Karina had no intention of retreating, not even for a truce to deal with the Cyclops boss together.
Not that it would've mattered.
Once they'd chosen to strike first, there was no turning back.
Their objective was simple:
If they killed the boss first and Karina escaped alive, the entire event would be exposed.
And once the Duke caught wind of what happened, he'd have justification to intervene. The consequences? Endless.
That's why they had to kill Karina first.
The Cyclops didn't matter.
Even if it escaped with the companion crystal, it wouldn't change the internal balance of power.
But if Karina lived, the entire operation would collapse.
Karina, for her part, wasn't stupid.
She'd already guessed that even Quint—the baron's son—might have been involved in setting her up.
Yet, surrounded by a Tier 4 Shield Warrior, a Tier 3 Mage, and Lister, a swordmaster she didn't fully understand—she still wore that confident grin.
Her buff [Iron Body] was still active.
For three minutes, she was nearly invincible—and she planned to use every second of it.
With a powerful backhand thrust, her greatsword pierced Lawson's chest.
The rock armor on his torso cracked, sparks flying—it could've been fatal if not for his magical defense.
"Lord Lawson! Fall back! I'll take point!" shouted Simmons, charging forward with his massive shield.
His attack collided with Karina—
CLANG!
—but she kicked it aside with overwhelming force.
Even against a Tier 4 defender, she held her own with ease under the Iron Body buff.
Lawson retreated, his staff slamming into the ground.
"[Essence of Nature] — Activate."
The battlefield shook, vines exploding from the soil, crawling through cracks, racing toward Karina again.
But this time? They had no effect.
Her body radiated raw force.
The vines wrapped around her briefly—and then shattered.
Lawson's expression darkened.
I underestimated her.
He had thought this would be easy.
A Tier 3 brute, against a trained family warrior and a zone-controlling mage?
But now he saw just how wrong he was.
Simmons couldn't land a hit.
His vines were useless.
Karina was chewing through them like paper.
In frustration, Lawson clenched his fists—he'd have to join the melee.
Though a mage, his rock-based magic gave him enhanced defense, turning him into something closer to a battlemage.
But before he could engage—
SWOOSH.
A silver flash sliced through the air.
Lister.
His movements were sharp and clean, quicker than any of them.
Even Karina, under the Iron Body buff, barely reacted in time, raising her sword to block.
CLANG!
She deflected the strike—but just barely.
Lister didn't hesitate.
He twisted his blade along hers, sliding down its edge like a master duelist.
And then—
BAM!
He kicked her square in the chestplate.
The damage was minimal.
But it pushed him back, giving him distance and momentum.
Lister flipped midair, drawing his blade in a full-circle arc as he came down—
A sweeping slash, aimed straight for her skull.
Karina dodged at the last second, the blade scraping her helmet, sending sparks into the air.
But even with the glancing hit—she staggered.
A deep gouge appeared across her chestplate.
Her breathing hitched.
Her ribcage burned with pain.
And this, under Iron Body?
He actually hurt me… through that?
Karina's mind reeled.
She was supposed to be immune to 50% of all damage.
Her heavy armor was reinforced.
Her own VIT was high.
But this guy—
This guy shouldn't be doing this kind of damage.
And his expression—that intense, blazing stare…
He's not even angry. He's enjoying this… like he's testing something.
[Damage dealt: 317]
Lister landed lightly and frowned.
Only 317? Even with 40 base STR and a 70% damage boost from [Blade Mastery] at Lv14?
That's disappointing.
Even without Iron Body, that hit would've only done around 700.
He considered investing more in his Merrick Blade Arts just to compensate.
But before he could act—
ZAAAP!!
A laser beam exploded the ground where he had just been standing.
The Cyclops had re-engaged.
HP: 5,500 / 10,313
It had recovered a significant amount.
It fired four beams in rapid succession, three of them striking targets indiscriminately.
Karina tried to dodge—
But she was still staggered from Lister's last strike.
The vines slowed her feet.
She couldn't react in time.
ZAP!
She was hit—stunned.
Lister wasted no time.
He dashed forward, sword in hand.
The perfect opportunity.
She couldn't move. Couldn't parry.
The blade slipped just above her chestplate, barely under her chin.
SLAASH—!
It cleaved through her neck with clinical precision.
Her body froze—
Then slumped.
Headless.
[Enemy Slain. Gained 22,303 EXP.]
Four times the experience of Lius. As expected of a high-level D-rank elite.
With Karina dead, Lister finally let out a slow breath.
The southern frontier's three major threats… were now all gone.
"CLANG!"
The Cyclops, now enraged by Karina's death, lunged at Lawson.
But the mage was ready.
BOOM—!
Their attacks collided, sending Lawson skidding back across the battlefield.
Though not badly injured, the power gap was clear.
Simmons charged forward, shield raised.
Finally—his moment to shine.
Against Karina, he had been ineffective.
But against the Cyclops?
He was perfect.
The beast's hammer struck—Simmons blocked it head-on.
Shield clash. Minor pushback.
He stood his ground.
Even forced the monster back a step.
Meanwhile, vines once again wrapped around the Cyclops.
[Vine Damage: -71]
Bleed: -1, -1, -1…
The sustained damage was weak, but it added up fast.
Lawson grinned, regaining confidence.
Then—
SLASH!
Lister's blade tore through the Cyclops's thigh, clean and deep.
The beast roared, dropping to one knee.
Lawson's eyes widened.
If my power is a 1...
Lister's is a 10.
A simple slash. No skill. No buff.
Damage: 713.
His basic attack was stronger than Karina's ultimate ability.