Kael Ashvane's soul nearly fled his body.
He hurled himself sideways in blind panic as the firestone colossus's fist came crashing down where he had stood an instant before. The blow struck like a falling star, blasting a crater into the ground. Grass and shrubs around it blackened and shriveled in a heartbeat.
"Oi—hey! What the hell is this? I—I'm your maker!" Kael shouted, face drained white. "Your father, damn you!"
The Invincible Great General gave no sign of mercy. It answered only with a low, grinding howl as it advanced.
"It's backlash," Auryn Gale said sharply. "Something went wrong."
Sylva Dreyn frowned at the formula scroll in her hand. "The Red Serpent Resin must have clashed with the Embercore essence."
Selene Voss still wore a flush on her cheeks, but her eyes burned cold. "Serves you right. If you spent half as much time training as you do fooling around, we wouldn't be here."
The firestone giant lunged again, its massive feet shaking the ground with every step.
Kael yelped and sprang away, sprinting in wild zigzags.
But the thing was enormous—its stride devoured distance. One step spanned yards. No matter how he twisted or bolted, it stayed on him like a shadow.
He pushed the **Ground-Sprint Art** to its limit. It didn't matter. The gap only shrank.
Mira Stonwell's voice trembled. "What do we do? That thing's huge—and it's burning. If it so much as brushes him—"
Selene folded her arms, watching with cruel amusement. "Look at him. Chased across the mountain by his own creation. Maybe now he'll learn."
The Invincible Great General closed within striking distance and roared. Its fist lashed out toward Kael's spine.
"Gods, I built you!" Kael cried, rolling desperately aside. "How can you turn on me like this?!"
"Talking won't help!" Selene snapped. "Idiot—use the command seal! Don't tell me you didn't build one in!"
Kael froze mid-scramble—then cursed himself.
Right.
He began muttering the control incantation under his breath, fumbling through it in a rush—
—and immediately regretted it.
The colossus went berserk.
Its howls deepened into something feral and furious. It surged forward faster than before, now stomping as well as striking. Twice its blazing foot nearly crushed him flat.
Mira saw it turning ugly and stepped forward.
Her fingers formed a sigil. A whispered chant slipped from her lips—
The ground beneath the giant suddenly liquefied.
A mire spread wide, sucking at its legs. The colossal body tilted as both stone limbs plunged into the muck, swallowed up to the thighs in an instant.
But it was simply too large.
Its arms stretched outward, bracing against solid earth. With brute force alone, it hauled itself free in seconds. Flames still clung to its body. It seemed convinced Kael was to blame—and charged him again.
Sylva exhaled. "He can't control it. We help."
Her hand slipped from her sleeve, forming another sign.
"Bind."
Six thick, serpent-like vines burst from the grass, coiling around the giant's ankles and surging upward, wrapping its legs, its waist—
The colossus halted.
It tore at the vines—
—and only tangled itself further.
Then it roared.
Its chest swelled grotesquely—
A blast of golden flame erupted outward.
The vines burned to ash in an instant.
Everyone's expression shifted.
"That heat…" Auryn said quietly. "Those vines aren't ordinary growth. They resist steel and flame alike—and it destroyed them effortlessly."
Sylva nodded. "He used only the finest fire-aspected materials. Ember Lotus Seeds. Flame Wraith Filaments. Embercore essence. Red Serpent Resin. It's no wonder."
The Invincible Great General turned.
This time, it abandoned Kael.
It charged the four women.
Mira gasped. "We don't even have our weapons! Hold it a moment—I'll summon earth-spirits!"
She clasped her hands, focusing.
Selene stepped forward instead, a cold smile curving her lips. "Let's see just how 'invincible' this thing is."
Water-Vitae surged through her channels.
Her sleeves snapped outward.
Invisible currents erupted—layer upon layer, coiling like unseen tides.
The **Surging Tide Dance**.
The giant's charge faltered.
Its flames scattered under the shifting pressure. Its massive form staggered, dragged and twisted by unseen forces.
Selene's eyes gleamed.
"So this is your masterpiece?"
She leapt into motion, weaving around it with fluid grace. Her sleeves swept, pulled, redirected—each motion feeding the next.
The technique thrived on flow. The smoother it ran, the stronger it became.
