Chapter 14 – How to Crash a Wedding and Accidentally Start a Boss Raid

The palace glitters under the moonlight, its marble halls lit with golden lamps as music swells in the ceremonial chamber. Rows of nobles, soldiers, and unfamiliar faces fill the grand cathedral-like hall. And among them… the students and staff of Borneo High School sit uneasily, their eyes darting between the two grooms standing at the altar.

Raul and Alfian, both dressed in embroidered finery, stand proudly — as if this were the crowning achievement of their lives.

Luna stares down at herself in her ornate wedding dress, hands trembling. Mother… Tears well in her eyes, but she refuses to let them fall.

“Just behave,” Kuzman whispers coldly at her side, his hand glowing faintly with magic that binds her in place.

“Bastard… traitor,” she hisses.

“I’m doing this… for my own sake,” Kuzman mutters, dragging her forward.

At the far end of the aisle, King Lozla sits beside the queen. The king’s posture is rigid, lifeless… almost puppet-like. The queen, in contrast, radiates an unnerving elegance — her gaze sharp, her smile too calculated.

One of the teachers from Borneo High can’t take it anymore. “What are you doing?! You’re still kids! Stop this nonsense at once!”

“Seize them,” the queen orders smoothly.

Several guards move in, dragging the protesting teacher away.

“First you teleport one of our students to the wild,” the teacher shouts as he’s pulled from the hall, “and now this farce of a wedding?! Raul! Alfian! Come to your senses!”

“Shut it, old man!” Alfian laughs. “We’re making history!”

“This is where we stand tall, teacher!” Raul grins.

In the pews, Elysia sits with Oswald and Marian, her jaw tight. “This is beyond stupid…”

“To this moment, everyone is together,” the king announces in a monotone, beginning the ceremonial speech.

When Luna is brought to the altar by Kuzman, Elysia immediately senses something wrong. The princess’s body looks tense… her movements stiff.

Then Princess Verica makes her entrance — in an obscene black gown cut far too low, more suited to a temptress than a royal. Raul stares at her like a moth to flame.

“Beautiful…” he breathes.

“Heh… looks like we’re going to have fun,” Alfian smirks.

The girls clinging to Alfian giggle like fools.

Kuzman raises his staff. “By the authority vested in me as the king’s wizard, I shall bless this union—”

“That’s enough!” Elysia explodes, rising from her seat. “Aren’t they supposed to be engaged first?! What’s the rush — or are you just trying to push this sham through before anyone can stop you?!”

“Silence,” Kuzman snarls, lashing out with a bolt of magic. The force slams into her, tearing her dress at the shoulder — but Elysia stands again, glaring defiantly.

“Coward!”

“Seize her,” King Lozla orders, his voice empty of life.

Guards swarm Elysia. She thrashes, shouting, “Let me go!” But the magic ropes coil tight.

Luna, paralyzed, can only watch… tears sliding down her cheeks.

Alfian smirks, gripping her hand. “Now you’re mine.”

“...Mine,” Verica echoes to Raul, smiling with predatory satisfaction.

And then—

Darkness.

The lights die in an instant. Several guards collapse with dull thuds, unconscious before they hit the ground.

From the shadows, a masked figure steps forward, cloak billowing.

“Who are you?!” a guard shouts.

Bang! A single suppressed gunshot answers — Kuzman cries out, clutching his shoulder.

“D–demonic weapon!” he gasps.

The stranger doesn’t speak. Instead, he moves with a predator’s grace, dismantling the guards with blinding strikes. Blades flash, fists drive into ribs, boots crush knees — like Zoro carving through enemies without breaking stride.

Alfian roars in frustration. “A wedding crasher, huh?! COME ON THEN!”

“I don’t have time for this,” the masked man mutters.

In seconds, Alfian is on the floor, blood on his lips, unable to land even one hit.

The masked man turns his gaze to the king — and his eyes narrow.

“…He’s already dead,” he whispers. His guns rise toward the queen. Bang! A perfect headshot.

Chaos erupts. Nobles scream, guards panic.

“MOTHER!” Verica shrieks. But the queen’s body… doesn’t bleed like a human’s.

Kline’s voice crackles from the masked man’s comm jewel. “Confirmed. Not dead. She’s not human.”

