Seren headed towards a particular area, where she came face to face with an Evolved One, a man from the Nomadic People with black hair.
The man charged at Seren, his body transforming into monstrous limbs. A single eye opened from his stomach, but with her experience, Seren easily parried his attack with her sword.
Combining her Sacrifice and Life Vows skills, Seren swiftly struck the Evolved One, stabbing him with her sword. Before the Evolved One could react, Seren used Holy Magic, casting Heretical Branding, and struck the monster's head, killing him instantly.
One by one, Seren defeated her enemies until she reached a building. As she broke down the door with her sword raised, Seren was ready to strike, but she froze, shocked by what she saw inside.
There were refugees—children, the elderly, and the sick—inside the building.
"Please… don't hurt us," a small child begged.
"Hey, calm down, I won't hurt you," Seren reassured them.
But suddenly, another child began crying and ran out of the building.
"Wait! It's dangerous out there!" Seren shouted.
The child ran straight to the body of one of the enemies Seren had just slain. The child picked up a knife and aimed it at Seren, her face filled with fear.
Seren then realized that the man she had just killed outside the building was the child's father. Seren approached the child slowly.
"Calm down, I won't hurt you," Seren said softly.
She took the knife from the child and embraced them.
"What's your name?" Seren asked.
The child, wiping away their tears, answered, "Ifian."
Just then, another Evolved One appeared on top of the building and leaped toward Seren. But a well-aimed arrow from Irene struck the monster from a distance.
"Sis!!" Irene cried out.
"Thank you, Irene," Seren replied.
She immediately drew her sword and prepared to face the incoming Evolved One.
The creature was grotesque and unrecognizable, its form bearing the scars of multiple battles, with visible wounds left by Attrition Bane across its body. However, something unexpected happened—it knelt, as though pleading with Seren.
"P-please…" the Evolved One spoke with a distorted voice.
"M-mother…" murmured the Nomadic child, trying to run toward the Evolved One, but Seren held him back.
"Please… go… Ifian… grow… strong…" the Evolved One uttered, its broken words laden with desperation.
Seren quickly grasped the creature's intent. She turned to Irene and a few members of the Blade of Mercy, instructing them to escort the villagers—children, the elderly, and the sick—away from the area. Despite being enemies of the Paladins, Seren couldn't allow innocents to suffer.
The Evolved One, seeing this, lowered its head, seemingly in gratitude toward Seren. As Irene led the villagers away, the creature suddenly shoved Seren back, throwing her off balance just as a spear hurtled through the air.
Seren, startled, watched in horror as the Evolved One was impaled by the spear.
"Worthless filth… Once a traitor, always a traitor. It would've been better to let them be exterminated," said a woman clad in full armor from head to toe. Her black and silver armor gleamed with intricate ornaments, including a striking turquoise-green gem embedded in the chest plate.
Seren froze as she felt the overwhelming energy emanating from the armored figure. The sheer presence was suffocating.
"Th-this is a Tremor Knight?" Seren stammered, panic creeping into her voice.
Launcent, rushing to her side, pointed his spear at the figure. His face was drenched in sweat, and his hands trembled as he, too, felt the crushing aura of the Tremor Knight.
"You… you're the Tremor Knights?" Launcent managed to say, his voice wavering.
"Hah… so, you're the infamous little brats, huh?" the Tremor Knight remarked, her voice dripping with disdain. She raised her spear effortlessly, her demeanor cold and unbothered.
"Well then, this shouldn't take long. Just two insignificant worms," she sneered.
Seren, regaining her composure, charged forward with her sword, but her attack was blocked effortlessly.
Launcent unleashed Ray of Genesis, but the Tremor Knight dodged it effortlessly. Seren followed up, activating Sacrifice and Life Vow, igniting her sword in flames. She clashed with the Tremor Knight, their strikes ringing out like thunder. Despite her best efforts, it was clear Seren was struggling to keep up.
Seeing an opening, Launcent leaped into action, using his Swiping Gale technique to attack. The Tremor Knight calmly extended her hand toward him and whispered, "Sonic Blow." An invisible force blasted Launcent, hurling him several blocks away.
