The ground quaked again as Earthrea's massive stone frame surged forward. With thunderous momentum, the golem threw a rapid barrage of punches, each one like a cannon blast aimed toward Albedo. Dust rose, debris shattered around its stomping feet, and red aura flared from its arms like a raging blaze. The very air pulsed with the sound of stone against wind.

But Albedo… simply moved.

His hands tucked calmly into his pockets, he slipped past the punches like a ghost dancing through moonlight. Each of Earthrea's strikes missed by a hair's width, carving deep holes into the terrain behind him, yet never grazing the target. His cloak rippled with every sidestep, his long white hair fluttering with each slip of motion. It was as if his body had become intangible, a phantom untouched by brute force.

He let out a long whistle.

"Ahhh… it's doing its best to hit me, huh?" he said casually, the corner of his lips lifting into a smirk. Then he threw his head back and laughed. "Hahaha! Look at that effort! My daughter's little toy is so full of spirit!"

Dila twitched.

Her expression tightened, eyes narrowing with an almost exhausted glare. Her silver-white hair rustled against her cheeks as a cold wind passed. Internally, she sighed.

Tch… this guy. This annoying father of mine… stupidly impossible… and now stupidly annoying.

She bit the inside of her cheek, watching her own creation miss again and again. And yet, deep down, even with frustration bubbling inside her, there was something else — a pulse of resolve.

He was mocking her. Laughing. But every step, every spell boost she cast, every ounce of mana poured into Earthrea — it wasn't for his approval.

It was to remind herself she was no longer that helpless girl from before.

Not anymore. Maybe for now.

Just as Earthrea launched another crushing fist toward Albedo, a blur darted across the field.

Fran.

She bolted in with that gleam of mischief in her blue eyes, her long navy hair trailing behind like a ribbon of wild wind. Her dagger flashed — one, two, three — too fast for most eyes to follow. With feline grace, she twisted around Earthrea's thundering feet, using its momentum like a stepping stone to launch herself straight at Albedo.

She landed behind him with a smirk.

"Let's see you laugh after this," she muttered with a gleam.

Then came the flurry. A consecutive slashstorm of white steel danced through the air, raining down from every angle. Fran's speed blurred her form — she zipped low, spun sideways, flipped mid-air — all while Earthrea kept hammering forward with brutish stone fists.

But Albedo?

He laughed even harder.

With his hands still in his pockets, he spun and dodged as if choreographed to music only he could hear. His movements were fluid, absurdly smooth — like dodging raindrops without getting wet.

"OHH—HOHOHO!!" he let out with over-the-top joy. "My daughter's cat is at it again! AAH-hahahaha! This is amazing!! I haven't stretched like this in centuries!"

A dagger grazed past his cheek, slicing a thread of his long white hair.

He looked delighted.

"I get to exercise!" he bellowed, spinning on one foot like a child in a field trip, "Truly, what a treat!"

Dila, watching from a distance, stood frozen. Her blue eyes slowly blinked.

Then her palm smacked into her face with a solid slap.

"...I can't take this anymore," she muttered under her breath.

Her voice was low. Resigned. Deadpan. Like her soul had left her body.

"That... idiot of a father. Is being chased by a golem and a teenage assassin. And he's enjoying it like a playground."

Fran, mid-air, shouted, "Sister Dila! He's mocking us again!"

"I know!!" Dila barked back, her voice cracking as her hand dragged down her face.

Even Earthrea paused for a moment, confused by Albedo's happy humming and weird dance steps between attacks.

It was official.

The battlefield… had turned into a circus.

Dila stood still amidst the chaos, her breathing shallow, shoulders tense. Her blue eyes followed the wild blur of Fran's attacks and Earthrea's relentless punches — all of it effortlessly dodged by Albedo, who was still laughing like a madman enjoying a morning stroll.

She narrowed her eyes.

Her fingers tightened around her staff.

"...Then I'll summon another," she whispered.

She slammed the butt of her Archane staff into the ground again — a shockwave of mana burst outward like a pulse. The earth cracked open with a low rumble as a second stone giant began to emerge, clawing its way from the ground like a beast called from the depths.

Its structure mirrored the first — massive limbs, plated with enchanted runes, glowing faintly under the pressure of magic. Its core shimmered with the same blinding magic Dila had poured into the original.

But as the second Earthrea rose, the soft, familiar voice echoed in her ears.

☆ W-Warning... Warning... Summoning another full golem while maintaining the first will greatly strain your body, master... Please reconsider... ☆

Nari's voice trembled with concern.

Dila winced, one foot stepping back as her knees slightly buckled under the pressure already hitting her chest. Her heart pounded. Her mana rippled violently like a storm under her skin.

"I thought… I was getting stronger…" she thought to herself bitterly, her lip twitching.

☆ You are. Just a little bit. Your power level isn't increasing much — you're only improving in mana control... ☆

Dila's breath hitched. Her hand trembled for a second, then stilled.

She nodded. "That's enough," she whispered aloud.

Nari sighed in relief — but it didn't last long.

