At that moment, Ethan hovered in the sky, eyes locked on the battlefield of the sixteenth level of Sky Citadel. The air around him was thick with tension, almost suffocating.

This level was guarded by the Angels.

He took a deep breath, feeling a crushing pressure that made his chest tighten.

"These guys… they're even stronger than Andona," he muttered under his breath, brows furrowed.

He'd never imagined the defenses of Sky Citadel would be this intense. The Angels weren't just powerful—they were overwhelming. The strongest among them had already reached early Tier 20, a level that sent chills down his spine.

If Emerald Castle's army tried to brute-force their way through, the casualties would be catastrophic.

But the Lizard-Dragon Kin wasn't about to back down. His power surged in an instant, like a storm breaking loose, as if he were determined to prove himself to Ethan.

With a thunderous roar that shook the heavens, he launched himself at the Angel lines like a living tempest.

Just then, an Angel descended slowly from above. Eighteen golden wings unfurled behind him, radiating a blinding light. His gaze was razor-sharp, locked coldly onto Ethan.

"You're a real piece of work," he said, voice like ice. "The High Lord's tolerated you more times than you deserve. And now you dare strike at the heart of our stronghold? Fine. No more mercy."

As his words fell, a surge of holy energy exploded from his body. Light gathered in his hands, forming a gleaming golden spear.

"Come on, then!" he roared, hurling the spear like a meteor straight at Ethan.

Ethan didn't flinch. In one swift motion, he summoned the Blade of the Fey from his system space. The weapon blazed with light, slicing through the sky like a comet.

In that instant, the blade began to shift—golden runes lit up along its edge, and waves of raw power pulsed outward.

BOOM!

The blade vibrated violently, and the air around it tore open like paper.

The spear and sword collided midair, unleashing a shockwave so intense it twisted the very fabric of space. The sky screamed with the sound of crackling energy.

"Zzzzz—!"

The impact carved a deep rift across the heavens, nearly triggering a spatial collapse.

But that was just the beginning.

The two combatants broke apart, eyes locked, tension crackling between them like a live wire.

Ethan could feel the power surging through him, endless and wild. Ever since merging with Idra, he no longer feared the Angels. In fact, he was starting to overpower them.

He quickly pulled up his system interface, scanning the enemy's data panel.

His eyes narrowed.

[Aetherion]

Rare Species: Angel

Bloodline: Pure, no impurities

Tier: 20 (Early Stage)

"This guy…" Ethan's eyes flickered with surprise. "I've never seen an Angel with blood this pure."

Even Andona, who carried the power of the Angel King, had traces of other bloodlines mixed in. But Aetherion—his power was untouched, raw, and terrifyingly natural.

Just as they were about to clash again, Aetherion suddenly froze. His body went rigid, like he'd been caught in an invisible snare.

FWIP—

A golden Angelic Sword burst through his back, glowing with divine light.

Andona—no one had noticed when she'd slipped behind him. But now, her presence was undeniable. The power of the Angel King flared from her like a supernova, lighting up the sky.

Ethan's heart surged with adrenaline. This was the moment he'd been waiting for.

As Andona struck, Ethan moved in a blur, closing the distance in a heartbeat. The Blade of the Fey gleamed as he drove it straight toward Aetherion's abdomen.

"You—!"

Aetherion's eyes blazed with fury and disbelief. He hadn't seen it coming. His roar was filled with rage, his gaze burning with betrayal.

"Damn you, Ethan! You—!"

But it was too late. The moment he realized Andona had flanked him, the trap had already sprung.

Truth was, Ethan had signaled her before the fight even began—just a subtle glance, a silent cue. He needed her to stay hidden, wait for the perfect moment to strike.

He knew this battle wasn't just about brute strength. It was about strategy. Timing. Trust.

Some might call it dirty. Dishonorable.

But Ethan didn't care.

Victory was all that mattered. And in war, every edge counted.

Ethan's Blade of the Fey drove mercilessly into Aetherion's abdomen, the blade slicing through the air like lightning.

"No!"

Aetherion's roar shook the entire battlefield. His body trembled violently, eyes blazing with uncontainable fury.

"You filthy insects… how dare you humiliate me like this!"

With that furious cry, a torrent of Angelic power erupted from within him, exploding outward like a hurricane.

The sheer force of it rocked the sky, distorting the space around them as if even light itself was being swallowed.

Ethan and Andona were blasted backward by the shockwave, stumbling through the air, but neither of them backed down. If anything, their eyes burned with even more resolve.

"You dare provoke me like this? Fine. Today, I'll show you what true judgment looks like!"

With a sweep of his hand, a golden Angelic Sword materialized in the air, radiating a blinding brilliance.

The energy around him surged wildly, forming a storm of divine power that locked Ethan in from all sides.

"Looks like he's completely lost it," Ethan muttered, a flicker of excitement in his eyes—but also a hint of caution. He knew this wasn't just a tantrum. Aetherion's full-force retaliation could easily turn the tide if they weren't careful.

Then Aetherion struck.

His sword flashed like a bolt of divine lightning, tearing through the air with apocalyptic force, aimed straight at Ethan.

But Ethan didn't flinch. He charged forward instead, vanishing in a blur and reappearing right in front of Aetherion.

With a roar, he threw a punch with everything he had, slamming his fist into Aetherion's chest.

The impact was brutal—Ethan had poured every ounce of his strength into that strike. Aetherion was sent flying like a ragdoll, crashing into a nearby stone pillar with a deafening boom.

Before he could even recover, Andona was already there.

In the split second Aetherion looked up, his eyes met hers—burning with purpose, unwavering.

Without hesitation, Andona drove her blade toward his throat.

Aetherion's eyes went wide, stunned and furious. He hadn't expected this—hadn't seen it coming. The coordination between Ethan and Andona was flawless, and it had caught him completely off guard.

"You…!" he roared, disbelief etched across his face.

His body began to tremble, the strength draining from him. The pure Angelic energy that had once surged through his veins now slipped away like water through his fingers.

And then, it began to flow—straight into Andona.

Her body lit up with radiant light, waves of divine energy rippling across her form like a sacred tide. It was as if she were undergoing some kind of celestial awakening.

Her aura surged, growing stronger by the second.

Ethan stared, stunned, as her power skyrocketed in mere moments—until she stood at the very peak of Tier 19.

"She… she just jumped that far in one go?" he muttered, eyes wide. He'd never seen anything like it. Andona's potential had always been impressive, but this—this was something else entirely. She was evolving before his eyes, stepping into a whole new realm of power.

But before he could even process the excitement—

A deep rumble echoed from above.

The seventeenth level had awakened.

A small figure descended from the sky, hovering effortlessly in midair.

At first glance, it looked almost cute—like a tiny bee, with delicate wings and a round, chubby face. But the aura it gave off was anything but harmless. It radiated a terrifying, bloodthirsty energy that made the air feel sharp and heavy.

...

"Well, well, I can't believe you actually took down Aetherion!" the little bee-like creature shouted, voice high-pitched but dripping with menace. "Looks like the High Lord really underestimated you."

Its expression twisted into a wicked grin.

"But this is where your luck runs out!"

With a buzz, its body expanded, growing larger and more menacing by the second. In the blink of an eye, it summoned a swarm of razor-sharp spikes that hovered in the air around it, each one gleaming with deadly intent.

...