Azarath's heavy and threatening aura coiled around Daniel's neck like a noose. Breathing felt like swallowing blades.

Even Leia had fallen to one knee, barely holding her balance.

And yet, Daniel gave a faint smile. His eyes gleamed coldly, and his voice carried a mocking chill.

"It's rare for me to fight someone stronger than me...

Unless they provoke me first."

"Enough sleep."

In an instant, the ground beneath him darkened. One after another, the Fallen emerged from the shadows.

Azarath raised an eyebrow.

"Oh? Interesting… These aren't summons. Not undead either. Hm… hahaha. Very interesting." He stepped forward slightly, his eyes darting between the Fallen and Daniel.

There was something strange about the aura Daniel was giving off.

Close to Rank C—maybe even at its peak.

But Daniel's recorded rank was just D. Based on the energy Azarath could sense, he was barely even mid-D at best.

Something didn't add up. Logic alone couldn't explain this.

"Interesting… very interesting. You're not someone I should ignore. I've got an offer for you… How about joining the Corruption?

Serve me. I'll let you live." Azarath smiled.

Leia's face twisted in shock. A chill ran down her spine. If he accepted… wouldn't that mean her death?

Daniel stayed silent for a moment, his face unreadable.

"No." He finally spoke.

"May I ask why?" Azarath frowned slightly. He hadn't expected the boy to refuse.

Sure, he was strong—but he couldn't be foolish enough to think he could win.

Daniel looked toward the cliff. Toward Eva, still trapped in chains.

"I'm a man of my word. And I won't let that girl get hurt."

"Hm… loyal. Interesting. But I'm sorry… that girl is going to become a vessel for one of the Catastrophes." Azarath sneered.

"Anyway, can I ask one question?" Daniel suddenly said.

"Oh? Go ahead, I'll let you ask one question before your death."

"What exactly is this place?" Daniel looked around with curiosity and asked.

"Good question. This place is sort of a sea of blood. See all this blood? It belongs to the half a million people who died here decades ago in the Broken Valley."

"What do you mean?" Daniel frowned, not understanding what he meant.

How is that even possible? Weren't all those half a million people killed by corruption beasts? Then how could their blood be here?

Unless… the history had been tampered with.

"I said one question. That's enough. I've already wasted too much time."

He raised his hand.

"Kill them."

Four Rank C phantoms moved at once. Their dead, cold auras swallowed the air.

"Crush them," Daniel said with a single word.

In a flash, the Fallen leapt forward.

Pride, laughing manically, raised his spear. Azrak, silent, charged with his massive sword.

Vorak let out a bestial roar and slammed one of the phantoms into a wall.

"Hah. I never liked you mancers… you're an army all by yourselves," Azarath muttered.

"Together," Daniel said, glancing at Leia. He knew they barely stood a chance—maybe not even that.

But he hoped they could buy enough time. If Kayn and the rest of the Fallen arrived, maybe they could at least escape.

Leia didn't blink.

"Let's go then." She drew two silver daggers from behind her back, blue flames wrapping around them.

Daniel pulled his sword from his inventory.

Then, they charged.

Azarath stood still, arms behind his back, a mocking smile on his face.

Daniel struck first, raising his sword.

[Light of Destruction]

The blade gleamed with golden energy and slashed toward Azarath's neck.

But—

Crack!

Azarath simply raised a finger—and stopped the blade.

"That's it? Really? You called this 'Destruction'? I'd love to know why," he said, smiling deeper.

Daniel pulled back instantly, frowning.

He couldn't even move him. The gap was bigger than he thought.

With another shout, Daniel launched his second strike.

[Strike of Destruction]

This time, cracks appeared on the blade, and a blast of golden-black energy shot toward Azarath.

At the same time, Leia attacked from behind.

[Phantom Serpent]

Her dagger moved through shadows, creating multiple copies of herself. They attacked from all directions.

Azarath raised a single brow. Didn't even move. With a sweep of his hand, he erased every copy.

"Damn it. We're both Rank B! What the hell is this gap?" Leia backed off, panting.

At Daniel's signal, they attacked again.

[Double Leap]

Leia jumped from a wall, closing in with lightning speed. Ten rapid slashes aimed at Azarath.

He tilted his head slightly. All her strikes missed.

He raised his hand and struck her chest. She was sent flying backward.

[Flame Blade] At that moment, Daniel charged again, shouting.

He used the Ragzar ring to transfer fire to his sword, then enhanced it with [Strike of Destruction] to boost the power.

"Enough. You're both weak… time to end this little game," Azarath said with a smile.

In a blink, he appeared in front of Daniel.

Before Daniel could react, Azarath shattered his sword with a single finger.

"No—!" Leia screamed.

But it was too late. Azarath raised both hands.

Dark energy surged from his palms.

Boom!

He slammed his hands into Daniel's head from both sides—and Daniel's skull exploded instantly. Blood and bone fragments filled the air.

His body collapsed, headless, lifeless. He didn't even have time to react.

He died on the spot.

Leia froze. Her heart sank. She could only scream in rage and disbelief.

Eva, watching the scene, tried to scream with all her might, but the spell prevented her from speaking. Tears streamed down her face.

"You bastard…!"

"You want to die like him too?" Azarath turned toward Leia.

[Pain storm]

Hundreds of needles formed from the shadows around Azarath, then exploded forward toward Leia.

She could only raise her daggers to block—but it was useless.

Boom!

Her body was thrown like a broken doll, crashing into a cliff wall.

Cracks split the stone. She lay motionless among the rocks.

"Too much time wasted…" Azarath sighed. He turned and began walking toward Eva and Lorena.

But… he suddenly stopped. Turned back toward the battlefield.

His eyes narrowed.

The phantoms… why were they still fighting?

The ten bizarre beings Daniel had summoned were still there.

Their eyes still glowing. Their energy still radiating.

Azarath frowned.

"...Aren't summons supposed to vanish when their summoner dies?"