On the vast train deck, all the noble guests turned to watch the Church of Steam and Magic guards storm toward the young girl, Isabella.
Sympathy flashed across some of their faces.
Being targeted by the Church's guards was never a good sign.
Isabella, entirely unaware of what was happening, paled as the guards approached.
Her instinct was to run, but with her brother in the midst of a crucial moment nearby, any sudden movement or disturbance could disrupt him.
So, despite her fear, she stood her ground, questioning the guards as they neared.
"What are you doing? Why are you throwing out our belongings?"
"Your belongings?" scoffed the knight in light armor at the front. "Do you think that's a place someone like you deserves? Look at your status!"
With that, he kicked Isabella hard in the stomach, sending her flying across the deck and crashing onto the floor with a dull thud.
Pain radiated through her abdomen as though a blade had pierced her, and blood trickled from the corner of her mouth.
She gritted her teeth, clutching her stomach, determined not to make a sound that could disturb her brother.
Seeing this, many bystanders frowned.
They could tell Isabella was just an ordinary person, unable to wield magic.
The guards from the Church were going too far.
Watching this unfold, Carter felt anger boiling inside and stepped forward, but the middle-aged man beside him, who bore a striking resemblance to him, pulled him back, his gaze fixed thoughtfully on Alan.
Unsatisfied that Isabella hadn't cried out or begged, the light-armored knight took a few steps closer. He stomped down on her fingers, making a sickening crunch.
"You dare occupy the Overseer's room? Are you tired of living?!"
Isabella's fingers were nearly crushed under the pressure, her forehead beaded with sweat, and blood seeped from her tightly clenched teeth.
She wanted to fight back, to protest, but her strength was fading fast.
"You show no remorse whatsoever. This only adds to your sins!" the knight sneered, stepping over her and walking toward Alan, a murderous glint in his eyes as he slowly unsheathed his sword.
But as he took a single step, he felt an unexpected weight on his leg and turned to see Isabella, her bloodied fingers wrapped tightly around his leg.
"Don't disturb my brother! I… I challenge you!" Her voice was hoarse from the blood in her throat, yet her resolve was unyielding.
"Challenge me? You're not worthy!" The knight sneered, kicking Isabella away again. Raising his sword high, he shouted, "Since you two are so close, I'll send you off together!"
Just as he was about to strike Isabella, who had crashed against the edge of the deck, Alan opened his eyes.
At that moment, he felt as if his vision had risen to an extraordinary height, gazing down upon the flow of all things below in perfect harmony.
Earth, fire, wind, and water—elements interwoven in an endless cycle.
In an instant, Alan's spirit surged, and a radiant, seven-colored light descended from above, swirling around him like a rainbow, purifying his soul further.
His spirit ascended, gaining a tangible presence that shimmered with brilliant hues.
"Insightful Heart!" Carter's father gasped, his eyes widening with astonishment.
Others nearby took notice of the supernatural phenomenon and quickly recognized it.
"Insightful Heart—a profoundly rare magus spiritual tier.
Not only does it enhance one's affinity with the elements, but it allows for a smoother mastery and transformation of magic. This surpasses even a grand magus; only a high-level magus can achieve such a special tier!"
The nobles on the deck, well aware of the significance, looked at Alan with renewed respect.
A magus, perhaps even a grand magus, in their midst!
Only a magus of exceptional talent could reach such a tier, and such individuals were incredibly rare in the Plantagenet Kingdom.
Alan, fully revitalized after absorbing the rainbow light, could see the flow and surge of elements around him with unprecedented clarity.
These elements hovered around him like lively spirits, exuding both obedience and liveliness.
As he marveled at his breakthrough, Alan's excitement turned to shock as he saw Isabella's body, flung like a falling star, slam into the deck's edge.
Blood trailed from her lips, and her fingers were coated in fresh blood.
Alan's pupils contracted in disbelief. How had his sister ended up like this?
"Who did this?!"
A fierce rage erupted within him, spreading out in a wave of elemental energy.
The knight, who had raised his sword to strike Isabella, suddenly felt an intense, bone-chilling cold envelop him.
Ice crystals rapidly formed on his body, freezing him in place.
Though Alan hadn't leveled up, the ascension of his soul through the Insightful Heart allowed him a deeper mastery of elemental control.
The knight, though a mid-tier bronze mage, was immobilized by the frost encasing him.
In the next moment, the knight's eyes widened as Alan, moving like a violent storm, appeared before him.
"Who gave you the right to touch my sister?!"
Alan's fist, infused with blazing flames, slammed into the knight's stomach.
Under the combined pressure of fire and ice, the armor shattered, sending shards of ice deep into the knight's body.
Blood sprayed from his wounds as he was launched dozens of meters across the deck, hitting the ground with a sickening impact.
Everyone around watched, stunned. This knight, a tier-bronze mage with notable defense and attack power, had been utterly destroyed in a single move.
The boy's combat power and ruthlessness were terrifying.
Furious, the remaining guards from the Church charged at Alan.
"How dare you lay a hand on a Church knight! Who gave you the audacity?"
"Attack!"
Dozens of Church guards, most of them close to tier-bronze, surged toward Alan like a relentless tide.
Alan, overwhelmed with guilt, knelt beside Isabella. "Sister, I'm sorry. I should have protected you…"
Isabella managed a weak smile. "I'm… I'm fine, brother. Congratulations on your breakthrough."
With that, she drifted into unconsciousness, though her lips held a small, sweet smile.
Alan's hand clenched into a fist, and a cold, murderous intent filled the air, chilling the surrounding temperature.
As he rose, his staff transformed into a long sword, and his tangible killing intent manifested as a fierce snowstorm that swept across the deck.
The Church guards shivered as a sense of unprecedented danger gripped them. In that moment, Alan no longer seemed human—he was a ferocious beast of vengeance.
"What did my sister do to deserve this treatment?!"
Alan's voice pierced the souls of the guards, sending a chill down their spines.
Some even had a fleeting vision of their throats being slit, only to be pulled back to reality when Captain Annie appeared nearby.
"Alan, this is just a misunderstanding!" Annie called out, stepping forward to stop him.