Hate me, Miss Witch!

Deep within the Astral Realm.

Guderian Borgia kept coughing up fresh blood, mixed with fragments of his shattered internal organs. Seven Soul Pacts, along with his viscera, had shattered simultaneously. This was a fatal injury, capable of taking his life, even for a Legendary Beastmaster. Now, Borgia was barely sustaining himself with the formidable vitality inherent to a plant-type Beastmaster.

Yet, despite such grievous injuries, Guderian dared not pause for a moment to heal himself and instead continued his reckless flight through the Astral Realm.

Isadella and that unknown Throne Level Beastmaster had not pursued him from the Astral Realm. This had initially provided Guderian with a slight sense of relief. But then, to his horror, he discovered that a Legendary-rank undead creature lurked within the Astral Realm. It was not a human Beastmaster, but a Bone Demon of Mythical Rank... and it was only a step away from the Throne realm boundary, far closer than Guderian himself had been at his peak. What astonished him most was that he sensed the aura of a Soul Pact emanating from that Bone Demon.

Indeed, a Legendary Bone Specter that was one step shy of stepping into the Throne realm boundary, already worthy of the title "King of the Undead," was actually the Pet Beast of some Beastmaster, bound by a Soul Pact. Then, what rank could the Beastmaster behind this Legendary Bone Specter possibly be?

Guderian's face contorted with rage, no longer retaining the earlier composure and indifference of a gardener. He had every reason to be enraged— Dammit, where did all these unfamiliar Legendary individuals come from in the Western Continent!

After the Calamity Land, Legendary individuals were already exalted beings in the Western Continent. Active Legendary individuals were so few they could be counted on two hands, and each one was capable of anchoring a nation's fortune. Throne Level had become a nebulous legend, one that might not be seen in a hundred years. Against such a backdrop, as a veteran Legendary individual who had once challenged the Throne realm boundary, Guderian had every reason to be proud. In the entire Fresta Empire, only a few were qualified to contend with him.

His original plan had been perfect. If the engagement banquet had succeeded, Isadella's and the Royal Family's reputations would have plummeted to rock bottom. Moreover, with his Rose Emperor having advanced to Legendary rank, once that was accomplished, the situation of the Fresta Empire would have completely shifted in favor of the old nobility.

But this favorable situation had collapsed overnight. Not only was his original plan disrupted, but it had also inexplicably implicated two Legendary individuals, one of whom had already reached Throne Level. As the Family Head of the Borgia family, he had hoarded countless life-saving treasures and Sacred Relics. If he hadn't used them all without a second thought when encountering the Legendary Bone Specter earlier, Guderian would likely be a cold corpse by now.

His eyes grew cold as he began to calculate his next move. Returning to the Empire was out of the question. Who knew how long those two unfamiliar Legendary individuals would hunt him? In his current state, he would be overwhelmed if he encountered an equal-ranked opponent. Therefore, his only option was to head to the Lost Realm. Although Guderian had previous dealings with fugitives from the Lost Realm and even evil cults, and had engaged in some exchanges for mutual benefit, it was precisely because of this that he knew all too well how difficult those madmen were to handle. Who knows if these people will kick me while I'm down. But regardless, this had become Guderian's only way out.

From the once-exalted Family Head of the Crimson Rose Family to a fugitive fallen from grace, it had all happened in a single night.

And all this was due to that young man who, in Guderian's eyes, had merely been a pawn.

"Shiayar Egutt," he voiced with venom in his throat. "Once I have recovered and found you, I will surely make you suffer a thousand cuts and..."

Guderian's words halted.

Because in the next moment, he clearly saw the infinite and illusory sea of stars before him suddenly grow dim. In its place was a quiet and pitch-black night sky.

It was a woman wearing a classical dress the color of dark ink. Its layers were simple yet elegant, adorned with specks of starlight, resembling the night sky itself. Gazing at the slender, languid figure, whose face was obscured by a hazy black veil, preventing him from seeing her true features, Guderian's pupils gradually contracted.

This time, it wasn't an unheard-of, unfamiliar Legendary individual. Guderian recognized the woman before him. Or rather, there wasn't a Legendary individual on the Western Continent who didn't know her—the leader of the Dark Shadow Council, the "Queen of the Night."

"Augutina," Guderian said in a low voice. "Did you anticipate the battle between Legendary individuals that was about to take place here and come to gather intelligence beforehand?"

His voice calmed slightly. "I must admit, the information-gathering capabilities of your Dark Shadow Council are indeed beyond our reach."

"So, I need to purchase some information." A glint of coldness flashed in Guderian's eyes.

"I need precise information on that female Throne Level Beastmaster from before, as well as the Legendary Bone Specter that attacked me in the Astral Realm, and its mastermind. Additionally, I want Shiayar Egutt's real-time coordinates and all available information on those close to him."