"This is troublesome..."
Lux's (Raiden Ei's) eyes narrowed sharply as she assessed their battleground. Tall buildings surrounded the area, with civilians still running frantically seeking shelter.
She could easily eliminate the three Rank S Assassins in the blink of an eye using her full power, but the destruction that would follow would certainly create a sea of innocent casualties.
"Go evacuate the people still in this vicinity. I'll handle these three insects," she said in an icy tone without even glancing at Emil.
"B-but they're all three—"
"This isn't a request." Lux's (Raiden Ei's) voice cut sharply, the air around her beginning to vibrate as faint electro energy enveloped her body. "This is an order."
"I-I..." Emil looked at her with hesitant eyes. Guilt gripped his chest as he realized that he was the main target of the three Assassins. Yet here, he was merely a burden, putting Lux (Raiden Ei) in danger.
'I'm truly useless...'
"I don't like that look."
"Huh?" Emil startled.
"Your expression..." Lux (Raiden Ei) turned around, her electric purple eyes piercing coldly into Emil's soul. "As if I were a weak girl who needs protection. I hate that look." Her voice flowed like frozen poison. "As I thought, we're incompatible. You're quite foolish to want to marry me with that mentality."
Emil's body trembled under that deadly gaze. By all means, he would rather face the three Rank S Assassins than receive such a cold stare from the woman he loved.
"A-alright, I'll go evacuate the people," he finally said with a trembling voice. "Wait, I'll call for reinforcements!"
"...I don't need reinforcements from you or anyone else." Lux (Raiden) turned her back, her long purple hair flowing gently despite the absence of wind. "Just protect the people."
Emil's steps halted momentarily, his gaze lingering on Lux's (Raiden's) slender back as she now faced three monsters in human form alone. With a heavy heart, he continued walking.
"Did you think I'd let you leave just like that?!" One of the Assassins with glowing red eyes lunged with extraordinary speed, sharp shadow claws aimed at Emil's back.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Consecutive purple lightning strikes hit the Assassin's body, throwing him back toward his two companions. The marble floor cracked and shattered as his body landed with a loud thud.
"Your opponents are the three of me."
At that moment, electro energy began to glow more intensely, gathering in Lux's (Raiden Ei's) right hand before forming a spear nearly as tall as herself. Blinding purple light accompanied the formation of that legendary weapon.
The spear wasn't merely beautiful—it was a manifestation of divine power. Its curved blade adorned with ancient engravings glowed with pure electro energy. Its dark purple primary color seemed to absorb the surrounding light, creating a perfect contrast with Lux's (Raiden Ei's) elegant yet deadly appearance.
Engulfing Lightning—the legendary naginata of Raiden Ei, a weapon rumored to be able to split mountains and destroy oceans.
The three Rank S Assassins froze momentarily before their eyes filled with unbridled greed.
"We didn't expect," one of them licked his lips, "that besides being extremely beautiful, you're also extremely wealthy!"
In an instant, they knew the spear in Lux's (Raiden Ei's) hand was no ordinary weapon. The ancient aura emanating from it screamed one thing—this was a Divine Weapon!
Suddenly they felt Emil no longer held their interest. The woman before them was far more valuable!
This woman must be theirs!
The three Assassins exchanged glances before nodding in agreement. In the next second, their bodies seemed to merge with darkness, transforming into shadows darting from all directions.
However, in Lux's (Raiden Ei's) view, she could clearly see—hundreds of deadly shadow claws attacking from all angles, moving at speeds that even Rank A Hunters' eyes couldn't follow.
Electro energy exploded from her body, creating a purple energy dome that made the air vibrate. Without hesitation, Lux (Raiden Ei) swung Engulfing Lightning in a single graceful yet deadly motion.
SLASSHH...!!! BLAAARR...!!!
Though Lux (Raiden Ei) tried to restrain her attack's output, the impact remained terrifying. One swing of her spear cleaved through a three-story building in the distance as if cutting paper. Dust and debris scattered in all directions.
"Hahaha! Interesting! We didn't expect you to be so powerful!" The laughter of one Assassin echoed, but their eyes betrayed deep shock.
Their shadow claws—a technique that could even tear through Rank A Hunter armor—vanished like fog before sunlight with just one movement from Lux (Raiden Ei).
Since when was there a Hunter this powerful in this remote city?
"But to defeat all three of us," hissed the Assassin who appeared to be their leader, "that's still far from enough!"
BOOOMM...!! BOOOMM...!! BOOMMM..!!
Black aura exploded from the three Assassins' bodies, creating pressure waves that made the air feel like lead. The ground shook, surrounding buildings began to crack.
The true power of Rank S Assassins was now fully displayed!
Lux's (Raiden Ei's) expression remained unchanged. Her purple eyes gazed flatly, as if she were facing three children at play. She gripped Engulfing Lightning tighter, electro energy crackling along the entire blade of her spear.