Soon the giant's footing slipped entirely.
Selene seized the moment.
Her arms snapped upward.
"Rise!"
The currents converged into a single violent surge.
The colossal body lifted.
But midair, the creature roared.
Golden flames flared again—
—and this time, they pushed back.
Several streams of fire surged against the water currents, biting straight through toward Selene.
Her vision filled with searing gold.
Pain exploded across her face.
She cried out, stumbling back, hands flying to her cheeks.
The giant crashed back to the ground, shaking the peak—and immediately lunged for her.
Auryn moved.
Her brow lifted slightly. One hand cut the air like a blade.
A crescent of pale gold flashed forth—
**The Gilded Astral Slash**.
The strike carved deep into the creature's abdomen. Fire burst. Stone shards flew.
She struck again—this time across its thigh.
"Don't damage it too much!" Kael shouted in panic.
The colossus turned toward her, monstrous and furious.
Auryn stood still, utterly unafraid.
Behind her, Sylva caught Selene as she staggered.
"Are you hurt?"
Selene pulled her hands away, voice trembling. "My face—did it—did it scar me?"
Sylva smiled faintly. "You're fine. Just flushed. If anything, you look even more radiant."
Selene let out a shaky breath, then grit her teeth. "I'm getting my Jade-Wave Blade. I'll cut that thing to pieces."
Before she could move—
The ground bulged.
Four massive earth-spirits clawed their way up from beneath the soil, towering, thick-limbed, crude but powerful.
The Invincible Great General paused.
It studied them.
Then it threw back its head and howled—almost mockingly.
Compared to its towering frame, the earth-spirits looked like children.
Mira directed them with a trembling hand. They surrounded it.
The giant answered with a roar.
A crushing **Intimidating Aura** rolled outward.
Everyone felt it—like pressure on the heart, disruption in their Vitae.
Mira forced her will steady and gave the command.
Attack.
The giant struck first.
One blow—an earth-spirit's head shattered.
The remaining three slammed their fists into it in unison—
—and achieved almost nothing.
The colossus barely swayed.
It swept another aside in half, scattering mud and stone.
The last two continued pounding—futile. Chips of burning rock fell. Nothing more.
Shock spread through the group.
Earth-spirits were slow—but their strength was unmatched among the elemental summons.
Kael, meanwhile, was practically glowing with excitement.
"This is it! The Thunder-Pattern Stone and the Parasite Shell fusion—ha! No one's ever dared try that combination before!"
Selene shot him a look of pure fury. "Then stop running and deal with your monster son!"
Kael flushed. "I'm thinking! He's just… a little too strong!"
As if enraged by his voice, the giant obliterated the last earth-spirit and turned—
straight back toward him.
Kael went pale.
And ran.
Mira's voice shook. "That thing's stronger than the Flamebeast we fought before. We need weapons!"
Auryn shook her head. "The Dream Nest is nearby. We can't let it rampage. I'll try again. If not…"
Her hand brushed the golden bracelet at her wrist.
"…I'll end it with the Auric Manacle."
Selene bristled. "That thing drains too much Aether. Use my Thunder Pearl instead."
"It's too volatile," Auryn replied. "You'd damage your foundation."
And she moved.
She blurred forward, striking again and again—golden crescents carving into the blazing stone.
The giant roared, lashing out—but her form flickered, elusive, sometimes dissolving into streaks of gold light.
Kael slowed, watching in awe.
"That movement… if I had that, I could survive anything…"
But even as wounds piled across the colossus—
it didn't fall.
Auryn's expression tightened.
It took dozens of strikes without slowing.
Then, suddenly—
It ignored her.
It turned back to Kael.
And charged.
Kael barely reacted in time, diving aside. This time, he wasn't ready. The chase grew deadlier with every step.
"Don't go that way!" Sylva shouted. "It's a cliff!"
Too late.
The forest opened.
Empty air stretched beyond.
Kael's heart sank.
Behind him—the giant.
Before him—the abyss.
A shrill cry cut the sky.
A massive azure bird burst from the clouds below.
Auryn's hand moved to her bracelet—
But she wasn't fast enough.
The giant advanced slowly now, savoring the kill.
Kael's voice broke. "Why do you hate me this much…?"
