*Plop plop!*

On the beach of an unnamed island, Alicia meticulously rinsed the bloodstained Holy Sword with seawater.

"First time seeing a Holy Sword that needs washing. Doesn’t it purify all filth by default?" Albel drawled, hands clasped behind his head as he watched Alicia’s serious expression. Utterly bored.

He couldn’t fathom this Holy Maiden’s logic. A true Holy Sword would repel dark impurities effortlessly—untouchable. This replica? Just blessed with holy light over cheap materials. Washing it was pointless.

"This sword was blessed by Goddess Freyja herself. Made to slay demons like you. Well, except you." Alicia didn’t look up, polishing the blade like a sacred treasure.

"Pfft. It’s just a copy. Seventeenth-generation knockoff, I’d guess." Albel smirked.

"Don’t be ridiculous! If I could actually hit you, you’d be dust by now. This is the *real* Holy Sword—not like those cheap knockoffs." Alicia puffed her cheeks, shooting him a glare. His dismissal stung.

"Whatever. The *real* Holy Sword was sealed away with that girl during—" Albel snapped his mouth shut. Human legends claimed the First Holy Maiden had perished alongside it in the "Crimson Moon War."

"Sealed away?" Alicia’s eyes widened. She clearly knew nothing of this.

"Nothing important. Hurry up, or it’ll be dark again." Albel swiftly changed the subject.

"It’s barely noon! You just want to see me fail." Alicia planted her feet stubbornly, refusing to leave until the sword gleamed.

"Suit yourself. I’m leaving." Albel turned toward the forest, a slow smirk curling his lips. Dealing with sulky girls? Child’s play.

"W-wait!" Alicia had thought he was joking—until he actually strode away. Panic seized her. She scrambled after him, tripping over her own feet, Holy Sword clutched tight.

"You jerk! Can’t you cut a girl some slack? Are you even a man?" She marched beside him, cheeks flushed with anger.

"I’m not a man. I’m a demon."

"Ugh…" Alicia fell silent, simmering. *Just wait. I’ll get you back someday.*

Ten minutes later, she clung to Albel like a lifeline. Every rustle in the shadowy forest sent chills down her spine.

"Ahhh!" Blood-red eyes flashed deep in the trees—locking straight onto hers. Instinctively, the terrified Holy Maiden lunged forward and wrapped her arms around Albel.

"What’s wrong?" He spun around, startled. *Is this girl mentally unstable?*

"T-those eyes! Over there—!" Alicia pointed frantically. But the spot was empty. Vanished.

"There’s nothing. Stop jumping at shadows. If you want my arms around you, just say so. No need for lies." Albel saw no eyes—just a nervous girl unraveling.

"W-who wants your arms?! Pervert!" Alicia’s voice trembled, but she held her ground.

"Then why are *you* hugging *me*?" Albel raised his hands, grinning.

"S-shut up! Let’s just go!" She yanked her arms back and stomped ahead, face burning.

"Honestly," Albel called after her, "you’ve got a Holy Sword. What’s there to fear? It’s useless on you. Hand it over—I’ll use it for chopping vegetables. Works great."

*True, it’s a fake,* he mused. *But Freyja’s blessing still lets it slice through dark creatures’ armor. That armored fish? Cut like butter.*

"Holy Sword for *chopping vegetables*?!" Alicia whirled around, indignant. *Goddess Freyja, smite this idiot! He’s treating Your sacred blade like a kitchen knife!*

"Oof!" Distracted by her rant, she tripped over a root and face-planted.

"Hah! You’re something else." Albel burst out laughing as she scrambled up, dirt smudged on her cheek. *How did this airhead become Holy Maiden?*

"You bastard—" Alicia whirled to yell—then froze. Those red eyes glowed again in the trees. Closer.

"T-there! Behind you!" She dove behind Albel, trembling finger jabbing toward the darkness.

Albel’s smirk died as a massive blue wolf emerged from the shadows. Alicia hadn’t imagined it.

**Fenrir**

*Species: Dark Beast*

*Level: 10★*

*ATK: 45,000 | DEF: 23,000*

Its stats materialized in the air.

"T-ten stars?!" Alicia’s voice cracked. *Why is a 10-star monster here?!*

"Calm down. You’ve got the Holy Sword. It ignores dark monsters’ armor, right?" Albel sighed. *This Holy Maiden’s spineless. Humanity’s doomed.*

"I-I’m only Level 7!" She peeked out from behind him, her own stats flickering weakly:

*Level: 7★ | ATK: 18,000*

"But I heard Holy Maidens *double* their power with the Holy Sword equipped." Albel’s eyes gleamed with mischief.

