat. The figure wore pristine armor, its helmet obscuring the fiery visage beneath, and two blades criss crossed across its back. In its hand, it wielded a spear of formidable power.

The armor was dark, almost molten in appearance, a stark contrast to the searing fire that enveloped it. Its eyes glowed with a fierce intensity, and its presence oozed danger.

With each step it took, the ground beneath it cracked and melted, and the very air seemed to warp under the weight of its flames, compressing the atmosphere around it in a suffocating aura.

"A Fire Elemental?" Woods muttered, his voice tinged with disbelief.

"...No," came the chilling response, echoing from the depths of the fiery knight's helmet.

Woods' eyes widened as the true identity of the figure became clear. The flames parted just enough to reveal Anukus, grinning beneath the helmet.

"So you've summoned a very dangerous Mythical beast from the First Civilization zone?" Anukus grinned with amusement. "It was scary at first. But at the thought of fighting one, this is going to be a fun battle. But make no mistake, I'll be the one to win!"

Woods could feel the shift in the atmosphere. Anukus's Unique Skill, [Absolute Ignition], wasn't enough to defeat this beast, but that hardly mattered to him. He had another hidden Skill, one that would trump all.

"Alright, then!"

A monstrous smile caused his face to morph into that of a wild heart.

"Entertain me before I get to the main dish!"