Thanks for our dear reader skelet8 of the st chapter due to his comment, I'm motivated to release 7 chapters today!

  "…How do you wish to die?… Of old age?"

  The masked figure paused to consider before replying to these words. At the same time, he raised the sword in his hand, pointing it directly at Aris.

  He had no intention of dying so easily. Naturally, he would continue fighting. Moreover, he did not believe he would lose.

  While Aris and Veridith were conversing earlier, he had not remained idle. Seizing the opportunity when no one was paying attention, he surreptitiously cast numerous enhancement spells on himself. Along with the blessing granted by a special prayer, he now felt more than capable of contending with a Tenth-tier opponent!

  "Come, do not let the battle cease…"

  Suddenly, a spear of light, forged from pure radiance, pierced through the masked figure.

  "Wh-…!?"

  He had not sensed any indication of magic being cast. The spear's speed was so rapid that, by the time he noticed it, it had already passed through his body.

  Fortunately, his abilities had activated in time. The damage from the light spear was successfully nullified, even converting into an enhancement of his own strength.

  "...Hmph, still don't understand? Light magic has no effect on me!"

  Having absorbed the magical energy from the spear, the masked figure's power surged once again. The energy he absorbed far surpassed any light magic he had absorbed before. He almost felt as though he could shout with excitement, eager to unleash his newfound might.

  However, the instant-cast magic earlier had been incredibly dangerous. If his opponent had used magic of any other attribute, he would likely have been reduced to a 'doughnut'—split in half or worse.

  With that thought in mind, he grew more determined to swiftly eliminate the threats before him.

  "By the will of light, annihite my enemies!"

  The masked figure gripped his sword with both hands, pointing the bde skyward in the manner of a holy tempr knight. As he did so, the light particles around him intensified, growing ever brighter, all being absorbed by the bde in his grasp.

  In a matter of moments, the sword was glowing with a brilliance that could rival the sun.

  "Light, I command thee!!!"

  With a shout, the bde was swung, releasing a massive surge of light. The wave of energy surged toward Aris and those behind her like a tidal wave, an unstoppable force of radiant destruction.

  This strike was on par with that of a tenth-tier. Its power was enough to obliterate a small nation, and if released on the battlefield, there would be no need for further combat—the soldiers of both Lidolu Kingdom and any members of Abyssal Confederation would be evaporated by the overwhelming energy.

  This was why tenth-tier beings rarely took part in direct combat; their power was far too great. A single unleashed strike could cause destruction that went beyond the scale of typical warfare and would inevitably attract the attention of the world itself.

  In fact, as the masked figure unleashed his attack, he had the distinct feeling that something had appeared in the previously clear sky, and that it was watching him.

  Yet, this was all worth it. As long as he could eradicate these dangerous individuals, the world's scrutiny would be a small price to pay. As long as it didn’t escate to the point of punishment, he could remain low-key afterwards.

  Cng.

  A sharp, unexpected sound rang out, and an astonishing turn of events occurred.

  In the face of the light wave capable of covering the entire camp, Aris simply raised her hand and gently waved. The attack was effortlessly deflected.

  "Ha…!?"

  The sight before him was beyond belief, and the masked figure let out a strange sound.

  The attack he had just unleashed was pure energy—how could it be deflected by physical means? The size of the attack aside, why could a physical motion send an energy-based assault flying?

  Furthermore, as the energy was deflected, it resembled a ball of sorts. Normally, such energy would flow freely like water, yet it had been struck with precision, scattering in an orderly fashion.

  "You…"

  Bang!!!

  A deafening crash rang through the battlefield.

  Before the masked figure could utter another word, he felt a tremendous impact to his abdomen. The force sent him spiralling backward at a tremendous speed. Because the trajectory was downward, he didn't travel too far before crashing to the ground, his body skidding and rolling, leaving a bloody trail, before finally coming to a halt, face-down.

  ‘…What… just happened?’

  The masked figure was disoriented. He could clearly recall being struck by the earlier magic, but this time, he had no idea when or how he was hit. The initial moments of tumbling were fragmented in his memory.

  Rustle.

  The sound of bare feet pressing against the grass grew louder, drawing nearer.

  The masked figure, his face already battered and bloodied, twisted his head to look over his shoulder. The girl, devoid of any expression, walked toward him with the slow, inevitable pace of death itself. Her golden eyes, bright yet devoid of light, sent an icy chill through him.

  "...Hgh…ahhh…!"

  Overwhelmed by all-consuming terror, he snapped, wildly swinging the broken halves of his sword, hacking at Aris in a frenzy.

  "Ahhh! Why… won't you die?!"

  His sword had clearly struck her, yet the feedback in his hands felt utterly strange, as if he hadn’t nded a blow at all. There were no signs of injury on her body.

  Calling such an attack a mere brush of wind would be a grave understatement.

  "...It's simply a matter of strength disparity."

  The masked figure looked at her face, disbelief lingering in his eyes. He swung again, with all his remaining might.

  But this time, before his bde could reach Aris, it was once again deflected, sending him flying through the air, blood trailing behind him.

  "Ugh!"

  The masked figure crashed into the ground, his body reduced to a shattered heap, broken and limp.

  "...It’s over."

  Behind Aris, a storm of light arrows appeared, all aimed squarely at the fallen figure.

  "Pfft! …I told you, didn't I?… Light magic… won’t work on me… Pfft!"

  The masked figure coughed up blood as he spoke, unwilling to die without one final attempt at mocking his foe.

  However, his intentions were not solely for taunting. If she were to lose control and retaliate, he could absorb the magic from the light arrows, using it to heal himself.

  But...

  "...You know nothing of true power."

  Aris snapped her fingers, and the barrage of light arrows was released.

  "Ahhhh!!!"

  Countless light arrows pierced his body, each one striking precisely, avoiding any vital organs. Yet, to his shock, he was unable to nullify the magical energy or absorb it as he had before.

  "Wh-… why?!"

  These were indeed light-based spells, and he had activated his skill, but still, nothing happened.

  The answer was simple: Aris had used a vast quantity of magical power far beyond what the masked figure could withstand. Even though his skill was derived from his soul, allowing him to interact with the world's rules, against an overwhelming force of this magnitude, his abilities became completely ineffective.

  Of course, achieving this was no simple feat, and Aris herself didn’t fully comprehend the intricacies of what she had done.

  "...You mentioned wanting to die of old age, didn't you?"

  Suddenly, Aris knelt beside the masked figure, pcing her hand upon his head.

  "...Then I shall grant your wish."

  A special magic began to manifest. From the parts of his body not already covered in blood, the masked figure’s frail, ruined form visibly began to wither, wrinkles creeping across his skin.

  "Ugh… ah… No…!"

  The masked figure felt his life force draining away, his body ageing rapidly. The overwhelming fear of death consumed him entirely.

  But just as the st traces of his life were slipping away, Aris paused.

  "...Take your time, and experience death."

  She said the words softly before rising and walking away.

  The masked figure remained where he y, teetering on the edge of death, experiencing the agony, isotion, and despair that only the approach of one's final moments could bring.