At the border, Roswaal's mansion.
After the Archbishop of Lust, Capella, launched her assault, a great battle erupted. The superior forces left behind by Shendu clashed head-on with the Witch Cult's formidable Archbishop of Sin.
The moment the battle began, Capella stood in place, observing the fight as she ordered the assassins at her side to unleash a devastating assault on the mansion's residents.
As former top killers within that very organization, Meili and Elsa knew full well how troublesome these assassins were.
Thus, Elsa chose to enter an invisible state, while Meili commanded her magical beasts and even created several enormous mantis-like creatures to eliminate the assassins nearby.
Slash!
Elsa, taking the lead, vanished from sight and swept her blade across the necks of two assassins. Yet in the blink of an eye, the wounds on their throats completely healed.
Sensing the direction of the attack, the assassins retaliated with beast-like instincts, striking back with their weapons. Fortunately, Elsa reacted swiftly enough to avoid serious injury.
"Whew... how troublesome. With that level of regeneration, dealing with them is a real headache."
Elsa continued probing, attempting to locate their vital points.
No matter how powerful their regeneration, these defective creations had to possess weaknesses. They could not possibly be without limits. That was Elsa's reasoning as she tested every potential weak spot.
In the end, she locked onto their hearts. Pouring all her strength into a single thrust, her curved blade pierced straight through an assassin's chest, shattering the heart in an instant.
Thud!
At once, the assassin with astonishing regenerative ability collapsed to the ground. However, it had cost Elsa considerable time to discover that weakness.
"My, my! As expected of my former ace. You've still got some skill."
Capella smiled faintly, entirely unconcerned. Elsa had once been one of her modified killers and knew certain secrets. There was nothing surprising about that.
"I'll make you even more surprised."
Seeing Capella's evaluation, Elsa gripped her curved blade and replied with confidence.
Her movements accelerated further. Drawing upon the power of the Rabbit Talisman and the Ox Talisman, her speed and strength surged. Everywhere she passed, assassins had their hearts pierced through.
On Meili's side, massive magical beasts simply swallowed the assassins whole. Whenever they attempted to rush forward, gigantic wolf-type beasts tore them apart and devoured them.
No matter how strong their regeneration, there had to be a limit. Meili had summoned hundreds of magical beasts, along with heavily armored rock boars serving as her mounts.
As a long-range beast tamer, engaging in close combat was practically suicide. Experience had proven that much. Thus, Meili remained at the rear, lining her magical beasts up into a solid defensive wall.
Though the assassins were powerful and possessed formidable regeneration, once their vital points were struck, they still fell and died completely.
"Unseen Hand!"
"Fula!"
"Roar!"
Beyond the defensive line of magical beasts, Geuse unleashed his Authority. More than a dozen Unseen Hands danced like afterimages. Any assassin who approached was seized and crushed into dust.
Knowing how troublesome these assassins were, Geuse dared not hold back. He went all out from the very start.
Even Ram cast wind magic from the side in support, while Frederica transformed into her tiger form, clearing away any assassins who drew near.
Only Beatrice remained as composed as ever. She stepped to another corner, raised her right hand, and gathered violet mana within her palm until it formed into a radiant purple arrow.
"Miya!"
Beatrice released her spell. The violet arrow struck an assassin in an instant, turning the target into purple crystal before it shattered upon hitting the ground.
Such was Beatrice's formidable magic. Though hundreds of assassins charged at once, they gained no advantage. Instead, they were steadily slaughtered.
In merely five minutes, more than half the assassins had been eliminated. Only thirty or forty remained, still pressing forward.
Yet as an Archbishop of Sin, Capella showed not the slightest concern. She appeared as though she were sightseeing rather than fighting.
Even as her subordinates dwindled rapidly, she did not grow angry. In her black-haired girl form, a trace of disdain appeared on her face.
The battle continued. When fewer than twenty assassins remained, Capella's patience finally began to wane. By now, she had also gained a clearer understanding of these opponents.
"Hehe... you're quite interesting. Let me test your abilities properly. All of you—become black dragons!"
After witnessing the strength of Roswaal's mansion, Capella activated her Authority. The foremost assassins stiffened.
In the next instant, they transformed into two-meter-tall black dragons, flapping dark wings and becoming even more troublesome than before.
"Roar! Roar!"
Though their dragon forms were imposing, they lacked true draconic pressure. At most, their size increased and their aggression intensified.