"Come," she said calmly, as if inviting children to play.
BLAAARR...!!
At the same moment, the city's alarm roared loudly from all directions.
[ WARNING!! WARNING!! WARNING!! ]
[ LARGE UNKNOWN ENERGY DETECTED!!! SUSPECTED ATTACK AGAINST THE CITY IN PROGRESS!! ]
[ PLEASE IMMEDIATELY MOVE AWAY FROM THE LOCATION!! ]
"Damn it, what now?! Just as a Rank SS+ Hunter is born, now there's an announcement that our city is under attack?!"
"Is this city blessed or cursed?!"
Ordinary citizens ran in panic, while low-ranking Hunters and military forces began moving systematically. They used their respective Talents to assist with evacuation, patiently directing residents to designated safe zones.
Meanwhile, military forces deployed their entire arsenal—firearms, tanks, helicopters, drones, and fighter jets. Although no match for Rank S Hunter power, all combat equipment had been enhanced with magic. Even Rank S Hunters would be injured if hit by continuous fire.
However, once the combat fleet flew toward the incident location, the expressions of the entire force changed drastically.
It had been only minutes since the first warning sounded, yet within a one-kilometer radius, all that could be seen was a sea of ruins! Buildings that once stood tall were now leveled to the ground.
"Damn! What kind of monster is attacking our city?!" The force commander stared in horror at the scene below.
Fortunately, the citizens had been evacuated. If not, only God knows how many casualties would have fallen!
"Captain! Combat energy fluctuations detected in the Western sector!"
"What are you waiting for? Head there immediately!" the commander shouted, but his gaze suddenly fixed on a group of human silhouettes below.
His eyes narrowed, trying to identify who they were. Once he recognized one of the figures, his eyes widened. "Stop! Stop! Approach that group! They are civilians! Their safety is the priority!"
In the middle of the crowd, he saw a familiar young man—Emil who had just completed his evacuation mission. Initially, it was very difficult to persuade the frightened citizens, but with his background and charisma, Emil managed to calm them down.
Fortunately, the evacuation was completed just before the fierce battle began. Citizens watching the destruction from afar thanked him with tears streaming down their faces.
Emil remained silent hearing those thanks. His eyes gazed far away, his heart filled with gripping concern...
The sound of helicopter rotors echoed above their heads. The citizens looked up hopefully. "W-we're finally safe! It's the military!"
Emil rushed toward the commander who had just landed. "Can you send help for my acquaintance? She's facing three Rank S Assassins alone!"
The commander looked relieved to see Emil safe, but his expression turned deathly pale when he heard about the three Rank S Assassins.
"I apologize, Young Master Emil, but I'm afraid that's impossible..." His voice weakened, filled with despair.
Although their weaponry could wound Rank S Hunters, fighting three Rank S simultaneously was too risky! Their forces would be slaughtered without remnant!
"What do you mean?!" Emil grabbed the commander's collar. "Aren't you the military?! Why—"
"Please don't joke with us, Young Master." The commander gently but firmly removed Emil's grip. "We are very weak compared to them. Going there is equivalent to suicide."
Weak.
That word echoed in Emil's mind, making his teeth grind and his fists clench tightly until his knuckles turned white.
"I—"
"DANGER! Captain, we must leave immediately! Sensors detect a tremendous energy surge about to explode and kill us all!"
"What?!" The commander startled. He immediately shouted, "Retreat! All units retreat! Prioritize civilian evacuation without casualties!"
Before that order could be carried out, the sound of a massive explosion accompanied by violent tremors shook the entire area.
BOOOOOMMM...!!!
"RUN! RUN!!"
"MOVE! DON'T BLOCK MY WAY!"
"I DON'T WANT TO DIE! I DON'T WANT TO DIE!"
"SAVE US!"
Seeing the mass panic unfolding, the commander couldn't help but curse internally. No wonder the Imperial Family didn't care much about this city—the quality of its inhabitants was no better than trash who only cared about themselves!
"Young Master Emil, for your safety, please stay with us—"
"Young Master! Please save my child! They're still trapped there!" A woman bathed in tears knelt before Emil while pointing toward the battle area.
The commander's face hardened. "Fool! It's your own fault for not watching your child! Don't involve the Young Master in your problems!" He tried to pull Emil away.
Compared to other citizens' lives, the safety of someone like Emil was far more valuable!
However, he was surprised to find that Emil didn't budge from where he stood.
"Young Master...?" A bad premonition suddenly enveloped his heart.
"I-I'm sorry, but..." Emil stared straight toward the raging fires and purple flashes in the distance. "I can't ignore the fact that a child's life is in danger while I have the power to save them!"
Without hesitation, Emil ran through the panic toward the battle area.
The commander tried to stop him, but unfortunately, he was just an ordinary soldier without special Talent, impossible to match a Hunter's speed.
