But was that really the case?

The madness in the air thickened further.

*Crash!*

A tail lashed out from the crater, striking Autumnwater squarely. He shot into the forest like a meteor—his fate unknown.

At the same moment, a deafening roar tore across the sky.

The atmosphere froze solid.

“It… it’s still not dead,” Roland murmured.

He watched the monster rise again.

Though its armor lay in shards, its tenacious vitality refused to fade.

This was an A-rank monster.

[Lionbite Shark]

The “fight to the death” resolve had seeped into everyone’s bones.

No retreat. The instant fear of flight flickered in one’s heart, the beast would hunt them first.

Only a frontal assault. Only victory.

To live—they *had* to win.

But…

Thuke was wounded. Autumnwater’s condition unknown. Tina had unleashed spell after spell until her mana ran dry. Sasha herself felt completely numb—still able to fight, yet no match for the Lionbite Shark head-on.

Only Agnes, Xue Die…

And Roland himself remained combat-ready.

Agnes and Xue Die had already battled B-rank monsters earlier; neither was at full strength.

Pressing on against this monster felt primal—kill or be killed.

They never should’ve reached this point.

Roland shook his head.

Settling scores could wait. Survival came first.

From his Spatial Storage Ring, Roland drew a weapon—just a hilt.

Spiritual energy surged. A blade of light bloomed from the grip.

To slay it, he had to break his limits once more.

[Celestial Cloud Manual]

The style manual Master Gudao entrusted to him.

As his master said: the Celestial Cloud held all skies within.

Movement: [Drifting Cloud Step]

Sword Art: [Lunar God Style]

Throwing Technique: [Stellar Flow]

The Yin-Yang Dual Forms remained unmastered—unused, and useless here.

His goal? Elevate the Lunar God Style.

*"The moon is a deceiver."*

Master Gudao’s voice echoed in his mind.

*"Sometimes round, sometimes a slender crescent, half-veiled, or vanished entirely. Wait… for the moment she smiles upon you."*

Now—

The new moon had passed.

The Moon God opened its eyes.

Lunar God Style: [Crescent Moon Slash]

Roland charged, fearless before the monstrous Lionbite Shark.

A flash—he closed the distance.

But the beast’s limbs were crippled; its tail now deadly agile.

Instantly, it locked onto him. Fangs on the tail aimed for his throat.

*Seen through?!*

Did it possess human-level intellect?!

Roland’s face twisted. Teeth clenched.

Double Drifting Cloud Step!

He became wind—dispersing as the tail struck, spiraling upward along its edge.

Crescent Moon Slash: a single-direction, sure-kill strike!

The red crystal guarding the nape was gone. His opening.

Channel Faith Power—now!

Twenty… thirty… forty… fifty!

His absolute limit.

*Please… fall.*

Like a moon piercing midnight shadows—

The blade cleaved deep.

Blood sprayed. The head split halfway—

Jammed against bone.

A-rank monster bones were legendary—forged into weapons by warriors. Even Roland’s full power couldn’t sever them clean.

With a frenzied roar, the beast twisted and flung him off.

Agnes drew her staff from her ring—transforming it into a scythe.

“Xue Die!”

“Analysis complete. Strategy initiated!”

Rapier in left hand, mage’s rod in right, Xue Die stood ready.

They surged forward.

The tail whipped to sweep them away—but Xue Die anticipated it.

A cyan-green wind barrier flared, softening the blow.

“Jump!”

They leaped.

Agnes’s eyes narrowed to slits, expression darkening.

“Die!”

Her scythe—a reaper’s follow-through to Roland’s slash—plunged into the neck wound.

Fire erupted from the beast’s back, targeting them.

“Fall back fifty centimeters!”

Agnes obeyed instantly. Flames grazed her shoulder—*perfectly* avoided.

Another strike. The monster thrashed, sanity crumbling.

*Exactly as Xue Die planned.*

At death’s edge, even monsters lose composure.

Eyes—once guarded—now fatal.

It expected attacks on the neck.

But Xue Die’s true target?

*Its eyes!!*

Imperial Sword Art: [Triple Thrust]

In a blink—both eyes pierced.

Blind agony sent it rolling wildly, worsening its wounds.

“Almost like it’s reading your script,” Agnes muttered, glancing at Xue Die.

“Just finished the strategy half a minute ago,” Xue Die replied, voice low and steady.

“But hurting my team won’t go unpunished. I’ll carve its meat and share it with every fan watching this stream.”

“Uh… quiet reminder? Lionbite Shark meat is poisonous.”

Cornered by flawless coordination, the beast had no defense left. Under Xue Die’s magic, Agnes’s scythe swept—

And the head fell.