Without pausing, the Tremor Knight shifted her focus to Seren. She struck Seren with a crushing blow, then slammed her to the ground with terrifying strength. Launcent tried to cast another spell, but in an instant, the Tremor Knight was already in front of him. She drove her knee into his torso and grabbed his hand.
"This is the limit of the Martyr from the Loyal Swords Paladin?" the Tremor Knight taunted coldly. She twisted his arm, snapping it with ease.
Hearing Launcent's pained screams, Seren's rage ignited. She activated Holy Mode: Pure Holy Ascension, her aura intensifying to a blinding radiance. With a powerful charge, she struck the Tremor Knight with a devastating slash, forcing her opponent back.
"Tch! So this is what Surorcula was referring to. The secret technique of Lady Eleison," the Tremor Knight muttered, clearly annoyed.
But before Seren could regroup, the situation worsened. Three more Tremor Knights appeared, their sheer presence exuding power equivalent to the first. Seren's heart sank as she realized they were equally formidable.
Just as things seemed dire, General Gaterkal and Ticonos arrived, their weapons drawn.
"Seren! Launcent! Lead the troops to the city hall—Yogshot's heart is there!" Ticonos commanded, his voice firm amidst the chaos.
"Leave these to us. Make Matilda and Rexus proud!" Gaterkal added, his tone both confident and commanding.
"I'm not old—you're the ancient one, old man!" Ticonos retorted, attempting to lighten the mood with a smirk.
Not long after, Golsiera arrived with several Martyrs, quickly ushering Seren and Launcent away.
"Not on my watch!" shouted one of the Tremor Knights, lunging toward Seren. However, Gaterkal intercepted with his Scathing Storm technique, sending the enemy flying.
"Focus on your fight, pointy ears!" Gaterkal roared, his presence unwavering as the battle raged on.
Seren, Golsiera, and Launcent hurried toward the city hall.
"Will they be okay?" Seren asked, concern lacing her voice.
"Don't worry," said one of the Numen soldiers accompanying them. "Those two are our finest generals. Even other generals acknowledge their unmatched strength."
As they approached, they saw a massive heart suspended in the air above a white pillar in the city square. Surrounding it, the remains of buildings lay in ruins, as though a monumental battle had just taken place there.
Suddenly, Seren and her group froze in shock. By a shattered tree, Grand Master Rurford sat slumped, grievously injured. Around him, the lifeless bodies of several Honor Guards lay sprawled, their necks cleanly severed.
In front of Rurford stood another Tremor Knight, but this one was unlike any they had encountered before. The air around her exuded an oppressive power that surpassed even the mightiest Grand Master Paladins Seren had ever known.
"Y-you… monster," Rurford muttered weakly, glaring at the Tremor Knight. His voice wavered, each word a struggle.
The Tremor Knight remained silent.
Moments later, another Tremor Knight appeared. Though clearly wounded, she strode confidently toward Rurford. Without her helmet, her face was visible, revealing a mohawk of striking blue hair and a malicious grin.
"No, no, no… our little sister isn't a monster," she sneered. "You Paladins have your champions… so let me introduce ours. She is the mightiest of all Deep Elves—Surorcula."
"I don't… believe you…" Rurford gasped, his voice faltering as life ebbed away. He glanced at Surorcula one last time before collapsing completely.
Both Tremor Knights turned their attention to Seren and her group, their piercing gazes locking onto them.
"It seems the time has come," said the mohawked Tremor Knight, whom Seren now recognized as Suroritas. "Despite this war, let me remind you—your request will be fulfilled. But first… eliminate these small nuisances, Surorcula."
Surorcula didn't respond. Without a word or gesture, she began to move toward Seren, her black armor adorned with golden ornaments glinting ominously in the dim light.
"Everyone, get ready!" Seren shouted, her voice firm as she raised her weapon.
But before she could react further, Surorcula was already in front of her, moving faster than the eye could follow. Without hesitation, she drove her blade toward Seren.
Seren tried to dodge, but Surorcula was relentless. Launcent attempted to attack her, thrusting his spear forward, but without even looking, Surorcula caught the spear mid-air.
Launcent struggled to pull the weapon back, but Surorcula's grip was unyielding. Effortlessly, she lifted both the spear and Launcent and hurled him aside like a ragdoll.
