A sudden chant rang out, followed by dazzling silver light from above! The moment the Insectoid looked up, a concentrated beam of countless starlights descended upon it! The blinding glare forced bystanders to shut their eyes. Sedrion and Butcher immediately covered their eyes and stepped back, while the Insectoid was completely engulfed in the beam!

KABOOOOOM!!!

A series of deafening booms shook the earth incessantly. Sedrion, who had kept his distance, peered through his eyelids' slits at the sky—a massive magical array had appeared high above. It lacked traditional incantations; instead, constantly flowing points of light adorned it, like—

"...A star chart? A Celestial incantation? Is this Celestial Chart Magic?" Sedrion muttered, his tone dripping with displeasure.

Celestial Chart Magic was renowned for being time-consuming to prepare yet immensely powerful. The caster who could construct this sizable star chart so quickly and activate it at midday—when stars were invisible—must have reached at least Sorcerer level.

The falling starlight finally dissipated. Since all energy focused on the Insectoid, the destruction was localized.

And the Insectoid—

"SKREEE..."

Half its body was buried in rubble, letting out a pained screech.

The exposed half was visibly damaged. Its carapace had multiple cracks; in places, entire sections peeled off, exposing raw flesh beneath. One antenna was broken, and the glow in its eight eyes had dimmed considerably.

Even Butcher and distant Rodrigo were stunned.

They knew the Insectoid's defense was terrifying—its carapace could shatter most mystic tools. Yet it suffered such heavy wounds. No wonder Celestial Chart Magic was called a "natural Forbidden Spell." Even an incomplete daytime activation held this power.

"Everyone!!"

A young female voice rang from above. On a nearby rooftop, a silver-haired woman raised her staff and shouted down.

"Help me pin it down! I'll finish it with one more shot!"

Butcher frowned. He recognized her—Stella Gondel, the Pantheon investigation team's second-in-command, the Sorcerer known as "Starfall Cascade." She was arguably the most influential here, valued more than even a Great Sorcerer in the Pantheon. After all, she wasn't just a brilliant Sorcerer genius, but also—

"SKREEEEE!!!"

The Insectoid screeched, wrenching itself from the rubble and shooting skyward! Like an unstoppable cannonball, its claws sliced through the air as if tearing space itself! Stella gasped—she'd underestimated its physical resilience. She thought she'd dealt decisive damage, but—

"SKREE—H?!"

The Insectoid suddenly jerked. Vines from below coiled around its leg, yanking it down! Its scorpion tail slashed instantly, splitting the vines—but fresh shoots sprouted from the cuts, coiling around its ankle again in seconds!

On the ground, Rodrigo—the bespectacled man—muttered incantations. Verdant vines erupted from the earth around him, endlessly snaking toward the Insectoid! Though wood-element magic lacked raw power and burst damage, its binding and crowd control were unmatched.

"Thanks!!!"

Stella breathed a sigh of relief. As a Celestial Chart Magic specialist, she was like a long-range artillery unit—massive power, extreme range, but slow reload and terrible close combat. But with the target immobilized, failure was impossible!

"Aruu nal adan nuwo fwaa!"

The Celestial incantation flowed elegantly, like a beautiful aria. Points of light on the star chart connected, forming a complex geometric pattern. A condensed ball of starlight plummeted from it!

KRAKOOOOOM!!!

The impact shook half the city. A silver-white pillar of light erupted skyward, scattering stardust-like particles everywhere. Within it—

"Did it work...?"

Butcher dispersed the blinding particles with his magic, peering at the blast center. But a figure suddenly shot out!

"SKREEEEEEEE!!!"

The Insectoid!

"What!?"

"W-what—?"

Butcher and Stella were shocked—surviving two Sorcerer-level Celestial spells head-on!?

But it was far from fine. Its appearance had changed completely. Stripped of its carapace, its body shrank, exposing grotesque red-black muscles. Sickly multicolored fluids oozed from its wounds...

"It shed its shell!? Damn it!!!"

Butcher spat fiercely. The shell-shedding Insectoid, desperate and wounded, charged straight toward him! Its strength relied heavily on carapace defense and agility—now, it stood no chance against Butcher or Sedrion!

"Don't you dare run!!!"

