Ruta looked at the elven ranks with complete indifference.
"This is quite impressive," she said calmly. "I truly admire your courage, elves. But as you already know, your kingdom now belongs to the Great Ruler Kaizen. So step aside. I have orders to fulfill."
Alfred replied sternly, his hand tightening around the hilt of his sword.
"Listen to me, demoness... I will not allow you to take a single step toward this kingdom."
Ruta smiled provocatively.
"But the war is already over. General Akaria surrendered and signed the treaty that allows us to occupy this land."
Alfred's expression hardened, his eyes blazing with fury.
"I will not repeat myself. Take one more step, and I will take your head."
Ruta chuckled darkly.
"Hmm... I admire your spirit, Commander. But you're wasting my time. If you don't want to end up like your previous King, stepping aside would be the smartest decision."
She tilted her head slightly.
"Our Master hates delays. You might even be useful to him in the future. There is no reason for you to die today."
Alfred unsheathed his sword. Instantly, Fire Mana erupted from the blade.
"I don't care what happens. I will not let you pass."
Rezi Miraculous, Alfred's sister, and Filana Astrot stepped forward beside him. The three of them lowered their stances, preparing to fight.
Ruta smirked.
"What fools... If this is your decision, then so be it. I will enjoy crushing you all."
The Silver Axe Trio lunged at her with incredible speed.
Ruta remained perfectly still.
The three elves launched a massive combined strike. The collision caused a violent explosion, sending dust and debris flying into the air.
For a brief moment, the elves believed they had ended the fight with their first attack.
But when the dust cleared—
Ruta was still standing there.
She had stopped Alfred's sword and the two girls' blades with her bare hands, protected by a thin layer of Frost Mana.
The trio froze in shock.
They couldn't believe a single person had stopped their combined attack so easily.
Alfred's mind raced.
Impossible… She stopped that attack so casually. Who is this demoness?
She's far too dangerous. We must take her down immediately.
Ruta looked at them with mocking amusement.
"Is that all? Or do you have something more interesting to show me?"
She stretched her shoulders lazily.
"Come on. Don't keep me waiting. Show me your next move."
"This cursed demoness... she's mocking us!" Filana hissed angrily.
Rezi shouted with battle excitement.
"What do you think, Filana? Let's attack again, even faster this time!"
Alfred cut them off sharply.
"Enough! This is no time to argue."
His eyes remained locked on Ruta.
"This demoness is extremely dangerous. If we lose focus for even a second, she will kill us."
He raised his sword again.
"The next attack must be perfect."
Alfred raised his hand and unleashed a massive wave of water toward Ruta.
The torrent surged forward like a flood.
But before it could even touch her—
Ruta froze it instantly.
The water transformed into a jagged wall of ice.
Alfred reacted immediately.
He unleashed a massive blast of fire that melted the ice wall, filling the battlefield with thick steam.
The entire area became completely obscured.
Suddenly—
Alfred burst out of the mist, attacking from behind.
But Ruta sensed the disturbance in the air.
An enormous blade of ice erupted from the ground behind her.
The spike forced Alfred off balance and cut into his arm. He quickly retreated into the mist.
At the same moment, Rezi and Filana attacked from both sides.
Ruta caught their swords with her bare hands.
Frost spread rapidly across the metal blades.
The two girls were forced to retreat before the ice reached their hands.
The trio continued attacking from different directions, moving through the steam and mist.
Ruta blocked every strike with precise movements.
Even she realized something.
If she relaxed for even a second… one of them might land a hit.
The three elves attacked together again.
Just before the steam cleared, they launched a perfectly synchronized strike.
But Ruta suddenly released a massive Frost Storm.
The freezing cyclone spread in all directions.
Everything froze.
The soldiers.
The battlefield.
Even her own troops.
Only the trio remained mobile.
Alfred had reacted instantly, creating a powerful fire barrier that protected the three of them as they charged toward her.
"Playtime is over," Ruta said coldly.
She created a gigantic sword of ice and hurled it toward Rezi.
The blade moved with terrifying speed.
It pierced straight through the fireballs Alfred launched to stop it.
They managed to dodge and reposition.
But in the next moment—
Ruta smirked.
The ice blade suddenly curved through the air and attacked from behind them.
It was aimed directly at Rezi.
Alfred noticed at the last second and rushed to protect his sister.
