Wrathful Aegis—known in the Western Territories as [Wrathful Aegis]—was a rare, A-rank transformation-type battle soul.
When activated, the host's body would swell into the towering form of an "Ancient Wrathful Buddha," tripling their height. In this state, they gained a staggering 60% damage reduction, alongside both magical and physical resistances equal to twice their total attributes—coupled with a terrifying surge of raw strength.
It was because of these qualities that Wrathful Aegis ranked among the very top of all A-rank battle souls, its defensive value rivaling even certain S-class miracles.
For adventuring parties who regularly ventured deep into dungeons or faced king-class beasts, having a Wrathful Aegis among their ranks meant their survival rate would skyrocket to unthinkable levels.
From the moment Gregory awakened his soul, his future had been destined for greatness.
Even without seeking the summit, his life could have been more comfortable than that of ninety-nine percent of mortals.
But in Alex's past life, Gregory had thrown away the comfort of certain glory, choosing instead to follow him with unwavering loyalty—standing as his shield, his blood and honor pledged without hesitation.
If not for Gregory's countless acts of self-sacrifice in the depths of dungeons, Alex would have perished under a monster's claws long before ever reaching Level 54.
In that life, Alex had been powerless to repay that loyalty.
In this life—he would never again allow Gregory to suffer so much as a single indignity.
The tide of memory receded, and the battle before him suddenly worsened.
"Tell me—where is Alex?!"
In Brown's palm, a deep-blue flame roared to life, like fire that had been devoured and spat back out by Hell itself.
His face twisted with malice as he hurled it—now shaped into a fireball—straight at Gregory's massive chest.
Hiss!
The blaze tore through the air, slamming into the giant's thick muscle. A sound like searing meat split the silence, black smoke curling upward in greasy tendrils.
Leon's lips curled into a cruel smile as he drew his bronze longbow to a full moon. "Spill it, and I'll give you a clean death. Keep resisting, and I'll drive my arrows into your bones—one… by one—until you howl yourself hoarse and die choking on your own pain."
These two were like wolves toying with cornered prey, brimming with confidence.
But facing them, Gregory—transformed into the Wrathful Aegis—glared with blood-red eyes, his voice rolling like thunder.
"You two? Kill me? Don't make me laugh! If not for that coward's arrow from the shadows, you'd already be rotting meat!"
Ten minutes earlier, he had been locked in a life-or-death battle with a Level 7 elite beast, moments away from victory—
Until Leon's cold arrow struck his weak point. Unable to evade the beast's dying counterattack, he was left gravely injured.
Brown and Leon had pounced on the opportunity, alternating their assaults in a war of attrition, slowly grinding away his stamina until this current stalemate.
Otherwise, with Wrathful Aegis' defense and strength, even at a slightly lower level, no one could have suppressed him so easily.
"Hmph. Enough talk."
Brown sneered, the flames in his fingers twisting into serpentine coils as he advanced step by step. "Tell me where Alex is, and if I'm in a generous mood, I might let you crawl away alive."
Gregory threw back his head and laughed—a wild, fearless sound. "Betray my friend? You're not worthy! Kill Alex? You're even less worthy!"
"He's a peerless hero. One day his name will shake the nations—he won't die to gutter rats like you!"
"If you've got the guts, come fight! Let's see if, before I fall, I can't drag at least one of you down to the Yellow Springs with me!"
As his words fell, the six arms at his back unfurled. Though his body was broken, a blood-red pressure like that of a god-demon descended upon the clearing.
Brown and Leon stiffened instinctively, their steps faltering, unwilling to close the distance.
Gregory's laughter grew sharper, needling their pride until their faces turned an ugly shade.
"Damn you! If I don't kill you today, I'm not Brown!"
With a roar, the fire serpent tore through the air, streaking straight for Gregory's heart.
"Come then!"
Gregory bellowed, ready to meet it head-on—
—But in that lightning-flash moment, a blade of light, faster than thunder, sliced out from the depths of the forest. It struck the fire serpent head-on, shattering it into nothingness midair.
All present froze.
Then, from the shadows of the trees, came a voice—cold, domineering:
"Gregory, fall back and rest."
"With me here—no one touches you today."
The blood in Gregory's eyes dissolved instantly into wild joy.
Brown and Leon exchanged a glance, their expressions tightening as they locked their focus on the direction of the voice.
From between the trees emerged a figure—not towering, but moving with an unhurried confidence.
One hand in his pocket, the other holding a black longblade, his gaze was as calm and cold as a mountain lake.
He walked straight past Gregory, taking his place at the front.
"Alex…"
Gregory's unyielding battle fury melted away, replaced by the quiet relief of a man who knew he no longer stood alone.
The towering Wrathful Aegis form faded in the shifting light, Gregory's massive frame shrinking back to human size. He collapsed heavily to the ground, but the corner of his mouth still carried a simple, honest smile as he gazed up at the sky—
Because Alex had arrived.
"Alex! Finally decided to show yourself!"
Brown and Leon's faces lit up with predatory joy, as though they'd just caught hold of a cornered prey's tail.
"I was never hiding," Alex's voice was cold, sharp as the glacial winds of the Northern Wastes. "So how could I be 'showing myself'?"
These two had been needling him ever since the day he stepped into the Fifth Academy.
Three years' worth of debts—spanning two lifetimes—were long overdue for collection, with interest.
But Brown and Leon, oblivious as ever, spewed the same venom they always did.
"A D-rank talent, pretending to be some kind of master?"
"I was planning to give you a quick death… but I've changed my mind. I'll carve you apart, piece by piece, and feed what's left to the beasts!"
Flames coiled once more in Brown's hands.
Leon had already pulled out a magic crystal recorder, activating it—proof they intended to present to Manfred when the deed was done.