Seren, now fully immersed in her Holy Mode: Pure Holy Ascension, lunged forward, her longsword glowing with divine power. They clashed fiercely—Seren's sword against Surorcula's twin spears. Despite the enhanced strength of her holy ascension, Seren was no match for her opponent.
Every move Seren made seemed to have already been anticipated. Surorcula's strikes were precise, calculated, and merciless, leaving shallow but painful cuts along Seren's body. Desperate, Seren took a step back and invoked Heretical Branding, summoning her sacred spear.
But before she could hurl it, Surorcula closed the distance with inhuman speed, catching the holy spear with her bare hand. Seren narrowly avoided Surorcula's counterattack, managing to trap one of her spears beneath her arm. In retaliation, Seren swung her longsword at close range, but Surorcula released her grip on the trapped spear and delivered a devastating kick to Seren's helmet.
The force of the blow dented the helm, and Seren stumbled, pulling it off to reveal her bloodied face. Despite her injuries, she pressed on, attacking again with a series of Holy Slashes.
From behind, Launcent leaped into the fray, using Overbranding to amplify his power. But before his strike could connect, Surorcula surrounded herself with a Thunder Shield, an electrical barrier that crackled and pulsed across her body.
She deflected Seren's strikes with one spear while using her flexible, almost serpentine movements to evade Launcent's attacks. In a fluid motion, she kicked Launcent away while simultaneously parrying Seren's sword.
The battle raged on, with Seren and Launcent giving their all. But Surorcula's agility and overwhelming strength made it clear they were outmatched. Realizing this, Launcent and Golsiera urged Seren to retreat.
"Seren, go! Leave this to us!" Launcent shouted.
Seren hesitated for a moment but saw more Tremor Knights approaching their position. Gritting her teeth, she nodded reluctantly.
"Launcent, hold on!" Seren yelled before spreading her holy wings and taking to the skies.
Surorcula watched her ascend but made no effort to stop her, seemingly unconcerned.
This inaction infuriated Suroritas, who shouted angrily at her companion, "Hey! What are you doing, Surorcula? Why aren't you stopping her?"
Without saying a word, Surorcula simply pointed toward Launcent and Golsiera, indicating her intent to focus on them instead.
Suroritas, clearly annoyed, growled under her breath. "Ugh, fine! I'll deal with her myself!" She broke away from the battle, taking off to pursue Seren on her own.
Seren finally arrived at the massive heart mounted on the great white pillar. Before it sat King Okazar, silently observing the chaos.
Seren locked eyes with him, her gaze sharp and unyielding. Okazar, however, merely smiled, a calm and knowing expression on his face.
Moments later, Suroritas arrived, standing between Seren and the heart.
"Enough, little paladin. You've caused more than enough trouble for our plans," Suroritas said, her voice firm and laced with disdain. She drew her massive axe, its ominous aura radiating menace.
The clash between them was inevitable.
Seren, her holy energy surging to its peak, charged at Suroritas without hesitation. Their weapons met with a deafening clash, the sheer force sending shockwaves through the battlefield.
"I don't have time for this!" Seren growled, her voice filled with frustration and fury.
Their strikes came fast and relentless, but Seren's movements carried a wild, reckless abandon. She cared little for her own defense, her mind preoccupied with the fate of Launcent and the others.
This unorthodox approach caught Suroritas off guard. It was unlike anything she had encountered from a paladin.
Seren quickly summoned her Holy Magic: Heretical Branding, hurling the sacred spear at Suroritas. The dark knight responded by summoning a Hollow Shield, a shadowy barrier that absorbed the radiant spear.
But Seren had anticipated this. From a distance, she detonated the spear, unleashing a blinding burst of holy light that engulfed the area.
Suroritas shielded her face from the intense light, momentarily disoriented. When she opened her eyes, she saw a radiant Holy Disc spinning toward her at breakneck speed. She raised her axe to deflect it, but Seren was already upon her.
With a fierce cry, Seren plunged her sword toward Suroritas. The blade pierced her palm as she caught it, stopping the attack. Despite the pain, Suroritas smirked—but Seren wasn't done.
Letting go of her sword, Seren swiftly drew a small knife and slashed at Suroritas' neck. Blood sprayed as Suroritas stumbled back, snarling in pain. In retaliation, she hurled Seren away with a powerful swing of her axe.