“The princess too?”

“Try it.”

The man leaps forward, stabbing Verica cleanly before kicking her into a pillar. She slumps, unconscious.

Kuzman, regaining his senses, finds cold steel against his neck. “How dare you—”

Slice. His words end in a gurgle as the blade draws across his throat.

Luna rushes to the masked man, eyes wide. “…Randy?”

“All good, princess,” he murmurs.

“Dumbass…” she mutters, but her voice trembles with relief.

Kuzman manages a faint smile. “…Thank… you… my lady…”

“You served well,” Luna says softly, closing his eyes.

“What the hell just happened?!” someone shouts.

“Long story short,” Luna says, drawing her sword, “these two—” She glares at Verica and the queen. “—are under arrest for treason.”

Raul charges at Randy in rage. “Bastard! How dare you kill her!”

Randy sighs. “I really don’t have the energy for you again.”

A blur of motion later, Raul’s sprawled on the floor, beaten before he can blink.

Alfian groans, blinking through the ringing in his ears. The ceremonial hall is no longer a place of music and vows — it’s a battlefield of overturned chairs, shattered stained glass, and bodies sprawled across the floor.

The girls clinging to him moments ago lean down in panic.
“Alfian! Are you okay?!”

“Move,” he growls, shoving them aside. His pride, bruised worse than his jaw, flares as he grabs his sword and charges straight at the masked figure.

The figure doesn’t even blink. One sidestep, a brutal elbow to the ribs, and Alfian is on the floor again — unconscious before his blade can even rise.

Raul sees his friend drop and snarls, rushing in with reckless fury. “Bastard!”

Two quick moves — a low sweep to the legs and a palm strike to the chest — send Raul skidding back across the marble, gasping for air.

And then…

The queen moves.

Her eyes snap open, gleaming like a predator. Her voice is honey wrapped around a knife.
“I wonder… how you managed to see through this.”

The masked man’s voice is steady, almost cold.
“The king’s eyes. They’re empty. He’s no ruler anymore… just a shell.”

Nerina tilts her head, amused. “Only one of us should be able to detect that…”

Randy isn’t sure what she means. He glances at Luna.
“Mind getting everyone out? This… could get messy.”

Before she can respond, a violent gust of wind slams into the chamber, scattering petals, banners, and half the guards like paper dolls. Randy throws himself in front of Luna, shielding her from the force.

The wind cuts through his mask.

The top half drops to the floor with a faint clink.

Silence falls — followed by a collective gasp. Faces pale. Eyes widen.

“…Randy?” Alfian croaks, stunned.

Raul’s sword slips from his fingers, clattering to the marble.

Even Nerina freezes — only for her lips to curl into a wicked grin. “Impossible… you look exactly like… Lilith.”

“Who the hell is that?” Randy snaps.

The queen laughs. A deep, rolling villain’s laugh that chills the air.
“HAHAHAHAHA! So that’s how it is… LORD XORVATH!”

“Xorvath…? Sounds familiar…” Randy mutters, frowning.

Raul swallows hard. “…Randy…”

“Hey, Raul.”

Alfian’s expression twists into rage. “You… you were just a weak little bastard! Just something for me to toy with!”

“Sorry,” Randy says flatly. “Sorry for wasting your time. Guess the joke’s over.”

A familiar voice cuts in.
“Looks like you’re gonna need my help.”

Kline appears at Randy’s side, spinning his staff like he’s been waiting for this moment all week.
“Demon hunting?”

“Yep.” Randy smirks.

Kline grins. “Hahahaha — finally a proper battle.”

A flash of steel as Seraphina strides in, spear already in hand. “Don’t hog all the fun.”

And from the shattered balcony above, Elowen lands with a hammer in her grip and fire in her eyes. “Looks like this is going to be very fun.”

One of the teachers spots Randy and nearly cries in relief.
“Randy! My goodness, you’re safe!”

“Teacher — get them out, now. This is going to get dangerous.”

From the crowd, Marlisa steps forward. “Thank goodness…”

“Vice monitor,” Randy says without looking at her, “just leave. Please.”

Luna and Elysia move to his side, Oswald close behind.

“Marian, help the others escape,” Luna orders.

