The monster let out a deafening roar, its ferocity shaking the air. Some of Kaelthorn's knights, including their captain, visibly flinched in fear.
Duke Kaelthorn glanced at them with a sharp look and muttered, "Hmph. Pathetic."
The monster charged at Ragnariel, raising its massive front paw to strike. Ragnariel leapt to the left with ease, countering with a swift slash aimed at the creature's head. However, the blade bounced off harmlessly, as though striking solid steel.
"Hard head," Ragnariel murmured to himself. "Looks like only an energy-coated blade can cut through."
He landed gracefully to the side of the monster, but the beast was quick to respond. Its right head lunged forward, fangs bared, aiming to bite him.
Ragnariel dashed forward and slid under the beast, narrowly avoiding the snapping jaws. Positioned beneath its massive belly, he swung his blade upward in a swift slash. Yet again, his attack failed to deal any damage.
The monster jumped back, putting distance between itself and Ragnariel.
Watching from the sidelines, some of the knights burst into laughter.
"Haha! His attacks didn't even scratch it!"
"Yeah, this is the end for that brat!" another jeered.
The monster, undeterred, began gathering mana between its two heads. The energy quickly condensed, growing larger and more menacing by the second. With a growl, the beast fired the mana sphere directly at Ragnariel.
Ragnariel's eyes narrowed. Without hesitation, he raised his sword above his head, gripping it tightly with both hands. He channeled Qi into the blade, which erupted with a sinister purple flame—far more ominous than the blue fire he had used before.
The monstrous mana orb sped toward him, but Ragnariel remained steadfast. As the attack closed in, he declared in a calm but firm voice, "Ragnarok Zero Form: Space Breaker."
Ragnariel swung his sword, unleashing a slash that collided with the monster's mana sphere. The attack didn't just cut through it, it shattered the sphere into countless fragments of broken space, which quickly dissipated into nothingness. The slash continued forward, slicing cleanly through one of the monster's heads while narrowly avoiding its body.
Duke Kaelthorn's eyes lit up, and an involuntary grin spread across his face. "Incredible," he muttered in awe.
Even Selene, who had been watching closely, couldn't contain her amazement. Her eyes sparkled as she exclaimed, "He's really... so cool."
The knights stood frozen, stunned by the spectacle. For a moment, no one spoke, except for the captain of the knights and a few of his subordinates, whose faces twisted in discontent and unease.
Meanwhile, Duke Kaelthorn's gaze shifted to Ragnariel's sword, which had crumbled into ash after the attack. He chuckled softly. "Ah, so that's why he asked for ten swords? It seems his weapons can't handle the full force of his power. This boy never ceases to amaze me."
Ragnariel tossed aside the hilt of the destroyed sword and calmly walked toward the pile of swords he had planted in the ground earlier.
Duke Kaelthorn turned to Selene and asked, "So, what do you think of him, Selene?"
Selene was caught off guard by the sudden question. "W-Why do you ask, Father?"
"I'm just curious about your impression of him," Duke Kaelthorn replied with a knowing smile.
Selene hesitated, her cheeks flushing slightly. "Well... he's handsome, cool, and strong-" She suddenly stopped, realizing what she'd just said. Her hands flew to her mouth as she quickly corrected herself. "Ahem! I mean, he's just okay, Father. Sure, he's strong, but that's all there is to it."
Her face turned an even deeper shade of red as she tried to maintain her composure, but her embarrassment was clear.
Duke Kaelthorn chuckled as he watched Selene's flustered expression. "Would you want to consider becoming his wife?" he asked with a teasing smile.
Selene froze, her face turning bright red. "W-What?! What are you saying, Father?! He's from a baron's family!"
Duke Kaelthorn raised an eyebrow, smirking. "Yesterday, you rejected proposals from the sons of a marquess and Duke Dreadmoor son because they were 'too weak.' And now you're objecting because he's from a baron's family?"
Selene's face grew even redder as she stammered, her voice tinged with both confusion and embarrassment. "T-That's different, Father! And besides, we're five years apart in age!"
Duke Kaelthorn let out a hearty laugh. "Hahaha! This is the first time I've seen your cold, composed face show both embarrassment and irritation at the same time."
"F-Father!!" Selene snapped, glaring at him in exasperation.
Still smiling, Duke Kaelthorn said, "Alright, alright. If you're not interested, I won't push the matter. But just so you know, your mother and I have a seven-year age gap."
