Rumble!

"Wah—"

"Mom, I—I can't hear anything!"

The thunder suddenly roared down.

The continuous sound and blinding light immediately illuminated the entire city.

In Capen City on the shore, among the civilians evacuating the port area, many were frightened by this unexpected event, with the younger children bursting into tears.

"…"

"Little one, don't be afraid."

Amid the chaos caused by the storm, Il, who was helping with the evacuation, picked up a little girl from the ground and comforted her by burying her face in her chest:

"That's my boss making noise to deal with the seabeasts trying to attack you all. It's not an enemy trying to destroy this city."

"Don't cry, okay~~"

Hearing Il's comforting words, the little girl raised her head, feeling comforted by the beauty and gentleness of the big sister in front of her:

"Really… Is it really not a punishment from the divine being?"

Il gently patted the girl's hair and then smiled reassuringly:

"Really, I don't have a bad habit of lying."

After further comforting the little girl, Il quickly found her equally panicked mother in the crowd and handed the girl over:

"Look, your mom is over there, don't let her worry."

"…"

After handing the girl to her mother, Il paused briefly during the busy evacuation.

She stood still and looked toward the distant sea—

Although she couldn't locate the figure she wanted to see on the sea.

She could clearly make out three steamships.

A figure on the deck, loudly chanting spells seemed to stand vividly in Il's eyes.

…

On the deck, Ronald quietly observed everything ahead.

The rainy night was perfect for the Rain Mist Divine Hammer to wield its power.

Especially while facing the monstrous creatures from the deep sea, Ronald did not hold back.

As soon as the spell ended.

It was the moment when countless thunderbolts rained down from the sky.

At this instant, the dark sea lit up like daytime.

Countless thunderbolts illuminated the world; the roaring thunder followed, merging into a continuous cacophony. In such an environment, even if two people were standing close by, they couldn't hear each other's questions.

In this world completely taken over by thunder.

The Casters who intended to assist in the battle were shocked beyond words by the sight before them.

—Everyone knew the power of the holder of the original tome.

But even so, no one expected this display of divine wrath, like the apocalypse, to be human-induced!

Whether aboard the three steamships or defending valiantly against the seabeasts at Capen Port, all were rendered speechless by the grand scene.

Only Claudia, who had witnessed similar scenes before, wasn't too surprised by Ronald's spell. Still, seeing such an exaggerated scene again, the princess couldn't help but feel many emotions.

Lost in thought, Claudia glanced around.

The investigators under her command had expressions impossible to describe.

Due to their work habits, faced with such a scene, their first thought was how to handle such an enemy if encountered.

The answer was obvious—there was no possibility of fighting.

An ordinary holder of the original tome might be subdued by investigators through numbers, cooperation, and experience.

But Ronald's displayed abilities.

Had already exceeded the limits manageable by those means.

If the future world progressed in this direction, it would only lead to complete chaos…

"…"

Sighing inwardly, Claudia then shifted her gaze toward the sea.

The direction she looked was where the seabeasts previously appeared, the spot Ronald summoned so much lightning to attack.

The lethal power of thunder was undeniable.

Within slightly over a minute, the seabeasts advancing like an army on the sea disappeared without a trace, as if everything that happened earlier had never occurred.

Uncertain of the situation.

After the apocalyptic thunder ended, the previously calm sea suddenly ignited. Even with the ocean below, the flame refused to extinguish.

Claudia frowned and asked the knight behind her:

"Morik, how is your surveillance?"

The loyal knight promptly replied:

"Your Highness, the spell reconnaissance located hostile targets, but they've suffered heavy casualties."

"I speculate—these sea monsters who've just endured the thunder won't surface again to attack the city anytime soon."

Despite the good news, Claudia's mood didn't lighten.

If Ronald could defeat the enemies in one strike and ease Capen's imminent crisis, from their fleet's viewpoint, it's indeed a good thing.

But resolving the entire city's crisis so easily.

It left Claudia unsettled. Could this really solve everything…

"Ooh ooh ooh—"

Suddenly, a deep, prolonged sound emerged from beneath the sea, filled with emotions of sadness and rage.

—The scene above the sea was rather bizarre.

Though the sounds originated underwater, they reached everyone's ears clearly, conveying their emotion.

No doubt.

These sounds were from the seabeasts that had just received the thunder's wrath.

And the intent in these sounds indicated their unwillingness to depart, instead planning to continue attacking the city, retaliating for the previous strike.

"I knew it wouldn't end like this."

Her suspicions confirmed, Claudia raised a hand and commanded loudly:

"Everyone, execute the spell as planned."

"These seabeasts are targeting Capen on the shore. Greyd's Casters must not leave such matters unattended!"

Those behind Claudia immediately replied:

"We'll follow your orders, Your Highness!"

"…"

Meanwhile, on another steamship.

Also on the deck, Costate moved closer to Ronald and asked respectfully:

"Sir, they don't seem to stop attacking."

"Do you have any plans?"