Then—
A voice.
Soft. Amused.
"What a curious creature."
Kael turned.
A woman stood beside him.
He hadn't even seen her arrive.
She was… overwhelming.
Skin like snow. Lips like wine. A body lush and full, her breasts heavy and proud beneath silken robes, rising with each breath.
For a heartbeat—
Kael forgot he was about to die.
*By the gods… even Master doesn't compare…*
His gaze dropped.
And lingered.
*That… that's at least twice Selene's—*
"Why is something like this on Vane's Summit?" the woman asked, turning to him.
Her eyes locked onto his face.
Something flickered there.
The giant roared and charged.
She didn't move.
"Are you trying to get yourself killed?!" Kael snapped.
He lunged—grabbing her, dragging her down as they rolled aside.
"What's your name?" she asked calmly.
The giant's foot rose—
Kael didn't answer.
He pushed his fire-Vitae to its limit, ready to make a last stand—
Then—
She moved.
A violet pin slipped from her hair.
A flash of purple lightning—
It pierced the giant's foot… and burst out the other side.
The creature staggered.
Cracks spread.
Its leg shattered below the knee.
Kael stared.
The woman flushed faintly.
"And here I thought you were bold," she murmured. "Taking liberties with me like that."
Only then did Kael realize—
His chest was pressed tightly against her full, trembling breasts.
He jerked back instantly.
The scent of her lingered—rich, intoxicating.
The giant struck again—
She flicked her fingers.
The violet lightning returned, punching straight through its arm.
The limb shattered mid-swing.
Kael crouched, shielding his head as debris rained down, heart racing.
*What is she…?*
She raised her hand again, aiming at the creature's chest.
"This thing isn't worth keeping."
Kael's eyes went wide.
"No—don't hit the core!"
Too late.
The violet streak pierced its chest.
The world held its breath—
Then—
A sun of fire erupted from within.
The Invincible Great General exploded.
Flaming stone rained down across the peak.
Auryn exhaled slowly, slipping the Auric Manacle back onto her wrist. "That… was a formidable Arcane Treasure."
Selene stared, practically salivating. "What is that thing? It casts instantly…"
Sylva frowned. "And she found its core without seeing its creation…"
Kael stood amidst the falling debris.
Frozen.
The woman caught the returning violet pin and slid it back into her hair with effortless grace.
"Well?" she asked.
Kael trembled.
"You… you…"
She tilted her head. "Yes?"
His fists clenched.
"You destroyed it! My Fire-Lion Heart! Five months of work—gone!"
She laughed softly. "That crude thing took you five months?"
"It wasn't crude! It was my son! The Invincible Great General!"
"Your son?" She laughed again, richer this time. "And you shout at your savior?"
Kael faltered.
She had saved him.
That much was true.
Before he could answer—
A cry split the air.
An enormous azure bird descended.
On its back sat an elderly woman, serene, radiant with quiet power.
Auryn and Sylva both brightened. "Archon Velda has arrived. Quickly."
They dropped to their knees.
Kael followed, though his glare lingered on the woman.
"I'll settle this with you later," he muttered.
They bowed deeply.
"Disciples of the Runeward Chapter greet Elder Velda."
The old woman smiled warmly. "Up, children."
Her gaze settled on Kael.
"Well done. That construct had promise. Only flawed in design—hence the backlash. Be more careful next time."
Her words struck like knives.
Kael pointed at the violet-haired woman. "It *could* have been fixed! She destroyed its core!"
"You little—!" the woman snapped. "Say that again!"
Velda clicked her tongue. "Must you argue with a child? He doesn't know who you are."
The woman huffed. "Did you hear what he called me?"
Everyone froze.
Velda chuckled. "This is Shreve Lyra Farrow. Show proper respect."
Shock rippled through them.
Lyra Farrow.
The name alone carried weight.
Kael went rigid.
*Her?*
The legendary master of constructs—
—and Ars Vitae.
And he had just insulted her.
Sylva tugged his sleeve urgently. "Bow."
Kael swallowed and knelt.
"Forgive my offense, Shreve."
Lyra smiled.
"Oh, don't pretend. You're still furious."
Her eyes lingered on his face—strangely intent.
Selene watched from the side, brows knitting.
*What is with her…?*