"Damn it!" His face darkened. "Follow the Young Master! We must protect him!"
"B-but Captain, we'll also be in dang—"
"Do you think we have time to think about that?!" His eyes flashed angrily. "If the Young Master from the Falcon Family dies in our city, the impact is unimaginable! This entire city will be leveled! So stop hesitating and mobilize the troops!"
"Y-yes, Captain!"
The soldier frantically mobilized all remaining units.
JEDAAAARRR...!!!
Just then, a tremendous purple lightning bolt split the sky, so powerful it created a shock wave felt all the way to where they stood. Blinding light obscured everyone's vision for several moments.
"DAMN YOU!"
A scream of agony was heard from the distance, followed by a chilling cold atmosphere—as if death itself had just passed by them.
***
"Are You Hurt?"
That voice—melodious yet cold—slipped into the ears of the eight-year-old boy who was still trembling and sobbing. He sensed a unique and intoxicating fragrance filling his nostrils, bringing his wavering consciousness back into focus.
Slowly, the boy opened his eyes and froze. Before him, a woman of almost inhuman beauty was carrying him in her arms.
Her long purple hair cascaded like a waterfall, eyes with gleaming pupils radiated a mysterious calmness, and the faint birthmark near her right eye only emphasized the perfection of her face. The boy was awestruck, unable to speak.
Without a doubt, this woman far surpassed anyone he had ever seen. Even the girl he had admired until now paled in comparison to the figure before him. A wild thought crossed his mind—could she be a goddess who had descended from the heavens to save him?
"Can you stand and walk?" the woman asked with a voice both calm and firm.
The boy's face flushed red when her breath—fragrant like petrichor after rain—swept across his face. "I-I can..." he stammered.
"Good." Subtle relief appeared on her beautiful face. "Then leave this place immediately. You can do that, can't you?"
"I-I can... B-but what about Big Sister?"
"Me?" The woman answered with an almost unnatural calmness. "I still have business to attend to in this place."
BOOOOMMM...!!
A massive explosion shook the ground and air. The boy startled in fear, his eyes widening in terror.
"Go," said the woman, her voice gentle yet containing an undeniable command.
The boy hesitated momentarily, his gaze shifting between the woman and his escape route. Finally, with a heavy heart and a prayer slipping from his lips, he ran away from the place.
Lux—or Raiden Ei in her former life—only glanced briefly at the small figure retreating before her gaze returned to the source of the explosion. The Chakra Desiderata behind her shone brightly, emitting purple lightning that danced in the air. Her grip on Engulfing Lightning tightened, her prized naginata spear glowing with wild electro energy flowing through it.
That's when—
Two black shadows darted with terrifying speed toward Lux. Her sharp eyes flashed dangerously.
WOSHHH...!! BAAAMMMM....!!
Purple lightning and black shadows collided in a tremendous boom. Lux (Raiden Ei) floated in the air gracefully, spinning her naginata in a deadly movement that created a terrifying purple tornado.
From right and left, two shadows attacked with claws and daggers. The sound of clashing metal was deafening when their weapons met, but the outcome was clear—both shadows were thrown hard backward.
At the same time, a roar like a dragon thundered, splitting the sky with its ferocity.
Lux (Raiden Ei) frowned but her expression remained calm. With deadly elegance, she gathered more Electro energy and swung Engulfing Lightning in a wide arc.
A black shadow dragon formed before her, but under Lux's tremendous attack, the creature was forced to retreat into a defensive position!
BOOOOMMM....!!
A giant crack formed in the sky, splitting the atmosphere within a 300-meter radius. The terrifying sight was clearly visible from various points in the city.
"We underestimated you, woman."
A shadowy figure writhed atop the shadow dragon—an S-Rank Assassin who now looked pathetic. A gaping wound from his neck to his chest was stitched with shadow threads that moved like living creatures. If not for these shadow bindings, his blood would have drained completely.
"We didn't expect you to be so strong," he hissed with deep hatred. "And now you've managed to make us angry. You must die right now!"
Intense killing intent radiated from his gaze, as well as from the other two Assassins. Although not as severe as their comrade who had formed the shadow dragon, the wounds on their bodies were serious enough to show how devastating Lux's previous attack had been.
Initially, they wanted to take the woman as a captive—it was very rare to find beauty of her level—but after feeling the threat she posed, they knew there was only one choice: kill her! Their lives were far more valuable than momentary pleasure.
Without warning, an attack shaped like a giant claw shot toward Lux (Raiden Ei). The claw destroyed everything in its path, leaving emptiness and destruction. But Lux (Raiden Ei) needed only one Electro blast to shatter it into nothingness.
BOOOOMMM...!! WOSSHH...!!
Both Assassins transformed into shadows and moved at the speed of sound. Lux didn't remain idle—her body turned into purple lightning while her lips uttered a short spell, "<
SLASH...!! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!!
