Land of Ashes]
The Infernator was fired.
A deafening echo ripped through the sky as the blast roared forward, winds spiraling around it, pushing it faster—deadlier.
[On the other side of the Land of Ashes]
Azreal stood quietly with his group.
Suddenly, a Hell Guard pointed at the sky, shouting, "There's a light heading this way!"
All heads snapped upward.
The glowing blast grew larger with every second.
Hulk rushed to Azreal's side, worry all over his face.
"My Lord, what should we do?!"
Azreal's golden eyes narrowed.
"All of you... step back."
Hulk froze.
Azreal smiled slightly, "Is that hesitation out of compassion? Or loyalty?"
Hulk didn't answer.
Azreal's voice turned sharp.
"I won't repeat myself. Fall back."
Reluctantly, Hulk and the Hell Guards retreated, leaving Azreal alone.
Azreal sighed and gazed at the closing inferno.
"Aria… wait just a little longer. After this... we'll talk properly."
He smirked coldly.
"Sarah... shall we have a little chat?"
The ground trembled under the incoming blast. Even from far back, the Hell Guards felt the burning heat, shielding their faces in fear.
"Can Lord Azreal really handle that thing alone...?" one of them whispered.
The firestorm crashed toward Azreal.
In that moment—he smiled.
He calmly raised his hand—
—and caught the inferno.
A shockwave exploded outward, sending the Hell Guards stumbling back. Azreal's cloak whipped violently in the wind as he lifted the raging blast into the air like it was his own.
[Across the battlefield]
Sarah and her soldiers watched in horror.
The long-ranged units, who had launched the Infernator, collapsed from exhaustion, unable to believe their eyes.
"W-What were we thinking...?" someone stammered.
All hope drained from their faces.
Sarah smiled bitterly.
"As expected of Lord Azreal... This much firepower needs a real monster to control it."
Beside her, Laisa stared up, awe in her eyes.
"Magnificent... this is Lord Azreal's true power."
[Back to Azreal]
Floating in the air, Azreal surveyed them all coldly.
"So, this was your grand entrance... or was it supposed to be your trump card?"
He clenched his palm—
—the massive fireball shrank down into a tiny sphere in his hand.
He spun it lightly, twisting the flames into a bow of red and black fire.
Pressing the shrunken sphere into the bowstring, it morphed into a burning arrow.
Azreal pulled it back and muttered,
"You can have it back."
With a single release—
—the arrow tore through the battlefield.
A massive explosion swallowed the long-ranged unit whole, leaving nothing but ashes.
The other soldiers stared, paralyzed with fear.
"You're kidding... right?" one of them gasped. "One shot... and they're gone..."
"We're finished," another muttered.
Sarah's eyes flashed with anger.
"Don't you dare break now! Not after coming this far!"
Her voice ignited a spark in them. Their marks glowed brightly, their resolve burning anew.
"We're with you, Commander!" they cried out.
Sarah smirked.
"Don't think we didn't come prepared, Lord Azreal!"
Azreal landed gracefully on the scorched ground.
Hulk rushed over.
"My Lord... that blast just now... was that the Infernator?"
Azreal nodded lazily.
"Seems so."
Hulk lowered his head, murmuring under his breath, "Then... what are we even needed for?"
Azreal flicked his gaze at him.
"Concentrate. It's not over."
The revolutionists were now visible, their faces hardened, their weapons drawn.
Sarah stepped forward.
"Lord Azreal," she called out, her voice carrying across the ashes, "Why resist? You know all this is futile."
Azreal chuckled, amused.
"You know... you look pretty good in a human body. No one would guess you're actually a system."
Sarah frowned.
"Your compliments are unnecessary."
Azreal shrugged.
"Hai, hai..."
Then his eyes sharpened like a blade.
"But I have something to say too."
His gaze drifted, catching Laisa in the crowd.
"But first..."
Azreal raised his hand.
Sarah's heart dropped.
"Prepare yourselves!" she barked to her squad. "Brace for impact!"
But it was already too late.
Flaming orange feathers began falling from the sky.
A gust of heat swept past Sarah—
—and all the Hell Guards behind her collapsed, dead.
Their marks were seared away, their bodies still smoking.
Azreal lowered his hand calmly, steam rising from his body.
"Now we can talk."
Shock rippled through both armies.
"He killed fifty Hell Guards... in a blink...!" Hulk gasped.
"Was that even speed...?" another whispered.
Sarah threw her head back and laughed maniacally.
Azreal's gaze shifted toward her.
"Now who's laughing?"
Sarah grinned wildly.
"As expected of Lord Azreal. Nothing you do surprises me anymore."
She took a step back—and the ground beneath Azreal began to rumble.
Molten cracks split the earth.
From the lava, hands clawed their way out.
Azreal's eyes widened.
Sarah raised her hand high.
"Come forth, my revolutionary warriors! The real battle begins now!"