While Arnauld struggled alone against Diablo, other squads were being forced to abandon their attempts to set up barriers as they confronted unexpected opponents. One squad in particular drew attention.
Glenda, a female paladin captain with reddish-brown hair, had her team smoothly preparing the barrier when a young man suddenly approached them. A single, feeler-like horn protruded from the center of his forehead, a clear sign that he was not human. His blue hair fluttered as he walked with calm, deliberate steps.
Glenda clicked her tongue, delegating the barrier's oversight to her adjutants while ordering her remaining squad members to scatter.
"So… are you also from that town?" she asked, not really expecting an answer but buying precious time for her team.
"That's correct. I will give you a piece of advice. Sit here and wait quietly. If you do, you won't have to endure a bitter experience. It is in everyone's best interest," the young man said lightly, his voice almost casual.
Glenda snorted. Negotiating with monsters was out of the question, and especially with this one. Only a single opponent stood before them.
At first glance, he resembled a high-ranking ogre, but she was certain he posed no true threat to trained paladins. Ogres were brutal creatures who relied on sheer physical might, swinging massive weapons and using natural resilience or accelerated recovery to crush foes. Some were even capable of taking on adventurers without much trouble.
Yet these were paladins, disciplined and battle-hardened. None would yield to a mere ogre. And the one in front of her—though appearing weaker for an ogre—carried an aura of authority, a presence that commanded attention. She realized this was likely a "Named" unique monster.
The confidence he radiated was no accident; it stemmed from unparalleled power in this forest. That self-assurance, however, would not last. Glenda tightened her grip on her sword.
"This foolish frog in the well… he's about to learn how wide the world truly is," she thought. "And he'll never underestimate paladins again. Though, frankly, he won't live to see a second chance anyway."
Her eyes narrowed as she readied herself. Atem's influence was felt across Eterna; his presence loomed, a silent reminder that no matter the power before them, true strategy and resolve would always tilt the scales.
The young man stopped walking and tilted his head, observing them calmly.
"You appear ready," he said. "Shall we see if your courage matches your skill?"
Glenda's heart did not waver. "We are paladins. Monsters like you will fall today!"
With that, she and her squad prepared to teach this "Named" ogre a lesson in the harsh reality of paladin strength.
The battlefield of Eterna had opened another intense confrontation.
"Stay on your guard! There is only one enemy. The danger level is 'A-'! Attack in a trio!"
Glenda's voice rang out, precise and commanding. She had considered scattering her subordinates to set up a Holy Field, but there was only one opponent. The aura emanating from him wasn't particularly strong, and the danger level appeared deceptively low. Her choice would decide the fate of her squad.
"You're being far too careless. Don't underestimate your opponent," came a calm, distant warning from one of her adjutants.
Three paladins approached the man before them, stepping forward in unison. At that moment, a wavering, haze-like illusion flickered before their eyes. He passed by them effortlessly, moving toward the others. The three paladins who tried to intercept him walked for a few steps, then collapsed. Their consciousnesses vanished, and their bodies froze instantly, as if struck by an invisible hand. Paladins trained for the deadliest threats had been incapacitated in the blink of an eye.
"W-what just happened?!" one gasped. "You're… not normal! Who are you?!" another shouted.
Glenda's heart raced as she realized the pattern. The voices of her adjutants reached her like distant echoes, full of panic and disbelief. The man before her radiated absolute strength. Finally, the meaning behind Hinata's warnings clicked into place—but it was too late.
Her comrades—all the other paladins—had been knocked unconscious by the creeping shadows behind them. Figures that mirrored him had disappeared like mist, revealing that he had hidden body doubles from the very start. Just like Hinata had warned, the moment he revealed himself, the outcome was already clear. Glenda hadn't underestimated him intentionally, yet the results were undeniable.
She narrowed her eyes, trying to steady herself. The man stopped and regarded her calmly. "I could state my name, but that's unnecessary. There is a reason I left you alone until now. Tell me everything you know about the Holy Church. I am currently researching interrogation methods, so if you refuse, I will have to use you as my test subject. You may resist if you wish. The choice is yours."
Glenda's chest tightened. Every instinct screamed to resist, yet the presence before her pressed down like a vice. Logic dictated survival.
Her hands shook, but she forced herself to breathe and raise her head. "I… I will answer," she whispered, voice firm though barely audible.
The figure did not move. The shadows around him seemed to thicken, pressing closer, a tangible weight of authority and lethal precision. This was no ordinary adversary. Every instinct told Glenda that opposition meant death, and compliance was her only option.
"Good," he said, voice calm, devoid of emotion. "Then speak. I will listen—and I will decide what to do with what I learn. This is not mercy. It is your only opportunity."
The battlefield of Eterna had grown silent. Only the whisper of leaves and the faint hum of shadows filled the air. Glenda understood clearly: the man before her wielded absolute power, and in this encounter, she had no choice but to obey.
Her fate—and that of her squad—rested entirely on her next words.
The man spoke calmly, his dark blue eyes unflinching. Not a single flicker of emotion crossed his handsome, yet cold, face. That unnerving composure sent an indescribable fear crawling through Glenda. Resistance seemed meaningless. Every instinct screamed that one wrong move would mean death.
Yet as she glanced around, she realized all her comrades—the paladins—were still alive. If she chose defiance and perished, they might follow the same fate. Survival, for the moment, required a calculated choice. In order to buy time, she would accept his interrogation.
"You may do as you wish—torture me, threaten me, whatever you like. But know this: we will never submit to monsters," she declared, her voice steady despite the tremor in her chest.
Drawing her sword, Glenda released her spiritual power. A shimmer of golden light enveloped the blade, activating her spiritual armament. She would not fight blindly; even if she could not match his strength, she would at least protect her pride.
The man—this beautiful, dark-haired figure—tilted his head slightly, observing her with a trace of displeasure. A faint sigh escaped him.
"I see," he said slowly. "You've chosen to resist. How… admirable. Though honestly, obedience would have spared us both time. I have no interest in such rankings."
Glenda didn't wait to hear more. She moved first, her sword flashing through the air from a blind spot, aiming to strike him. The blade cut through something—but when she expected resistance, there was nothing. Mist swirled in the space where his body had been.
Her heart sank. A body double. She understood immediately: unless she could locate the main body, victory was impossible.
The man's voice broke the tense silence. Calm, cold, and unhurried:
"Now then, let us begin my interrogation. Speak when you feel it necessary. Otherwise… remain silent and endure."
Glenda clenched her teeth and tightened her grip on her sword. Her mind raced. She would answer carefully, buying time for her squad, while searching for any clue to locate his true form.
Her surroundings were tense, charged with a quiet, deadly energy. Even without attacking, his presence pressed down on her, a suffocating weight that could break a lesser warrior's spirit.
"I will not break," Glenda whispered to herself, her resolve firming. "I will protect my comrades. I will buy every second I can."
A shadow shifted behind him, fleeting, almost imperceptible. Every instinct screamed that this was a creature beyond ordinary comprehension—a master of deception, capable of overwhelming even the strongest paladins with ease.
The interrogation had begun. The battlefield of Eterna had grown still, but danger hung in the air like a blade poised to strike. Glenda knew the truth: she was facing an opponent whose skill and cunning dwarfed her own, and yet, her duty demanded defiance.
The next words she chose would shape not just her own fate, but that of her entire squad.