A tremendous battle occurred in the air. Each attack, each slash, each touch of weapons created destructive waves spreading in all directions. Purple lightning and black shadows collided endlessly, moving with speed that ordinary eyes couldn't follow.
Every time they stopped, a tremendous explosion occurred followed by deadly slash marks—a combination of purple electricity and black shadows. Building after building became casualties, asphalt roads were uprooted, creating a terrifying landscape of destruction.
BOOOOOOOMMMM...!!!
Three shadows were thrown hard, their bodies spinning uncontrollably before hitting the ground with force. Lux (Raiden Ei) floated gracefully in the sky, her naginata spinning beautifully while Electro energy gathered again in Engulfing Lightning.
The Chakra Desiderata behind her emitted more intense lightning and then—
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!!
A barrage of purple lightning struck both Assassins who couldn't dodge in time. The attack was brutal and merciless, burning everything it touched. The air filled with the smell of charred flesh and ozone, while purple electricity continued to electrocute its victims.
Raiden Ei's skill in using various weapons was truly extraordinary. Although the sword was her primary weapon, her ability to control the spear was no less impressive. In her former life, she had slaughtered thousands of soldiers with her spear in a single legendary battle.
Of course, the only weapon Raiden Ei never mastered was a kitchen knife...
ROAAAARR...!!
"Hm?"
The dragon's roar diverted Lux (Raiden Ei)'s attention. Her eyes narrowed seeing thick black energy gathering in front of the creature's mouth—power enough to flatten half the city in an instant.
With a light sigh, Lux (Raiden Ei) channeled more Electro into Engulfing Lightning. The Chakra Desiderata pulsed stronger, emitting energy that made the air around it vibrate.
"DIEEE...!!!"
A shadow-filled breath exited the dragon's mouth, destructive power ready to destroy everything it touched. At the same time, Lux (Raiden Ei) was ready with her own attack.
"...Release."
Purple lightning struck with unstoppable power, roaring like an enraged primordial beast. The energy contained within it was so great that it instantly scorched the surrounding area.
BLAAAAAARRRR....!!!
An explosion like a nuclear detonation lit up the sky, with a giant mushroom-shaped cloud soaring high. The residents watching from afar cowered in fear, hoping to avoid the shock wave that followed.
Even from a safe distance, the force of the wind from that explosion was enough to throw adults like dry leaves!
Jedaar..!!
The sky that was previously clear instantly turned cloudy. Thunder rumbled incessantly, as if the sky itself was angry at the destruction below.
Tik... Tik... Tik...
At first just a drizzle, it quickly turned into heavy rain pouring down mercilessly. Blue lightning crisscrossed the sky, creating a magnificent yet terrifying sight.
In the midst of the chaos, Lux (Raiden Ei) stood tall, calm like the eye of a storm. She paid no attention to the rainwater soaking her body. After all, water was the perfect conductor for her power.
Her eyes gazed coldly at the scene before her.
"I thought you three could force me to use my sword skills," she said calmly. "But it seems my expectations of you were too high."
The three Assassins lay on the ground with severe injuries. Black blood pooled around them, flowing endlessly from fatal wounds on their bodies. Without immediate help, death was a certainty for them.
One of them coughed, black blood spurting from his mouth. "Damn... we didn't expect there to be an SS+ Rank Hunter in this city..."
After directly experiencing Lux (Raiden Ei)'s power, they were certain this woman wasn't just an ordinary S Rank Hunter. Not many Hunters could defeat them without significant difficulty.
Only SS or SS+ Rank Hunters could do it. At the very least, an SS Rank Hunter would be injured, but this woman didn't even have a speck of dust on her clothing—as if the tremendous battle earlier was merely an illusion.
"I didn't intend to hide my identity," Lux (Raiden Ei) answered calmly. "You three were just too weak to realize it."
"Damned bitch..." The Assassin gritted his blood-covered teeth. "Heh, even if you kill us, what difference does it make? Once you do that... you immediately become an enemy of the Shadow Order! No matter how high your Rank is, can you fight an SSS Rank Hunter?!"
The leader of the Shadow Order Guild was an SSS Rank Hunter—a legendary being whose very existence was enough to make other Hunters tremble with fear. Once three elite members of his guild were known to be dead, the chairman would certainly launch a terrible revenge.
"Well? Do you still want to kill us?" challenged the Assassin with a mocking smile. He was sure Lux (Raiden Ei) would falter after hearing his threat—after all, the name of an SSS Rank Hunter was a nightmare for anyone.
But Lux (Raiden Ei)'s expression remained unchanged, confusing the Assassin.
"Some people would be afraid when hearing that," said Lux (Raiden Ei) calmly. "Unfortunately... I'm not one of them."
A brief pause, Lux (Raiden Ei)'s eyes flashed dangerously. "On the contrary, I hope your Guild master really comes to face me."
