And so, a light began to twinkle on the horizon.

Ravenna and Hendrik both looked toward Spirity Lake territory, where the massive ether fluctuations were impossible to ignore.

“The final stage,” Ravenna observed, her gaze fixed on the streaks of light shooting from the ground to the sky, “It’s time to decide the victor.”

At that moment, all the extraordinary beings on the battlefield ceased their combat almost simultaneously.

Instinctively, they all looked up, only to see… two streaks of light that seemed to tear the sky asunder.

The steel knight, racing from the horizon, grew larger and larger in everyone’s view. Its pitch-black, icy armor, with jets unfolding at the shoulders, spewed forth a dragon’s breath of dazzling, searing light.

The knight, having charged to the skies above the battlefield, descended slowly, and in the stunned gaze of all, this sixty-meter-tall steel behemoth stood erect in the center of the battlefield.

Its helmet was as ferocious as a dragon’s head, and its thick, exquisitely crafted armor rendered it impervious to attack. With a shield on its left arm and a long sword engraved with complex patterns in its right, all extraordinary beings seemed like mere dust in its presence.

It wasn’t just the size, but the absolute overwhelming presence it commanded.

“This Ferdinand… seems to have grasped my intentions,” the empress remarked, a slight smile playing on her lips.

“A knight, of course, should serve as a turning point in the battle, performing a commendable act of heroism.”

She turned her head to look at Evora below the throne, her voice aged and hoarse yet tinged with kindness, “My dear daughter, where is your weapon?”

“… You’ll see it soon enough,” Evora retorted with a cold laugh, “And I’m quite curious, what would you do if this thing were to lose?”

“Do not speak of impossibilities, Evora,” the empress said leisurely, “It is meaningless and makes you appear quite foolish.”

On the screen, the steel giant held its sword with both hands and slowly drove the massive blade, akin to a city wall, into the ground. It chose not to attack but stood like a statue upon the earth.

“Ha ha ha ha, the noble pride and code of the knight!”

Ephesande laughed heartily, “How entertaining! The proud knight allows the feeble ants to make their insignificant attacks… I quite like this concept!”

Bang!

A gunshot rang out over the silent battlefield, but aside from the noise… it seemed as if nothing had happened.

The sniper from Watson territory was stunned for a moment, then peered through his scope at the spot he had just hit, only to find not a dent—there wasn’t even a mark on the Black Knight’s armor!

“Roar —!!!”

A warrior from Watson territory let out a roar and charged at the steel knight with his war hammer. To Ravenna, it looked like an ant rushing towards a mountain.

Then, a blinding white light flashed on the Black Knight’s shield, shooting forth and instantly vaporizing the warrior’s head!

The headless corpse continued to run forward a few steps before collapsing to the ground, while the steel knight, still standing tall, remained motionless.

Count Watson looked up at the towering steel monster, then at the small bracelet on his wrist, his body beginning to tremble.

He wanted to grab Ravenna by the collar and demand an explanation, to shoot the deceitful Count of Spirity Lake, even to chop off the head of the mad old empress on the throne… He felt like going mad, and indeed, he was on the verge of madness, yet he forced himself to remain calm.

“… There is still a chance to win, there is still a chance to win…”

He muttered to himself, recalling the plan Ravenna had laid out, finally understanding the “sacrifice” she had mentioned.

Determination and ruthlessness flashed in the young lord’s eyes as he grasped the necklace around his neck, his voice cold as he commanded:

“Advance, charge!”

In this moment, all the extraordinary beings under the command of Watson were petrified.

“Count, Count…,” some of the extraordinary beings who could communicate with Watson couldn’t help but say, “Facing this monster… we stand no chance of victory!”

“I said, move forward.”

The murderous voice of Watson echoed in the hearts of every extraordinary being: “I only give you two choices. First, move forward and die on the path of challenging this monster; second, here and now, be killed by me immediately!”

“Damn it!”

The situation within Watson’s territory was already chaotic. Some of the extraordinary beings on the battlefield were not Watson’s loyal followers. They came with the intention of muddying the waters, trying to gain some merit.

After all, in such a war, it’s not easy for extraordinary beings to die. Under such chaotic battlefield conditions, if someone with a bit of strength only wants to save their life, it’s not difficult.

And these people, especially those who were originally strong, completely ignored Watson’s intentions. Someone disdainfully responded, “Idiot kid, go play by yourself! I’d rather run to the East Port, who would accompany you to death, stupid—”

His voice abruptly stopped.

The extraordinary being standing next to him watched in horror as countless black threads spread from the man’s heart in all directions. Then, the man began to self-destruct, like a piece of meat rotting at high speed. His bones, flesh, and even the ether circulating in his body were all collapsing… self-destructing!

His companion watched as he went from a complete person to losing his human form, to his bones and flesh melting and collapsing, and finally… completely turned into a puddle of blood.

And the black lines that came from nowhere had already formed a faint black mist in the air, but the companion of the man who had just spoken out felt that this mist… seemed to be staring at him.

The tragic end of his companion made him scream in extreme fear, forcing him to rush towards the immobile steel knight, and then be killed by a beam of light condensed on the shield.

But thinking about it, it’s much better than that extremely terrifying way of death.

“…Hmm?”

The empress naturally noticed this anomaly the first time. She squinted her eyes and stared at the scene in the light screen: “This thing…”

–>