Ats dashed through Soren’s soldiers as they attacked from every dire. He sidestepped, blog with his spear, redireg their attacks with swift, fluid movements, and drove his bde deep into one soldier’s chest. Another enemy lu him from behind, but a bde suddenly whipped out, pierg ly through the attacker’s skull.

  Blood spttered across Ats’s arm. His pulse thundered, adrenaline surging in this brutal, life-or-death battle.

  He go his side as Kurogasa joined him. "My Lord, I’ll be your shadow.”

  In a blur, Kurogasa split into five duplicates, engaging enemies from multiple angles, fending off strikes to keep Ats’s path clear.

  Without hesitation, Ats pressed forward, heading straight for the fortress, where Raze fought fiercely, his massive fists hammering against the thick walls as he attempted to break through.

  Two soldiers charged at Ats, attempting to block his path. Suddenly, thick vines burst from the ground, ing around their limbs and dragging them down.

  Lyrassa flew past, both hands raised, casting supportive spells that boosted allies across the battlefield.

  Behind him, Manna was locked in fierbat with several of Soren’s troops, her scythe a dark blur slig through the air.

  Meanwhile, Ats’s forces pressed forward relentlessly, their coordinated assault driving Soren’s soldiers further and further back.

  But, uedly, Soren’s isnd revealed even more reinforts—troops p out from within the fortress itself.

  This Soren isn’t just any lord.

  For someone in Seeker Division 1, there was no way he should have access to so many resources. Someone powerful must be bag him.

  Meanwhile, Raze had mao create a rge brea the fortress wall, all while battling fiercely. He grabbed an enemy by the head, hurling the unfortunate soldier with such force that they flew off the isnd’s edge, disappearing into the clouds below.

  Ats darted forward through the path opened by Kurogasa and Lyrassa, weaving past Raze and slipping into the fortress through the gaping hole Raze had smashed into the wall.

  Inside, he found Soren standing with arms crossed, waiting as though he’d expected this all along.

  Kurogasa appeared at Ats’s side. “My Lord, shall we finish this quickly?”

  “No,” Ats replied. “Leave him to me.”

  Soren’s mog voice echoed from behind his helmet. “Oh, Ats, the little Gacha gamer.”

  He ughed. “I’m trembling in fear. I might eve myself now that you’ve e all this way to try to kill me.”

  Ats stepped forward, spear in hand, eyes locked onto Soren. This was his moment. A ce to prove himself, and he was resolute in ending it on his own terms.

  “I gave you a fair ce,” Soren said, “but you chose total destru for yourself.”

  “You’re awfully fident for someone ered,” Ats replied. “You’re still mouthing off even now, huh?”

  “Oh, you really think you’ve won, Ats?” Soren sneered. “Are you truly that na?ve? You have no idea just how far I’m willing to go, Ats. You’ve uimated your oppo. I see how amateurish you are. Is this your first real battle? It’s painfully obvious from the poor decisions you’ve made. Hahaha!”

  “No, I know we haven’t wo,” Ats replied smoothly. “But I’m about to make sure of it, by killing you.”

  Soren ughed. “So you really believe you defeat me? Why don’t y your women here while you’re at it? They’re so entig I’d like to finish this up and have them as my reward.”

  Ats’s eyes narrowed, his grip tightening on his spear as he took a fighting stance.

  Soren raised his right hand, and a massive greatsword materialized, its tip scraping the ground with a dull, menag weight.

  “So, you think you’re skilled with that puny spear? Let’s see who’s truly the better fighter! I’ll smash your head to pieces with this greatsword of mine!”

  “I’ll kill you first, and take that armor and greatsword to equip my own troops.”

  “Hah! Too much talk!”

  Ats focused, carefully assessing his oppo. Fag someone wielding a greatsword, he knew he couldn’t rely on direct frontation or parrying Soren’s strikes—the sheer force would overpower him.

  Instead, he o use the on’s weight against Soren. With his spear, he had speed and agility on his side, both of which would be key in this fight.

