As soon as I activated the new skill I’d received from the system, a faint red crystal manifested on my hand, beginning to glow with a pulsing light. I grabbed the Fireon applicant, who was still struggling to break free from my grip. "What are you doing? Hey! Get off me!" A few moments later, the flames engulfing his body began to flicker and die out. Suddenly, we lost our balance and crashed through the side of an adjacent building. We both tumbled and rolled across the floor, but I scrambled up immediately, staying on guard. "Yes! I did it. This is incredible!" I was awestruck. I couldn't believe it, but I felt a surging heat flowing through my veins. I stared at my hands, which were now wreathed in shimmering energy. "Using Kula’s power, you can siphon the energy of other beings and make it your own," Melon explained. "Wow, that’s overpowered!" "It's a minor feat. That isn't even the most special aspect of Kula’s power." As I marveled at the energy coursing through me, th

Three hours had passed since Nyabu took her post when her soldiers rushed over to report. "Captain, reinforcements from Galica are almost here." "Really? Excellent. We need to report this to the General at once," Nyabu said. She walked briskly back into the village and headed straight for the tent where Ataparag was staying. "Where is the leader?" Upon stepping inside, she found the tent empty and immediately walked back out. Outside, she questioned the guard stationed by the entrance. "Wait, did the General leave?" "Huh? No, Captain. She hasn't stepped out of the tent." At that moment, doubt crept into Nyabu's mind, and she hurried to the back of the tent. Arriving there, they discovered a small slit in the fabric where Ataparag had slipped out. "Damn it. No way." A heavy sense of foreboding washed over Nyabu, realizing that Ataparag had left alone to rescue the bandit victims. She stood frozen, paralyzed by fear and worry. "Move! Hurry up and prepare yourselves, we're l

Several hours after Nyabu's forces departed from the rest stop, accompanied by the reinforcements from Galica, nearly five thousand soldiers had been added to their ranks under the command of General Fumi. Fumi, a red-haired man with an eye patch, belonged to the Habino race—creatures who wielded the power of fairies. Like Agane, he was an Alpha and a loyal follower of Sei, tasked with protecting the towns under the kingdom's domain. He was well-known for his unique ocular ability, which allowed him to curse enemies within a matter of seconds. Fumi, Toto, and Nyabu rode in a large, armored carriage at the front of the convoy. It was a metal vehicle commonly utilized by high-ranking Eskapa officers. Even with his eye covered, Fumi could perceive the movements of his surroundings through energy sensing, making him well aware that Nyabu was restless and impatient with their pace. Knowing she was on edge out of concern that something terrible might happen to their general, he spoke up

Five hours prior to the events in Galica, where soldiers scrambled to prepare relief forces for the small towns under civilian attack, Agane had already left the town of Galica. Utilizing the tower portal, she traveled directly to the headquarters of the Eskapa officers. As a Senior 1-Star Commander of Eskapa, Agane held the fourth-highest rank within the military hierarchy. During gatherings and critical events, commanders wore their insignia badges to clearly display their status within the organization. The guarding soldiers immediately opened the doors and granted Agane passage through the specialized portal chamber. Upon entering, she drew the glances of everyone present, including the Weapons of God. "Pardon my sudden intrusion." Agane bowed respectfully, offering apologies to everyone present as she brought up the critical matter mandated directly by Queen Sei. Walking straight up to Vice Commander Aoi, Agane reported the Queen's explicit demand for Nathaniel's immediate

Nathaniel continuously picked himself up and forced his body to run, desperately trying to evade Ruri's relentless assaults. Yet, he knew it wouldn't be long before his stamina entirely bottomed out and forced him to stop. "By running away like this, you're only proving that you're hiding something from them," Melon remarked. "What else am I supposed to do?! She's actively trying to kill me—you want me to just stand there and let her hit me?!" Nathaniel protested. At that moment, Melon told him there was still one way to make Ruri stop and actually listen to him calmly. "She will only stop attacking and listen if you manage to beat her down," Melon stated. "You're out of your mind if you think I can fight her! You know I don't the first thing about combat!" Nathaniel shot back. Seeing Nathaniel scrambling for excuses to avoid a fight, Melon reminded him that he had been granted immense power; all he needed to do was use it like hands and feet. As he ran, flames began to spark