"Huff… *cough cough!*"

The dragon-headed flamethrower reverted to its original form. Silva steadied her breath, her throat’s dryness forcing a couple of coughs—only tiny embers sputtered out.

She’d clearly expelled every last drop of her stored draconic flame.

Yet Noah’s spherical barrier remained utterly unscathed.

*Are flames useless?* Silva inhaled sharply, her breath uneven from repeated setbacks.

Draconic flame was one of her strongest attacks. If even this failed… how could she possibly harm Noah?

"Oh dear? What’s wrong, Miss Silva~? Is this all you’ve got?"

Noah, in stark contrast, looked effortlessly cheerful, brimming with youthful energy. She swished her tail, blinking playfully at the exhausted Silva.

"To threaten my Sacred Domain physically? You’d need the impact of a hundred-thousand-ton meteor, at minimum."

"*Hehehe~* Can you manage that, Miss Silva? His Majesty the Demon King is far stronger than me~. If you can’t even reach this level… maybe just give up challenging him, hmm~?"

On the throne, Ledyah’s lips twitched.

"Hah… hah… I-I’m not beaten yet…"

Silva coughed out two more embers. Her near-depleted eyes still burned with untamed defiance as she strained for a way to turn the tide.

Among the Demon Race, many possessed extreme—or near-total—resistance to fire.

But Silva sensed Noah’s Sacred Domain wasn’t merely fire-resistant. It was a near-perfect defensive law, impervious to physical strikes, lightning, flames, even pure magic.

Specialized magic might bypass it—but as a Dragon Demon who’d devoured countless lesser dragons, Silva had no such ability.

Noah’s Sacred Domain alone could completely neutralize her.

"Big Sis Joshua… could you create a Sacred Domain like that?"

Watching from below, Isaac murmured, awed by the pure, mysterious field surrounding Noah.

All Holy Maidens possessed Sacred Domains, but Isaac’s own fell far short. Having joined late, she knew little of the others’ abilities.

"...No. I can say for certain Alyss and the others couldn’t either."

After a pause, Joshua analyzed the data and shook her head.

"A Sacred Domain reflects its user’s nature. Mine counters mysticism and magic. Alyss’s counters authority and laws. Dres’s counters flames…"

"But a domain as pure as Noah’s? I’ve never heard of one."

"Perhaps… Noah received some blessing within this Demon King’s Castle."

"Well? You can surrender now, you know~."

Seeing Silva silent, Noah puffed out her chest—as if her ample curves had blocked the attacks—and spoke softly.

She clearly dismissed Silva’s assault. To her, this battle was mere child’s play.

*Is there any way to break that Sacred Domain?*

Ignoring Noah’s taunt, Silva drew a deep breath… then exhaled slowly.

A decision hardened in her eyes.

*No. There is!*

Silva lifted her head. Her irises turned pitch-black, the darkness swallowing her entire eyes.

"Those… Dark Eyes?!"

Abraham gasped beside the throne, recognizing the forbidden art.

"Even among those who complete the Dark Pilgrimage, few can wield this technique."

"Some powerful obsession must be driving her."

Abraham stepped forward, fingers raised to intervene.

"Aaah… AAAAAHHH!!!"

Silva’s draconic body cracked like overburdened stone. Her eyes bulged, thick black fissures spiderwebbing from them across her skin.

She couldn’t withstand the annihilating power of the Dark Eyes. By all laws, her body should have crumbled before she could aim it at Noah.

Yet sheer willpower held her together. Her blackened gaze locked onto Noah.

Noah’s expression sharpened—the first trace of seriousness since the fight began. She stepped back, settling into a true combat stance.

From those void-like eyes radiated an aura of emptiness… and dread.

Abraham reached out. Even as a figurehead, Noah was a rising star in the Court. He couldn’t let her die to a madwoman’s suicide strike.

But Ledyah caught his wrist. The runes around him faded; his surging magic cooled.

"Just watch."

Under Abraham’s uneasy gaze, Ledyah remained languid, her eyes clear as she observed the two warriors.

*For the power I’ve always sought—the power to surpass everything…*

*For my warriors who believe in me…*

*I cannot lose this fight!*

Silva’s eyes blazed with fury. Thin, condensed beams of darkness lanced from her crumbling sockets. Heavy enough to devour light itself, they carried infinite ruin—inescapable, aimed at Noah’s core.

Like a hot knife through butter, the black rays pierced the Sacred Domain’s boundary. Noah’s claim held true: her defense was perfect against physical force. Even mystic attacks required immense power to threaten it.

But these rays were something else—a force akin to fundamental law. Like Death’s Decree, they would carve their mark onto Noah’s flesh, no matter her defenses.

The rays advanced slowly. Noah stood frozen, seemingly paralyzed as annihilation drew near.

…Or so it seemed. Her movements never ceased. From between her cleavage, she drew a sword—impossibly long, its ornate beauty making it seem more art than weapon.

And this slender blade, fragile as a maiden’s wrist, rose to meet the death-black rays.