  They charged at each other. Soren swung his greatsword in a powerful, sweeping arc, aiming to cleave through Ats. But Ats stopped short, leaping back just in time to dodge the attack. Seizing the opening, he sidestepped and aimed a swift strike at Soren’s side.

  Soren smirked, shifting with surprising speed, intercepting the attack. The impact sent Ats skidding back, but he recovered instantly, lunging forward from anle.

  This time, Soren deflected each of Ats’s strikes, then unleashed a Skill move of his oid series of sshes with his massive greatsword, each swing blurring with power and speed as it sliced toward Ats.

  Ats backflipped to avoid the onsught, his feet nding gracefully as he steadied himself, repositioning with precision and calg his move.

  Ats allowed a small smile to spread across his face, sav the thrill of the fight. He knew Soren had both devastating attacks and formidable defenses with his heavy armor—but this battle had only just begun.

  [Epic - Bloodrush (Active) Lv. 1]

  [eling vampiriergy into muscles, grants a surge of speed, enabling swift, precise movements through enemies with rapid agility.]

  A surge of energy flooded through him, like his blood was thrumming with newfound power. His senses sharpened, his stamina surged, and he felt a burst of strength in his limbs.

  He shot forward, moving with explosive speed. Soren’s eyes widened, clearly startled by the shift in Ats’s movement speed.

  [Elite - Duskbound Presence (ditional Passive) Lv. 1]

  [Exudes an intimidating aura that weakens the attack power of nearby enemies and boosts critical strike ces when surrounded by multiple foes.]

  Ats’s eyes glowed red, his gaze pierg with an intense, predatory focus. Soren, caught off guard, felt a wave of pressure radiate from him. A killing ihat seemed to sap his own strength.

  [on - Endurance Boost Lv. 10]

  Ats darted around Soren, his attacks relentless. Soren struggled to keep up, forced to block each strike.

  "You think you’re stronger just because of some cheap buff skill?" Soren snarled, attempting to match Ats’s speed.

  He swung his greatsword wildly, but Ats weaved around him, too fast and precise to be caught by the powerful but slower swings.

  Ats circled, thrusting his spear from various angles. He struck from behind, and as Soren whipped around to retaliate, Ats sidestepped and aimed a swipe at his neck, then arike to the back of his knee, each blow chipping away at Soren’s defenses.

  "Curse you, you son of a—!" Soren roared in frustration.

  Ats remained focused, tinually nding blows on Soren’s ots. The differen speed was overwhelming, and Soren’s heavy armor couldn’t make up for it.

  Sensing an opening, Ats drove his spear toward Soren’s wrist with pinpoint accuracy.

  The impact forced Soren to drop his greatsword. It cttered to the ground, leaving him vulnerable as Ats prepared for the finishing strike.

  Ats lunged again, aiming for Soren’s chest, but Soren mao catch the spear with his hand. Uerred, Ats pressed on, attag relentlessly now that Soren was defenseless without his on.

  With another precise swipe, he struck, knog off Soren’s helmet. For the first time, Ats saw his face. Young, barely in his twenties, and twisted in panic, a stark trast to the arrogance he’d shown before.

  Ats delivered another powerful thrust, throwing Soren backward, sending him sprawling to the ground.

  This is it, Ats thought, ready to end it.

  He shot forward, spear aimed for the final blow.

  But suddenly, a sharp presence appeared at his side.

  Kurogasa?!

  “My Lord, five me!” Kurogasa excimed, intercepting Ats and pushing him back slightly.

  What just happened?!

  In that instant, a new figure appeared between Ats and Soren—a man with a long, blue sword, light blue and white armor, with his bck hair tied bad a well-kept mustache.

  The newer’s sword met Kurogasa’s in a fsh of steel, f Kurogasa to leap back, readying himself for arike as he eyed the mysterious swordsman warily.

  “Pleasure to meet you all,” the man said with a calm smile. “I am Takashi, and I’m here to end this fight swiftly. This has been quite the waste of time.”

  Kurogasa’s eyes narrowed. “My Lord, his level is high. Much higher than Manna’s.”