He turned to warn Filana—
But what he saw made his blood freeze.
Filana stood completely still.
A blade of ice had pierced through her chest.
Ruta had appeared behind her and driven the weapon straight through her body.
Filana coughed up blood.
Impossible… how did she reach me so fast?
Ruta pulled the blade out without emotion.
Filana collapsed to the ground.
"Filana!" Alfred roared in agony.
Rezi began to cry as she watched her friend fall.
Ruta looked at them coldly.
"Don't worry."
"You'll join her soon."
Alfred's rage exploded.
He gathered every remaining drop of mana in his body.
A massive sphere of water formed in front of him, surrounded by blazing threads of fire.
When he launched it toward Ruta—
The sphere suddenly transformed into a blazing blue flame.
Ruta tried to stop it.
But the flame continued expanding.
The pressure grew heavier and heavier.
She screamed as the immense force crushed her defenses.
Just before the sphere detonated—
Alfred grabbed Rezi and Filana and retreated at maximum speed.
The explosion was catastrophic.
A massive crater appeared where Ruta had stood.
Everything nearby was erased.
Even Alfred was thrown violently to the ground by the shockwave.
Five minutes later, Alfred slowly opened his eyes.
He lay on the ground beside Rezi, who was shielding Filana.
"Are you both alright?" he asked weakly.
"Yes, brother," Rezi replied. "But Filana is badly injured. We must treat her immediately."
She looked at the massive crater in disbelief.
"I can't believe you released such a terrifying attack."
Alfred looked at his hands.
"It was thanks to the research equipment and information I received from the scholars of Arcadia."
He whispered softly.
"The Ultimate Power is truly incredible..."
"I can't believe I mastered it so quickly."
"Thank you... Great Scholar."
Alfred slowly stood up.
He walked toward the center of the explosion, mourning his fallen soldiers.
Inside the crater—
Ruta lay crushed among the frozen debris.
"Impossible..." she whispered weakly.
"How did you do that...?"
"You won't escape this."
Alfred glared at her with hatred.
"Cursed demoness."
"Die in peace."
He turned and walked back toward his companions.
But when he arrived—
He froze.
Rezi and Filana lay unconscious on the ground.
Standing above them was a man wearing a long black cloak.
A glowing crimson crown floated above his head.
Alfred's rage exploded instantly.
He rushed forward and swung his sword toward the stranger's neck.
The figure turned calmly.
It was the Great Ruler Kaizen.
For a brief moment, Alfred felt pure terror.
But he finished his attack.
Kaizen raised a single finger.
And stopped the blade.
The sword shattered into ash.
Before Alfred could react—
A gigantic hand of ice erupted from the ground.
It grabbed him instantly.
His bones began to crush under the pressure.
Kaizen raised his hand calmly.
The massive frozen limb responded to his movement.
Blue mana glowed in Kaizen's palm.
Alfred screamed as his bones shattered.
"Who are you, monster?!"
Kaizen replied calmly.
"I am Kaizen."
"Ruler of the Rift Empire."
Rezi slowly regained consciousness.
The first thing she saw was the horrifying sight of her brother being crushed.
Alfred screamed in agony as his bones shattered.
Rezi tried to rush forward.
But a sharp blade of ice suddenly burst from the ground.
It pierced through her torso and lifted her into the air.
Alfred's eyes filled with despair.
He watched helplessly as his sister was impaled.
Kaizen ignored them.
He walked calmly toward the crater.
He raised his hand.
Then closed his fist.
The gigantic ice hand crushed Alfred completely.
His life ended instantly.
Kaizen then turned toward Ruta.
Another frozen limb lifted her from the crater and brought her before him.
Ruta struggled to breathe.
"I am... sorry... Ruler Kaizen..."
"I failed you."
Kaizen looked at her calmly.
"Yes."
"You did."
"But for now..."
"I still have use for you."
Leaving the battlefield behind, Kaizen marched toward the heart of the Elven Kingdom.
No one dared to resist him.
Through sheer terror, he subjugated every elf remaining within the kingdom.
Eventually he entered the throne room.
The deep scar left by the Red Knight still marked the palace walls.
The throne itself remained stained with the dried blood of King Ronard.
Kaizen stood before it silently.
His eyes glowed faintly.
"This..."
"is magnificent."
[End of Chapter 46