Watching the monster stagger unsteadily to its feet while guards and knights remained fixated on the other creatures, Fate pressed forward through the crowd.

These young knights were truly battlefield rookies—they didn’t even know to deliver a finishing blow.

Facing inhuman, supernatural monsters, they’d made the classic novice error: judging monsters by human logic.

To them, a blow like that should’ve been fatal. No need to check. No need to finish it.

But how could non-human monsters be measured by human standards?

Neither the knights nor the crowd noticed the creature wasn’t dead—slowly rising, casting a venomous, malevolent glare at those who hadn’t reached safety.

These beings possessed terrifying vitality and seemed to harbor innate hatred for all living things.

“Aaah!” A mother clutching her child suddenly found a shadow looming over her. In an instant, the grotesque monster stood within arm’s reach. Claws capable of shredding steel radiated chilling killing intent. Death’s breath washed over her.

She shut her eyes, shielding her child behind her—maternal instinct overriding fear.

Just before darkness closed in, a tall figure flashed before her. A violent *clang* of steel on steel erupted.

A cold breeze brushed her skirt. She opened her eyes. A man in a full-face helmet stood like an iron tower, sword locked against monstrous claws, sparks flying with every clash.

“Go.” His voice was flat, sparing no extra words.

Snapped from her daze, the woman whispered thanks and stumbled away on trembling legs.

*Made it… but…*

*Crack!* Fate staggered back, losing ground in the grapple.

Her condition was poor. Mostly from muscle regression after gender transition; partly from months of retirement neglecting training. Even this lowly monster strained her strength.

She wasn’t exactly delicate or easily toppled—but her power now barely exceeded an average man’s. Nowhere near her former peak.

This monster’s strength vastly surpassed any human’s. In raw power, Fate was utterly outmatched.

Forced to retreat step by step, she couldn’t believe she’d fallen this far.

Without Mind Art, brute force alone couldn’t even handle one unknown beast.

Thankfully, her pride rested not only on Mind Art—but on swordsmanship.

[Sword Art: Redirect Force]

The hilt shifted slightly in her grip. The monster’s force lost its anchor and lurched forward uncontrollably.

Fate kicked hard at its legs with her heavy boot. Balance shattered—the creature crashed flat on its face.

“Back!” she shouted to onlookers. Sword raised high, she brought it down with crushing force—like a warhammer slamming into the monster’s skull.

[Sword Art: Warden’s Wrath]

*Thud! Thud!* The floor dented beneath its head. The crowd stared, stunned.

Fate shook her head.

Once, Warden’s Wrath would crater stone. Now? Only a shallow dent.

Her power had plummeted more than one tier.

Clearly, the blow hadn’t killed it—only stunned it.

Fate wasn’t some greenhorn squire. Until death was confirmed, she wouldn’t stop.

She hacked and slashed with ruthless precision—striking only vital points, efficient as chopping meat, no hesitation.

Exhausted, she leaned on her sword. Her entire arm trembled down to her fingertips.

She stepped back to watch. Soon, the monster twitched—trying to rise again. But its wounds were severe; movement was agony.

*An unkillable cockroach?!*

Was it the monster’s insane vitality? Her own drastic decline? Or both?

Her actions finally drew the knights’ attention. They surrounded the wounded beast.

Fate glanced around. The other monsters still twitched. Honestly, their stamina was maxed out.

“Switch to Holy Flame Bolts!” The young knight gritted his teeth. The skirmish dragged on—no casualties tallied yet. This was his debut; he wouldn’t let it stain his record. He ordered the costly, devastating bolts loaded.

*Whoosh! Whoosh!* Holy Flame Bolts struck true. Roaring flames engulfed the monsters.

They shrieked, thrashed, burned until collapse—but even fallen, they dragged twisted limbs toward guards, wails sharp enough to chill bone.

Under the knight’s command, Peacekeeping Office guards eliminated all but one.

The one that had stood motionless in the road’s center since the start, eyes scanning with quiet confusion.

Fate frowned. In its gaze, she saw something unsettling—confusion… and deepening despair.

Especially as guards turned weapons toward it.

“Fire.” The knight’s voice held no hesitation. His duty: quell the farce.

Guards raised heavy crossbows. Triggers pulled.

“Stop! Stop!!” A young, familiar voice cried out. Fate’s gaze snapped toward it—pupils contracting sharply.

“Lide?!”

Lide burst from a side alley, throwing himself before the monster.

“No! Don’t kill her!” he sobbed. Too late. Six crossbows unleashed saturation fire.

Fate dropped her bastard sword, lunging—snatching Lide back at the last possible moment.

“Let me go! Let me go!” Lide wailed, tears streaming as bolts struck.

“Lide, calm down.”

“Ms. Fate! Please—make them stop! That’s not a monster… that’s my mom!”

“What…?” Fate froze. She turned.

The creature lay pierced by countless arrows, collapsing into holy flames.