“Got it,” Marian nods.

Kline tilts his head, cracking his neck. “Two demons. Pick your poison, everyone.”

Elysia points her sword at Nerina with a smirk. “That pretty-looking bitch is mine.”

Oswald gives her a flat look. “Elysia… she looks really strong.”

“Even better,” Elysia says with a grin.

Luna’s gaze hardens. “I’ll fight my mother.”

Elowen jerks her thumb toward the side. “Raul’s still here. And that idiot over there—”

“I’LL KILL YOU ALL!” Alfian roars, rushing forward again.

Elowen sighs. “Fine. I’ll take care of this idiot.”

“But Raul’s with Verica,” Seraphina notes.

“Like I said — I can handle it!” Elysia shouts, eyes never leaving Nerina.

The air grows heavy. The chandeliers sway. And from the shadows… something inhuman stirs.

Kline said to Randy “this is going to get messy”. He slam his staff and shouted “Balla ceilte”

Randy lowers his stance, scanning the battlefield.
“…Then… let’s do this.”

The chamber explodes into motion.

CLANG! Alfian charges like a bull, blade raised high — only for Elowen to casually catch his fist in one hand. She doesn’t even flinch.

“…This is it? This is your strength?” she says flatly, almost bored.

“What?! How—?!”

Before he can finish, a scream cuts across the hall.

At the altar, Nerina presses her palm against the king’s chest. A black ichor spreads through his veins, his body convulsing as his frame swells. Bone cracks, armor tears, and with a monstrous roar, King Lozla mutates into something that barely resembles a man.

A giant.

The ground quakes as the transformed king smashes through the palace wall and storms toward the protest outside.

Knights scatter in panic. Loyalists flee. Nobles trip over each other to escape.

Fu Xi arrives at the doorway, his expression grim.
“So… the king has fallen. Lozla… you fool.”

Randy doesn’t hesitate — he leaps after the giant, rooftops shattering beneath his feet.

There’s no way to match this thing’s raw strength head-on. But maybe… if he could lead it away from the crowd.

The giant swings. Randy springs from one rooftop to the next, the wind of each blow nearly knocking him off balance.

His hand hovers over his rifle. If I can just hit the vital point…

He exhales.
“…Guess it’s time.”

A click at his wrist — then his entire body shifts. Armor plates snap into place. Wings unfurl from his back with a mechanical shhhk. His visor seals shut.

It’s a hybrid between Iron Man’s precision and Falcon’s agility — sleek, deadly, and built for flight.

He soars into the air, rifle drawn. The barrel glows as it charges to maximum output.

BANG!

The shot explodes against the giant’s shoulder, tearing away flesh — but the monster keeps moving.

Meanwhile, back inside the palace—

Kline and Luna clash with Nerina. Each exchange of magic sends shockwaves through the room. But then… Nerina’s skin darkens, her eyes blaze yellow, her hair burns crimson. Wings burst from her back, marked with the sigils of a succubus.

Luna lunges, blade aimed for her throat — only for Nerina to stop it with a single finger.
“Is that all, child?” she purrs.

Luna grits her teeth and chants. “Teine dhearg!”

A column of roaring fire engulfs Nerina. Kline stands back, palms pressed together, magic circles spinning around him.
“Keep her there, Luna! I’m charging!”

“That spell’s huge…”

“Yeah, and it takes time! So shut up and cover me!”

“Fine!”

Nerina vanishes — only to reappear behind Kline. Her clawed hand swings for his neck, but Luna’s voice cuts the air.
“Glachadh gabhtar!”

Chains of light snap around Nerina, yanking her to the ground. Luna slams her sword down, but the demon queen blocks — barely. Blood sprays, but it seals instantly.

“Vile bitch!” Nerina snarls.

Across the hall, Elysia and Oswald face Verica in her demonic form. Her skin is streaked with shadow, and her wings slice the air with each beat. Raul, blinded and raging, swings wildly at them.

“Hey, junior,” Oswald says while parrying. “If we make it back to school, you’re cleaning the toilets for a year.”

Oswald, holding Raul at bay with a magic shield, Raul snorts. “How dare you give out punishments like you’re my teacher?”

Raul roars, shield glowing.
“Judgement Blade!”

