"It... it stopped moving?"

The hatchet froze mid-air, as if clamped tightly by an invisible iron grip, utterly unable to move.

Not only that, but in Moen's horrified gaze, the rusty blade of the hatchet seemed to melt as if it had been shoved into a furnace and reforged. The molten metal twisted and squirmed mischievously, like a slime straight out of storybooks.

But this was room temperature, my friend! Your melting point is still thousands of kilometers away! Can we please stick to basic science here?

"Could it be...?"

Moen snapped his head up sharply, realizing that it wasn't just the hatchet in his hand that was melting. The cabinet door he had battered earlier, and even the cabinet he had been hiding in moments ago, were all liquefying.

All metal in the vicinity melted into fluid form.

The metallic liquid writhed and floated in the air, converging toward a single point.

That point was… the palm of Ann's hand.

"The power of laws… a divine sigil-bearer!"

Moen's vision darkened instantly. This merciless slap of fate almost made his blood pressure shoot straight into the heavens.

A favored one of the gods, a sigil-bearer who could wield the power of divine laws. Just like Celicia, who commanded the mighty forces of ice and snow, the Ann standing before him seemed to have been granted favor by some deity, gaining the power to control metal.

With such an all-encompassing power of laws, mere conservation of physics need not apply. Forget melting metal at room temperature—this woman could melt it, reshaped it into cubes, then spheres, and even cute little teddy bears or Doraemon figures if she wanted to with no difficulty whatsoever!

"But..."

Why would Ann be a divine sigil-bearer?

The original story never mentioned this, nor showed anyone possessing control over metal in this way. And if she were such a god-chosen individual, why would she relegate herself to being a mere maid?

"Why? Of course because of love."

Seeing the puzzled look in Moon's eyes, Ann smiled, the molten, shimmering liquid condensing into a sharp blade in her hand.

"Fame, power, money—they're all dust to me. All I've ever wanted is just you, my dear master."

"So come over now, young master. I promise to bring you back into my embrace. This time, though, I'll cut off your limbs… so you'll never leave me again!"

With a single gesture of Ann’s hand, the blade sliced through the air, as if autumn wind had stirred fallen leaves, hurtling toward Moen.

"Shadow Step!"

In the critical moment, Moen used Shadow Step, despite its severe side effects. He transformed into a fleeting shadow, disappearing instantly from his original spot.

When he reappeared several meters away, his face was contorted in pain, and his stance shaky, but he narrowly dodged the oncoming blade.

"Damn it."

The searing agony in his legs felt like it was ripping apart his brain, prompting a curse under his breath.

An obsessive psychopath was bad enough, but coupling that with this kind of otherworldly power—how is one supposed to survive this?! Oh, cruel heavens, if you despise me so much, why not just strike me down with lightning? Why subject me to this torment instead?!

"Huh?"

Ann raised her elegant eyebrows slightly, showing a trace of confusion.

"A move I've never seen before? Young master, just how much are you hiding from me?"

"Well," Moen forced a strained smile, "a man's secrets are like a woman's age—they aren't something to be casually exposed, you know."

"I see…" Ann mused thoughtfully, before her smile turned chilling. "But I still intend to uncover every last detail about you. Not as a 'man,' but as my property."

She spread her arms wide, as if attempting to embrace the whole world.

Then Moen heard it—a grating, ear-piercing screech emanating from deep within the corridor behind her.

In the dim, flickering light, an enormous construct, gleaming with a fearsome metallic sheen, began slithering along the hallway, scraping against its walls as it advanced.

It looked like countless steel beams twisted and merged into each other by sheer force, and amidst its tangled, serpentine body, Moen could vaguely catch the trace of his *old friends*—shackles and iron doors.

Yet now, they were grotesque limbs of the monstrous creation, crushing walls and flooring alike as it surged forward.

Right, he almost forgot.

The cell he'd just been trapped in… everything in it was made of metal.

"Come on, does it have to be this hard?"

