The palace guards—every knight on duty—swiftly formed into battle formation. It didn't take them long to realize the situation.
They were under attack.
Without wasting a second, they ordered someone to send word to the House of Octavius for immediate reinforcement.
Riana didn't respond to Valerina's question.
Not even a glance.
Her mind was occupied—calculating, adjusting, figuring out how to execute her plans perfectly in this very moment.
But Valerina's raised voice broke the silence.
"Shut the fuck your damn mouth. I'm busy preparing something."
Riana's sudden outburst left Valerina completely stunned.
Why was she acting like this?
Riana slowly drew her sword.
From her body, two different mythical creatures emerged.
"H e l l C r e a t u r e… Twin Werewolves… Open your eyes. I, the owner, command you—"
Just like before.
But this time, Riana used far less power—carefully conserving her mana so her core wouldn't be drained.
---
In mere moments—
Hundreds of knights were torn apart.
Bodies shredded.
Blood splattered across the battlefield as the monstrous hell creatures rampaged without mercy.
Soon after, Riana felt it.
Her mana supply… was running low.
"Return."
At her command, the creatures vanished instantly.
"…Looks like it's time to rely on my own strength."
Riana tightened her grip on her sword.
"It's been a while since I held this blade… but I don't have a choice today."
Valerina couldn't believe her eyes.
So many corpses.
So much blood.
And yet—
She knew… this wasn't her fault.
Her mind stopped working.
Questions flooded her thoughts, but none escaped her lips.
Why did Riana kill them?
Why was she doing this?
They weren't even supposed to be here.
"So… you're the last one?"
Riana spoke, staring at a single remaining knight.
The knight smirked.
"For monsters like you… one knight is enough."
Riana exhaled lightly.
"Look, I don't have much time. You've already seen what happened here."
She gestured toward the corpses.
"If you value your life, you should've run instead of wasting time talking. There's no meaning in sacrificing your life for that woman."
A faint, cruel smile formed on her lips.
"And you don't even know… if I'm a monster—then that woman is a mega monster."
Her eyes gleamed.
"Today, I'll reunite her with her family."
The knight attacked instantly.
Steel clashed.
"Hah… you're even weaker than I expected."
---
Riana smirked.
"Is that so? Well, you're not wrong. This body only has two cores right now—it's weak."
Her voice turned cold.
"But whether you have four cores or five…"
She raised her sword.
"Today, you die by my hand."
---
"Let's see who dies first," the knight replied.
---
Riana moved.
"Not bad… your attack."
Then—
"You forgot something."
Her eyes darkened.
"I can summon mythical creatures too."
---
The knight's guard dropped for a split second.
That was enough.
Riana struck.
A devastating blow.
The knight staggered, severely wounded.
---
"…So this is true talent?" he muttered to himself.
"Only two cores… and yet this level of strength… unbelievable."
---
Riana tilted her head.
"What happened? Where did all your confidence go?"
---
The knight gripped his sword with both hands.
Mana surged violently from his core into his blade.
"Blood Sword Slash!"
---
A massive, overwhelming attack.
Even Riana needed a moment to react—
And that moment cost her.
Her body was slashed.
Blood spilled everywhere.
---
Yet—
She smiled.
Not in pain.
But in excitement.
---
The knight attacked again.
Riana blocked.
---
"Your attacks aren't bad," she said calmly.
"You're stronger than I thought."
Her gaze sharpened.
"But remember… only the strong rule this world."
"This world was never meant for the weak."
---
"I don't know who you are," the knight growled.
"But one thing is certain—you made a mistake becoming my enemy."
"No one can save you today."
---
Riana whispered—
"Bloody Hell… Sword of Void."
---
In the blink of an eye—
The knight—
And the structure behind him—
Were completely obliterated.
---
Riana had intentionally stopped her mana supply earlier.
She needed time to recover her core.
Summoning mythical creatures consumed massive mana—and with only two cores, she couldn't use all her techniques freely.
So she endured the attacks on purpose.
To deceive her opponent.
---
Valerina stood frozen.
Silent.
---
"Mother…?"
Riana's voice softened—twisted.
"It's been a long time."
She smiled.
"Don't you recognize me?"
"Your daughter… have you forgotten?"
---
Her body was drenched in blood.
Her red eyes glowed.
She looked like an angel bathed in blood.
---
Without another word—
"Bloody Hell… Sword of Void."
---
In an instant—
Her mother's body was torn apart.
---
Valerina trembled.
"Riana… you… you killed your own mother?"
"How could you…?"
---
Riana snapped—
"Aaaaaah—Valerina, didn't I tell you?"
"Don't disturb me when I'm working?"
---
Valerina's voice shook.
"You're a monster…"
"You're a monster…"
---