☆ Wait—master—what are you doing?! You said that was enough! ☆

But Dila had already continued the chant, pushing more mana into the summoning circle. Sparks of raw energy spiraled upward like a twisted storm of threads. Her brows furrowed, jaw clenched tight, and her eyes... while calm — shone with a deep sense of resolve.

"I can control it now," she said.

The summoning finished. The second Earthrea's form solidified fully with a deep, grinding thud that shook the ground.

The new Earthreas now stood on the side of Dila, it's massive bodie glowing with the overflow of magic, both towering like titans awakened from slumber.

Then came him.

From across the battlefield, Albedo froze mid-laugh — then suddenly tilted his head, eyes gleaming with twisted delight.

"Ahhh—ANOTHER toy?! OHOHO!" he shouted like a spoiled noble who had just been served a second dessert.

He clapped once, his voice booming.

"My sweet daughter…! You brought me another cake today!" His laughter thundered through the field like a victorious king in a theatre play. "What joy! I shall feast until dusk!"

Dila lowered her gaze with an annoyed twitch in her brow.

"He's treating my strongest summons like party balloons..." she thought.

Even the golems seemed to pause slightly, as if unsure whether they should attack or join in the embarrassment.

But then… silence.

Without warning, both golems turned their heads toward each other slowly… and in a strange, almost human gesture — they raised their massive stone hands…

SMACK!

Each golem slapped its own face. A loud, thunderous crack echoed across the battlefield like someone breaking boulders with a frying pan. Dust flew. Pebbles scattered.

"…Wha—" Dila blinked, completely unamused.

She exhaled a long, weary sigh. Her shoulders slumped as she held her staff sideways.

"...Why did I even summon you again..." she muttered under her breath, deadpan, her blue eyes narrowing as if she were reconsidering her entire life's choices.

Then — like a child at a festival — King Albedo began jumping up and down, giddy like a drunk jester. His robe fluttered each time he bounced. His arms flailed side to side as he danced in place, spinning like a nobleman who'd had too much wine.

"YIPPEEEEE!!" he sang, his voice reaching notes no king should ever reach.

"A gift! A gift for meeeee! From my precious, moody little daughter!" he twirled in joy, his laughter echoing unnervingly.

Behind him — almost as if the universe itself had joined the madness a glorious sunflower bloomed from the dirt, and rays of golden light sparkled dramatically behind him like the climax of a theater show. Birds chirped. A harp played from nowhere. A soft breeze gently rustled his long hair as he struck a ridiculous pose with both arms high in the air.

The battlefield fell into an awkward silence.

One of the golems even tilted its head.

Fran blinked. "Uhh… is this the king or a magical girl's uncle?" she whispered beside Dila, her dagger still drawn.

Dila slowly pressed a hand against her face and dragged it down again. "Nahh...."

"…This is unbearable."

"...Just look at him," she muttered, expression unreadable. "He's not even taking this seriously… It's like he's holding back everything he has. Every swing, every spell—he's barely trying."

Across the battlefield, King Albedo was now spinning like a child in a flower field, arms wide as if embracing the sun itself.

"YIPPEE~!" he chimed again, tossing a random flower into the air. "Ahh, my lovely daughter has summoned such adorable golems! What a blessing!"

Fran, then now crouched beside Dila with her dagger ready but clearly not committed to fighting anymore, glanced sideways. Her cat ears twitched as she spoke with caution and a nervous giggle.

"Uh… maybe it's best not to provoke your dad any further, sister…" she whispered, voice lowering as if afraid Albedo could hear thoughts. "Look at him! He's too happy. Like… too happy. That's not normal."

She pointed with her dagger tip.

"He's acting like he doesn't want to hurt you at all. Honestly, I think he'd rather throw a birthday party right now than fight."

As if on cue, Albedo suddenly pulled out a literal party popper from his sleeve and POPPED it into the air with a loud pop! Confetti rained down dramatically over his white hair.

"FOR MY DEAR DAUGHTER~!" he shouted with joy. "Let us celebrate our family bond in the middle of this glorious battlefield!"

Even the two Earthrea golems awkwardly shifted their weight, confused by the lack of actual war energy in the air.

Now in Far off on a high rocky ledge, hidden beneath the shade of a cracked pillar, Zeon watched all this unfold. His mask twitched slightly as his shoulders began to tremble. He couldn't hold it anymore.

"Pffft—"

"MUAHAHAHAHAHAHA—!!"

His deep heroic laughter burst out like a drumbeat.

Then he quickly coughed and covered his mouth, straightening his posture with forced dignity.

"Ahem! S-Sorry, my lord. Please… continue your royal ridiculousness. I mean, uh—your commanding presence. Yes. That."

He chuckled again behind his right hand that cover his mouth, trying to hold it back.

Dila facepalmed again. Fran was halfway between terrified and impressed.

The battlefield had completely devolved into something between a royal comedy show and a dysfunctional family reunion.

And somehow, the sun behind Albedo sparkled even brighter like a cheesy drama spotlight sunflower still swaying in perfect timing behind him.