A piercing streak split the skies, the very fabric of space trembling.
Above the heavens, a meteor burned with fierce flames, scorching the air as it fell.
In an instant, the sky was dyed blood-red, the sheer pressure of its descent suffocating.
The countless bone spears that had filled the forest shattered one by one under the crushing force.
"What the hell is this!?"
"A meteor!? From where!?"
"It's massive—at least three kilometers wide!"
The Apostles of Darkness all stared upward in horror, wide-eyed.
Even Yuno and the Golden Dawn survivors froze, dumbstruck by the sight.
He had no idea where this massive meteor came from, but he knew one thing—
he and his comrades were all within its impact zone.
"Retreat!"
Without Zenon's bone magic pressuring them, Yuno's group finally caught a breath.
They dashed backward at full speed, trying to escape the meteor's shadow.
But with a three-kilometer span, outrunning it was no simple feat.
Yuno, with Spirit Assimilation and the power of wind, was confident he could escape at the last second—
but the others?
"Yuno, you go on ahead!"
"Don't worry about us—you are the last hope of the Golden Dawn!"
"Remember… you must avenge us!"
Hearing those words, Yuno's eyes turned crimson, his fists trembling as blood seeped from his palms.
His heart wavered in agony, but he knew…
Hesitate even for a moment, and even that last hope would vanish.
"…I will. I promise."
Gritting his teeth, Yuno turned to flee.
But then, a deafening roar erupted above.
"Bone Magic: Ultimate Art—Sword of Ossification!"
Zenon's body surged with demonic power, magic flooding into the earth-shaking spell.
Countless bone blades fused together in the sky, forming a titanic sword.
The giant blade radiated a chilling brilliance, as if it could slice through reality itself.
With a roar, it slashed upward against the falling meteor.
CRACK!
The sound was sharp, like heaven and earth splitting apart.
For an instant, time itself seemed frozen.
Then—the blazing meteor shattered into fragments, flames scattering as a devastating shockwave ripped through the battlefield.
"Steel Creation Magic: Iron Wall!"
"Earth Creation Magic: Titan's Guard!"
Walls of steel and rock rose up, shielding the exhausted Golden Dawn mages from the fiery debris.
"Cough… cough… Everyone still alive?"
As the smoke cleared, Yuno exhaled in relief.
Ironically, their survival—at least for the moment—was thanks to Zenon's intervention.
But then—
"Light Magic: Blades of Judgment!"
Golden swords suddenly manifested in the void, hanging like stars across the heavens.
Zenon and his Apostles frowned, bracing themselves.
Yuno, however, froze in disbelief.
"That voice…"
It was familiar—too familiar.
Light Magic? Could it be… Licht?
No—impossible. The reincarnated elves had all been released. Then who—?
"Yuno," the voice called, laced with dry amusement.
"To think you'd end up this battered. What's wrong? Are these rats from another kingdom really giving you this much trouble?"
From the sky, a figure descended, cloaked in brilliance.
His tone was mocking, but his presence—overwhelming.
Yuno's eyes widened, his voice trembling with relief and exhilaration.
"Ethan!"
The Apostles blinked.
"Ethan Hayes…?" Zenon muttered, brow furrowed.
The name was not unknown.
Their intelligence reports had warned of him—a prodigy under twenty, already the captain of the mysterious tenth squad.
A man who, by rumor, had single-handedly ended the last great demon invasion.
Unlike Yuno, whose fame was tied to Golden Dawn, Ethan's reputation was shrouded in mystery.
To Zenon, he was more dangerous.
But something didn't add up.
"Wait. Wasn't he supposed to be in the Heart Kingdom? What is he doing here… this close to Spade's border?"
Had their plan been exposed?
Zenon narrowed his eyes, then smirked.
"…No matter. Since you've come, then today—none of you leave alive."
"Heh. Bold words," Ethan sneered.
"Let's see just how you plan to make that happen. Fall."
At his command, the countless golden swords rained down like a storm.
"So fast!"
Zenon's pupils shrank as he hastily cloaked himself in a dense layer of bone armor.
Light Magic was fast—but this speed?
It was near instant.
The blades pierced through, slamming against him—yet his bone armor held.
"…A tough shell," Ethan smirked.
"Then let's see you handle this. Time Magic: Reversal."
From the void, an ancient clock manifested, its hands ticking in eerie unison.
DONG… DONG…
With each strike, the air itself trembled.
The unbreakable bone armor—crumbled into dust.
And then—
SHNK!
Golden blades pierced Zenon clean through, cutting his body with brutal finality.
The Apostles froze in horror.
Yuno and his comrades stared, mouths agape.
"…Zenon-sama… d-did he just—die?"
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