The Assassin was stunned hearing the crazy statement from the woman's lips. After fully digesting the meaning of her words, he screamed in horror, "Y-you're INSANE-"
Slasshh...!!
Purple flash moved as fast as thought. Lux (Raiden Ei)'s naginata blade split the air and in an instant, the Assassin's head separated from his body before he could finish his sentence.
The same happened to the other two Assassins. Their heads rolled on the wet ground, expressions of shock and disbelief frozen forever on their faces.
"Is it over?" murmured Lux (Raiden Ei) softly.
Jedaarr...!
Blue lightning struck the sky as Lux (Raiden Ei) closed her eyes and looked up. Rainwater soaked her perfect face, flowing like tears from her cheeks to her neck, then down to her chest.
In that solitude, for a moment, she looked so fragile—as if the burden of hundreds of years of life was reflected in her silence.
Suddenly, the sound of splashing water awakened her from her reverie. Lux (Raiden Ei) turned around and found a handsome teenager and a familiar boy standing not far from her. Her eyebrow raised in question.
"...Why are you here?"
Emil and the boy were awestruck. Lux (Raiden Ei)'s rain-soaked figure looked like a painting—deadly beauty, frightening perfection.
"W-we were worried ab-"
"Worried?" Lux (Raiden Ei) frowned. "I already said, don't worry about me. And you," she looked at the boy, "why are you, just a child, coming with him? I clearly remember ordering you to get away."
"Um... Um..." The boy stammered nervously.
"I-it's my fault!" Emil quickly intervened. "Because I was too worried, I almost forgot about him!"
"You..." Lux (Raiden Ei) was about to say something but decided against it. "Forget it. You don't need to worry anymore. Everything is over."
"Y-yes..."
Both looked nervous, especially when seeing the red fluid staining Lux (Raiden Ei)'s naginata. Fortunately, Lux's position blocked their view from the headless corpses—a sight that would certainly haunt their dreams.
At that moment, the sounds of various vehicles—squeaking tank wheels and spinning helicopter blades—began to approach.
"YOUNG MASTER EMIL!!" The leader of the military forces shouted from afar.
Seeing reinforcements arrive, Emil and the boy sighed in relief, the burden on their shoulders lifted.
"You two should leave immediately," Lux (Raiden Ei) said flatly. "They're coming to pick you up."
"A-aren't you coming with us, Big Sister?" the boy asked nervously.
Lux (Raiden Ei) glanced at him briefly before answering, "I still have something I need to do. So go and—"
Suddenly, Lux (Raiden Ei)'s expression changed drastically. Engulfing Lightning and Chakra Desiderata simultaneously roared with deafening purple lightning.
Emil and the boy were shocked by Lux (Raiden Ei)'s sudden change, but their expressions transformed into pure terror when they saw a massive wave of black shadows launching toward them, ready to mince their bodies without mercy.
The feeling of death enveloped them both as they stood frozen, helplessly watching their doom approach.
JEDAAARR....!!! BLAAAARRR....!!!!
In an instant, there was a tremendous collision between purple thunder and black shadow. Some military vehicles were protected by purple lightning shields, but the air pressure still tossed all vehicles like toys.
Emil was stunned. The boy's eyes widened. The entire military force was frozen.
Before them stood the figure who was perfect moments ago, now looking so fragile. Lux (Raiden Ei)'s breath was labored, one eye forced shut because of blood flowing from a wound on her forehead. Her right hand holding the naginata trembled violently, a gaping wound clearly visible on her pale skin.
Her body shook as a severe cough attacked her.
"Uhuk..." Fresh red blood splattered to the ground, her lips normally rosy now pale.
"B-Big Sister!!" The boy screamed in horror. The woman's expression was no longer calm—she looked like she was fighting against death itself.
But Lux (Raiden Ei) merely wiped the blood from her lips and stood tall. "...I'm fine."
"Don't say such nonsense! Your condition is clearly not fine!" Emil shouted in panic, moving forward to help, but Lux (Raiden Ei) rejected him with one firm gesture.
"Don't come near or... Uhuk..."
Their panic increased when fresh blood flowed again from Lux (Raiden Ei)'s lips.
Lux (Raiden Ei) frowned, feeling her entire body radiating almost unbearable pain. Although the Raiden Shogun's body wasn't an ordinary human body, her organs still functioned like a human's. She could still feel pain...
Even taking a breath felt like torture...
Lux (Raiden Ei) tried to stabilize herself. Blood flowed from wounds on her body, soaking the ground already wet from rain. Her gaze remained cold and sharp, challenging the critical situation she faced.
"Even after receiving a lethal attack directly, yet still alive. As expected of an SS+ Rank Hunter."
That voice—cold and empty—echoed in the humid air. The entire group froze instantly, as if under a spell. With stiff movements, they turned only to find a shadow silhouette standing before them.
The figure wasn't human—its form distorted and unbalanced, as if at the threshold of existence.
