Hearld shouted, "What the hell are you doing, witch? Why can't we get up?"
Elaar gritted her teeth. "What kind of technique is this? I… I can't get up!"
Jewel called out, "Do you two—Elaar and Hearld—admit defeat? Or do you want to keep going?"
"Not yet!" Elaar barked. "We won't lose to you!"
Hearld growled, "This isn't over!"
Lilith smirked. "If it were, I wouldn't get the pleasure of enjoying it."
Hearld roared, "Holy Relic—Ground Smash!"
A pulse of power burst from his blade, and both Hearld and Elaar forced themselves to their feet.
Hearld's eyes gleamed. "My holy relic's unique ability is that I can stand up to any attack or spell—but only once every thirty seconds."
Lilith's expression didn't change. "Alright then… Void Magic—Abyssal Gate Strike!"
"Lightning Magic—Purging Thunder!" Elaar cried, sparks flaring around her.
"Steel Magic—Endless Spikes!" Hearld followed, a storm of blades rising.
Their combined attacks clashed against Lilith's Gate Strike. For a moment, they held on. Then a crack spread across Lilith's faceplate—she poured more power in, and the gate strike overwhelmed them, sending both captains flying.
Hearld gasped, "How… how the hell—?"
Lilith stepped forward, calm and merciless. "Void Magic—Black Hole."
Elaar shouted, "Combine spells!"
Hearld planted his blade. "Steel Magic—Absolute Shield!"
Elaar added, "Lightning Magic—Zeus's Descendance!"
"Combined Magic—Zeus's Benevolence!" Together, they forged a radiant barrier that held back the Black Hole.
Hearld's voice shook. "She's just playing with us… what the hell can we even do?"
Elaar's eyes burned. "We still have hope!"
They charged—Hearld with his greatsword, Elaar with her lightning daggers.
Lilith drew both of her swords, black and bright. "Bring it on. Even the largest elephants are just prey waiting to be brought down."
They clashed. Hearld used his broadsword as a shield while Elaar darted in with her daggers. Sparks flew as Lilith's strikes were parried.
Lilith chuckled. "Even the quickest are still small when they come together."
Watching from the edge, Gruce whispered, "Begene… who do you think will win this?"
Begene shook his head. "I don't know…"
Jewel crossed her arms. "Of course it will be Lilith. This battle was decided the moment Hearld and Elaar accepted the challenge."
Lilith's eyes glowed. "Enchant Blade—The All‑Devouring Black Hole!"
Hearld snarled, "Thirty seconds are up! Elaar—get ready!"
"Black Hole Slash!" Lilith's blade cut down. Hearld blocked with his broadsword, but the strike blasted him back. Both Hearld and Elaar crashed to the ground.
Hearld coughed. "How… did you do that?"
Lilith stepped closer. "No matter how strong a skill is, it always has an upper limit. Your defense falls far from godhood… my attack simply surpassed that limit."
Elaar trembled. What kind of monster is she…? She's toying with captains like us. Yesterday I was able to match Jewel, yet she's so much stronger…
Hearld gasped, "Why… why are you doing this?"
Lilith's voice was ice. "You killed my father and conspired to kill my husband… and you ask why I'm doing this? They are gone, but I promise you—your deaths will be a hundred times worse."
Elaar began to laugh. "Your father and you… you're just fools. He was so easily baited he didn't think twice. And you—" she sneered—"you're even dumber. Just a few words were enough to make you kill your husband."
Lilith froze. "What… did you say?"
With a scream, she drove one sword through Elaar's chest. Elaar grinned through the pain, snapped Lilith's blade, and dashed away.
"It's no use," Lilith said darkly. "The entire crater is sealed. You can't escape. I promise you that."
Elaar froze. "What…?"
Hearld hissed, "The only way we escape is by defeating her!"
Lilith's gaze hardened. "I won't let that happen."
If she's so strong, Elaar thought, why was I able to break her blade so easily…?
"Ready, Hearld?" Elaar called.
"Always."
"Lightning x Steel Magic—Piercing Destruction!"
Lilith raised her free hand. "Spirit Form—God of Void Metal!
Attribute Metal Magic—Shield of Titanium!"
The attack clashed against a shining barrier. Elaar's eyes widened. "She… she has a second attribute!"
Hearld staggered. "This has been pointless from the start…"
Lilith's voice dripped with fury. "Compared to my raging hatred, the sun itself seems cold. I will make sure both of you suffer a slow… and tragic defeat."
Hearld tried to rise, but both he and Elaar coughed blood.
Elaar gasped, "How… how is this possible?"
Lilith tilted her head. "I heard somewhere… mercury is quite toxic—especially if it gets inside you."
Gruce watched in horror, covering her mouth, then vomited.
Jewel scolded lightly, "Now that's a bit rude."
Lilith raised her hand. "Look above you."
Hearld and Elaar looked up. Hanging in the sky was the Holy Relic—Oculus of Dominance. It pulsed, forming a colossal sphere of destructive energy—its radius nearly ninety‑five meters, larger than the crater it
Meanwhile, in the Faust mansion, the casket was ready for burial.
Gelda bowed her head. "Young Lord Tenebris will be buried now. With your permission… we will begin."
Licht, Alysa, and Elizabeth wept quietly. Liebe sobbed, "Love you, Daddy… why did you leave me?"
Hearing those words, even the stoic Gelda's eyes filled with tears.
"Young lord… it isn't like that…" she whispered.
Liebe clenched his fists. "Daddy… please… don't leave me…" He closed his eyes. "Gelda… I'm done. Please… bury him."
Gelda wiped her eyes. "Understood."