The leader among the black-armored figures removed his helmet and cradled it in his arms.

It was immediately clear his helmet differed from the others—crafted in the rugged, bestial shape of a wild beast.

This was the hallmark of the Iron Guard Legion. Any titled Chosen Hero within its ranks received one of the custom "Beast-Form Hundred Heads," signifying their exalted status.

Leading this mission alongside Vivian was Viret of Gushan, a titled Chosen Hero of the Third Legion and bearer of the Bear Head.

Viret appeared around thirty, with golden-long hair and androgynous features. His cheeks were slightly sunken, giving him a slender frame—a sharp contrast to his fierce Bear Head title.

Yet Vivian dared not underestimate him. His Level 67 rank and proven record against Demon King Citadel commanders spoke volumes.

Unlike the legion’s imposing aura, helmetless Viret seemed remarkably approachable. He offered the two girls at the deeper zone’s entrance a faint, gentle smile.

"Any dangers on your way here?"

Vivian nodded.

"Thought so. We’ve cleared roughly half the passages from the lower zone to here."

"Dangerous monster spawns are contained. Most areas are now safe training grounds for novice Chosen Heroes."

Viret smiled lightly, casually showcasing his unit’s capability.

Unlike the deeper zone shielded by the Immovable Authority, the Citadel’s lower zone held few actual demonic troops—defense relied on endlessly spawned monsters.

But under the Iron Guard’s relentless sweeps, powerful monsters were swiftly eliminated for rare materials.

To major factions, these zones were resources. Controlling half the passage routes proved the Iron Guard’s dominance in this frontier region.

"Our Third Legion’s goal is to eliminate a high-ranking officer of the Immovable Demon King Citadel and advance toward humanity’s Great Holy City," Viret continued.

Human territories, once encircled by Demon King Citadels, gained breathing room only after vanquishing the Annihilation Citadel and absorbing its lands. Those spoils funded six Great Holy Cities near the remaining six Citadels’ cores—key strongholds for offense and defense.

Battles beyond the Holy Cities meant frontline clashes. Only Level 45+ Chosen Heroes qualified.

Beyond them lay countless settlements—the frontier regions. Li Wei’s current mid-sized human city sat within the Immovable Citadel’s sphere. Though portals occasionally appeared, their pathways led far from the core.

Elites like the Immovable’s Ten Holy Guards were virtually unseen here. Slaying even a mid-tier officer was a major contribution—exactly the merit Viret craved.

As a Beast-Form Hundred Heads bearer, he longed for the First Legion (deep-core explorers) or the Second Legion (Holy City garrison), not this frontier posting.

Watching two high-level allies while envisioning promotion, Viret’s smile warmed.

"Welcome, Miss Vivian. With your aid, our expedition will run smoother—and the day we fell that officer draws nearer."

"Today’s a coordination drill. Scouts found a commander-layer passage. We’ll use this commander for practice."

*A live commander drill!*

This was the training she’d longed for—not Li Wei’s childish "hero games."

Vivian stilled her racing thoughts. She wouldn’t show fear before outsiders.

Viret’s confidence was contagious.

Indeed.

This was no longer an era of cowering before Demon King Citadels.

Unlike the age of terror, this was humanity’s full-scale counteroffensive.

Even the Citadels’ lower zones had become human-controlled resources.

*No more letting Li Wei’s words sway me.*

"I look forward to your guidance, Mr. Viret."

Polite pleasantries exchanged.

After a hesitant pause, Tiffany murmured, "About the supplies Viret promised earlier..."

Vivian shot her a glare, cheeks flushing—*as if she’d joined purely for rewards.*

"Ready."

"Continuation items, strategy aids, miscellany—all here." Unfazed, Viret smiled and handed over a simple storage token.

Oblivious to Vivian’s embarrassment, Tiffany cheered "Yes!" and tucked it into her waist pouch.

The group filed into the entrance.

Led by three high-level Chosen Heroes, the initial commander-layer assault progressed with almost comical ease.

Freed from Li Wei’s constraints, Vivian and Tiffany dominated through level advantage and gear—Vivian cutting down foes relentlessly, Tiffany giggling with unrestrained glee.

*She’s the slayer; I’m the giggler.*

The treasure-obsessed elf watched Vivian recklessly reveling in the monster horde, munching her snack cookie with a quiet chuckle, shaking her head.

*Captain’s got brains and brawn… and "wisdom"? Pure luck.*

*I’m just here for the paycheck. Why push so hard?*

Compared to diligent Vivian, Tiffany wasn’t slacking—just… taking it easy.

She’d loose an arrow only when a gap appeared, just enough to prove she was there.

Progress remained swift.

Viret observed closely. Vivian’s effort was expected, but the elf’s arrows landed with impeccable timing.

*Li Wei’s a lost cause, but his eye’s sharp. How’d he train two high-level combatants so fast?*

Still, his gaze lingered on Vivian’s divine artifact—though her background gave him pause.

At the commander’s chamber entrance, Viret praised warmly:

"Truly worthy of your renown as the young Veiled Moon Sword Saint. With more campaigns, your talent will soon surpass mine."