Seren landed hard but rose to her feet almost immediately, her eyes blazing with determination. Without pause, she charged at Suroritas again, her relentless assault unyielding.
She hurled another Holy Disc, which Suroritas blocked with her axe. But Seren used the distraction to draw another knife, this time imbuing it with Sacrifice, infusing the blade with her own blood to amplify its power.
In response, Suroritas called forth shadowy tentacles from the ground, which lashed out toward Seren. Despite the difficulty, Seren dodged them with agility and precision, her movements fueled by sheer will.
With a spinning motion, Seren retrieved her sword from the ground and swung it with all her might at Suroritas, her holy energy igniting the blade with radiant flames.
The two warriors clashed in a dazzling display of light and darkness, their battle shaking the very earth beneath them.
As Suroritas swung her massive axe toward Seren, she raised her blood-enchanted dagger to block it. Despite being pushed back by the immense force, Seren managed to twist the momentum in her favor, countering with a decisive slash that tore into Suroritas' left abdomen.
The wound caused Suroritas, already weakened from previous battles, to cry out in agony. She lifted her axe again, but Seren, relentless and unyielding, charged forward.
Both warriors, their strength and resolve nearly spent, thrust their weapons at one another in a final, desperate assault. Seren's sword pierced Suroritas' mouth and drove through her skull, shattering her brain, while Suroritas' axe grazed Seren's face, leaving a deep scar.
"Roaring Gale!" Seren roared as she twisted her sword, utterly obliterating Suroritas' head. The Tremor Knight's lifeless body fell, her brain splattered across the ground.
Seren's Holy Mode dissipated, leaving her weakened but conscious. Staggering toward the colossal heart of Yogshot, she drew upon her final reserves to perform the sealing ritual. As she began casting her spell, she noticed Suroritas' dismembered body twitching.
To her shock, the fragments of Suroritas' body started regenerating, attempting to reform. Before she could react, King Okazar appeared behind Suroritas' remains and plunged his blade into the regenerating heart of the Tremor Knight.
Stunned by the turn of events, Seren quickly refocused on her task. Reaching the heart of Yogshot, she activated a powerful scroll spell to seal it. Radiant blue and gold light erupted from the heart, washing over the capital city of Neoth.
The light signaled to everyone—Tremor Knights and allies alike—that the heart of Yogshot had been neutralized. Panic set in among the Tremor Knights as they hurried toward the city center, desperate to salvage their plans.
When the light faded, the giant heart stopped beating, its vitality extinguished. Seren, relieved but drained, turned to find that King Okazar had vanished.
Summoning her remaining strength, she began making her way back to Launcent and the others. However, she was intercepted by Surorcula and a group of Tremor Knights.
The sight of Suroritas' lifeless body visibly shocked the other Tremor Knights. Yet, Surorcula stood unmoved, silent as ever.
Without warning, Seren, fueled by desperation, launched herself at the Tremor Knights, her weapon raised. Surorcula stepped forward to meet her, assuming an unfamiliar combat stance—crossing both spears in preparation for a devastating thrust.
In a flash, Surorcula dashed at Seren with incredible speed. Their weapons clashed violently, but Seren's strikes, despite their ferocity, were effortlessly deflected. Surorcula's counterattacks landed with precision, piercing Seren's abdomen.
Even as blood poured from her wounds, Seren continued to fight, her sheer determination driving her. However, Surorcula's technique proved superior. With one final, decisive move, both of Surorcula's spears drove through Seren's stomach.
Lifting Seren into the air, Surorcula stared at her through the narrow slit in her helmet, as if searching for something in her defeated opponent.
Seizing on Surorcula's momentary distraction, Seren summoned the last ounce of her strength. She swung her sword upward toward Surorcula's neck in a sudden, desperate attack.
"Argh!" Surorcula let out a surprised cry, narrowly avoiding a fatal blow. Seren's blade stopped just short of her neck before slipping from her hands.
Exhausted and on the brink of death, Seren collapsed into unconsciousness, her body falling limp.
Surorcula, still holding Seren impaled on her spears, stared in disbelief. She gently lowered Seren's body to the ground, her expression hidden but her thoughts conflicted. The paladin had come perilously close to ending her life, yet had ultimately spared her.