The others were hardly surprised by Capella's transformation ability. After a brief glance at the black dragons, they resumed fighting.
Capella attempted to transform some of the others into black dragons as well, but she failed entirely. With Geuse's Unseen Hands providing defense, Ram and Frederica were completely unaffected.
As for the remaining three, they resisted Capella's Authority through sheer strength, stabilizing the situation.
In truth, Capella's Authority extended beyond this. She also enjoyed transforming into a black dragon herself and possessed abilities usable only in that form.
For example, Immortal Black Flame. In her black dragon form, Capella could release a black fire capable of burning anything. It could not be extinguished by water.
She could also transform others into different species, just as she had done with these black dragons.
Dozens of black dragons were indeed terrifying. After being transformed, their physical abilities rose significantly. Even Beatrice's magic could be easily dodged.
Because they were fighting at close range, Beatrice could not recklessly unleash large-scale spells without risking harm to her allies. A faint trace of worry flickered in her eyes.
Not far away, Geuse was handling five black dragons on his own. These transformed dragons possessed enhanced combat power and retained their regenerative abilities, making them particularly difficult opponents.
"Unseen Hand!"
Steadying his mind, Geuse manifested even more Unseen Hands. Three hands seized each dragon and began to crush them.
Riiip!
Sensing death's approach, the black dragons struggled desperately. It was futile. They were obliterated by the Unseen Hands.
"Hehe. Time's about up. I suppose I can't keep playing with you any longer."
Witnessing the scene before her, Capella decided to stop watching. Now was the best moment to act—while they were entangled. Only then could she eliminate them one by one.
If she gave them time to break free, things would become troublesome again. By herself alone, she could not handle all six at once.
After calculating carefully, she acknowledged that these six were far stronger than average.
Without hesitation, Capella shot forward at incredible speed, appearing directly before Ram. She intended to seize hostages.
"Fula!"
Locked in combat with a black dragon, Ram sensed something rushing toward her and instantly raised her hand to counterattack. A blade of wind slashed forward.
Capella did not dodge. She allowed the wind blade to slice across her body, drawing sprays of blood—only for the wounds to regenerate in the blink of an eye.
Among the Archbishops of Sin, Capella was a special case. Her regenerative ability defied imagination. Even after being struck by Ram's magic, she recovered almost instantly.
"What a pity. Your attack is useless against me!"
Seeing Ram's strike fail, Capella sneered coldly. With a swift chop of her hand, she knocked Ram unconscious and tossed her toward a nearby black dragon.
"Ram!"
Seeing her companion captured, Frederica—still in her tiger form—grew frantic. Abandoning her struggle with the black dragon before her, she charged straight at Capella.
Her judgment had been swift, but she had gravely underestimated Capella's strength. The instant she closed in, Capella's right hand transformed into a dragon claw.
Slash!
The claw swept across Frederica's body. She fell immediately, a deep gash torn open across her abdomen as blood poured out without restraint.
As an Archbishop of Sin of the Witch Cult, how could Capella possibly be weak? With a single move, she had already defeated two of Roswaal's maids.
Her overwhelming strength was undeniable.
"Damn it... I was careless."
Witnessing the scene, Geuse prepared to charge forward and battle Capella with his Authority. Yet, as expected, he was intercepted by seven or eight black dragons.
This time, the dragons did not fight recklessly. Instead, they maneuvered nimbly, evading Geuse's attacks and rendering his Unseen Hands far less effective.
Although many magical beasts still filled the area, the black dragons were at least a tier stronger than ordinary beasts. Meili's summoned creatures were being slaughtered in large numbers.
Fortunately, with the power of the talismans bestowed by Shendu, they could hold out for a while longer. But once Meili's mana ran dry, she would no longer be able to mount an effective counterattack.
"Stop right there. Unless you want those two to die."
Having secured her hostages, Capella sneered coldly and barked her command.
At once, everyone froze. The black dragons under Capella's control also ceased their assault. The battle, locked in stalemate, came to a temporary halt.
"Capella, what do you want?"
Geuse frowned. With hostages in her grasp, he found himself constrained.
"Oh, nothing much. Let's make a little deal, shall we?"
Capella's smile turned sinister. Her long black hair fluttered as her violet eyes gleamed with schemes.
"I refuse. Anything you propose won't be good."
Geuse did not trust her in the slightest.
The Witch Cult thrived on deception. Negotiating with them was nothing but a trap. No matter what, he would not agree.