Both dodge as the strike carves a deep line into the marble.

Oswald chants, runes glowing across his arms. “Taran tuinn!” A bolt of lightning crashes into Raul — he blocks, but staggers.

“Corff gwelliant!” His muscles swell with runic power, fists moving in a blur. Raul is driven back by the flurry of enchanted strikes.

Suddenly, Nerina lifts her hands.
“Zorath krael throkos!”

The air tears open, releasing a swarm of batlike goblins. The room floods with screeching creatures.

Fu Xi arrives with his men, loyal knights forming a wall.
“Protect Lady Luna and the kingdom!”

Outside, Randy struggles to keep the giant away from the protesters. A villager shouts from below.
“If you need help, we can trip it!”

“You sure?!”

“Rope!”

“…Alright. I’ll lure it. Once it’s down, I’ll finish it!”

“Got it!”

Before he can take flight again, Marlisa’s voice calls from the square.
“Randy!”

“Marlisa?!”

“Let me help!”

“Fine — just keep everyone out of its path!”

Back in the palace—

Elowen and Seraphina face Alfian and his entourage.

“Alright,” Elowen says, gripping her hammer. “I’ll handle the girls. Can you deal with this one?”

Seraphina smirks, her tail swaying. “With pleasure.”

Alfian sneers. “A snake monster? I’ll skin you—”

Her tail whips like a flail, smashing him across the hall and into the wall.
“Sorry, didn’t catch that,” she says coldly.

“Elowen!!” the girls scream, charging. She meets them head-on, hammer swinging.

Elysia soars after Verica, arrow fired. “Hold still! I’m taking your head for my trophy!”

Oswald groans. “You sound like a poacher.”

“She’s a rare specimen,” Elysia grins.

“Specimen my ass—” He ducks as Raul’s blade swings past. “HEY!!! EL!! —watch your damn aim!”

Marlisa’s magic shield shimmers in the moonlight, holding back the towering abomination that was once King Lozla. His form distorts again, bones twisting and muscles swelling into something even more monstrous — like a nightmare given flesh.

“...Great. Now he’s scarier.” I hover mid-air, my wings beating, rifle gripped tight. “Geez… now I really need that ship.”

Over the chaos, a familiar voice booms in my comms.
“SON!!!”

I glance toward the source. “Gindol?! Not now! I’m kind of busy punching Godzilla’s cousin!”

“I’m aboard this flying contraption you call a ship! What do you need?!”

A grin cracks my face. “Perfect! Get to the controls!”

“I am already there!”
“Good! See that big red switch?”
“Yes! I can see— BY THE GODS! WHAT IS THAT?!”

“That? Oh, just the remains of your king.”
“…I hate this kingdom.”

“Listen up! I’m going to lure him into position. The people down here will trip him. The second he’s down, fire every damn thing that ship has got!”

“Understood. The main cannon is charging.”

“Cool. Wait for my signal.”

Below, Marlisa raises her staff, chanting,
“Mór bouclier gníomhachtaigh!”

A vast shield of shimmering light forms in front of the charging monster, halting it mid-stride. Lozla slams against it again and again, claws raking, the barrier trembling but holding.

I land beside her. “Nice work, but you’re about to get flattened—”

Before she can argue, I scoop her up bridal-style and vault away from the impact zone.

“Hey! I can still fight—” She stops mid-protest, realizing I’m not letting go.

…Oh crap. I’m very aware of the softness pressing against my armor.

Control yourself, Randy. This is not the time.

We land in a safer alley. She slides from my arms, cheeks faintly flushed.
“Let me enchant you,” she offers.

“Won’t work on me,” I say with a grin, before taking off again, wings cutting through the night. Marlisa nods and turns to heal the wounded in the streets, her shield magic still holding parts of the battlefield.

In the Palace

Luna’s duel with Nerina rages, blades and claws clashing in a blur. Sparks fly with each strike, neither giving ground.

Then Kline steps forward, a knowing smile on his lips.
He plants his staff, chanting,
“Garjan mahaan jyoti!”

Light erupts from the floor — a blinding, holy brilliance that fills the chamber.

The batlike goblins screech, their bodies steaming as the magic saps their strength. Nerina staggers, her wings faltering. Even Verica drops to her knees, growling.