"You..." Lux (Raiden Ei) looked at the figure with a sharp gaze. "...Who are you?"
"That should be my question, but I don't mind answering it." The voice flowed like black oil. "I am neither human nor living being. I am merely consciousness born from the Talent of the three Assassins you just killed."
Hearing this statement, Lux (Raiden Ei)'s forehead wrinkled. Without hesitation, she raised Engulfing Lightning.
"So... you are an existence of disorder born by 'chance'?"
"Essentially, yes." The figure nodded, the shadows forming it moving unnaturally. "And here's advice from me—drop all your weapons. They'll be useless."
"H-how can we know before trying?!" One of the group members shouted with a trembling voice.
"Then," said the figure in a mocking tone, "feel free to try."
"F-fire!!"
In an instant, a barrage of bullets and missiles enhanced by magical energy launched toward the silhouette. Consecutive explosions deafened ears, shook the ground, billowing dust and thick smoke into the air.
When the smoke began to thin, an ominous silence enveloped the area. Whether from sweat or rain, all their bodies trembled with cold.
"D-did we succeed?"
"A powerful attack," the voice was heard again, "but to injure me who is equivalent to Rank SS+... That's just a dream."
Their eyes widened in horror when they found the silhouette still standing calmly in its original position. There wasn't even a scratch on the figure.
Especially after hearing the statement that the creature was equivalent to Rank SS+, their hope immediately vanished.
None of them had a chance to survive, but Lux (Raiden Ei) stepped forward calmly.
The silhouette tilted its head, a movement that seemed unnatural. "...Do you want to try too? In your prime condition, you might be a formidable opponent, but now..."
"I am always in my prime condition." Lux's voice cut sharply, coldly. "So, enough with your nonsense."
"D-don't-" Emil was about to say something, but was cut off.
"I won't repeat myself again." Lux (Raiden Ei)'s gaze rolled toward Emil and the others. "Leave this place. Don't become a burden to me."
"R-raiden, I-"
BOOM!!
The ground near Emil's feet exploded, making the man jump back.
"Stop calling me as if we're close." Lux (Raiden Ei)'s gaze suddenly made Emil shudder—a gaze containing pure killing intent. "Leave this place or I will kill you myself. You are only a burden here."
Emil and the others trembled violently. Lux (Raiden Ei)'s gaze threatened their lives, showing she wasn't joking with her words.
"A-alright..."
They hurriedly left the location, running with fear haunting their every step. Lux (Raiden Ei) waited until their silhouettes disappeared from view before looking back at the shadow figure before her.
"...You're very kind," commented the silhouette with a mocking tone. "But... are you sure you want to fight me? I don't mind letting you live at all. After all, humans as strong as you shouldn't die in a place like this."
"This is my answer."
JEDAAARRR....!!! BOOOMM...!!
Without warning, purple thunder emerged and accelerated toward the silhouette, annihilating everything mercilessly.
Lux (Raiden Ei) took a heavy breath, but her eyes slightly widened when the silhouette suddenly appeared before her, untouched by the tremendous attack earlier.
"Then, it's truly regrettable. You must die right now."
BAAAMM...!!!
"Kuh?!"
An attack in the form of a giant shadow fist struck Lux (Raiden Ei), but with incredible reflexes, she blocked it with her naginata. Cracks in the ground formed a spider web pattern as Lux (Raiden Ei)'s footing was pushed in, creating a small crater under her feet.
Enduring the burning pain in her arm, Lux (Raiden Ei)'s eyes flashed glowing purple. The Chakra Desiderata behind her emitted a frightening light—a symbol that the true power was about to rise.
Boom...! Boom...! Boom...!
One by one purple lightning struck the shadow silhouette's body, continuously without stopping. But the silhouette's body remained unmoved, still trying to press Lux (Raiden Ei) with its great power.
However, suddenly the silhouette looked up at the sky.
Up there, a collection of electro energy began to gather—forming the figure of a western dragon that roared terribly. Purple light radiated from the dragon's body, illuminating the dark sky.
"...You're truly insane," said the silhouette, sounding slightly intimidated for the first time.
"Die," answered Lux (Raiden Ei) coldly—brief but full of conviction.
JEDAAAARRR....!!!
The purple thunder dragon dove down with incredible speed. Without mercy, the dragon exploded everything on the surface of the earth!
Buildings around instantly turned to ash. The ground that was previously pale black now became more terrifying, with a pungent burnt smell spreading in all directions.
In an instant, an area of more than one kilometer turned into barren land.
Tik... Tik... Tik...
The heavy rain that had momentarily stopped began falling again, soaking everything that remained. Only Lux (Raiden Ei)'s silhouette was visible, her breath heavy and irregular. Her eyes began to fog, a sign of depleted stamina.
