Karl didn’t spare a glance at the Thunder Sword’s form. The moment the blade solidified, he slashed forward, unleashing a crescent-shaped arc of crackling lightning.

The arc sliced through the air, sizzling with electric currents, and shot straight toward Abraham.

Just as Abraham opened his eyes, the glowing crescent was already inches from his face.

Without hesitation, he sidestepped sharply—dodging the strike.

But he never expected the arc to carry an electrocuting, paralyzing effect.

Though the arc missed him, the surging currents around it sent Abraham’s body into sudden paralysis.

Seeing Abraham tremble and half-kneel, Karl instantly understood. He lunged forward, blade cutting the air as it aimed straight for Abraham’s head.

Abraham, mustering every ounce of strength, lurched sideways to evade—but not completely. Karl’s sword cleanly severed his left arm.

A jolt of searing pain snapped Abraham back into control. Gripping his spear with his right hand, he thrust it forward—straight for Karl’s heart.

Karl didn’t dodge. He raised the Thunder Sword and met the spearhead head-on.

*Clang!*

The dark, gleaming spear shattered—the tip severed cleanly by the Thunder Sword.

“What!?” Abraham’s face twisted in shock.

This spear was forged from mystic iron—razor-sharp, indestructible!

Yet it broke so easily.

Realizing the danger, Abraham dropped the spear, retreated swiftly, and put distance between them.

Arm lost or not, he was still a mid-Diamond rank warrior.

No way would he fall to some greenhorn!!!

Channeling every drop of magical energy, towering flames erupted around Abraham, scorching the air.

“Die!”

The inferno surged toward Karl like a tidal wave of fire.

Karl poured all his magic into the Thunder Sword—ready to unleash its full power.

But just then, he saw Abraham slowly raising a hand in a grasping gesture… aiming directly at him!

Karl’s pupils contracted. *Innate magic—he’s trying to immobilize me!*

If frozen, death was certain.

At that critical second, Abraham’s hand froze mid-air.

Shadowy tendrils coiled tightly around his body.

Shadow magic—Shadow Bind!!

The moment Karl processed it, Calis roared:

“What are you waiting for?! Kill him!!!”

Karl raised the Thunder Sword high.

Lightning crackled. Energy surged.

He brought the blade down—a deluge of silvery-white lightning engulfing Abraham completely.

BOOM—!!!

Amid blinding light and deafening thunder, surrounding houses collapsed into rubble.

Abraham stood charred black for a heartbeat—then thudded to the ground.

Karl stayed cautious. He approached slowly, thrust the sword into Abraham’s heart once more, and only sighed in relief after confirming no second substitute doll remained.

Meanwhile, battered Calis said nothing. She raised her short sword and walked toward Prince Elgin.

Wounded in the knee, Elgin couldn’t flee—couldn’t even resist.

Face pale, he shrieked:

“You can’t kill me! I’m the prince! Ruler of this nation! Kill me and you’ll die too!!!”

Tears streamed down his terrified face.

Calis bent slowly, reached into his coat pocket, and pulled out a palm-sized substitute doll.

*Of course he’d have one.*

She fixed him with an icy stare, voice eerily calm:

“Beg forgiveness from those you’ve wronged… in the next world.”

Her sword flashed.

Elgin’s head tumbled free.

Blood sprayed crimson across the stones.

Thus fell His Highness Elgin, Thirteenth Prince of the Empire—by Calis’s hand.

Watching, Karl felt a flicker of grim satisfaction.

But as a servant of the Earl’s house… he *should* have protected the prince.

Yet the death node prediction was clear: *Prince lives = Karl and the entire household die.*

Why was he always tangled up with this woman Calis?!

Calis tossed the head aside and turned.

“Thank you. Without you, I wouldn’t have succeeded.”

Karl sighed helplessly. “I had no choice…”

*If I could, I’d never touch this mess.*

He paused slightly. “Are you going after Alice next?”

Calis sheathed her sword. “No. Alice hasn’t done anything unforgivable.”

Relief washed over Karl. He couldn’t bear the thought of an innocent twelve-year-old girl dying.

“I’m leaving. Hide the bodies. Burn them at home. Or the investigators will trace the killer.”

“…”

Karl went speechless.

*Damn it!! What am I—a mobile morgue?!*

*And my backyard incinerator burns trash, not corpses!!!*

Before he could protest, Calis vanished in a flash.

Staring at the two corpses and the severed head, Karl sighed deeply.

“Fine. I’ll handle the bodies. I’ll do it.”

(￣Д ￣)┍