After Viktor revealed his identity, Chur stared at him closely.
Because it was dark earlier, and this man was dressed entirely in a black coat, Chur hadn't noticed his appearance right away.
But after taking a careful look, the man's features matched almost perfectly with the person shown on the magestone portrait.
Viktor Clavenna.
The empire's most talented Fourth-Tier Mage.
His instincts told him that from this man's body emanated a strong sense of danger.
But Chur didn't feel fear.
Because this place was within the range of the anti-magic stone.
No matter how strong Viktor was, he was still just a mage.
And a mage who couldn't even construct magic, was nothing more than meat on a chopping block, waiting to be carved up.
"I admit, you understand the anti-magic stone very well."
Chur spoke.
The anti-magic stone was a newly discovered mineral by the kingdom, as unique as the empire's magestones.
But what he didn't expect was that the man before him actually understood it even better than he did.
However...
"In the end, you'll pay the price for your arrogance, Viktor."
Chur suddenly burst out laughing wildly, looking utterly deranged.
To slay the empire's most brilliant mage, Viktor, if he accomplished that, then when he returned to the kingdom, he would be hailed with the highest honor.
Knowing what the anti-magic stone could do, yet still daring to stand inside its range, what arrogance.
Viktor began attempting to construct magic, but only faint sparks of fire flickered briefly in the air.
'Even the Fire Origin is somewhat affected, huh.' Viktor thought to himself.
The power of the Fire Origin was higher than the limit of the anti-magic stone, but as a collection of elemental mana, it would still be influenced by it.
Viktor carefully felt it out.
If he forced himself to use fire magic, he could probably only exert about one-tenth of its original power.
If he wanted, he could still summon a meteor, about half the size of the one from the capital.
Though the power would be reduced, it would still be enough to instantly annihilate this group of soldiers, whose average level didn't even reach thirty.
Viktor's gaze fell upon Chur.
Combat triggered, above Chur's head appeared an HP bar and his level.
Level 32.
In future Chur missions, his level would be 35.
Seeing the fire ignite in Viktor's hand startled Chur for a moment, but when the flames quickly went out, his arrogance returned.
And he was right, a mage unable to use magic posed no threat.
Chur stopped wasting words and shouted at the soldiers around him, "Don't waste time! Kill him now!"
The soldiers raised their swords and slowly advanced toward Viktor.
Liya watched everything happening inside the barrier, her brows furrowed.
Her own Mage's Hand had already stopped working, meaning Viktor, inside the barrier, shouldn't be able to use magic either.
What exactly was Viktor planning to do?
No matter what he was thinking, Liya had to be ready to rescue him.
So she turned to Leon beside her and said, "Prepare to save Viktor. He must not die."
"Yes."
Leon received the command, drew the wooden sword from her back, and tensed like a hunting leopard ready to spring.
Inside the barrier, the soldiers were closing in on Viktor step by step.
Viktor stood motionless, staring directly at the approaching soldiers, as if having lost his magic meant he didn't even know how to fight anymore.
"Die!"
One of the kingdom's soldiers reached Viktor, his sword slashing down, about to strike him.
In that instant, Leon, beside Liya, turned into a gust of wind and dashed toward the barrier like a streak of light.
But just as she was about to touch the barrier, what happened inside made her suddenly freeze in place.
Her eyes widened in disbelief.
A sword had pierced straight through the soldier's skull. In an instant, blood splattered everywhere.
Like a puppet with its strings cut, the soldier's eyes remained wide open in death.
Viktor pulled his longsword free, letting the blood and brain matter splatter across his face.
He wiped it away casually, his expression unchanged.
Fatal strike.
In the game, aside from boss units, every creature had a critical weak point.
As long as the player's level was higher, and they struck that spot, they could ignore the HP bar and kill with one blow.
And among all beings, a human's weak point was the easiest to find.
Although Viktor's mana usage was restricted, he was still Level 41.
"Continue."
Viktor's cold, indifferent voice echoed, emotionless.
Even battle-hardened Chur began to panic after witnessing Viktor's merciless killing.
His mind was filled with confusion.
'Is he really a mage? Where did that sword even come from!?'
Sweat dripped down Chur's palms. The sense of danger surged again, and he finally shouted at the kingdom soldiers nearby,
"Everyone, attack! Kill him!"
