With two battlefronts secured, only Windsor's clash with Brody Mill remained. Initially, the potion-induced Bronze Upper surge had pushed Windsor onto the defensive, his superior combat experience barely offsetting the raw power gap. But real-world boost potions didn't maintain peak efficacy—they spiked, then faded gradually. As the Advanced Aura Boost Potion's effects waned, Brody's strength ebbed, tipping the scales toward Windsor.
Sean monitored all three fights. Brody and Windsor's duel burned hot: Brody swung wildly, desperate to finish before the potion wore off; Windsor parried, biding his time. In the distance, Bruno lay charred as coal, unconscious; Leviathan writhed on the second floor, suffering magic backlash; only Balor stood unscathed, now blinking blankly at Sean after flattening the thugs.
Sean patted Balor's head, then rushed to Leviathan's side upstairs. "Ram, how's the backlash?"
"Ugh… manageable, My Lord," the imp gasped, ceasing his tumbling. "No more fights for a day or two."
"Rest at the lodge. We'll handle it." Sean lifted the lightweight fiery-haired boy, carrying him to a soft chair downstairs, assigning Lodin to watch over him.
Back outside, Brody's potion had all but worn off, his swings sluggish, breath ragged. Defeat was imminent—until he hit a buckle on his belt. A sudden updraft erupted, catapulting him skyward, then dumping him unceremoniously into the crowd ten meters away, knocking over spectators like bowling pins.
"Oof! What the—"
"Brody's fleeing!"
The crowd erupted as the viscount scrambled up, triggering the belt again to vanish into the distance, leaving a trail of curses from his "human cushion" victims.
"Did you see that?" a noble murmured, eyes wide. "He used the Cyclone Belt—Reed Earl's heirloom! How'd a Mill get his hands on that?"
"Epic-tier gear," another breathed. "Gives short flight and speed boosts to sub-Sky Rank. No wonder he escaped."
A bruised bystander grumbled, "Couldn't he land somewhere else? My back—"
"Count yourself lucky," his friend chuckled. "Most never see epic magic in action. A few bruises are a small price."