"My request is simple. Return to the Witch Cult and allow Lady Pandora to purify you—become who you once were. If you agree, I'll spare these two."
Capella smiled confidently, certain she held the advantage.
"Geuse, you must not agree to her! It's a trap. Even if you accept her terms, she'll strike again the moment she finds an opening!"
Beatrice, noticing Geuse's hesitation, spoke anxiously.
"But they are Lady Emilia's maids. If I do nothing... wouldn't that be wrong?"
Geuse clenched his teeth. He had no desire to become the former Archbishop of Sin again. Yet being threatened with innocent lives tormented him.
"My, my... how lively it is here. And so many black dragons too."
Just as the atmosphere tightened to its breaking point, a slightly teasing voice drifted into everyone's ears.
Even Capella had not anticipated someone appearing so suddenly—and without the slightest sound. A powerful sense of danger surged through her.
"Who are you?"
Before her stood a girl clad in red garments, with crimson hair flowing down her back. Though her demeanor appeared light and casual, the oppressive aura radiating from her was very real.
"Lady Shendu's maid—Akane."
Akane answered calmly, stepping toward Capella one measured stride at a time.
"Stop right there. Take another step and I'll kill these hostages."
Capella snapped, startled by Akane's approach.
"Heh. You no longer have hostages."
Akane remained utterly composed.
Before Capella could process her confidence, several ninjas with glowing red eyes crawled out from the shadows at her feet.
In an instant, they seized Ram. Frederica, too, sank into the shadows and vanished from sight.
The sudden rescue made Capella's expression darken. Yet she still believed she had a trump card. This woman could not possibly defeat her.
"Kill her!"
Enraged by Akane's effortless disruption of her plan, Capella ordered the black dragons to attack with full force.
"Not good!"
Seeing the swarm of dragons converging on Akane, Geuse and Beatrice moved to assist—
Then a dragon's roar thundered across the battlefield.
"Roar!"
A radiant sphere enveloped Akane. Her body rapidly expanded, reaching nearly five meters in height. Crimson scales shimmered across her form, and fiery red wings unfurled behind her.
Compared to her true body, the black dragons seemed like children before an adult.
The swarm of black dragons attacked Akane's flame dragon form relentlessly. Yet no matter how they struck, they failed to leave even the faintest mark upon her scales. Her scarlet eyes brimmed with disdain.
"Haaa..."
Casting a glance at the inferior black dragons, Akane drew in a deep breath. In the next moment, an overwhelming surge of mana condensed into a destructive white beam that scattered outward, raining down upon the dragons.
In the blink of an eye, every black dragon struck by the dispersed light dissolved into black sand—reduced directly to ash.
"Impossible... Your true form is a dragon as well? How can this be?"
Capella's brow furrowed as a sense of genuine threat arose. Her entire force had been annihilated. Only she remained.
"But I will not lose. I am an Archbishop of Sin of the Witch Cult!"
In a furious roar, Capella transformed into a three-meter black dragon and shot toward Akane at full speed.
"Immortal Black Flame!"
In her dragon form, Capella unleashed her most powerful skill. A blaze that could never be extinguished surged forward.
Akane did not dodge. Within her draconic maw, sparks ignited. A heartbeat later, she released a colossal orange-red fireball—three times larger than the Immortal Black Flame—burning as though it would incinerate space itself.
The two blazing forces collided instantly.
Boom!
After only a brief clash, a blinding explosion erupted. The shockwave shattered the Immortal Black Flame and continued downward, slamming into Capella.
Engulfed by the devastating fireball, Capella vanished within the explosion. When the smoke slowly cleared from the crater, a single hand reached out from within.
Moments later, Capella emerged completely unscathed. Returning to her black-haired girl form, she wore a delighted smile, as though she had not just been obliterated.
"Hehehe... how fascinating. A dragon hidden within the Kingdom. Even if I fail this mission, the news of your existence will be enough to report back."
Though she had been destroyed by Akane's attack, Capella's Authority restored her entirely in less than two seconds.
"Do you think you can leave?"
Akane's cold voice rang out as another fireball blasted toward Capella, annihilating her once more.
"It's useless. Though you may be stronger than I am, my Authority is special. You cannot keep me here."
In the end, Capella spread her black wings and soared into the sky. Casting one final glance at Akane—who had already reverted to her original form—she flew away without hesitation.
Thus the great battle came to an end. Relying on the uniqueness of her Authority, Capella retreated safely and intact.