Several soldiers raised their swords and quickly surrounded Viktor.
One soldier swung straight down, but Viktor's agile footwork let him dodge with ease.
At that moment, another soldier behind him attacked.
Pfft!
The sound of a blade piercing flesh. Blood sprayed.
The would-be ambusher looked down in shock at the sword that had somehow appeared through his chest. His eyes went dim.
"Second one."
Viktor's calm voice sounded like the tolling of a death bell.
Whether from fear or madness, the remaining soldiers went berserk.
Blood aura wrapped around their bodies as they charged at Viktor like lunatics.
But in Viktor's eyes, their movements seemed slowed down dozens of times.
He moved almost instinctively, sliding back slightly to dodge one strike, sidestepping another with ease.
Then he raised his hand.
The silver sword thrust forward, piercing straight through the next soldier's heart.
Clang!
This time, the blade was blocked by the man's chest armor.
The soldier exhaled in relief, hurriedly lifting his sword to counterattack, but then suddenly froze.
He felt his life slipping away. His eyes widened.
Hot blood burst from his chest, his sword clattering to the ground.
"Too bad, I slipped up a little."
"But you didn't seize the chance."
Viktor's chilling voice sounded again as he pulled his sword free, letting the corpse collapse.
Chur's eyes went wide, this time, he saw it clearly.
At the exact moment the soldier had raised his sword, Viktor's silver blade had slid through the gap in his armor.
The slightly curved sword had pierced straight into his heart.
Each strike, fatal.
The few remaining men began to tremble. They swung their swords wildly at Viktor, but to him, their movements were still sluggish and predictable.
It was as if he had found a perfect rhythm, every motion flowed seamlessly. He crouched slightly to dodge several overhead slashes, then sidestepped another blow.
In the narrow space between attacks, his sword stabbed precisely into their weak points.
Without exception, every hit was lethal.
Blood dyed Viktor's silver sword completely red.
The final soldier took a deep breath, gripping his sword tightly, and thrust toward Viktor.
Viktor deftly sidestepped, countering with a swift strike.
One blow, kill.
Precise. Elegant.
Leon stood outside the barrier, watching the entire performance.
She was frozen in place.
Viktor's swordsmanship, compared to that of seasoned swordsmen, wasn't exactly refined, but after witnessing this one-sided massacre, Leon could only describe him in two words.
Clean. Efficient.
That was the only praise worthy of the Viktor she saw now.
He looked like a warrior who had survived countless battles, one who could dodge attacks with his eyes closed and strike only at the enemy's fatal openings.
Delivering death, in a single blow.
Dressed in a black coat, wielding a blood-stained sword, surrounded by corpses dripping crimson, Viktor stood under the moonlight, elegant, like a dancer in a requiem.
"H-how… is this possible?"
Leon muttered, her body trembling.
He was clearly a mage, yet his close combat was terrifying.
'A genius?'
'No...'
'A monster.'
"Monster… you're not a mage! You're not Viktor! You can't be Viktor!"
Chur shouted in shock, blood pooling at his feet. His men were being slaughtered like cattle, one after another, and his mind went blank, leaving only one thought.
The man before him was a monster.
Viktor shook the blood off his blade. Under the moonlight, the sword gleamed brilliantly.
Aside from the first splatter that hit his face, no other blood had even touched him, as if it dared not.
"I like bosses like you."
Viktor's tone turned coldly amused.
"Send your men to die first. Watch them fall one by one. Then finally, step forward yourself for the last fight."
"Cliché, but I like it."
He snapped his fingers. Endless flames spread out, incinerating all the corpses into ashes that scattered into the night breeze.
Chur finally panicked.
'Viktor could use magic, he could still use magic!'
'What the hell!? Why!?'
"From beginning to end, your so-called advantage was nothing more than what I allowed you to believe."
Viktor held his silver sword and slowly walked toward Chur.
Watching the monster approach, Chur's forehead broke into cold sweat. His legs gave out, and he collapsed onto the ground.
His sword fell heavily into the dirt, he no longer had the strength to lift it.
"Your arrogance, your pride, they've led you step by step into despair."
"But don't worry. Until I get the information I need from you, I won't let you die."
Viktor raised his sword, the tip pointing at Chur, and nodded slightly.
"Pick up your weapon."
"We continue."