Luna shields her eyes. “That’s… impressive.”

Kline smirks. “Weakened them enough for you? Good. NOW—” His voice booms across the battlefield. “EVERYONE! IT’S TIME TO CRUSH THESE BASTARDS! CHARGE!!”

A unified war cry explodes from the knights, warriors, and loyal guards. Steel meets flesh as they tear into the weakened goblin swarm, cutting them down in a tide of vengeance.

The holy light from Kline’s spell still glimmers faintly across the battlefield, and Nerina’s once-smooth, mocking smile now twitches with strain.

Kline tilts his head, eyes glinting like a fox who’s cornered his prey.
“Hi there… looks like you’re running out of steam, eh?”

Nerina still forces a smirk, her voice dripping with false sweetness.
“Oh? And here I thought you’d want to enjoy the chance to beat down a beautiful lady like me~” She trails her finger down her cheek, her gaze locking with his, oozing seduction.

Kline just stares at her for a second… then bursts out laughing.
“Pfft—HAHAHA! Lady, I’d rather sleep with a goblin babe than with you!”
His laughter echoes through the hall like a taunt, making even some of the soldiers snort.

Nerina’s face twitches, the facade cracking. “You dare—”

But Kline is already moving. He uncorks a small vial from his belt, the liquid inside shimmering like holy water infused with liquid moonlight. Holding it high, he chants:
“Feabhas dh'uisge sanctaidd!”

The potion bursts in a spray of radiant mist, and droplets land on Nerina’s skin. Immediately, steam rises off her body, her demonic markings sizzling like acid on flesh.

“EARGHHHHH!!! WHAT IS THIS?!” she screams, stumbling back, her wings flaring in panic.

Kline smirks, stepping forward like a man delivering a verdict.
“Cleansing, sweetheart. You reek of corruption… and honestly? You smell like turd!”
He cackles, loud and merciless. “HAHAHAHA!”

From the side, Luna facepalms. “...You could have just said ‘purification.’”

Before she can follow up, a flash of black and crimson rushes her — Verica, eyes burning with rage.
“You bitch of a sister!!”

Luna reacts instantly, her blade shimmering with runes as she chants:
“Llafn séalaigh!”

Her sword arcs through the air, the magic surging down the steel in a perfect slash. A seal bursts to life along Verica’s body, glowing like molten chains before locking tight.

Verica freezes mid-step, her limbs bound by shimmering runes.
“What… have you done to me?!” she snarls, struggling, but the spell doesn’t budge.

Luna’s tone is cold, almost pitying. “A sealing spell. You won’t be breaking it anytime soon.”

From across the hall, Elysia’s eyes widen — then her mouth curls into a feral grin.
“Oooh… so she’s all gift-wrapped now? That’s my prey!”

Before anyone can stop her, Elysia storms forward, fists clenched like a street brawler.
She doesn’t hesitate.
She doesn’t hold back.
She just punches Verica in the face.

And again.
And again.
And again.

“HAHAHA! TRY TALKING BIG NOW!” she laughs, landing blows with the reckless joy of someone beating the arcade boss that’s been eating all her coins.

Some of the knights pause mid-fight to watch. Even Kline raises an eyebrow.
“…Is she… enjoying that a little too much?”

Luna sighs, sliding her sword back into a ready stance. “She’s Elysia. That is her enjoying herself.”

One thing is certain…

From Raul’s point of view, everything feels wrong.
He staggers back, panting, the clang of blades still ringing in his ears.

How…? His eyes dart toward Oswald — the so-called nobody. Just a background figure, someone Raul barely even remembered existed before all this. And yet now… Oswald is standing beside Elysia, deflecting his blows with calm precision, his stance steady, his magic reinforcing each strike.

Raul’s grip tightens on his weapon. No… this isn’t possible.

Little does he know… Oswald, Elysia, and the others who refused to follow the king after Randy’s incident had been tempered by battle after battle. Every quest, every fight, every brush with death had sharpened them.
Now, they were no longer the weak, obedient students he once knew — they were warriors.

Inside the city…

The roar of the giant shakes the air, a deafening bellow that rattles windows and sends loose tiles crashing from rooftops.
Dust fills the streets as Randy skims low over the ground in his flight suit, his rifle in hand, eyes locked on the towering figure.

