"Hey, Maria. Did you hear that...?"

After parting with Bai Ling and her maid, Yuri strolled slowly toward the observation deck.

It was a separate section of the airship—the perfect spot to kill time.

The alcohol-scented bar suited rough, rowdy men better. Not everyone loved noisy places anyway.

Honestly, even a standard airship like this had surprisingly luxurious facilities.

Caught off guard by Yuri’s question, Maria blinked in confusion. "Hear...?"

"That’s right. The sound of death... mixed with the thrilling scent of blood."

As she spoke, the space ahead opened up.

The observation deck was a large, isolated area. Its walls were made of transparent, unknown material, reinforced by unique magic.

Through them, you could gaze down from the airship at the breathtaking world below.

Day or night, the view here was spectacular.

But that only mattered to those who rarely rode airships.

Even the most beautiful sights grew dull with time.

Only rare things were worth chasing, right?

Yuri hadn’t come here to admire the scenery.

"...No one?" Maria’s brows furrowed slightly upon entering.

At this hour, the place shouldn’t be empty.

Yet the space before them was utterly deserted.

Yuri didn’t answer. She walked alone to the edge, stopping only when the transparent wall loomed close.

Her gaze drifted slowly through it to the patchwork world below.

From thousands of meters up, everything looked tiny—mountains and rivers like scattered puzzle pieces.

Emerald green, deep blue, faint gray—they painted the landscape...

Standing here, you could faintly see blue-white mana arcs swirling around the airship.

The vessel glided like a giant whale through skies humans were never meant to conquer.

"Humans... such a fascinating race. Don’t you think, Maria?"

Maria: "..."

"No immortal lifespan. No dragon-orc strength. No fairy-elf mastery of nature. Even a light stab from a blade... could end them."

Before the maid replied, Yuri continued as if to herself.

"Yet weak as they are, bottom-dwellers all... now they rule this continent. Hey, Maria—want to know why?"

Maria’s lips twitched. She stared at the girl’s back for a long moment. "...Why?"

"Because they’re weak, Maria."

"Weak?"

Maria’s eyes widened. Incomprehensible. Utterly incomprehensible.

"Precisely because they’re weak, they learn survival better than anyone. So... they’re more terrifying than all."

Maria: "..."

"Humans are a race to be proud of. So, hidden lady—why abandon your humanity to become a monster?"

Yuri’s dancing fingers froze mid-motion.

Hiss!

Blood-red lines flashed through the torn air.

"Ahaha, caught already..."

Rip!

Just as the lines coiled, a phantom figure materialized near Yuri’s right.

A silvery arc flashed—and the blood lines shattered soundlessly.

"Tch. I hid perfectly. How’d you spot me?"

The red-haired girl emerged calmly, eyeing alert Maria and Yuri, who still faced forward.

Yuri tilted her head. "You skipped my question. Why abandon being human?"

The girl’s smile stiffened, then returned.

"Little sister, joking? Craving power is human nature. I don’t know how you learned my secret—but this isn’t abandonment. It’s... rebirth!"

"Pfft..."

Girl: "..."

"Sorry, sorry." Yuri waved, stifling laughter. "I couldn’t help it. Rebirth? With that half-human, half-ghost body?"

"You...!?"

Yuri’s words struck like a critical hit.

The girl’s smile vanished. Her eyes narrowed. Thick killing intent surged.

Hiss!

Amid shifting phantoms, her true form appeared above Yuri.

Her rapier struck like a venomous snake toward Yuri’s body.

But—

"Angry over so little?"

Clang!

A dagger blocked the blade inches from Yuri’s neck. Sparks flew on impact.

Maria snorted. She lunged forward, thrusting the girl back.

"Human or monster—you’re half-baked either way."

"Shut up!"

Yuri watched the girl attack and retreat repeatedly, bored.

"Monsters can’t kill monsters."

Thud!

Distracted, the girl took Maria’s kick full-force.

She slammed into the transparent wall, milky-white flames flaring dimly.

Without reinforced magic barriers, that kick would’ve shattered the wall.

"Oh dear, already done?" Yuri smirked down at her. "Use that ‘rebirth’ power. You’ve been brewing it long enough."

The nameless girl gasped, chest burning from the blow.

That ordinary-looking maid hid terrifying strength.

"In that case..."

She inhaled deeply. Her fiery eyes clouded with deathly gray.

"Good. Show me the power you gained by shedding humanity."

Yuri’s voice was slow. A faint crimson glow filled her eyes.

An invisible force subtly tilted fate toward her.

But then—

"Ugh...!?"

Pain twisted the girl’s face mid-power-up. The gray in her eyes faded fast.

"Huh?" Yuri frowned. Had she been disrupted?

Before she reacted, the red-haired girl shot her a vicious glare—and vanished in sudden smoke.

"Lord Akat?"

Maria’s questioning gaze hit Yuri before the smoke cleared.

Yuri shook her head. "Let her go this time."

The smoke dissipated. The red-haired girl was long gone.