The old man barely held back his tears. He was a general. Everyone in the continent knew him- a war hero for the Empire, an arch nemesis for the Confederation. He was a mighty level 9 too, just like the monster before him- that too, one of the stronger ones who had killed a couple of level 9s and defeated a handful before.

So, WHY?! Why was the gulf between them so large? He had served his motherland for decades. He has met some terrifying individuals- both feared enemies and trusted allies. But he was sure he would at least be able to connect a few punches before facing his defeat.

But the monster ahead? He had only three encounters him till now. And he was already reduced to this stage- all bloodied and battered. But his opponent? He was lying relaxedly on the field, without any care of the world- even though he knew reinforcements were coming.

He suddenly frowned. Something was right. Moments later his eyes widened- enough for them to pop out. Was it too boring for the monster to kill him alone? So, he was waiting for the reinforcements to come in so that he can take them all down in one fell swoop?

Seeing the almost closing eyes of Mister Ephialtes, he came to the answer that it was not impossible.

Fuck! He should have just let them run away with the treasure. Now, they would lose treasures and a squad of high level sentries as well.

No! He could not let that happen. He clenched the only functioning hand he had into a fist.

He had no way to send a message to his arriving comrades to turn back. All he could do now was to use his entire being to defeat, or to at least injure the monster so that the incoming sentries later have a chance.

He took a deep breath, fire burning in his eyes, and began to power limp to the relaxing being. He used the remaining life force he had as his fuel.

Adrian who was watching everything began to pray in his mind- to himself. He did not even have the energy to sit up, let alone standing up and fight against the general- despite the old man’s weakened state.

When the old man was a few steps away from Adrian, he looked down at the lying being. “Get… up.” He barely uttered out.

Mister Ephialtes turned up and looked into his eyes. “Did you forget? We are not the only ones in the premise.”

The general frowned. Suddenly, the already cold temperature of the atmosphere began to drop even lower. Layers of ice formed on the grass, the walls, even him. His warm blood began to freeze and stick into his coats.

He shivered as he looked ahead. Another figure garbed in black was approaching him from behind the monster. Even though he had met the members of the Imperial family and the top families of the family countless time before, the majesty the newcomer was exuding was breathtaking.

Unlike her compatriot, the being was not covering her face in any way. Her icy blue hair was swaying with the air and her eyes which were akin to a purple of indigo was looking right into his. She was a great beauty, on the same level as that of the Empress- the most beautiful woman he knew.

But this did not calm his heart in any way. If anything, this unsettled him even more. Unlike the man he had been ‘fighting’ since his arrival, the woman who looked not any older than twenty five gave him a greater sense of danger.

She was stronger than that monster?!

He subconsciously took a step back. For the first time, he felt fear. Not for himself, but his motherland. The two ahead were definitely not from the Empire, or he would have known. If his conjectures were correct, at least one of the two was calamity class- being that could put the whole nation in jeopardy.

And he had provoked two of them at the same time. He really wanted to escape and warn the Empire. But alas, his current state would not allow him to do so.

He heaved out a sigh. It was over. He looked down at Mister Ephialtes before looking ahead at the Mistress.

“Can you let this dying old man have one final request?” He was still burning his life force. He wanted at least his last words to be spoken clearly.

Irene looked down at Adrian, prompting the old general to do so as well.

Adrian, feeling her gaze, looked into the old man’s eyes.

“My comrades- they are all good men. Please let them go.”

“Tsk.” Adrian clicked his tongue, striking the man’s heart. “I really planned to have some fun. But we are not heartless enough to not fulfilling an old man’s dying wish.”

“Thank you!” The general bowed.

Irene snapped her fingers. More than ten ice javelins appeared in the air. She waved her hand. All of the projectiles flew at the old man with breakneck speed and pierced into his body.

They penetrated into the man’s abdomen, legs, arms, outer thorax etc. But none of them made way to his heart, lungs or throat.

“Aaaaaah!” The man who had used a lot of his life force could not even self destruct his magic core. He was brought to his knees. He bled to death- slowly and painfully, before falling forward. But the bloodied javelins did not let his body touch the ground.

Adrian finally lied down on his back and spread his arms before heaving out a sigh of relief.

“A level 9 and few level 8s are on their way.” Irene said.

Adrian only reached forth his arms in reply.

“What?” She asked.

“I carried you here all the way from the Count estate.” He smiled. “Now, it’s your turn.”

She felt as if her entire world she built on her fairy tale knowledge crumble down in an instant.

But she had witnessed the entire battle before. He was dead tired.

So, she complied and lifted him into her arms.