At long last, the annoying voice vanished from her mind. After expending a massive amount of mana to regain control, Selena was about to extract crucial information about herself—when two flying daggers suddenly pierced her body. The unnatural force behind the blades sent searing pain through her thigh and waist.

Worse still, the ashen-gray monster that had effortlessly crushed her back at the fortress now stood before her again.

"Ahhh, long time no see, *Commander*," Selena purred, setting Elaina down and forcing a seductive smile through the pain. She addressed Dante, who stood high above her. "Where’s that terrifying greatsword of yours today?"

"A dagger’s more than enough to deal with a whore like you."

Dante’s voice cut through the air. Defying gravity, he sprinted down the vertical wall, dagger gleaming like a silver dragon as he plunged toward her.

"What confidence," Selena cooed, swaying her hips while radiating alluring mana to ensnare him.

"Are you brain-damaged? Only an idiot would get turned on by a freak like you—half-human, half-monster!"

Dante tore through the violet mist. His silver dagger aimed straight for Selena’s throat.

Her wounded thigh slowed her movements. She could only raise her crimson spear to block. Steel clashed—sparks of white and purple erupting where dagger met spear. Dante’s blade slid down the shaft, carving a trail of crimson lightning before burying deep into Selena’s shoulder.

Her spear struck Dante’s body too—but it felt like piercing marble. He didn’t even flinch.

Yet Selena’s failed charm spell had ensnared Marn. The man, previously struggling against two Tearmarked Ghouls, now turned ally. Together with the ghouls, he surrounded Dante.

Seizing the chance, Selena barely broke free from Dante’s assault and limped away, desperate to escape the monster.

"Tch. Coward."

Dante spat, cursing Marn as he attacked.

Fists and dagger became a whirlwind. Dante carved a bloody path through the three encircling foes, catching up to the limping Selena. He rained brutal blows upon her—dagger, elbow, blade, fist—shattering her defenses.

No matter how fiercely Selena fought back, no matter how the three charmed puppets tried to shield her, Dante reduced her to ruin.

The dagger sank into her soft shoulder. An elbow shattered her delicate collarbone. The short blade tore across her alluring chest. His iron fist slammed into her willowy waist.

Finally, a vicious kick sent the broken Selena crashing to the ground.

Her mana nearly depleted, the black wings on her back and horns on her head faded. Barely conscious, she pushed herself up with her red spear, ready for one last struggle.

Victory assured, Dante first carved out the hearts of the two ghouls beside him, then knocked Marn unconscious with a single punch. He strolled toward Selena, reciting the execution decree like a script:

"Kingdom military code: demons are to be eliminated on sight. Consider yourself unlucky to meet a by-the-book civil servant like me... though I’ll admit, your figure’s decent."

Dante thrust his dagger toward Selena’s heart—routine, ruthless.

*Clang!*

A glass-like transparent barrier blocked the strike. Though it shattered instantly into colorless mana sparks, Selena twisted backward, escaping death.

Lem now stood between them—freed from Selena’s control without a sound.

"Pathetic last resort. More of your charms, demon whore?"

Dante frowned, confused by the bloodied Selena and Lem’s unwavering gaze.

No trace of haze clouded Lem’s eyes. Selena’s instinctive act—taking that dagger meant for him—had cut through his inner fog. He saw his true will clearly now.

This woman... even stripped of all memories of his mother, even possessed by another soul, even knowing that intercepting that strike meant certain death—she had still shielded him without hesitation. Naturally. With her already battered body.

He believed fragments of his mother’s shattered soul still lingered within this succubus. His duty was clear:

*Protect family.*

"Protecting her is my free will. My apologies, Commander Dante. Please convey my regrets to Elaina... and the others."

Lem raised his spear, magical sigils flaring around him as he shielded Selena behind his back.

Thin mana gathered at his spear tip, coalescing into colorless gale winds. Pure and sharp as his gaze, the blast surged toward Dante.

"Give up, Hunter. I don’t know what madness seized you, but you can’t stop me."

Dante backflipped, shattering the transparent blast with a punch. He tried reasoning with Lem.

"I know I can’t beat you. You’re Posein’s strongest, after all. But I only need to escape."

Lem’s free hand emerged from his pocket, clutching a silver crystal pulsing with strange light. His voice held quiet certainty:

"That attack bought me enough time to activate my trump card. Farewell."

Reality-warping mana erupted from the Sealed Magic Crystal. Lem triggered the disposable Magic Tool. Its power surged through engraved circuits under his guidance, materializing a colossal magic circle.

The intricate array enveloped Lem and Selena. Like shadows leaping into the void, they vanished into Posein’s pitch-black night.

Dante’s overconfidence in their power gap now exacted its price.

By the time he recognized the crystal’s nature, it was too late. Lem was an exceptional mage—his talent in spatial magic unmatched in Posein except by Yulia herself. His personal mana reserves were limited, but fueled by the crystal’s immense power, he’d cast a spatial transfer far beyond his limits, vanishing with Selena to some distant place.

"Outmaneuvered... I never expected a Hunter this skilled."

Dante scooped up the unconscious Elaina, kicked Marn awake, and weighed his next move.

A low ghoul howl echoed through the town. Dante’s brow furrowed.

"First things first—deal with the ghouls that slipped in."

He sighed, muttering to himself as he sprinted toward the ghoul’s scent, Elaina cradled in his arms.