"Roar!"

The lake lord let out another deafening howl.

The overwhelming roar surged waves several meters high. Nearby, Aluka covered her ears, yet she couldn't block the agonizing sound waves that stabbed her senses.

"Is this your pathetic wail before death?"

Ann, on the other hand, seemed completely unaffected. The scythe in her hand was raised high, like the grim reaper descending, ready to claim the soul before her.

In the lake lord's eyes was reflected Ann's cold and indifferent expression, a slight trace of human-like fear flickering through. This was unlike anything it had ever experienced before—such a terrifyingly powerful human.

But that fear soon transformed into utter madness, a final act of desperation!

If it must die, it would drag this human down with it!

Lightning flickered, white electric arcs coiling around the lake lord's body.

But its horn—the instrument to release such power—was already broken. Merely gathering these lightning would never harm Ann standing before it.

Or perhaps it was simply a reckless struggle, hoping in vain to delay death temporarily.

Ann frowned slightly, the hand raising her scythe pausing for a moment.

She was waiting—for the lake lord to exhaust its strength and for the lightning to dissipate.

But the lightning showed no sign of fading. Though the lake master was clearly on the verge of collapse, the brightness of the glowing arcs only intensified, blindingly luminous.

"Something's wrong. Very wrong."

Not far away, Aluka noticed a peculiar detail.

She could hear it—a heartbeat.

A rapid, pounding heartbeat.

A frantic rhythm seemingly on the verge of bursting!

There was only one possibility for such a sound.

"Get away! It's going to self-destruct!"

Realizing the lake lord's intent, Aluka shouted desperately toward Ann.

Self-destruct?

Ann's eyes narrowed as she turned to look at the lake lord .

It was then she saw it—the hint of madness and mockery in the creature's gaze.

"Heh, did I underestimate you?"

In an instant, the gathered lightning around the lake lord exploded outward.

Boom!

With a thunderous roar that seemed to shake the heavens and earth, dazzling bolts of light illuminated half the sky.

...

...

"A-Are you okay?"

Aluka, relying on her barely functioning levitation spell, floated over the lake's surface not too far from the explosion, staring at the aftermath of the radiant lightning that had blazed like a miniature sun, only to quickly fade.

Scorched chunks of flesh were flung from the epicenter of the blast, raining down like a grotesque parody of a meteor shower.

The lake lord had evidently confined the explosion’s range. From Aluka’s distance, she hadn't been harmed directly. But that smaller radius only left her more anxious—less range meant more destructive force.

This could only mean one thing: the lake lord's aim was crystal clear—it had tried to pull its enemy down with it!

"Please stay safe, Miss," Aluka prayed silently to herself while keeping her focus locked on the center of the explosion.

Thick mist rose from the heat, obscuring the view. The heavy rain still pouring helped dispel it quickly, gradually unveiling the scene at the heart of destruction.

Since the blast was over the lake's surface, it hadn't left behind anything too gruesome or horrific. The steel bramble prison originally binding the lake lord had partially melted under extreme heat, then cooled by the lake water. Some of the steel spikes still faintly glistened with traces of molten red.

As for the lake lord—it was entirely gone. Presumably, even its scattered remains had submerged into the lake alongside the meteor-like sprays.

Above the steel bramble remnants, a massive, conspicuous metal sphere hovered quietly. It radiated an eerie, otherworldly beauty.

"This is...?"

Aluka's heart nearly stopped as she fixated on the sphere.

"Miss... are you alright?" she called out cautiously, her voice tentative.

Click.

A circular opening suddenly formed on the metallic sphere.

Ann stepped out from within. She turned her head toward Aluka, her expression as composed and serene as ever, as if the life-threatening crisis moments earlier hadn't fazed her in the slightest.

"I'm fine."

"Ah, that's such a relief," Aluka exhaled a long breath of air, her tensed nerves releasing as exhaustion washed over her.

The strain she'd suppressed nearly overwhelmed her like a tidal wave.

"Oh, right! I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Aluka. Thank you so much for saving me just now!" Aluka forced herself to remain standing upright as she bowed formally in gratitude.

"Ann. There's no need to thank me," Ann replied.

"I only killed that beast because it was obstructing my path."

"Even so, I'm still very grateful, Miss Ann!" Aluka puffed up her cheeks and insisted earnestly, "Later, I'll bring my comrades with me to express our thanks properly. Please don't feel bothered at that time!"

"..."

Ann suddenly went silent, her cool gaze sweeping over Aluka's face.

"Eh? Did I say something wrong?"

"No. I was just wondering—aren't you worried about your comrades?"

"Oh! Right, my comrades!"

At Ann’s reminder, Aluka immediately recalled the two companions she had lost track of.

"They fell in that direction," Ann said, pointing.

"Thank you!"

Aluka expressed her gratitude hurriedly before mustering her remaining energy and floating in the indicated direction.

After Aluka left, Ann shifted her focus back to the expansive lake.

She lowered her head, gazing at the vast waters as she pressed her fingers gently against her temples, seemingly battling a mild headache.

"Alright, the nuisance has been got rid of. But how should I catch the fish now?"

...

...

"Rod! Tia! Are you both okay?"

Following Ann’s instructions, Aluka searched diligently until she found Rod and Tia near the lakeshore.

The moment Rod saw her, his face lit up with excitement.

"Aluka, you came just in time! Use some healing magic—Tia, she..."

"What?"

Only then did Aluka notice Tia lying pale on the ground. She was not laughing at her wretched appearance at the moment, as she usually did. Blood trickled faintly from the corner of her lips.

"I think her internal organs got injured by the blast's shockwave. Aluka, quickly—heal her with magic!"

"But... but my magic power is completely drained..."

"What?"

Rod froze before rushing forward, grabbing Aluka’s collar and shaking her roughly.

"What did you say? Your magic is drained? Not even a little left? Where’s the restorative potion?!"

"You're... hurting me..." Aluka struggled to free herself from his grasp. Finally catching her breath, she muttered, "I've completely exhausted my magic, and Tia is the one who manages the restorative potions."

"But I already checked her pack—there’s none left!"

"If she didn’t bring any along, there’s nothing I can do about it."

"Dammit!"

Rod punched the ground hard. "You’re a mage—how can you not carry any potions?!"

"..."

She’d already explained—the potions were Tia’s responsibility.

Besides, unlike Tia, Aluka wasn’t the type to recklessly burn through her magical reserves. Under normal circumstances, her magic would never have run out. If anything, wasn’t it Tia’s fault for not carrying any potions herself?

"I’ve got no choice. I’ll take Tia to the guild right now!" Rod declared, hoisting Tia onto his back.

"I’ll go with you," Aluka said.

"Forget it, just stay here and rest," Rod responded without looking back.

"You’ll just slow me down with how you are now!"

"..."

Aluka watched Rod disappeared into the distance with Tia in tow.

The rain came down harder, stinging her eyes.

Unbeknownst to her, Aluka’s fingers had dug deeply into the earth, carving sharp grooves soon to be washed away by the downpour.

...

She felt so useless.