We were deep asleep. Then a rain of elemental mana fell, like sleet from a torn cloud—someone was casting at us.

The realization came too late, like cold surf after the wave broke. No time to react. Luckily, before bed we had Lingxiao and Lingsaki weave a defensive barrier around the room, a net of light tight as frost.

Because of that, the entire inn, except our room, turned to ash. It went like paper in a kiln. Deja vu stung; on the Eastern Moon Continent we’d seen the same, a clan’s revenge. This time… the Beselot royal house?

Irritation rose like smoke. We dressed fast, left the room, and had Lanxia unfurl her true dragon form. We swung onto her broad back and surged into the sky.

“What? You’re not even scratched?! I sensed a room with a barrier just now… magic couldn’t breach it. Don’t tell me—”

They saw us and gasped, disbelief sharp as a snapped bowstring.

“…You again? Aren’t you sick of this?!”

Our attackers were none other than Lixin and Dark Demon. My mood curdled like old tea.

Last time, Lixin brought Dark Demon with the tiger and wolf clans to cause trouble. Days later, another night raid. Shadows love the same tricks.

“Tch. We failed? We’re pulling out!”

Hit-and-run, then. They had no plans to tangle.

“Don’t even think about it! This space has been sealed by Lingsaki and me. Bold of you—last time didn’t teach you. You even dare disturb our dear big brother’s precious sleep!”

“Unforgivable!”

Right—so they couldn’t run. As soon as they woke, Lingxiao and Lingsaki unfurled the Day-Night Sky Domain, yin and yang spread like twin banners. This time, they were truly incensed.

I couldn’t blame them. Being wanted in daylight was gall enough. Then at midnight, no sleep? Even saints would bristle.

Suspicion coiled coldly. Are the warrants on Lingxiao and Lingsaki tied to Dark Demon? For a mess this big, Beselot’s own should have come to raid. Yet it’s Lixin and Dark Demon. They wouldn’t help Beselot out of kindness… unless they orchestrated the whole thing.

If so, that’s trouble. Dark Demon’s long wanted to topple the Mizumi Clan, and now they’ve got partners from another world. Too many variables. I don’t believe they can shake the Mizumi Clan, but weeds should be cut before they seed.

“Such utterly pure law energy…” Lixin stared at the world of day and night braided together, realization lighting her face. “No wonder those four Divine Realm mages from Dark Demon lost so fast. A domain steeped in law this pure— even peak Law Realm might not have it.”

Without another word, Lingxiao and Lingsaki hurled divine spells in waves, a storm of light and shadow. They didn’t care about drain. We had a trove of restorative elixirs.

“Dammit!”

If Lixin stood alone, she’d weave through their godspells. But she kept shielding three Dark Demon deadweights at Holy Peak. She looked ragged, like a juggler under falling stones.

Seeing that, Lixue and I pounced. We drew our blades and let our strongest sword arts fall like moonlit arcs.

As for Lanxia—she’d already gone full burn. Stream after stream of icefire dragon breath roared from her maw, a blizzard of flame, one of her strongest attacks.

Soon, Lixin bled and staggered. The three black‑robes were in tatters, breath thin as candle smoke.

I hadn’t expected Lixin to have principles. Even cornered, she covered Dark Demon’s men. But an enemy’s an enemy. We didn’t ease up—we pressed harder, a tide rising to drown the reef.

Of course, I didn’t plan to kill her. We still lacked answers. And an Overdeity Level foe, cornered, will cost blood to slay. Our goal was to take her alive and pry the truth.

“No choice… I’ll use that move!”

Pretty plans; savage reality. Lixin exploded with mana, a thunderclap in my bones. My Sword Intent read it—around high Overdeity Level.

Elemental energy flooded to her like rivers to a whirlpool. The sky writhed with colossal tentacles, nausea given shape. We had to answer that storm. Lixin used the gap, produced a wing‑shaped magic gear, and flew the three Dark Demon men out of the Day‑Night Sky Domain.

As her aura vanished, the tentacles unraveled to raw elements and drifted away like mist.