"R-really?" Hope flickered in Alicia’s voice. She *wanted* to be strong.

"Of course! You just couldn’t hit me before. That wolf’s DEF is only 23,000. Your ATK’s 18,000—add the sword’s boost, and one strike finishes it."

"Hmph! So *that’s* why I’m so strong!" Alicia’s confidence surged. She drew the golden blade and stepped forward, pointing it at the drooling wolf. "Big dog! Behold the might of Princess Alicia!"

*Big dog?* Albel facepalmed. *It’s a wolf. Is she blind AND stupid?*

Fenrir shuddered. Then, to everyone’s shock, it backed away—turned—and vanished into the forest in seconds.

"Hah! Albel, did you see?! That big dog fled from my sheer aura!" Alicia preened, ego inflated to bursting.

"Idiot! Get back here!" Albel yanked her behind him. His smirk vanished. Fenrir hadn’t fled *her*.

Something far worse lurked in those trees.

Albel’s eyes narrowed. A 10-star beast wouldn’t bolt unless it sensed true danger. *What could scare it off?*

A guttural hiss ripped through the forest. Then—a colossal green serpent slithered out, its shadow swallowing them whole.

"GYAAAAH!" Alicia’s face paled. The serpent reared up—fifteen meters tall.

**Jörmungandr**

*Species: Dark Serpent*

*Level: 14★*

*ATK: 248,000 | DEF: 123,000*

"S-save me… I don’t want to die…" Alicia clutched Albel’s cloak like a prayer. *A 14-star monster can wipe out nations. The Empire sent three 12-star Holy Knights and a whole army against a 13-star beast… all died.*

Albel understood her terror. Her level was half its own. But before *him*? Stats were just numbers.

"Stay back. Watch quietly." He plucked the Holy Sword from her grip. *Ten years without a real fight. Let’s play.*

*Hssss!* Jörmungandr spat venom—but Albel’s passive ability deflected it. The serpent recoiled, stunned. Its aim never missed.

Albel charged, Holy Sword flashing—only to be blasted backward by the serpent’s tail-whip windstorm.

*THUD!* He crashed beside Alicia, the sword skidding far away.

*Hssss!* Jörmungandr writhed in triumph. This high-level human fell too easily.

*Fwoosh!* A glowing banner appeared above its head:

**"MIDGARD SERPENT"**

Its title.

"Heh… How amusing." Albel scoffed. Titles were hidden in this world. Flaunting one? Pure arrogance after victory.

"Albel! Are you okay?" Alicia’s voice wobbled. *If he dies, I die too.*

"Alicia. Come here. I need to tell you something." Albel’s lips slowly curved up. *Showing off to me, beast? You have no idea what you’re dealing with.*

"W-what is it?" Alicia leaned in solemnly, bracing for last words.

"Mmph..."

Albel suddenly reached out, pushing Alicia's head down toward him. Their lips pressed tightly together.

"What—what are you doing?!"

Alicia was utterly bewildered. Was this guy trying to take advantage of her again before dying?

"The medium is ready."

Ignoring Alicia, who stomped her foot in anger nearby, Albel turned toward Jörmungandr. He wiped his lips, raised his right hand overhead, and continued.

"Activate the beautiful maiden's kiss effect! Summon the Demon Sword Laevatein!"

As Albel finished speaking, the void shattered. A black-red longsword, shimmering with immense energy, emerged and slowly descended into his hand.

"Hiss!"

Jörmungandr sensed the Demon Sword Laevatein's power. It crawled toward Albel, opening its gaping maw to bite.

"Ragnarok."

Expressionless, Albel slowly swung Laevatein toward Jörmungandr. A crimson sword aura, like a roaring beast, tore forward with unstoppable force.

The poisonous gas around Jörmungandr instantly dispersed. Its massive body split in two, crashed to the ground, twitched a few times, and lay still.

Demon Sword Laevatein: Albel's exclusive weapon. Only summonable with the "beautiful maiden's kiss." When attacking, it instantly kills the target regardless of combat damage, splashing onto other units.

While Alicia stood dumbfounded and speechless at the sight, Albel had already walked to Jörmungandr's head.

"Tch. I just gave you a slight early advantage. How dare you show off your title?"

As he finished, a banner appeared above Albel's head.

"Orion" Albel.