From above descended Ignis, the Infernal Pegasus. Its wings beat the air with thunderous force, scattering ashes like sparks. And on its back, Kael was seen.

He looked down at the battlefield like a general returning to crush the war. "MIA! JUMP!" He shouted immediately.

Mia didn't hesitate at that. Using her golem's shoulder as a springboard, she leapt into the air, a painful grunt escaping her lips. Kael caught her mid-air, pulling her behind him on the saddle.

"Sith," he said calmly as he turned back toward the battle, "you're dismissed."

The vampiress blinked in surprise. "As you wish," she muttered before vanishing into mist, retreating.

"Dismiss your golem," Kael said next, eyes narrowing. "Now."

Mia held on tightly, confused. "Wait, are we retreating?"

Kael smiled, shaking his head. "No. We're ending this."

Mia dismissed the golem, just as the horde surged toward them like a crashing wave.

Kael then. leaned forward and whispered into Ignis's ear: "Unleash… the fire tornado."

Ignis's wings spread wide immediately.

And then, it spun.

Faster… and faster…

Wind and fire whipped into a frenzy, spinning into a vortex, spiraling into a pillar of flame that reached into the sky in a matter of seconds.

Kael held tightly to the reins, trying his best not to get thrown away while Mia clung to him, eyes wide in awe.

However, below them, the undead screamed.

They were engulfed.

A roaring cyclone of fire swallowed the clearing whole—leaves, trees, bones, and all—burning with such intensity that even the earth cracked. The night turned into day for a moment.

One by one, the undead were incinerated. Their bones turned to ash as their screams ended

In under a minute, the entire horde was gone.

Silence.

Kael pulled the reins, and Ignis slowed to a stop in midair, hovering above the smoldering crater that once held their battlefield.

"Told you we weren't running," he said with a faint grin.

Mia grabbed her head in a dizzy. "Ugh… My head… This is crazy but… the job's done."

Kael chuckled. "Anyway, let's get out of here."

And with a beat of flaming wings, Ignis soared into the sky, leaving behind only embers.

But in the cave, where the shrine of Nanyin is located, a figure wrapped in a cocoon fell to the ground. The person slowly rose to their feet.

*

Three days later, far away from the village of Lira;

The air was crisp, the scent of the water fresh, and the serene silence around Shiera was almost deceiving as she stood at the shore of the great lake, staring at the island in the distance.

"If only Ignis were here… This would be so much easier," she muttered under her breath, staring at the island.

Then, her thoughts involuntarily flickered to Kael—the man who had always been there when needed. She sighed and shook her head. Now was not the time to get lost in memories.

Determined, she steeled herself and began to undress, her armor clattering as it was neatly stored in her ring. In her simple dark-blue tunic and leather pants, Shiera seemed more like a commoner girl in a town.

Her chest heaved as she inhaled deeply, focusing her energy. A faint glow sparked in her legs as she began to channel her mana. With a burst of strength, she leapt into the air.

The moment her feet touched the surface of the lake, a floating step of mana shimmered beneath her feet, supporting her weight.

With each step, she propelled herself forward, leaping gracefully across the water, the sound of her feet barely disturbing the tranquil surface.

The island grew closer, the dark silhouette of trees rising before her. She had almost reached the shore, the distance now no more than a hundred feet, when…

CRASH!

That's when a tremendous roar shattered the silence, and something massive rippled beneath the water's surface.

Shiera gasped as a gigantic shadow rose up from the depths—its form towering hundreds of feet tall, its tentacles reaching out like living mountains.

The creature's eyes, glowing an eerie blue, fixed directly on Shiera, its gaze seemed to be filled with fury.

"A Krakken," she muttered, recognizing the guardian that protected the island. "How could I forget about this?"

The Krakken, with its vast, writhing form, opened its massive maw, releasing a deafening roar that sent waves crashing against the shore.