“Didn’t think she’d slip that net. As expected of an Overdeity Level foe,” I muttered, grudging respect cooling my breath.

“What now?” Lixue recalled Ice Illusion Moon. “The inn’s gone. It’s late. Do we find another bed or what?”

“In this state, there’s no way we rest easy.”

It was about two‑thirty before dawn. After a raid like that, and their escape, sleep had flown like a startled bird.

“Not fair! They actually got away!”

“Bounties weren’t enough. They came to night‑raid us. Dark Demon and the Beselot royal house are brazen.”

The sisters were the most sullen, sparks dancing in their eyes. Nothing would cool them but a finish.

“What’s next? Simple—Lanxia, head for Cerol City. Now.”

No hesitation. Dark Demon and Lixin were the hands behind Beselot. They’d crossed us twice. We owed them an answer.

“Oh‑ho! This dragon’s had enough! Time to tally new grudges with old!”

With a whoop, Lanxia banked toward Cerol City and poured on speed like a falling star.

Meanwhile, Cerol City. The palace courtyard.

“Lixin, why return so battered? The night raid failed, then.”

Wilsar frowned as pallid Lixin appeared with three grievously wounded black‑robes.

“Yes, Mr. Wilsar. Prepare to engage, fast. Yumigawa Sumeragi and his group might already be on their way to Cerol City!” Lixin rattled off the report.

“A night raid won’t do after all.” Wilsar sighed and handed her a recovery draught. “I thought I respected the Mizumi Clan enough. Clearly not. From now on, place them at the same tier as an Origin Realm existence.”

“What?! That’s overboard. If an Origin Realm existence moved, the Mizumi Clan would be erased in minutes.” Lixin choked on the thought.

“It’s not overboard. Beyond their Origin Realm backer, the Mizumi Clan holds an entire tract of the Central Continent. One clan hoards most of the world’s rare resources. They have the foundation to contend with the world. Shouldn’t we rank them with Origin Realm existences?”

“…Fair.” Lixin drank. Her wounds knit at once, like frost melting in sun.

“Good. Don’t waste time. Go inform Nakat and Chairman Rangetsu. I’ve preparations to make.”

“Understood!”

Soon, a grim tension spread over Cerol City like a storm front. Elite troops hid in every fold. Three god‑tier generals held the gates.

Morale wasn’t high. Neither the elites nor the three god‑tier generals wanted to fight the Mizumi Clan. But with the crown in Wilsar and Rangetsu’s hands, they obeyed.

“The Mizumi Clan will come… Diak, your father will avenge you!”

In a shadowed corner, Varlton, who’d lost everything, gripped his artifact‑grade lance. Eyes hard, he drank a vial that unleashes all potential at a lethal price.

High in the distance, he saw a great dragon bearing down fast like a stormcloud.

With Lanxia flying full tilt, we reached Cerol City in under half an hour.

“Attack!!”

A commanding shout cracked from below. Magic‑soaked arrows streaked from all quarters of the city, laced with Dark Demon’s shadow and curse spells. It didn’t matter. Lanxia’s dragon breath washed them all aside like a tidal flame.

“Lanxia, drop lower. At high altitude you’re just a target.”

So the Beselot royal house had chosen to stand with Dark Demon against us. So be it.

The sisters and Lixue called out and leapt from Lanxia’s back, streaking toward the arrow nests like meteors.

I had no plans to touch ground. Cerol is vast, and I don’t know the streets. Playing dragon rider suits me fine.

As my bracelet flowed back into the Shattered Light Sword, dread flooded me like ice water. I threw open the Sword Domain. Then I collapsed it to a point and roused Shattered Light before the battle even began.

Clang!!

I slashed on instinct. The blade hit something absurdly hard. The rebound nearly shook me off Lanxia’s back.

“You’re Yumigawa Sumeragi? This shiver‑inducing aura… it’s an Origin Artifact, no doubt.”

A deep voice rolled out as a middle‑aged man in a tight combat suit, built like a war god, appeared ahead of us.