The Puppet Knights were devastatingly powerful. The black, golden-horned beasts beneath them let out piercing shrieks as three knights charged simultaneously from different directions, cutting off all escape routes.
The Puppet Knights' massive two-handed swords were razor-sharp. With each slash, the air itself seemed to tear apart, unleashing violent shockwaves that sent five or six Level Seven fighters flying, leaving them severely wounded.
Most people in the area were around mid-Level Seven, with almost none reaching Level Eight. Thus, the three Puppet Knights advanced unhindered.
Except for Kael and Arjun!
Kael and Arjun exchanged a glance and a nod, silently coordinating.
Whoosh!
The two lunged forward simultaneously, their Level Eight strength fully unleashed as they activated their domains, locking onto the Puppet Knights.
"Hmph, two Level Eight fighters? Unexpected, but perfect. They'll make a fine meal for my 'darlings'—let them feast!" Seraphina's eyes narrowed as she noticed Kael and Arjun, both Level Eight experts. Yet she remained unfazed. In her eyes, even if they were Level Eight, her three peak-Level Eight Puppet Knights were more than enough to handle them.
Seraphina's focus was entirely on Bill. The Dragonfrost Orchid was an exceedingly rare spirit herb—she had to obtain it, no matter what!
With a flick of her fingers, she directed the remaining three Puppet Knights toward Bill and his companion. The knights surged forward like black arrows, their charge shaking the earth, leaving deep craters in their wake as dust billowed into the air.
Bill and the other mage hastily raised their defenses. Though Bill seemed familiar with Seraphina's methods, he was visibly shaken by her overwhelming power, scrambling to activate his domain in resistance.
Seraphina, now dominating the battle, let out a series of shrill, grating cackles that pierced the ears.
Meanwhile, Kael and Arjun faced off against their three Puppet Knights, unleashing their full might. Kael's Frostflames wreathed his body, forming a blazing wall around him, making him appear as though reborn from fire—his icy flames dazzlingly radiant.
Arjun, too, expanded his domain, his unrestrained power surging forth. His strength was formidable, and with their combined efforts, their domains clashed violently against the Puppet Knights. The air itself seemed to split apart as shockwaves erupted from the collision, the two sides locked in a fierce struggle.
The air crackled violently under immense pressure, distorting space itself as if warping reality.
Yet, compared to the terrifying Puppet Knights, Kael's power seemed even more fearsome. A Fifth-Level Mana Surge was no joke—his mana was as dense and fluid as liquid, radiating overwhelming potency.
Meanwhile, Seraphina, controlling three Puppet Knights in battle against Bill, held the upper hand. Bill struggled desperately, his defeat appearing inevitable.
But Seraphina's attention was fixed on Kael!
"A Fifth-Level Mana Surge?! Another expert?!" Her eyes flashed with shock as she assessed Kael and Arjun. Both were formidable, but Kael—despite being only mid-Level Eight—possessed combat prowess far beyond his rank, thanks to his unusually condensed mana.
Seraphina let out a sharp exhale but quickly intensified her assault, urging the Puppet Knights to strike faster. She needed to secure the Dragonfrost Orchid before any unexpected complications arose.
With a flick of his wrist, Kael pointed his staff and chanted: **"Endless Frostfire!"**
This was a dual-element spell, one of the most potent Eighth-Level composite magics. In an instant, ice and fire erupted from thin air, the ground beneath them alternating between scorching heat and freezing cold before shattering entirely. One of the Puppet Knights was instantly engulfed, its movements severely hindered.
"Domain—Restraint!" Arjun coordinated seamlessly, activating his domain to immobilize the other two knights. While his technique couldn't fully suppress them like Kael's magic, buying time was effortless.
Seraphina, though preoccupied with Bill, kept a wary eye on Kael's battle. A cold glint flashed in her gaze as she swung her staff, driving the Puppet Knights into a frenzied offensive.
Meanwhile, Bill was drenched in wounds, the knights' near-overwhelming advantage leaving him no room to evade. Suddenly, two knights flanked him, their massive greatswords carving a crescent arc through the air before crashing down like meteors striking the earth, their force akin to falling celestial fire.
Bill screamed, hastily reciting a spell to summon a defensive barrier around himself—
But it was too late.
The Puppet Knights moved with terrifying speed, their strength at the peak of Level Eight. Once they closed in, Bill's fate was sealed!
With a thunderous crash, the knights' greatswords descended, aiming to cleave Bill in two! He twisted his body in a desperate attempt to evade—but too late!
Blood sprayed three feet into the air as one of Bill's arms was severed clean off!
A scream tore from his throat, his face turning ghostly pale as he collapsed, clutching the stump of his arm and writhing in agony.
"Foolish to the end," Seraphina sneered coldly.
Coincidentally, the severed arm was the one bearing his spatial ring. Instantly abandoning her assault on Bill, Seraphina lunged for the ring—after all, compared to his life, the Dragonfrost Orchid inside was infinitely more valuable!
Meanwhile, the other fighter struggling against the knights mustered his last reserves of strength, breaking free momentarily to charge toward Bill's severed limb.
Men die for wealth, birds perish for food. Regardless of the cost, the Dragonfrost Orchid—a master-tier spirit herb—was a treasure beyond measure!
"You dare?!" Seraphina's lips curled into a frosty smile as she flicked her staff. Three Puppet Knights pivoted instantly, their iron-shod hooves crushing the man into a bloody pulp before he could take another step.
"The Dragonfrost Orchid is mine!" With a tap of her staff, the spatial ring slid from Bill's severed arm and into her grasp.
"Damn it—she's got it!" Kael's heart sank as he locked eyes with Arjun. In that split second, a decision was made.
Steal from the tiger's jaws!
Since Seraphina had no intention of letting them live anyway, they might as well fight!
With a silent understanding, Kael and Arjun burst forward in unison, their combined assault blasting through the Puppet Knights' defenses. Breaking free from the skirmish, they raced straight toward Seraphina!
"Damn you all! I'll see every last one of you dead!" Seraphina snarled, her fury boiling over. To her, these pests were nothing but flies—persistent and infuriating.
Kael's Fifth-Level Mana Surge erupted once more as he lunged at Seraphina. Yet she merely smirked, coldly directing three Puppet Knights to intercept him.
"Idris, hold them off here—I'll grab the ring!" Arjun suddenly shouted, bursting forward with a roar.
Kael hadn't expected such loyalty from Arjun at this critical moment, but there was no time to dwell on it. He gave a sharp nod.
Arjun's mana erupted in a torrent, pushing his power to its absolute limit as he barely managed to stall the three knights.
Meanwhile, Kael—no longer holding back—activated Skywalk Technique.
His body shot into the air, unshackled by gravity, his speed blinding as lightning. In the span of a heartbeat, before even Seraphina could react, Kael flashed before her, snatching the spatial ring from her grasp and retreating a dozen meters in the next instant.
The entire maneuver was executed in less than a breath. Seraphina stood frozen, her eyes wide with disbelief.
"You wretched brat—th-this is impossible!" she shrieked, her face contorted in shock.
Truthfully, Kael's Skywalk Technique wasn't supernatural in speed. But Seraphina, caught utterly off guard, could scarcely process what had just happened.
"Got it!" Kael's initial elation was short-lived. This wasn't the time to celebrate—Arjun was still barely holding the line. **"We have it—now move!"** he barked, already pivoting to flee.