The thunder dragon she summoned wasn't part of Raiden Ei's original ability—it was purely created from her imagination as 'Lux Frost'. But she didn't expect it to be so draining. Controlling natural lightning was very difficult because of its speed reaching 0.001 seconds to the surface, far different from other man-made lightning energy.
Despite the devastating attack, Lux (Raiden Ei) knew it wasn't enough to defeat her opponent.
Insisting on standing tall, she narrowed her eyes while cautiously observing her surroundings. At a glance, the area seemed empty, but Lux (Raiden Ei)'s expression changed instantly.
"Hm?!"
BOOOOMM...!! SLASH...!!
Engulfing Lightning split the air, directly cutting the shadow hand that was about to grab her body. But the attack wasn't over—other shadow hands appeared as if endless, chasing Lux (Raiden Ei) ferociously.
Slash...! Slash...! Slash...! SLASHH...!!!
Like an elegant dancer in a deadly performance, Lux (Raiden Ei)'s figure spun with grace yet lethality. Her spear moved with almost invisible speed, slashing every attack that came.
The Chakra Desiderata shone intensely, and all shadow hands paused momentarily. That's when—
BAAAM!!!!!
All shadow hands chasing Lux (Raiden Ei) were chopped to pieces. Like purple lasers, lightning bolts pierced through all shadows trying to approach her.
Then... Lux (Raiden Ei) witnessed a sight that would make anyone feel pure terror.
The woman exhaled, her gaze turning serious. "It seems... This is getting troublesome."
Within a two-kilometer radius, shadows in various forms emerged—from adult human forms to shadow cones suddenly protruding from the ground.
Although Lux (Raiden Ei) continued to bombard them with electro energy, their numbers didn't decrease—instead they multiplied, like an unstoppable plague.
The attack radius widened as the shadows devoured everything they touched, even solid buildings weren't spared from destruction...
As Lux (Raiden Ei) began to hesitate using her strongest sword art, her eyes suddenly caught writing floating in the sky—a sequence of letters formed from flower petals:
🌸🌺💮 Don't hold back anymore, just do it. All citizens have been fully evacuated 💮🌺🌸
She blinked in amazement, then the corner of her lips lifted slightly. Her voice tone changed to soft as she whispered, "Good..."
"[ This time, nothing will save you! You can't kill me because... I've become immortal! ]"
A giant terrifying face formed on the ground, with a mouth equal to a whale's gaping wide, ready to swallow anything.
"Immortal?" asked Lux (Raiden Ei) calmly. "If so, I wonder... Can you still live under the attack of Inazuma's Eternal Light?"
"[ Huh? ]"
Confusion struck the shadow being as it witnessed purple lightning gathering around Lux (Raiden Ei)'s body. Different from before, the purple color this time was darker, more concentrated—its lightning more aggressive, as if impatient to prey.
Even the lightning in the sky changed color from blue to purple, rumbling violently as if uncontrollable. An ominous aura enveloped the area.
Engulfing Lightning in Lux (Raiden Ei)'s right hand suddenly disappeared, but this actually made the shadow creature more anxious.
"[ Don't think I'll let you do whatever you want! ]"
The creature roared in rage. Countless shadow stakes shot forward with incredible speed. Shadow monsters emerged from all directions, roaring ferociously toward Lux (Raiden Ei).
In an instant, Lux (Raiden Ei)'s figure was tightly surrounded. All escape routes were blocked—there was no way out.
However... Lux (Raiden Ei)'s expression remained unchanged. Since the beginning of the battle, her face still displayed an almost unnatural calmness, as if the outcome of this battle had been determined.
Her pale lips moved, uttering a spell gently yet powerfully.
"«Inabikari (Lightning)»..."
JEDAAAR...!!! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM...!!!
Suddenly, thousands of lightning bolts shot down from the sky and bombarded the ground, destroying shadow monsters and attacks in an instant. The lightning seemed endless—every time a shadow approached Lux (Raiden Ei), another lightning would immediately strike it without mercy.
The creature that was the source of the shadows was stunned, not believing what it saw.
Wasn't this woman severely injured? How could she still launch such a powerful attack?!
"[ NO! IT'S FUTILE!! NO MATTER HOW STRONG YOUR ATTACK IS, YOU CANNOT KILL ME!! ]"
It roared furiously and the shadows became wild, the entire area shaking violently until even the nearest city felt its tremors.
But...
'Then let's compare your eternity and... my eternity.'
"«Sunawachi Eien Nari (This is Eternity)»"
BOOOOMMM...!!
Shadows approaching her instantly vanished as purple lightning rumbled from Lux (Raiden Ei)'s body. At that moment, a sword handle magically appeared from her chest—without hesitation, she pulled it out, like a legendary knight drawing a sword from a sacred altar.
The sword's form was fully visible. Its blade emitted a dazzling purple light, with high-intensity Electro gathered along the sword edge.
'Musou Isshin'—the sword symbolizing the power of the Electro Archon, perhaps one of the strongest swords that ever existed...