Without a moment of hesitation, Moen turned and bolted.

People can summon astonishing potential in the face of danger; Moen was no exception. Despite the stabbing pain in his feet that gnawed relentlessly at his nerves, Moen reached a speed he'd never achieved before in his life.

The source of light ahead, indicating an exit, grew larger and brighter, eventually flooding his vision and enveloping his whole world.

After a brief moment of dizzy, the world bathed in warm daylight once again filled his sight. The familiar scene nearly brought tears to Moen’s eyes.

"As I thought… this is the back gate of the duke's mansion!"

But there was no time for celebration.

A deafening crash echoed from behind.

That massive, centipede-like metal monstrosity smashed through the pitifully fragile basement exit, lunging straight for Moen.

For a split second, Moen hesitated.

Then he gave up on the idea of fleeing back toward the mansion and instead dashed frantically toward the outside.

Beyond the mansion’s rear gate lay a river, its surface shimmering under the sunlight.

"My young master, why must you run? I'd be heartbroken if I accidentally damaged one of your important parts."

Ann spread her arms gracefully toward Moen, as though preparing to warmly embrace him. Her entire demeanor radiated the comforting aura of a caring elder sister.

—If it weren’t for the multitude of monstrous, sharp metallic spikes extending from her body, that is.

“So, you’re saying my arms and legs don’t count as important parts to you?!”

Stopping wasn’t an option for Moen; instead, he pushed his body even harder, tapping into every last ounce of potential he possessed.

But Ann’s intentions with her enormous creature revealed themselves in the open terrain—the monster was far faster than Moen!

Bright sunlight faded, an enormous shadow gradually consuming him as the oppressive force from behind grew ever stronger.

Moen couldn’t afford to consider anything else.

"Shadow Step!"

"Shadow Step!"

"Shadow Step!"

This technique, originally intended for swift movements and assassinations, was now being used desperately for long-distance fleeing.

Not to mention, his incomplete mastery came with severe repercussions.

Moen felt as if every cell in his feet was wailing in anguish each time he used the skill.

Yet he couldn’t stop.

Stopping now meant he'll lose all the freedom forever.

"I want… to live.

In this cruel, imperfect world… I want to live a normal life.

And if possible… I want to live happily…”

So…

Keep running!

"Shadow Step!!!"

The excruciating pain clawed at his nerves, his consciousness growing increasingly hazy.

Yet amid the chaotic turmoil of agony and sheer willpower, amidst the despair as his strength began to run dry, a faint sense of heat flickered—foreign yet oddly familiar.

It stirred within his core before flowing toward his feet.

"This is…"

A flash of ecstatic realization shone in Moen’s eyes.

Battle aura!

He had broken through at this moment?

His feet were encased in a fiery energy, and much of the pain vanished instantly.

Meanwhile, in the **Black Book**, his Shadow Step skill jumped from Level 2 straight to Level 5!

No, it was still climbing—

Level 6!

"Shadow Step!"

Withe the threat loomed behind him, Moen once again activated Shadow Step.

This time, he crossed a distance of more than ten meters in a single move.

With the power of battle aura bolstering him, the technique no longer caused any side effects.

In other words, as long as he had stamina, he could use it indefinitely!

"Young master!"

Seeing Moen’s sudden and dramatic acceleration, now almost eluding her pursuit, Ann’s previously calm face twisted into a snarl for the first time.

Abandoning her immense metallic creature, Ann stomped hard on the beast’s head, launched herself high into the air, and dove straight for Moen.

"Please don’t run away!"

"Apologies, Ann."

Moen turned his face to her, flashing a smile. Behind him, the river reflected the setting sun, casting vivid trails of crimson like flowing blood.

He raised his hand, aiming directly at the airborne Ann—

Summoning a power he had never once used before.

Mana coursed into his palm, surging recklessly outwards.

"Illumination Spell! Maximum Output!"

In that brief instant, the world gained a second sun.

Brighter than the setting one.