Aldwin tightened his grip on the wooden stick, blood still dripping from the knife wound on his shoulder.
"Hey," Aldwin said coldly. "I didn't sense you earlier because my mind was on Calus… but what you did just now won't work again."
His eyes sharpened.
His aura steadied.
"This time… I'm not sparing either of you."
Calus gritted his teeth and moved into a stance, raising his sword.
Aldwin raised the wooden stick with one arm
then someone shouted:
Aldwin! Catch!!"
It was Duke Will — his father-in-law.
He slid something across the floor.
The metal scraped against the marble with a sharp shing.
The blade skidded right under the assassin's legs—
forcing the assassin to hop back.
Aldwin bent, snatched the sword out of the slide, and rose smoothly.
This was bad… really bad. Calus clenched his teeth. I have to do something. That former adventurer—he was defeating me with a wooden stick. And now he's using a real sword. His stomach twisted with frustration. How am I supposed to beat someone like him? He's pissing me off…
"No wonder I haven't used my skill yet," Calus growled, eyes burning. "Fine. I'll crush you with it. What a shame."
White energy surged from his body, aura flaring violently as he raised his sword toward Aldwin.
Across the hall, Edric and Darius were locked in a vicious clash. Their swords rang like steel thunder, sparks flying with every strike. Even though Darius's raw power was greater, Edric kept pace—matching him blow for blow.
Darius swung for Edric's head with a lethal strike. Edric slipped under it, stepped inside his guard, and slammed an elbow into Darius's cheek, rattling him. Darius snarled and reached out to grab Edric, but Edric flipped backward and landed smoothly, eyes sharp.
"Dad!" Edric shouted. "Take the children and the others to safety. Use the back door—anything. I don't want to activate my skill yet. Same for Aldwin. The pressure alone could make people faint."
"Understood, son!" Duke Will replied, forcing strength into his voice.
King Zorque tried to look calm, but sweat slid down his temple. "H-Hey! You people better not die!" he barked, though the fear in his eyes betrayed him. He still hadn't seen his daughter.
The nobles rushed to the back door—only to find it blocked by a massive dining table, barricaded from the other side.
"No way out!" someone cried.
"We stay here," King Zorque ordered, voice trembling but firm. "Edric! Focus on your battle. We're counting on you!"
Edric nodded and dashed forward again.
Darius wiped blood from his mouth and grinned. "Not bad, Duke's son… but now it's my turn." His aura exploded outward—deep red, violent, crackling like stormfire around him.
Both assassins now had their skills fully activated.
Above them, Rowan hovered in mid-air, completely concealed, watching everything silently. His presence was erased so perfectly that no one in the hall realized he was there.
Calus and Darius… pure brute force. Shallow aura control. Edric can hold on, but if either of them uses a high-tier skill…
Rowan's eyes narrowed.
I'll intervene instantly.
Darius and Calus' auras erupted at the same time, their skills activating fully as violent pressure flooded the hall. The air trembled. Nobles staggered back, choking on the force.
Calus grinned wildly.
"I'll crush you with my skill. And you—" he pointed his blade at Aldwin, "—you can't use yours. If you do, half these nobles will die from the pressure alone."
"You bastard…" Aldwin's voice shook with fury. "You barged into my son's ceremony—my son's. You'll pay for that with your life."
Aldwin charged. His sword flashed, arcs of steel slicing the air.
Calus met him head-on. With his skill activated, his speed and strength surged dramatically. The two collided in a roaring blast of wind.
Their blades clashed.
Their feet cracked the marble beneath them.
"They're so fast!" someone shouted.
"Calus is huge—how is he moving like that?"
But the shock came next:
"Aldwin… isn't even using a skill… and he's still fighting evenly?!"
The nobles stared in awe. Aldwin's raw physical strength was monstrous.
Across the hall, Darius and Edric fought with equal intensity. Darius's overwhelming power forced Edric back step by step. Edric refused to activate his skill—too dangerous for the civilians—so he was starting to slow down, his breath becoming heavy.
Darius smirked.
"You're getting sluggish, Duke's son."
Edric stumbled—his foot slid on broken marble—and he fell to one knee.
Darius raised his sword.
"This is the end."
He swung for Edric's neck.
At the same time—
Calus was pushed back by a heavy strike. He snarled and thrust out his free hand.
A sphere of white flame ignited in his palm.
A beam of burning energy shot toward Aldwin.
Aldwin dodged—barely.
Calus' eyes widened with malicious intent.
He's too strong. I'll lose in a straight fight.
So I'll aim for the nobles instead.
He turned his palm toward King Zorque, Mira, Duke Will, and the terrified nobles.
Aldwin screamed, "NO!"
Calus fired.
Everything happened in one instant.
Rowan's eyes snapped open midair.
His voice was calm.
"Teleport—Target Lock."
He snapped his fingers.
All three —Calus, Darius, and the assassin, vanished.