Suddenly — familiar voices.

“HEY, RANDY!! NEED A HAND?!”

He glances down mid-flight — and sees them.
The returning adventurer students. Gear scratched, armor dented, faces sweaty and grinning like they just walked in on the best fight of the year.

Randy grins under his mask.
“Yeah!! Remember Gulliver’s Travels?”

One of them flashes a thumbs-up.
“YEP! Coming up!!”

Within minutes, the streets erupt into organized chaos.

Villagers, knights, guards — and dozens of Randy’s fellow students — band together. The air is alive with the twang of bowstrings and the whoosh of crossbows. Rope sails through the night sky, looping around the giant’s legs, arms, and even neck. Every time the monster swings its massive limbs, a dozen bodies scatter, only to regroup and pull tighter.

“HEAVE!!!”
The call echoes, and the sound of straining rope fills the streets.

From above, Randy takes it all in — the torchlight reflecting off steel, the sweat and grit of people who’ve decided they won’t let their home fall tonight.

“…Damn…” he mutters, a grin tugging at the edge of his mouth. “Looks like hunting season after all.”

Another volley of arrows arcs upward, embedding into the giant’s hide like a porcupine’s quills.
The beast roars, staggering, but the net of ropes and sheer determination of the crowd only tightens.

And Randy knows — this is the opening he’s been waiting for.

I leap high, the suit’s thrusters roaring, wings flaring out like steel feathers. Hovering above the beast’s deformed head, I unleash everything — bullets, rockets, concussive blasts — a relentless storm raining down from the sky. ‘Randy’

“Hey!!! Gindol!!!” I yell over the chaos.
His voice crackles in my comms, panicked but eager. “I’m here! What is it?!”
“Get ready!!!”
“It’s ready! Anytime, lad!!”

“Fine!!! Ready to fire on my mark!” My targeting system locks onto the writhing monster.

“Three!!!”
Below, the villagers, knights, and adventurers strain on massive ropes, wrapping and tightening them like a web around the beast’s legs. The creature thrashes, its roar shaking the palace walls.

“Two!!!”
My suit’s guns overheat, vents hissing as I keep firing. Sparks, explosions, and muzzle flashes light up the night sky. The crowd stares in awe, but my gut twists — every shot, every hit, still not enough to hurt it.

“One!!! FIRE!!!”
From above the palace, the Skybreaker’s main cannon hums to life, then erupts.

A blinding beam of condensed light tears through the darkness, a god’s judgment descending from the heavens. The shockwave knocks the air out of my lungs.

“Everyone, move!!! Get out of the blast radius!!!” I bark, diving low to drag stragglers away.

The ground quakes.
The monster lets out one last guttural bellow — and then, nothing.

When the dust clears, there’s no towering beast.
Just… a man.

King Lozla lies there, naked, burned, stripped of his crown and pride. My boots touch the ground as I kneel beside him. His pulse is weak, fading.

His eyes, clouded yet human again, flick toward the palace.
“...Lu…na…” he whispers, voice trembling, “…for…gi…v…e…me…”

I grip his shoulder, but his last breath leaves him before I can speak.

The king is gone.

The battlefield goes silent — save for the faint crackle of fires and the sound of ropes falling slack.

Marlisa stood frozen, her eyes locked on the lifeless, battered remains of King Lozla. His crown lay shattered beside him, his once-regal figure reduced to something frail and pitiful. The metallic tang of blood clung to the air.
“…Oh dear…” she murmured, almost forgetting to breathe.

Randy didn’t wait. “Hey—settle this for me. I’m going back to the palace.”

Her head snapped toward him. “Hey!!! WAIT!!!” Marlisa lunged forward and caught his arm in a tight grip.

He looked down at her, his tone flat but edged.
“You’re not strong enough. You’ll be a distraction.”
It wasn’t an insult—more like a warning, hoping she’d let go.

But Marlisa’s eyes flared with determination. “Let me prove it to you! Oswald is there! That’s my big brother!”

Oswald? Her brother? Randy’s mind flickered with the thought—but the next moment he shook it off.
“I really don’t give a damn!!!”