Vivian’s heart bloomed.

*This is proper mentorship—not Li Wei’s condescension.*

*Even seasoned heroes like Viret affirm: real growth happens in Citadel battles. What use is training detached from war?*

*Li Wei… wait. When I bring you an officer’s head—or a Demon Lord’s—you’ll regret everything.*

As they stepped into the chamber, Vivian and Tiffany’s pupils dilated for a split second.

It was the aura of the Immovable Authority shielding the demonic commander—a silent declaration of the Demon Lord’s might to all intruders.

Not targeted pressure, yet its mere presence made them feel infinitesimal, as if a mountain pressed upon their souls.

"Is this the commander’s Demon Lord aura suppression?"

Their strength stabilized them quickly, though pallor lingered.

"Commanders carry the Demon Lord’s blessing. But this suppression won’t truly hinder warriors of your level."

Unsurprised, Viret explained briefly and reorganized the squad.

They’d long acclimated to such pressure from repeated deeper-zone forays.

Vivian flushed with embarrassment. *If this shakes me, Li Wei will never let me live it down.*

"Moan!"

A low, mournful sound echoed from the low-ceilinged cavern.

Amid deep horn calls, the murky air thickened with the scent of blood.

"Impact-resistant formation!"

Viret donned his helmet, drew his weapon, and barked the order. Black-armored soldiers snapped into position, heaving massive tower shields forward.

The final battle erupted. Vivian’s hand tightened on her Veiled Moon blade, breath quickening—yet her mind stilled instantly.

*Frostheart.*

Her formidable Miracle.

*"Upon combat entry: +20% to all attributes, grants Counter Intuition and Weak Point Intuition. Prolonged battle may trigger evolution."*

This Miracle was why she dared the deeper zones—a power far beyond ordinary talents.

She’d only mastered Frostheart’s first tier, but blamed it on lacking true combat.

Frenzied roars drowned the horns. From the cavern depths, swift forms surged: towering wolf demons charging agilely, each bearing a small, gray-skinned creature with a grotesquely evil face.

One of the Immovable Citadel’s elite units: the Earth Dwellers.

Battle intensity spiked.

*"From the commander’s room onward, don’t brute-force. Observe mechanics—they may weaken the commander even if they don’t guarantee victory."*

Li Wei’s words flashed in Vivian’s mind. She shook her head sharply, aversion surging.

*What level are these? Do I need to "observe"?*

Previous victories had forged her confidence.

She trusted only her sword and strength.

*If I can’t cross a commander, how dare I speak of Demon Lords?*

Viret opened his mouth to assign tactics—*thud!*—Vivian vanished from the fractured earth.

Viret froze for a full second, then turned to Tiffany.

"Has she always been this… bold?"

He sucked in several deep breaths to choke back a curse.

Tiffany tilted her head. "Not like this before."

"Really…?" Viret’s tension eased slightly—until Tiffany added:

"She was bolder. Just didn’t *dare* charge like this."

Tiffany shrugged. *Mr. Li Wei used to hold her back. But now…*

Before she finished, her eyes widened.

Viret saw Vivian’s trajectory—and barely contained his shock. "How *dare* she!?"

He’d thought she’d cut through the horde. Instead, she’d leaped straight to the rear!

Facing the commander without destroying the hidden totem meant battling him under the Demon Lord’s full blessing—power magnified exponentially.

Worse: under this blessing, a commander would wield Domain Techniques—abilities normally reserved for high-ranking officers.

Even a "pseudo" Domain Technique posed grave danger to a titled Chosen Hero.

Viret’s face paled. Too late to stop her.

A brilliant sword light slashed through the air with unstoppable force. Like a shooting star, its radiance carved straight into the wolf pack’s rear.

Surrounded by a cluster of Earth Dweller guards, the elderly Earth Dweller slowly opened his clouded eyes. He watched a full moon of blade light plow through the ranks—severed limbs and shattered bodies flying wildly.

Vivian surged forward like a force of nature, closing the distance in an instant. The radiant moon-blade she thrust aimed squarely at his head.

“It’s over.”

Vivian murmured inwardly—then her gaze froze.

An invisible barrier sprang up before the elder. The rapidly spinning moon-wheel blade slammed into it, showering sparks. No matter how fiercely Vivian channeled her magic, the blade wouldn’t budge an inch!

Could a barrier born under the lower-tier Authority of Immovable truly withstand even Veiled Moon’s enhanced sharpness?

Beneath Vivian’s stunned gaze, the elderly Earth Dweller demon—face gnarled like ancient bark, dwarf-like in stature—twisted his lips into a cold smirk. Bloodstained teeth flashed as he let out a sinister chuckle. With six fingers on one hand, he swiftly formed a magical seal.

“Domain Technique: Illusory!”

Invisible Domain power surged outward, heavy with crushing pressure, instantly engulfing Vivian.

“Endless Rain of White Bones!”

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!!

The earth split open. Glowing magical runes raced across the ground as countless colossal skeletal hands erupted skyward like a forest—then all slammed down toward Vivian at the center.

Explosive force swallowed the entire commander’s chamber in an instant.