Selene glanced away, her voice barely above a whisper. "Who said I wasn't interested...?"
"What was that? Did you say something?" Duke Kaelthorn asked, leaning in.
"N-No, Father!" Selene quickly replied. "Let's just watch Ragna's fight, okay?"
Duke Kaelthorn chuckled knowingly. As he turned his gaze back to Ragnariel, he mused to himself, "It seems my daughter's fallen for him... though she probably doesn't even realize it yet."
Meanwhile, Ragnariel continued his slow, deliberate approach toward the monster. The Two-Head Hell Hound Mutant, now visibly cautious, didn't dare make a move against him.
The knights murmured among themselves as they watched.
"Is that monster... afraid of him?" one of them asked, astonished.
"You're right," another agreed. "That kid has completely changed my view of him."
"Yeah, he's incredible," a third chimed in. "I think I might even start idolizing him."
Hearing these words, the knight captain clenched his fists, his face twisting with anger as his resentment toward Ragnariel burned even brighter.
Ragnariel glared at the monster and said, "Give up, or die?" His voice carried a chilling edge as an overwhelming aura of intimidation pressed down on the beast.
Refusing to yield, the monster fought against its fear, surrounding itself with a surge of mana. Flames erupted from its body, as if it were set ablaze. Ragnariel smirked and said, "So, you've chosen death, huh?"
Without hesitation, he dashed toward a pile of swords nearby, pulling out another blade. "Fine. Let's end this, you weak mutt," he sneered, now holding two swords in his hands.
Ragnariel approached the monster steadily, his twin swords gleaming ominously. The beast roared and lunged at him, swiping with its massive right claw. But Ragnariel leapt high into the air, channeling mana into one of his blades. His voice rang out, sharp and commanding: "Demonic Arts: Heavenly Judgement."
With a single fluid motion, he unleashed a devastating slash, aiming for both of the monster's heads. However, the creature dodged to the side at the last moment, and the attack severed only one head. The force of the strike left a massive crack in the ground, shaking the battlefield.
As the monster landed from its leap, Ragnariel focused mana into his legs, said to himself, "Air Step." He launched himself midair in a blur, closing the gap between them instantly. His mana surged once more into his blade, and he declared, "Mystic Arts: Shooting Star."
In the blink of an eye, Ragnariel's figure vanished. Suddenly, he appeared beneath the monster. For a brief moment, the beast's body shimmered, forming the shape of a star. Then, as it crashed to the ground, its body split into five clean pieces.
The fight was over.
Ragnariel sheathed his swords and strode toward the Duke's entourage. He looked straight at the Duke and said, "The task is complete, Your Grace."
A spontaneous round of applause erupted, echoing through the battlefield. Everyone was in awe, witnessing something truly extraordinary.
The knights began showering Ragnariel with praise.
"Incredible, boy! You're absolutely amazing."
"A fight to remember for a lifetime. Truly remarkable!"
"Outstanding, young master Ragnariel."
"Indeed, you are exceptional, young master!"
The once-scornful gazes of the knights shifted into ones of respect and admiration.
Duke Kaelthorn stepped forward and said with a smile, "What a spectacular fight, Ragna. I thoroughly enjoyed your performance."
Ragnariel bowed slightly and replied, "Thank you, Your Grace."
Then, the Duke turned to Selene and asked, "Selene, do you have anything you'd like to say to Ragnariel?"
Selene's cheeks flushed red as she cleared her throat. "Ahem... That was... a decent fight."
Ragnariel chuckled softly, offering a gentle smile. "I'm glad to hear your praise, Lady Selene."
Seeing his smile only deepened Selene's blush, and she quickly turned away, trying to hide her face.
Duke Kaelthorn gave a small laugh and declared, "Prepare yourselves. We'll be entering the cave soon."
Suddenly, Ragnariel spoke up, "Pardon me, Your Grace. After that fight, I just realized I... need to answer nature's call."
Through telepathy, he added, "Now is the time, Your Grace. It's highly likely that as we approach the cave, they'll launch their attack."
The Duke nodded subtly, replying, "Very well. We'll take a 10-minute rest. Let Ragna finish his business."
"Understood, sir," one of the knights responded.
With a slight bow, Ragnariel said, "If you'll excuse me for a moment, Your Grace."
He walked toward a large boulder, stepping behind it out of sight. Once there, Ragnariel swiftly moved toward the group trailing them, his expression sharp and focused.