The steel wings on his back snapped open with a mechanical shhk-kkrrrk, and before she could protest again, they were airborne. The wind howled around them as the palace loomed closer, Marlisa clinging to his back like a desperate passenger.

Inside the palace…

The grand hall was a furnace of chaos—columns split in half, banners burned to ash, shattered marble crunching under boots.

Oswald’s knuckles slammed into Raul’s sword arm, forcing the younger fighter back. The clash rang out like a gunshot, sparks scattering between them.

But then—

“Move, Raul! I’m joining in!” Alfian dropped into the fight, twin blades flashing.

Oswald tilted his head, unimpressed. “Two juniors? Not fair.”

“Shut it! Let’s beat him down! I’m stronger than you!!!” Alfian roared—

WHAM!

Oswald’s fist connected cleanly with his jaw, snapping his head to the side.
“Oops. Did you say something? I was too busy focusing on beating you both into the floor,” Oswald said, cracking his neck before charging Raul.

A few meters away, Elysia was trading blows with Verica, who had somehow recovered from her earlier beating. The bruise on Verica’s cheek was obvious even under the flicker of magic light.

Elysia grinned like a wildcat. “Yep. That pretty little face? Might need a makeover. I can help. Hahaha!”

“You’ll pay for this!!!” Verica’s golden eyes burned, her voice trembling with fury.

Back with Oswald, the rhythm of the fight shifted—

“Tag!” Kline’s voice cut through the noise as he stepped in. “My turn.”

Without hesitation, Oswald sidestepped, giving Kline the stage.
“They’re all yours. Don’t kill them—just make them wish they were dead.”

Kline twirled his staff once, his stance low and controlled. There was no magic, no alchemy—just pure martial precision. Every strike landed exactly where it would hurt most: knuckles, ribs, knees. Alfian’s guard broke first, Raul’s second, both wincing with every impact.

And then there was Seraphina.

She was a one-woman army. Her tail lashed out like a steel whip, smashing hybrid goblins into the cracked walls, while her spear spun in fluid, lethal arcs. Black demon blood splattered the tiles, and her fangs flashed in a grin that was equal parts beautiful and terrifying.

The palace wasn’t just in chaos—it was on the brink of collapsing under the sheer weight of the battle.

And high above, Randy and Marlisa were about to drop into the middle of the storm.

Luna’s breath came slow, controlled, as her fingers traced the glowing runes along her rapier’s hilt.
“Ødeleggelse klinok,” she whispered, her voice calm yet venomous.

The thin silver blade ignited—first with a crackle of flame, then a surge of lightning, the two elements twisting together like a raging storm. The air hissed as she stepped forward.

Clang! Sparks erupted as her strike met Nerina’s scythe. The demoness’s eyes flared a molten yellow.
“Radyābi mīṭu!” she roared, summoning the massive, curved blade out of black fire.

“You’re the only one we could not control!!” Nerina’s voice was half snarl, half desperate scream as she swung.

Luna’s body moved like silk in the wind—sidestep, slash, twist, thrust. She turned her rapier’s point and drove it toward Nerina’s ribs. The stab was precise… but Nerina barely flinched, her skin toughened by infernal magic.

She’s strong… too strong, Luna thought, gritting her teeth.

Scythe and rapier danced in a deadly rhythm—each strike ringing like a bell in the shattered throne room, each step crunching over broken marble. Lightning clashed with hellfire, the light painting the walls in violent flashes.

Elsewhere in the palace—

Elysia and Verica were still tearing into each other, their duel looking less like a sword fight and more like two wild animals trying to tear each other apart.

Kline and Oswald moved in perfect rhythm against Alfian and Raul—two veterans against two cocky upstarts. Staff strikes, punches, and sweeping kicks kept the juniors off balance.

Elowen was dragging the wounded away, her hammer slung over her shoulder, barking orders to anyone who could still stand.

Outside the palace—

Fu Xi’s voice boomed over the din. “Hold the line! Keep the streets clear!” His knights formed ranks, shields locking in tight formation, while ballista crews aimed at the skies.

High above, Gindol scanned the horizon from the airship’s bridge. “No sign of another wave… yet,” he muttered, adjusting the levers.

