The Vow Ring snapped shut around the child’s wrist.

A terrifying magical artifact, capable of severing a human hand with a single trigger, had been fastened onto Tie’s arm.

"You bastard, even a beast wouldn’t eat something this rotten—!"

But when Bale lunged toward Tesetan,

"Calm down already."

someone stepped into his path.

The one who grabbed Bale by the shoulder was Victor—a member of Tregava.

Bale glared viciously at the slender Victor, his long dark blue hair tied back in a tail.

"...Take that off, yeah? Or should I cut your wrist first before I take that bastard’s head?"

A curious smile spread across Victor’s face.

"You’ve got quite a filthy mouth. Though I’ll admit, I’m not picky if it’s a beautiful woman. If you want—"

Before he could finish, Bale’s fist slammed into his cheek.

Taking a direct hit to the lips, Victor spoke again in surprise.

"So your fists are sharp too?"

"You insane piece of shit!"

"Hey! Are you going to leave Victor alone or not?!"

Ribia rushed over as well.

In her hand was a strange weapon with an inward-curving blade.

"What do you think you’re doing, attacking another squad leader?! Have you lost your mind?!" 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

Enraged, she pointed the weapon at Bale.

But Bale didn’t step back—he stepped forward instead.

"Your face looks like the guts of a magical beast, and you’ve still got the nerve to open your mouth? Did you even see who started this shit first?!"

"W-What?! Guts of a magical beast?!"

The atmosphere froze in an instant.

Tension hung thick between the two mercenary squads.

"So your mouth is just for spewing nonsense? Right now I’ll—"

Grinding her teeth, Ribia leaned in close to Bale.

"One more step and I won’t stay still."

This time, Basto stepped forward behind Bale, a war hammer in his hand.

He lowered it—a heavy thud rang across the ground, dust surging upward.

"You want a fight? If you do, I won’t back down."

Ribia’s eyes widened.

"Oh? So that’s how you’re going to play it? Fine. I’ve been wanting to stretch for a while anyway."

A dagger spun taut between her fingers.

"I’m sick of gutting magical beasts every day, so at least once—"

"Stop! Stop stop stop!"

But suddenly, someone panicked and squeezed between Tregava and Agavert.

"Tie is fighting!"

Tie shouted, her face pale with fear.

Basto and Bale stared at her in surprise. The members of Tregava also froze and looked toward her.

Tie continued in a trembling voice:

"It’s Tie and... and that person fighting. We agreed to fight fair and square!"

A short laugh escaped Bale’s mouth.

"For real, from the start... You think we didn’t notice? Fine, a duel is one thing. But that lunatic even put something dangerous on you—!"

"Don’t call him a bastard."

Tie’s voice trembled faintly, as if she might cry at any moment.

With the tip of her nose reddened, she looked up at Bale.

A faint swirl of mana gathered around the child.

"Don’t say bad words! That person..."

Pressing her lips together, Tie added:

"is my opponent in the duel."

Ribia frowned.

Basto and Bale fell silent, unable to find words.

Tesetan’s expression tightened ever so slightly.

'So he intends to show respect even to an opponent with no name or origin?'

But respect is usually mutual. Not one-sided.

Tesetan had just grabbed the wrist of the King of the Dead without permission and forced the Vow Ring onto it.

He knew perfectly well that touching someone’s body without consent was both an insult and a breach of etiquette.

There were two reasons.

First—he feared the King of the Dead might evade the ring.

Second—he intentionally wanted to create hostility and provoke a minor clash before the duel.

But the King of the Dead neither avoided nor resisted.

More than that, he calmly allowed the ring to be placed on him, and now was even stopping his own squad from rushing Tesetan.

'Did he read my intentions?'

Tesetan had expected that weakening the King of the Dead before the duel would increase his chances of victory.

After all, mages have a fatal weakness.

Once their mana is depleted, they become incapable of fighting.

"Everyone, step back. No one interferes!"

But the King of the Dead did not fall for his ploy.

Even though he seemed to understand everything, not a single muscle moved on his face.

"Tie, you..."

The members of Agavert looked stunned.

Tesetan glanced at them, then turned his gaze back to the King of the Dead.

Tie.

The true name he had heard before still sounded feminine.

And it didn’t match the title "King of the Dead" at all—just as empty as the figure before him.

"Tie, why would you even..."

Several Agavert officers approached the King of the Dead.

But he quickly stepped back from them and suddenly shouted:

"Pupu!"

At once, a dark crimson mist began to billow.

Victor, Allerik, and Ribia quickly retreated as the haze blocked their view.

Tesetan frowned and drew his sword.

"We agreed!"

A tearful voice came from within the mist.

The silhouette of the King of the Dead, blurred within it, stared at him with a tense expression.

"The loser obeys the winner! In everything!"

Tesetan lowered his gaze.

A silver light flashed from the Vow Ring on his left wrist.

That meant the oath had been sealed.

Tesetan smirked and immediately took a battle stance.

"Good."

Then he muttered quietly:

"If I kill you today, I get first place in recruitment back, right?"

Golden energy gathered along the blade of his sword.

Soon, the released strike split through the crimson mist.

"What should we do?"

Leonardo asked.

Valentis couldn’t answer.

Before them—

Explosions, smoke, and unprecedented fluctuations of mana raged across the open ruins.

"Squad Leader! That’s it! Keep pushing!"

Members of Tregava shouted in excitement.

Valentis swallowed as he looked where their gazes were fixed.

Within the impenetrable mist, golden light flashed, illuminating everything.

Tesetan repeatedly released waves of sword energy, trying to locate the true body of the King of the Dead.

At that moment, the crimson mist began to gather toward the center of the ruins.

It surged like a massive wave and shot high into the sky.

"...!"

Faced with the overwhelming sight, Tesetan’s continuous attacks paused for a moment.

Without leaving his stance, he stared at the rising mist.

Soon, the mist took the form of a beast.

And, opening its jaws wide, it charged at Tesetan without hesitation.

"Squad Leader!"

Ignoring the shouts, Tesetan raised his sword vertically.

Through his awakened perception, Valentis saw the flow of his sword energy shift.

'...Theseos, you.'

A chill ran down his spine.

Until now, Tesetan’s ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) sword energy had been split into numerous streams.

Unstable and explosive, it formed a wide attack field to track the hidden King of the Dead.

But the moment the mist lunged at him—

Tesetan gathered that scattered energy into a single point with unbelievable speed.

And in an instant, compressed it into one.

Valentis fell silent.

It was power impossible to believe even when seen—absolute, destructive talent.

The sword energy clinging tightly to the blade became so sharp it was visible to the naked eye.

'...Yes. That’s it.'

Tesetan’s first strike, often mentioned by informants.

That very blow capable of cleaving even elusive monsters—those considered nearly impossible to kill—in a single swing.

KWA—A—A—ANG—!

Astie’s mist was split cleanly in two without any resistance.