With the appearance of the sword, the Chakra Desiderata reacted, channeling more Electro element throughout Lux (Raiden Ei)'s body.
And now... Raiden Ei's legendary unrivaled sword art was ready to be unleashed.
"<
At that moment, time and space seemed to pause briefly, followed by a subtle yet terrifying tearing sound—a sign that the dimension of space and time had just been slashed.
JEDAAAARRRRR....!!! KABOOOOOMMMM....!!
A slash in the form of lightning struck, and thunder roared tremendously in an instant. The sound of purple lightning deafened ears, drowning everything on land in a blinding light.
Shadow monsters had no time to react before being completely enveloped by eternal purple lightning. The shadow creature was utterly shocked—it didn't expect an attack like this existed. For the first time, it felt true terror.
It thought its immortality couldn't be matched, but under the impact of this attack, its immortality seemed meaningless. This reality terrified it and made it want to flee—but it was too late...
The terrifying power of the Thunder God devoured everything without mercy.
Under this one vertical slash, sky, earth, and buildings instantly vanished into ash. The attack continued, its slash even flattening several mountains far from the location!
This was the true power of sword art that gathered thousands of truths and countless desires!
BLAAAAARRRR....!!!!
For a moment, people in the distance could see a large dimensional crack in the sky—not a Dungeon Break crack, but a purple crack with three wheels emitting a majestic aura. Its shape resembled a ringed planet, symbolizing the glory and honor of the Electro Archon!
Seeing her handiwork, Lux (Raiden Ei) only raised the corner of her lips slightly while covering her injured right arm. The Musou Isshin sword slowly returned to its original place, entering her body.
The weather that was gloomy before now turned bright. Sunlight slowly illuminated the devastated earth's surface.
Squinting her eyes, Lux (Raiden Ei) said softly, "I really don't suit bright weather like this..."
She was about to leave the place, but after just one step, extreme fatigue hit her body. Her legs could no longer support her weight.
"Uhuk..." Lux (Raiden Ei) coughed, fresh blood flowing from the corner of her lips.
Excruciating pain spread throughout her body, blurring her vision. It was very difficult to move in her current condition.
Sensing several familiar presences and S Rank Hunters approaching her, she couldn't hold back a sigh...
"<
A purple dimensional crack appeared beside her. Without hesitation, she stepped in, but faintly she heard someone calling her desperately...
***
Crack!
"Oh?"
In a luxurious room with dark nuances and filled with roses, a hooded woman raised her eyebrow curiously. Her face was hidden, but her beautiful, somewhat revealing dress displayed her elegance and power.
Her gaze focused on three chess pawns that had cracked. Behind her hood, her lips curved into a mysterious smile.
"Interesting... I wonder who has the courage to kill three S Rank Assassins from my Guild."
Just then, a veiled woman appeared beside her, kneeling respectfully.
"Sorry to disturb your time, My Lady."
"Hmm? Is there a problem?" she asked without turning.
"Yes... A new SS+ Rank Hunter has appeared in the eastern region."
"Just that?" She asked indifferently. Though surprising, it wasn't interesting enough to capture her attention.
Their Guild already had five SS Rank Assassins, making them one of the most respected Guilds. Moreover, she had a very deadly S+ Rank Assassin, so the emergence of a new SS+ Rank wasn't too special.
However...
"The problem is... this SS+ Rank Hunter has six Talents and was the one who managed to kill our three Assassins."
Her movement immediately stopped. Slowly, she turned to the messenger. "Oh? Is that true? I hope you're not trying to deceive me..."
"I-I wouldn't dare..." The female Assassin trembled under the pressure of her aura.
After all, sitting before her was an SSS Rank Hunter—the highest level possessed by only a handful of people in the world.
"Hmm... Interesting." The woman smiled meaningfully. "Don't do anything yet. As much as possible, monitor her movements. As for those three pieces of trash... Let them be, they can be replaced by anyone."
"Y-yes."
"Ah, I almost forgot." The woman suddenly remembered something important. "How is our beloved member? It's impossible that she's still fine after meeting the Queen of Gravity."
"R-regarding that... There's still no news."
"What a shame." She sighed softly.
The Assassin remained silent. She certainly knew who her leader meant.
Unlike other members, the member in question was very special in their Guild. For some reason, their leader paid great attention to her, giving her authority that other members didn't have, even those of SS Rank...
"You may go now."
"Understood."
After witnessing the assassin's departure, the hooded woman murmured softly, "Without you, I somehow feel a bit lonely... 'Frost Assassin'."
The shadow of a 14-year-old teenager with a cold gaze crossed her mind, making her smile more alluring yet dangerous.
"First Commander, Laura Silver, is it?"
Thinking about the expressionless girl, the woman's gaze flashed with threatening intensity.
"Perhaps... I should visit the Capital for a while..."