In the air—

Randy shot Marlisa a sidelong glance. “Fine! You want in the battle? You got it.”

Before she could answer, he hooked an arm around her waist and swept her up—princess carry.

Marlisa blinked, cheeks pink. “Oh… um… th-thank you for—”

He let go.

“EYYYAAA!!!” she screamed, plummeting like a meteor.

Randy didn’t even watch her land. He tucked his wings, diving toward the palace like a strike bomber. His HUD lit up with red warnings as he spotted the swirling black portal Nerina had conjured, spitting out monsters in endless waves.

He landed hard, boots cracking the tiles. Marlisa tumbled to a stop nearby, hair a mess but alive.
“HEY! That’s not how you treat a lady!!!” she shouted.

“Whatever! Hurry up with support!” Randy barked, shouldering his rifle. “I’ll handle this unlimited portal of stupid monsters.”

The roar of gunfire filled the air—BRRRRRRRTTTTTTTT!—as Randy’s suit-fed rifle spewed lead like a dragon breathing fire. Monsters exploded into gore and ash under the hail of bullets.

Kline vaulted over the wreckage to land beside him. “HEY! Need help?!”

“Yeah—help me build another weapon!” Randy shouted, firing without even looking.

Kline’s hand clamped over Randy’s temple, reading his frantic thoughts in an instant.
“Oh-ho… I like it,” he grinned.

With a flash of alchemical light, Kline slammed his palm to the ground, metal and wood twisting together. In seconds, a full-scale technical truck rolled into existence, mounted with a .50 cal cannon that gleamed like it had been plucked from another world.

Randy jumped onto the turret, spinning it toward the portal. “TAKE THIS!!!”

The first shot thundered like the wrath of the gods—BOOM-BOOM-BOOM!—each blast tearing monsters apart by the dozen. The ground shook under the weapon’s recoil.

Kline’s eyes lit up. “Now that is firepower!!!”

From across the hall, Oswald’s jaw dropped mid-fight. “You’ve got to be kidding me… Randy just brought a 21st-century war machine to a medieval battle.”

Kline shouted over the thunder of gunfire, “Randy! Hold them off for me—I’m sealing that portal!”

Randy didn’t even turn his head, the heavy .50 cal roaring under his grip. “Got it! Just don’t take all day, wizard boy!”

The battlefield was a storm of chaos. Goblin monstrosities kept spewing from Nerina’s swirling black rift, each one shrieking as it hit the ground—only to be torn apart by Randy’s hail of bullets. Empty shells rained around his boots like golden confetti, smoke curling from the barrel.

Kline’s hands blurred as alchemical runes spun into existence, the light bending around him. “Just a little longer…! Keep them away from me!”

On the far side of the throne room, Luna and Nerina clashed in a blur of flame and steel. Luna’s rapier, wreathed in fire and lightning, struck against Nerina’s shadow-forged scythe. Each blow rang like a bell of war.

“You will kneel before me!” Nerina snarled, black wings beating the air.

“You talk too much,” Luna spat, slashing upward in a strike that lit the cracked ceiling.

Across the hall, Elysia and Verica’s fight was nothing short of savage. Verica’s demonic claws ripped through the air, but Elysia met her with a mad grin, blocking with her sword before countering with a flurry of brutal punches.

Oswald and Marlisa fought back-to-back against Raul and Alfian, the sound of steel clashing against steel echoing through the chaos.

“You sure you can keep up, little sister?!” Oswald called over his shoulder.

“Don’t underestimate me!” Marlisa parried a strike, driving her knee into Alfian’s stomach.

Near the gates, Seraphina and Elowen were the wall. Seraphina’s bladed spear tore through goblin hybrids like a scythe through wheat, while Elowen’s hammer crushed bone and armor with each swing.

“Hold the line!” Elowen roared, sparks flying from her weapon.

It was a symphony of battle—steel, fire, and war cries blending into one unstoppable rhythm. But still, the enemy surged forward, endless and relentless.

Kline’s voice broke through the chaos. “Almost… there!” The runes around him flared like a newborn sun.

Randy gritted his teeth, firing until the gun’s barrel glowed red. “You better hurry—’cause I’m running outta patience and ammo!”

Only time would tell which way the tide would turn…

To be continued.