Three days had passed since the catastrophe that ravaged the Independent Elven Kingdom—days enough for the world to grasp the true magnitude of the tragedy. The losses were not merely counted in fallen buildings or lost lives, but in the very soul of a race that had once been the pride of the continent. Once the situation stabilized and the ominous crimson stain vanished from the sky, a heavy silence settled over the ruins—a suffocating silence that smelled of ash, smoke, and stagnant death.

  Near the kingdom's borders, at the center of the colossal crater where the devastating attack had first struck, the members of the Silver Axe team continued to comb through the wreckage.

  Alfred Miraculous knelt upon the scorched earth, running his fingers across the vitrified soil. His sharp eyes studied the trajectory of the lethal wave unleashed by the Red Knight. The precision of the strike was chilling; according to the testimony of Queen Laura Legard, her husband—King Ronard Legard—had been moments away from sitting upon his throne when the crimson wave pierced the castle gates with lightning speed.

  It had been like a massive razor-edged wall of red energy. The Queen had not even seen the attack itself—only the horrifying aftermath, where her husband's body had already been split apart.

  "I do not know what kind of entity could do this," Alfred muttered bitterly. "But the intelligence behind that strike is terrifying. To pinpoint the King's exact position from such a distance…"

  He clenched his fist.

  "It is beyond comprehension."

  The damage was already done. Now the survivors struggled to gather what little strength remained, though the elven people had fallen into a deep psychological collapse. The destruction of their homeland and the death of their King had shattered their pride.

  Alfred rose slowly and glanced back toward his companions.

  His sister, Rezi Miraculous, stood silently among the ruins, her eyes hollow with grief. Beside her, Filana Astrot stared at the ground with a vacant expression. Both had lost their homes, their people, and their sense of belonging in a single night.

  Alfred wanted to comfort them, but the words never came.

  Some wounds were too deep for language.

  He continued walking along the massive scar left by the Red Knight's attack—a perfectly straight rift that cut through the kingdom like a black line drawn across a map.

  As he reached the inner city, the true horror revealed itself.

  The plaza where the crimson sword had descended was now a graveyard.

  More than seventeen thousand elven lives had vanished in that single moment. Pale corpses still lay scattered across the broken streets, while entire neighborhoods had been reduced to silent ruins.

  But the most disturbing sight remained the enormous crimson trunk—an organic pillar that had once held the suspended body of King Ronard Legard before it was finally removed for burial.

  The memory of that scene would haunt the survivors for generations.

  The Desk of the Deputy

  Inside the General's office at the Black Spear headquarters, silence had taken on a different meaning.

  It was no longer the quiet of peace, but the restless calm of preparation.

  The room echoed with the scratching of pens and the rustle of documents.

  Nico Sigmund sat behind the massive obsidian desk, surrounded by piles of military reports and strategic maps. His expression remained calm and composed as he signed document after document, but beneath that cold exterior his mind worked relentlessly.

  He studied an ancient diplomatic chart outlining the alliances between the great empires.

  "Relying on strength alone is suicide," Nico murmured to himself quietly.

  His finger moved across the map.

  "The Frost Shadow Empire… and the Deadly Plague Empire. They are the two remaining pillars capable of stabilizing the western front."

  His gaze sharpened.

  "Allying with them may be like walking on blades… but it may also be the only way to prevent total collapse."

  His pen suddenly stopped when his eyes reached another name on the map.

  The Demon Rift Empire.

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  Nico leaned back slightly.

  "Before anything else… I must establish a temporary truce with Kaizen."

  His voice remained calm, but the weight behind the words was immense.

  "Fighting on two fronts while these unknown entities roam the world would destroy us all."

  His eyes narrowed thoughtfully.

  "This Kaizen… the Incarnation rank is not just a title. According to the latest records, his power exceeds one hundred million units."

  Nico exhaled slowly.

  "He is an entity of another level."

  He folded a document and placed it carefully aside.

  "I will need every ounce of intellect to deal with him."

  Moments later, Nico finished drafting a secret diplomatic letter addressed directly to the Demon Rift Empire. The message carried the authority of the Black Spear and the delicate balance of power between empires.

  He sealed the letter and set it aside, waiting for the right moment to send it.

  Next, he turned to a different set of documents.

  Training protocols.

  He began constructing an extremely brutal training regimen for the elite heroes:

  Melina Aethel.

  Jaxon Raven.

  Elara Meridian.

  He also prepared additional slots in case Natalia Grotaro and General Luna returned safely from the devastated Elven Kingdom.

  The program he designed was not simply meant to increase their strength.

  It was meant to shatter the limits of their psychology.

  A Leader in the Making

  From a high balcony overlooking the courtyard, Akaria Valerius stood quietly.

  Her tired eyes followed Nico's movements as he walked through the headquarters issuing commands and reorganizing the defensive systems of the Black Spear.

