The battlefield was silent.
Not the silence of peace.
But the silence that comes after something has been utterly destroyed.
Smoke drifted through the air, curling around the shattered remains of what had once been an army.
And in the center of it—
Cael stood.
Across from him, the figure finally stepped forward fully into view.
Golden-blonde hair.
Sharp, confident features.
Pale skin.
Pointed ears.
And—
Short, onyx horns.
His silvery-gray eyes locked onto Cael with clear interest.
"Impressive," he said, his voice smooth.
"You wiped out an entire force alone."
Cael studied him calmly.
Retainer.
No doubt about it.
The aura alone confirmed it.
Decay-type mana.
Soulfire.
Corrupt.
Violent.
Dangerous.
"You're late," Cael replied.
The man smiled faintly.
"I was observing."
A flicker of black flame ignited in his palm.
Soulfire.
It pulsed like something alive.
"You're stronger than the reports suggested."
Cael tilted his head slightly.
"And you're weaker than I expected."
For a moment—
Silence.
Then—
Echeron laughed.
Not offended.
Amused.
"I like you."
The soulfire expanded suddenly, forming jagged tendrils that lashed outward toward Cael.
Fast.
Lethal.
Cael didn't move.
The flames stopped inches from his body.
Frozen.
Suspended in the air.
Echeron's smile faltered slightly.
"What—"
The flames collapsed instantly.
Extinguished.
Like they had never existed.
Cael took a step forward.
"That's it?"
The pressure in the air shifted.
Echeron's expression sharpened.
He moved instantly.
Faster than any soldier.
Faster than most Lances.
His body blurred as he appeared behind Cael, soulfire claws tearing toward his neck.
Cael raised a hand.
And caught the attack.
Barehanded.
The impact sent a shockwave across the battlefield.
The ground cracked.
But Cael didn't move an inch.
Echeron's eyes widened slightly.
Impossible.
Cael tightened his grip.
Mana surged.
Not violently.
But absolutely.
Echeron felt it.
The difference.
This wasn't just strength.
This was control on a completely different level.
Cael twisted his wrist.
A sickening crack echoed through the battlefield.
Echeron's arm broke instantly.
He tried to retreat—
Too late.
Cael appeared in front of him.
No movement.
No transition.
Just there.
A fist slammed into Echeron's stomach.
The impact folded his body around the strike.
Blood erupted from his mouth as he was launched into the ground, creating a massive crater.
Before he could recover—
Cael was already above him.
A single hand extended downward.
"Stay down."
The ground collapsed further.
Pressure crushed down on Echeron from all directions.
He roared, soulfire erupting wildly around him, trying to resist.
Trying to fight back.
But it didn't matter.
The flames flickered.
Then—
Faded.
Cael stepped into the crater slowly.
Echeron struggled to move.
To breathe.
To think.
His body refused to respond.
Cael looked down at him.
Disappointed.
"I expected more."
Echeron glared up at him, rage and disbelief mixing in his expression.
"You—what are you—"
Cael raised his hand.
Mana condensed.
Not outside.
Inside.
Echeron's eyes widened in horror.
"No—!"
Too late.
A sharp, invisible force struck directly at his core.
A crack echoed.
Then—
Shattered.
Echeron's scream tore through the battlefield.
His mana collapsed instantly.
Gone.
Completely.
His body fell limp.
Broken.
Powerless.
Silence returned.
Cael crouched down slightly, grabbing him by the collar.
"Alive," he muttered.
"Good."
Echeron barely remained conscious, his vision fading.
Cael stood again, lifting him effortlessly.
The battle was over.
Not because the enemy had been defeated.
But because they had never stood a chance.
As the soldiers of Greywatch slowly approached, still in shock—
They saw it.
A Lance.
Standing over the battlefield.
Holding a defeated Retainer.
And in that moment—
They realized something terrifying.
Cael wasn't just protecting Dicathen.
He was becoming something far beyond it.
And far away—
Beyond the clouds—
Something ancient stirred.
Because power like this…
Did not go unnoticed.