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The atmosphere grew heavy with tension. Natsuki glanced at August, her usual composure replaced with a flicker of concern.

As much as August often drove her to the brink of exasperation, she couldn't deny that, over time, she had come to see him as a trusted ally. Since becoming the Warden of the Prison Barrier, August was one of the few people she could call a close companion.

"Hey, is that your only familiar?" Natsuki asked, breaking the silence.

"Yeah, I've only contracted this one," August replied casually.

"You—you only have one? Why don't you contract more? Are you low on magic power or something?"

"Not at all. One is simply enough."

"Enough? It's basically a one-against-five situation here, and you're telling me one is enough?"

"Don't worry. Numbers mean nothing to the Reaper."

"Yeah, sure," Natsuki muttered skeptically. Though the Reaper wasn't weak by any means, Vatler was fielding six familiars, one of which was a fusion of three powerful entities.

Just then, the Reaper emitted a soft hum, its form glowing faintly.

In the blink of an eye, nine identical Reaper materialized from its body, each identical to the original. The new Reaper formed three groups of three, surrounding Vatler's familiars from all sides.

The battlefield dynamic shifted instantly. What had been a one-against-three confrontation turned into nine-against-three, reversing the tide in mere moments.

Natsuki's face darkened as she watched the scene unfold. Moments ago, she had been berating August, and now the tables had turned so dramatically it felt like a slap to the face.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The nine Reaper launched simultaneous attacks, each group wielding fire, wind, and lightning magic in perfect harmony. The combined onslaught engulfed Vatler's familiars in an overwhelming torrent of destruction.

"Ugh!" Vatler grunted, a small trickle of blood running from the corner of his mouth. All three of his familiars were obliterated in an instant.

As their summoner, Vatler felt the backlash of their destruction. Though he was injured, the damage wasn't fatal, and he retained enough magic power to continue fighting.

"Spectacular! This is the battle I've been yearning for!" Vatler exclaimed, his voice laced with exhilaration. He extended his hand, summoning a new set of familiars.

"Utpala! Sagara! Vananda! Manasa! Takshaka!"

Six massive serpentine beasts appeared on the ocean's surface. Their forms writhed and coiled together, merging into an even more formidable entity.

Even Natsuki was momentarily shaken. The sheer magic emanating from the fusion was undeniable. The pressure it exerted was on par with a true ancestor's familiar.

For once, she had to admit it—Vatler was a monster. Through relentless devouring of his own kin, he had grown to this level of power. And now, he had created a familiar that rivaled those of the true ancestors.

Meanwhile, the Reaper merged back into a single entity, their combined form returning to its original state.

Boom!

The six-in-one serpent clashed with the Reaper's colossal cruciform weapon. The sheer force of the impact sent waves rippling across the sea, radiating outwards in all directions.

The serpent roared, gathering magic into its maw. A concentrated beam of energy erupted from its mouth, obliterating the upper half of the Reaper in a single strike.

However, in mere moments, the Reaper's damaged form began to regenerate, its upper body reforming as though nothing had happened.

In retaliation, the Reaper unleashed a dark beam from the tip of its cruciform weapon. The blast struck the massive serpent, sending it hurtling backward.

"Hey, what kind of ridiculous familiar is this? Its entire upper body was destroyed, and it just… fixed itself?" Natsuki couldn't help but voice her disbelief.

"The Reaper," August began calmly, "is a Reaper born from chaos. It exists in the liminal space between 'reality' and 'illusion.' The concept of 'death' doesn't apply to it. To defeat it, one must obliterate it entirely in an instant."

"A Reaper that exists between reality and illusion?" Natsuki's lips twitched. "You really are a monster. And so is your familiar."

"I'll take that as a compliment," August said with a faint smirk.

"Hmph."

With a dismissive scoff, Natsuki shifted her gaze back to the battle, while August remained unbothered by her attitude.

At that moment, the Reaper fully transitioned into an aggressive spellcaster. Flames, lightning, hurricanes, frost, torrents of water, and blasts of darkness—all manner of elemental magic—rained down relentlessly upon the massive serpent familiar.

Even a True Ancestor-level familiar, as formidable as the six-in-one serpent, couldn't withstand such an unyielding barrage. Amid anguished wails, the serpent retreated back into Vatler's body, leaving the vampire heavily injured yet again.

"Hahaha! Incredible! Truly incredible!" Vatler exclaimed, his face a mixture of awe and exhilaration. "To think there exists a warrior as mighty as you in this world. I must ask—next time, may I challenge you again? I swear, I'll come prepared for a battle to the death!"

"I'll be waiting," August replied with a faint smirk. "But don't make me wait too long."

"Of course, it won't be long at all," Vatler promised, his eyes gleaming with excitement and madness.

Though he had suffered a crushing defeat and severe injuries, as a vampire, his wounds weren't life-threatening. More importantly, he had found a new mountain to climb—a rival who surpassed him in strength.

The thought of conquering this peak, of defeating August, devouring him, and claiming his power as his own, filled Vatler with an almost giddy anticipation. If he could absorb August's strength, he would stand an even greater chance against the awakened Fourth Primogenitor.

For now, Vatler retreated. He needed rest and blood to recover fully, but his ambition burned brighter than ever.

"You," Natsuki said, staring at August with narrowed eyes, "are nothing short of a complete monster."

August chuckled, waving her off. "Come on, Natsuki-chan, no need to be so harsh. Give me a little credit, will you?"

"Credit? Hah! You'll get nothing but scorn from me, you perverted idiot!"

With a sharp glare at Beatrice, who stood quietly by August's side, Natsuki turned on her heel and left. There was still a banquet to attend later that evening, and she wasn't about to waste more time bantering with him.

August didn't follow, merely smiling as she walked away.

Beatrice, his loyal servant, had remained silent throughout, standing attentively by his side. She understood that if August had brought her along, he likely had a task for her.

"Beatrice," August called out softly.

"I'm here," she responded, her tone steady and respectful.

"We have a guest."

"A guest?"

Following August's gaze, Beatrice looked toward the pier. There, in the dim light of the docks, stood a young man flanked by two women.

She recognized them immediately. The Fourth Primogenitor, Kojou Akatsuki, her master's rival. A rival who had already suffered defeat at August's hands twice.

"What would you have me do?" she asked, her expression sharpening.

"Apply a little pressure," August said, his voice calm but commanding. "What I want is a strong Fourth Primogenitor, not some half-baked amateur."

"Understood, my lord."

Beatrice nodded, then leapt gracefully off the Grave of the Sea. In the cover of darkness, wings of shadow magic sprouted from her back, carrying her swiftly toward the pier.

Applying pressure? That was a simple enough task. Embarrass him, challenge his strength, or even… steal one of his women. Any of those would suffice.

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