Hate me, Miss Witch!

Although only one order apart, Titled Rank and Legendary are utterly different realms.

The former is still mortal, while the latter is truly a domain beyond the human, even possessing the qualifications to touch the Divine Realm.

Through mechanisms, extraordinary tools, traps, alchemical secret remedies, elemental counters, and other means... it is not uncommon on the Western Continent to defeat powerful enemies by overcoming one or even several major ranks.

After all, this is the real world, not a level-based numerical game; people die when they are killed, and Titled Rank Beastmasters are no exception.

But this does not include the Legendary.

Only a Legendary can contend with a Legendary; this is the iron law of the extraordinary world of the Western Continent.

With Princess Isadella, who possessed Legendary combat power, delayed by Guderian, and another Legendary of the Royal Family still entrenched in the Royal Palace, who here could stop the Mythical Rank Rose Emperor?

Watching that falling rose, many guests scattered, afraid of being affected by the aftershocks of the Mythical Rank Pet Beast's attack.

Only Enola remained still, the glow on her knight's lance growing more fierce.

Of course, I know my actions are akin to a mantis trying to stop a chariot; even if Rhongomyniad has somewhat mysteriously regained a bit of strength, it's useless.

But still, she stood in front of Shiayar, facing that desolate intent of death.

Although Shiayar repeatedly said that I am his beautiful girl, in my eyes, isn't Shiayar also the boy I cling to for life, the beloved I would protect at all costs?

So I will always honor that promise, even if it means paying with my life.

"Hold on to me, Ennie," Shiayar's soft voice reverberated in her ear.

Although he had contacted Hathaway in advance, with Shiayar's nature, he naturally would not entrust his and Ennie's safety entirely to Isadella, nor to "Little Death," the Legendary Bone Specter sent by his teacher.

Divine Evasion had cost him only fifteen Sands of Time, and the remaining Sands of Time were Shiayar's plan for his own escape.

A retreat path that could ensure his survival even when facing a Legendary.

Enola did not reply, merely lightly holding Shiayar's hand.

However, just as Shiayar was about to activate the life-saving tool worth fifteen Sands of Time...

The next moment—

The world froze.

Whether it was the Rose Emperor slowly descending, or the spectators—many of whom were Titled Rank Beastmasters—expressing surprise or sighing, everything froze in that suspended twilight.

The world was silent.

Only the girl in the dark, knee-length dress remained at the center of the twilight world.

She came bathed in twilight, her back to Shiayar, her soft, pure silver hair draping over her shoulders.

Then she lifted her head, gazing at the emerald figure wearing a crown in The Void—the Mythical Rank Rose Emperor.

A clear voice echoed in the stilled world.

That was the language of ancient, primordial times, and although I've never heard it, I understand its meaning.

The word meant: "Death."

The huge rose froze mid-air, its originally vibrant branches and leaves turning yellow, withering, and crumbling away into dust in the twilight.

The frozen twilight shattered, and a breeze blew.

The Mythical Rank Rose Emperor thus turned into countless particles of withered dust, dissipating into nothingness.

In the distant sky, Guderian's face suddenly turned deathly pale, and he coughed up two mouthfuls of blood.

It was neither illusion nor sleight of hand; in that instant, I sensed my 7th Soul Pact shatter abruptly, beyond repair!

But at this moment, I have no thought of avenging my Pet Beast.

He was simply horrified, looking down at the ground, at the witch enveloped in twilight.

"Throne Level!" Guderian cried, his voice filled with utter shock. It was the first time tonight he had lost his composure like this, but he couldn't help it.

Legendary was considered the highest realm humans could reach, and that was indeed true.

But Legendary experts lived for centuries. After hundreds of years of accumulated power, how could there not be a difference between a veteran Legendary and one who had just achieved that rank?

It was a domain beyond ordinary imagination. Generally, people believed the path above Legendary was that of ascension to godhood: accumulating Divinity, transforming into a Fabled Creature, becoming a Demigod, or even a false god, a True God...

However, in this era when myths had withered and the Divine Ascension Steps were severed, there were still those who found their own paths through the dark seas.

And only those supreme entities who truly stood above regular Legendaries deserved to be enthroned—

To ascend the Throne.

Guderian had once attempted to breach the Throne realm boundary after the Rose Emperor broke through to Mythical Rank and he received massive Soul Pact feedback.

Although I failed miserably, through that attempt, I caught a glimpse of the scenery beyond the Throne realm boundary.

That's why I went to such ruthless lengths to suppress the Second Princess and her forces, for I am well aware of the implications should Princess Isadella successfully take the final step—what the birth of a Throne Level Beastmaster means.

It is a majestic power capable of rivaling Demigods; each Throne is a supreme powerhouse who can suppress an era...

But at this very moment, I see a genuine Throne Level Beastmaster right before my eyes!

No longer entertaining any thoughts of luck, Guderian's figure suddenly turned illusory. I must flee into the Astral Realm, even if Princess Isadella's Sacred Sword severs one of my arms!

But Guderian's fluctuations as he communicated with the Astral Realm seemed to have caught the attention of the lady presiding over the twilight world below.

She might appear as a girl in a beautiful dress, but at this moment, she seemed like a Queen ruling over all. She casually looked up, her pure Silver eyes piercing through the distant world barriers and seeing Guderian, who had already entered the Astral Realm.

The metallic voice once again uttered that ancient term: "Death."

Even though he was separated by the barriers between the Astral Realm and the Main Material Plane, that ancient magic word still made Guderian spit out fresh blood.

His Soul Pacts, from the first to the sixth, shattered simultaneously, and the six peak Emperor Rank Pet Beasts were thus silently stripped of life while asleep in the Soul Pact Space.

Simultaneously, Guderian's internal organs shattered. Had it not been for the fact that all seven of his Soul Pacts were with Plant-based Pet Beasts, which particularly enhanced his life force, he might have died on the spot.

Guderian dared not linger any longer, swiftly escaping deeper into the Astral Realm.

The girl basking in twilight extended a pale finger, as if about to do something, but then her eyes flickered, and she withdrew her gaze.

The world fell silent, leaving only the TAP, TAP, TAP of her red high heels clicking on the ground.

This Sovereign of Twilight, a witch who had effortlessly erased the life of a Legendary Pet Beast, now walked with the light, quick steps of a young girl.

Then, she walked toward Shiayar.

Only now did Shiayar clearly see the true face of the girl who had appeared so abruptly.

The folded hem of her knee-length dress fanned out like layers of lotus leaves. A small white round hat perched on her head, and she wore red high heels.

Her pure silver hair was coiled at the back of her head, revealing a swan-like white neck, an amethyst hairpin sparkling in the twilight.

This attire is all too familiar... just not long ago, I personally pierced through the heart of a girl dressed like this.

Silver-gray eyes met pitch-black pupils.

A voice rang in his ear. The last time I heard this voice was on the cliff by the Grant Sea, as we sat by the campfire eating grilled fish, chatting idly.

Even though she had stopped speaking afterward and we switched to writing to communicate, I still remember the girl's original voice.

Her voice was pleasant to the ear, like the sound of wind chimes on a night's breeze.

She was saying—

"Brother Shiayar, it's been a long time."