Crimson light flared on Butcher's gauntlet. His right fist seemed to pierce space itself, slamming hard into the Insectoid's side! The creature screeched, stumbling to flee—but Butcher's left hand seized its arm, yanking it back!

"Checkmate, beast!!"

Magic swirled across Butcher's entire right arm. He swung again, aiming for the Insectoid's ugly head! Without carapace protection and its arm trapped, this punch would pulp its upper body!

Yet—

"—SKREEE!!!"

The Insectoid screeched again. A *crack* sounded from its shoulder as it twisted violently, barely dodging the killing blow! It had severed its own arm to escape!

"Damn it!?"

Butcher froze for a split second, then lunged—but a long spine shot from the Insectoid's remaining arm, piercing his Mystic Armor and wounding his hand! Seizing the gap, the Insectoid punched through the street—right above Cassol's underground drainage pipes—

"Stand still, you bastard!!!"

A blazing fire blade descended from the sky. On impact, it exploded violently! Butcher was thrown back by the shockwave. Everything nearby turned to ash under the heat; even bricks melted into magma!

...

...

Sedrion pulled the fire blade from the ground, glanced down, and sighed.

"...Too slow. It slipped into the sewers. Damn!"

"Uh... everyone," Rodrigo scratched his head, approaching with an apologetic look. "I'm just a passing teacher. My students are waiting nearby, so I'll—"

"—Think this is a public restroom? You can't just leave!"

"—We'd like to be friends, if possible."

Butcher and Stella spoke simultaneously. A swarm of Mystic Warriors, priests, and Holy Knights materialized around Rodrigo like ghosts. His shoulders slumped as he muttered, "Figured as much..."

High-level mages and Mystic Warriors were expendable, but a Sorcerer-class fighter couldn't be ignored. Left unchecked, they might become threats. With the Three Titans and Lord's Mansion involved, they'd want him under watch.

Don't resist—might be mistaken for a Great Secret Treasure hunter and obliterated.

"Fine... I'll cooperate with the investigation. But I want my students to stay with me."

Rodrigo raised his hands in surrender, head bowed. Butcher grumbled, "Smart move," while Stella smiled warmly. "That's wonderful."

"Now then..."

Stella turned to another figure.

"Miss, could you stay? We'd like to invite you to the Lord's Mansion for a chat."

"...?"

Sedrion, about to leave, turned back with clear annoyance. Her gaze held no warmth.

Stella asked gently, "May I know your name? We seem close in age, so perhaps—"

"Close in age? How old are you?"

"Just turned twenty-five last month."

"Huh. I'm twenty-three. You're two years older."

"Oh? Such strength at your age—you truly—"

"—But the gap in our chests isn't just two years."

"...Huh?"

Stella blinked. Sedrion grinned smugly, jerking her chin toward Stella's flat chest.

Rodrigo gaped. Butcher doubled over laughing.

Sedrion then swayed her upper body like a challenge, her ample bosom jiggling vigorously.

"Hey, priestess, did you skip milk as a kid? Or are you actually male?"

"...?"

Stella kept smiling.

But her tightly gripped staff crackled ominously.

"My apologies, miss. I don't understand your meaning."

"'Your flat chest means you shouldn't talk to me.' That's what it means."

"...You're quite humorous. Perhaps we can discuss body development privately."

"Screw off. I'm leaving now."

Sedrion flipped her off and strode away—

—stopping after two steps.

She stared at the space ahead, then released a wisp of magic. Where it passed, silvery stardust shimmered like a wall.

"A barrier? You flat-chested bitch, what's this mean?"

"I just want to be friends. Is that so wrong?"

Stella still smiled, but veins throbbed at her temples.

"It's a custom barrier. Scrolls, blinks, any spatial magic—it'll all be blocked. So please—"

"Shut up."

Sedrion cut her off with a cold laugh.

*Poof.*

Black and crimson flames erupted over her body, radiating eerie magic.

"What a rotten day, swine..."

Her form vanished silently in the flames—first feet, then legs, torso, until only her head remained.

"Pray to your gods, idiots. Pray I never cross your paths again!"

With that, she disappeared completely. The flames dissipated, leaving no trace. The barrier hadn't slowed her at all.