Its tentacles thrashed through the water, each one capable of crushing a ship with ease. The water around it began to churn violently, a sign of its strength.

Shiera gritted her teeth and gripped the hilt of her sword. Her pulse quickened, and she could feel the pressure of the situation—this was no ordinary battle.

"Looks like there's no turning back," she muttered to herself.

With a cry, she leaped toward the beast.

The mana beneath her feet surged as she increased her momentum, landing on one of the Krakken's tentacles.

Her sword gleamed as she swung it with all her might at the thick, rubbery skin. The blade struck, but only a shallow cut appeared.

The beast snarled and whipped its tentacle toward her. Shiera barely managed to leap away as the appendage came crashing down, the force of it sending a shockwave across the water. She landed on another floating mana step just in time to avoid the brunt of the attack.

"Damn it! It's tough," she growled.

She leaped again, this time directly toward the Krakken's head, avoiding more crashing tentacles. Mana surged through her limbs as she pushed herself faster, her sword ready.

The creature's gaping maw opened wide, revealing rows of jagged teeth. It attempted to swallow her whole in one move.

But Shiera wasn't about to give up.

In mid-air, she twisted her body, narrowly dodging the massive jaws, and brought her sword down into the creature's eye. The blade cut deep, blood spilling into the water, turning the water surface beneath her a dark red.

The Krakken howled, a horrific screech that reverberated through the air.

With blinding speed, it wrapped another tentacle around her, trying to crush her.

She slashed at the tentacle, her sword cutting through the flesh, but the beast's strength was overwhelming. It pulled her toward its massive body, its grip tightening.

"Not… enough…" she gasped, struggling to breathe as the creature's grip squeezed tighter.

Just as she felt the life drain from her, a burst of flames exploded from her own body. The blazing fire seared the Krakken's skin, forcing it to release her.

Shiera landed on the water with a thud, barely able to keep her balance as her mana reserves drained from the effort. Her sword crackled with energy, and her eyes glinted with fierce determination.

"I… won't give up." She said through gritted teeth, her voice a quiet promise.

With renewed strength, she leaped again, this time with a strategy in mind. The Krakken's tentacles were vast and numerous, but they lacked the agility of a nimble warrior. She wasn't going to fight it head-on.

Instead, she danced around the beast, using her agility to land on one tentacle, then the next, each strike of her sword weakening the beast bit by bit.

The Krakken roared in fury, but Shiera's focus was absolute. She spotted its weak spots and focused her attacks there.

With one final leap, Shiera launched herself high into the air, summoning all her strength. Her sword glowed with bright mana, ready for the finishing blow.

"This is it," she whispered.

She plunged her sword directly into the Krakken's exposed eye. Mana exploded on impact, and the beast howled in agony.

*Scraaa*

The Krakken howled in fury, its massive body writhing in pain as blood poured from the deep wound in its eye. But even with its rage, the beast wasn't ready to fall.

Shiera, breathing heavily, could feel the mana draining from her body as she hovered in the air above the beast.

The Krakken's tentacles slithered like enormous snakes, each strike coming faster and stronger. She could barely keep up anymore, her sword shaking in her grip as the beast unleashed torrential waves toward her.

"I have to finish this..." Shiera muttered under her breath, eyes narrowing in fierce determination.

But before she could land another blow, the Krakken's tail swept toward her, smashing into her midsection with enough force to send her flying backward through the air. She crashed violently into the shore, the world spinning, and her vision blurry.

"I... I can't…" she groaned, her body aching from the powerful impact.

Shiera could feel the cold water rise over her, the Krakken's triumphant roar booming in the distance. Her strength was nearly depleted. She braced herself for the final blow, knowing she would not survive the next attack.

But then, something changed.

The Krakken halted in mid-rage. Its massive form froze in place, as if it had been ordered by an unseen force. The water stilled.

Shiera blinked, dazed. In front of her, standing tall between her and the creature, a figure appeared.

"Ma... Master?"