The course of the battle in the capital was changed by Kaima and Miles' victory.
However, elsewhere, hidden in the fog and drenched in killing intent—another battlefield.
"No way! What kind of monster is this?!"
As the Shadow Duelist's pupils glazed over and he collapsed unconscious, the 11th Spirit Eye in Alice Carlos's hand shattered.
Every two duels with Kaiju destroyed one Spirit Eye. With 11 broken, Alice had achieved a record of 22 wins, 0 losses.
"You really did it… Alice, you're terrifying." Even the mature voice of Elra from within the Millennium Ring couldn't hide its shock.
Alice Carlos, alone, had wiped out all 22 Shadow Duelists active in the capital.
"Hunting or not, this is insane. To me, Alice, it looks more like venting."
Through the roars of Kaiju, she vented her negative emotions. Whether it helped or not, only Alice knew.
Now she stood over the '23rd' Shadow Duelist.
Elra hadn't even counted this one—for when Alice arrived, this duelist was already unconscious.
It was Megan the Barrier Mage, a Shadow Duelist with some history with Alice.
Defeated by Ren Austin, then kicked in anger by Luca Slint—her black robe still bore the clear bootprints.
"Looks like your revenge failed, Megan. I told you… You couldn't win. Rushing to die is something only fools and heroes do."
Despite that said, what Alice had done—slaughtering 22 Shadow Duelists—was itself a fool's act. Even with Kaiju's immense power, it was still 22 duels.
For an ordinary Duelist, playing 22 duels in one stretch would exhaust body and spirit alike.
And Alice had fought them all as Shadow Games.
That she could still stand was a miracle.
"Megan, let me rest here a while. I'm tired… just a bit of sleep, then I still have business to settle."
Exhausted in body and spirit, Alice leaned against Megan, closed her eyes, and slept peacefully.
Anyone who saw them might think both had perished in a Shadow Game.
But Alice's mind was clear. Every second of rest counted… for when she woke up, she still had a target to hunt.
…
Meanwhile, in the First Prison of the Capital—
Alester leapt from the clock tower, shifting his fall with mana to land precisely inside the high walls.
The fog covering the capital let him slip past guards without effort. Inside, a few tricks put the wardens to sleep.
His goal was clear: an old friend imprisoned unjustly.
With the capital under a heavy fog alert, all prisoners were locked in their cells.
Cold, damp cells rang with the cries of female inmates, lustful and hungry, as Alester walked past.
"A man! Haven't seen one in so long!"
"So handsome! Come, let big sis love you!"
"My type exactly… I'll drain you dry!"
Note: the First Prison held only women.
Their desires, pent up for so long, spilled into words more frightening than any man's. Regardless, Alester ignored them. If they had power, they wouldn't be behind bars.
That was prison's paradox: the more capable, the less they spoke.
At the final cell around the corner, the prisoner sat without a word.
"It's been a while. You really came?"
Unlike the others, her voice was clear, delicate, almost childlike.
"Yes, I came, Viel."
At the sight of his long-unseen 'old friend,' Alester looked conflicted.
"Didn't think you'd actually do this to yourself… like a little girl."
His friend, Viel Granfendo, in memory should've been older. Yet before him was a nine-year-old-looking girl.
"This is called a legal loli."
She puffed out her chest proudly, hands on her hips, pleased with her new look.
"So, the master magitech artisan imprisoned for human transmutation… why contact me only now?"
Viel Granfendo's crime was simple: dabbling in forbidden magic—human transmutation. In a country like Livorden, with its Church, it was a grave sin.
Her excuse was self-repair of her own body. Combined with her sharp tongue at trial, it left her case unresolved.
So she had been 'temporarily' imprisoned in the First Prison. For half a year.
The higher-ups were clearly tired of her, leaving her locked away.
Alester asked, "Why wait six months to call me? If you had earlier, you wouldn't have been stuck here so long."
Viel's loli face curved into a sly smile.
"Because, six months ago, a very interesting girl came in. The most perfect experimental subject I've ever seen. I buried myself in research all this time."
...
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