  For the first time in days, the crushing weight on her chest began to lift.

  A faint smile appeared on her face.

  "Ah, Nico…"

  Her voice was barely above a whisper.

  "You truly were the lamp that lit the darkness of this headquarters when we were on the verge of drowning."

  She leaned against the railing.

  "You regained control when I could barely bring myself to touch a single report."

  Her eyes softened.

  "I trust you so much now… that I would step down from my position without hesitation if it meant saving this organization."

  She straightened slowly, determination returning to her expression.

  "But I cannot hide behind rest while you carry everything alone."

  She wiped the last traces of fatigue from her eyes.

  "The Black Spear still needs its General."

  Her gaze returned to Nico.

  "And you need someone to stand beside you."

  The Bright Star Alliance

  Far away, inside the Celestial Star Kingdom, the atmosphere had grown equally tense.

  The royal authorities had issued a decisive decree.

  All independent alliances were to be dissolved immediately.

  In their place, a single unified military force would be formed.

  The Bright Star Alliance.

  This new entity combined the two most powerful organizations in the kingdom:

  Night Eye — led by Jurial Wolverton.

  Red Scythe — led by Athena Seraph.

  Due to his overwhelming physical strength, stable mana reserves, and natural leadership charisma, Jurial Wolverton was chosen to command the united alliance.

  Inside the new headquarters, Jurial stood before the assembled warriors.

  His voice echoed across the vast hall.

  "Listen carefully!"

  His eyes burned with resolve.

  "What happened in the Elven Kingdom—my homeland—is a tragedy that will never be forgotten."

  He clenched his fist.

  "But the brutal death of King Ronard did not break my resolve."

  "It only strengthened my courage to face that Blood-Red Knight."

  His voice grew louder.

  "We are no longer fighting for glory."

  "We are fighting for survival."

  "Annihilation is knocking on the door of every kingdom on this continent."

  He pointed toward the warriors.

  "And retreat is no longer an option!"

  The warriors roared in unison.

  "Without a doubt!"

  The Clash of Titans

  Back at the Black Spear Bastion, the central arena shook with intense combat.

  Melina, Jaxon, and Elara faced Nico in the most grueling training of their lives.

  Nico moved between them like a phantom.

  Every mistake was punished instantly.

  Every weakness was exposed.

  Between clashes he explained advanced combat tactics, mana mobility, and the flow of battlefield positioning.

  Their progress was astonishing.

  It was as if Nico possessed the exact key needed to unlock their hidden potential.

  At that moment, Akaria entered the arena.

  "How is the progress, elite heroes?"

  "Everything is excellent, General!" they replied, breathing heavily but smiling.

  Nico lifted his gaze toward her.

  "Their strength is developing well."

  He paused.

  "But progress will accelerate faster if you join them."

  His eyes sharpened slightly.

  "Or perhaps you would prefer to face me alone… and test the limits of your current power."

  Akaria laughed loudly.

  "Are you trying to humble me, Nico?"

  She stepped forward confidently.

  "Very well."

  "I accept."

  The trio quickly stepped aside, leaving the center of the arena clear.

  A clash between two of the strongest figures in Arcadia was about to begin.

  Akaria, master of Storm and Lightning mana.

  Against Nico and his overwhelming Absolute Fire.

  The battle began instantly.

  Lightning exploded across the arena in blinding flashes as Akaria unleashed wave after wave of electric storms.

  Her combat experience was extraordinary.

  Yet Nico remained perfectly composed.

  His flames rose to meet every attack with precise control.

  It was like watching two ancient powers collide.

  Akaria gathered her mana for a devastating counterattack.

  A violent hurricane infused with countless lightning bolts roared toward Nico.

  But Nico responded with a terrifying technique.

  Ultra-compressed fire threads shot forward like burning needles.

  They pierced the hurricane.

  Then split it apart.

  The resulting collision detonated a shockwave powerful enough to shatter the arena's reinforced magical barrier.

  Dust filled the battlefield.

  When it cleared—

  Nico still stood calmly.

  Akaria knelt on one knee, breathing heavily.

  Then she laughed.

  "Well done, Nico… that was actually fun."

  She wiped sweat from her forehead.

  "I can't believe you found the weak point in my storm."

  Nico offered her a hand and helped her stand.

  "You are incredibly strong, Akaria."

  He smiled slightly.

  "That was valuable training."

  "We are slowly forging the path toward true ascension."

  From the observation platform above, Zorua Machiavelli watched silently.

  A bitter but proud smile formed on his face.

  "So that's the truth…"

  He exhaled quietly.

  "I did not lose to an ordinary man."

  His eyes followed Nico.

  "But to someone who can even push Akaria to her limits."

  He shook his head slowly.

  "You are truly a terrifying person… Nico Sigmund."

  [End of Chapter 40]