When the ceaseless roars of Corpse Eaters reached the detention chamber, everyone inside reacted differently.

Dante halted his indiscriminate assault on the two intruders, hesitating whether to confront the ghouls outside the fortress or continue capturing the trespassers within the chamber.

Blood Witch Lilith, meanwhile, manipulated her blood into weapons, launching indiscriminate attacks to cover her retreat.

The black-armored man who called himself the Shepherd also tried to flee the detention chamber to pursue the escaped Selena—but Dante’s greatsword swept out, blocking his path.

“Truly troublesome. Let’s make a deal, watchdog of the kingdom,” the armored man said, disinterested in fighting as he attempted to negotiate with Dante.

“Who asked for your bargaining? You’re captured today,” Dante retorted, slashing at him without hesitation.

Seeing Dante had no intention of talking, the armored man dodged the attack while weaving his words into a Word Spirit spell to control everyone present.

“Vermin of this fortress—freeze!”

As the Shepherd uttered this command, immense magical power surged from his body, spreading rapidly outward. Instantly, the soldiers Dante had brought, along with Von Officer and Yulia, grew glassy-eyed and motionless.

The fortress, which had erupted into chaos from the ghoul assault, fell deathly silent. Soldiers across the entire stronghold seemed to vanish into stillness.

“[Rampage Cursed Goatling] resisted interference from the World’s Principles.”

A mechanical voice chimed in my ear. The Shepherd’s Word Spirit magic had no effect on me.

“I refuse. Stray dogs have no right to command me,” Lilith declared while retreating. Ignoring the suddenly frozen soldiers around her, she glided away with elegant disdain through the underground corridor.

Dante remained unaffected. He thrust his greatsword straight into the armored man’s chest. The blade shattered his obsidian armor in one thrust, pinning him to the ground.

“My Word Spirit has never been resisted by so many at once. Truly… insufficient training,” the armored man sighed. His magic was utterly depleted from the spell. Though not fatal, Dante’s strike left him immobilized.

“Stay down and behave.”

“My Word Spirit has frozen most of the fortress’s soldiers. Your remaining forces can’t possibly repel the incoming Corpse Eater horde, Dante. Release me. Let me eliminate that unknown entity. In return, I’ll lift the control over your troops. Otherwise, Fort Posein falls tonight without its defenders.”

“Hah. Overestimating yourself much?”

Dante ignored the Shepherd’s threat. He dropped his sword, turned toward Von and Yulia, and kicked Von Officer flying. The rigid officer slammed into the detention chamber wall with a sickening crack—like snapping bone.

Another kick sent Yulia crashing into Von’s arms. The violent impact jolted them both awake. They struggled to their feet, dazed but conscious.

“You two useless wastes! Controlled so easily by Word Spirit? The beasts blessing you would weep! Learn from Alice over there!” Dante snarled at the newly revived pair.

“Dante-sama… next time, please be gentler,” Von groaned, clutching his bruised ribs.

“I’ve subdued this Great Ghost Clan bastard as planned. But damn it—new trouble just arrived.” Dante jerked his chin toward the armored man pinned to the wall, his voice thick with irritation.

Amid the unceasing howls of ghouls, Dante and Von Officer began strategizing.

“You think this half-trained Unicorn and Feng Indel can hold back a horde of Corpse Eaters? Accept my proposal,” the subdued Great Ghost Clan warrior persisted.

“Those outside got hit point-blank by his Word Spirit. They’re useless,” Dante dismissed, gesturing to the vacant-eyed soldiers in the corridor. “But the Second Battalion—I can punch sense back into them. Others likely escaped his spell’s range and are already fighting. We can still push the ghouls back.” He assessed their forces aloud to Von.

“But if this Great Ghost Clan speaks true, and all soldiers inside the fortress are immobilized… our numbers won’t suffice,” Von countered anxiously.

Dante silenced him with a gesture, pointing at Yulia and me. “The Special Ghostkind Management Act states: Fourth Category Ghoul Species who achieve extraordinary military merit under noble command may ascend to Knighthood and earn freedom. Alice. Yulia. Isn’t this your golden opportunity?”

“Eh? You want us to fight the Corpse Eaters?” Yulia and I blurted in unison.

“Exactly. Hold back those hundreds of ghouls for me, Alice, and I swear I’ll release you tomorrow.”

“Dante-sama, please reconsider—” Von began to protest, but I seized Dante’s hand, eyes sparkling. “I’m in!”

This was my chance! The Shepherd’s bizarre magic had finally given me hope of early release. How could I refuse?

These strange invaders had unexpectedly brought me fortune. Not driving them off earlier was truly wise. I gripped Dante’s hand tightly, terrified this blockhead fortress commander might change his mind.

“What about you, Yulia?” Dante pressed after securing my agreement. I shot Yulia a pleading look.

“If it frees Alice from detention? Obviously yes. Besides… I want to protect Lena and the others at the town’s weapon shop,” Yulia said, her gaze steady on me.

With our consent, Dante laid out his brutally simple battle plan:

Yulia and I would reinforce the soldiers already fighting ghouls outside the fortress. Von Officer would remain in the Third Detention Chamber, guarding the Shepherd pinned to the wall by Dante’s sword.

Dante himself would rouse as many magically frozen soldiers as possible within the fortress, sending them to the frontlines. He’d then rendezvous with Von here, hand over guard duty to fresh troops, and dispatch Von to command the frontline defense. Dante would personally hunt down the Succubus who’d infiltrated the town.

Finished explaining, Dante snatched my pale-blue bone blade—brought by Miss Aileen from the hunters—and slashed at the wall’s fissure. The translucent barrier shuddered in the air, crumbling like falling glass.

“Listen carefully: I’m not asking you to repel the ghouls. Just buy enough time for Von’s reinforcements to hold the line. That’s your mission. Don’t overexert yourselves.”

With that, Dante shattered the detention chamber’s barrier completely. He tossed me the bone blade, signaling our release. “Go. Support the soldiers now.”

Since his greatsword was busy pinning the Shepherd, Dante casually fished out several Rabbit-Horn Daggers from Miss Aileen’s luggage meant for me. Weapon secured, he followed us out of the Third Detention Chamber.