Even with a formidable enemy before him, he didn't feel much fear.
If he had to compare it to something, it reminded him of his wedding day.
Distinguished guests from various nations.
Royalty he had never seen before.
Noble lords, whose high standing he had only heard of in rumors, scrutinizing him with their lofty gazes.
And yet, he had been able to walk forward with confidence—because she had been by his side.
'Back then, I believed I could overcome anything as long as you were with me.'
Ironically, even now, when everything had fallen apart, Isaac found himself feeling the same way.
The only difference was that this time, the enemy was clearly in front of him.
"Isaac, can you move?"
Her voice was as calm and even as ever, yet he could clearly hear the concern in it.
"I can."
That answer was enough.
Liana simply nodded, respecting his decision.
She didn't add any unnecessary words.
"If you can't fight, get lost!"
"Is he under a curse or something? Maybe one that makes him unable to talk without shouting?"
Lohengrin and Sharen chimed in, standing beside him.
Having somewhat recovered from the shock of learning that their ancestors were Transcendents, they lifted their greatswords together.
There was no time for further conversation.
Helik's crimson aura came crashing toward them once more.
At some point, it had ceased to be something that could even be called a sword.
It spread like mist, flowed like a river, and rained down with the force of a waterfall.
Rather than sword energy, it had become something else entirely—
A tangible manifestation of Helik's will.
"That's why it's weak."
However, just because it had its strengths didn't mean it had no weaknesses.
As expansive and free-flowing as it was,
It also lacked solidity.
"...!"
Helik's eyes wavered ever so slightly as he watched his crimson aura tear apart.
The color was unmistakably different.
A crimson sword aura that sliced through the red energy.
The crimson aura fired from Liana's greatsword was clearly distinct from Helik's.
Though she was overwhelmingly outmatched in quantity,
In terms of density, she had the overwhelming advantage.
"Crimson Annihilation Strike—!"
At the same time, there was someone watching in awe.
Lohengrin, who had been trying to imitate Crimson Annihilation Strike, still hadn't grasped the technique.
"I'll carve a path."
Liana pressed forward, slashing through the raging crimson aura without hesitation.
"Stay close behind me. This time, I'll protect you for sure."
There was no need to ask whom she was speaking to.
Isaac quickly moved in close behind her.
The scent of her crimson hair tickled his nose.
And perhaps she had caught his scent as well—
Her movements became even sharper, her blade swinging with newfound vigor.
"Even this much—."
A faintly murmured voice.
Isaac pretended not to hear it, placing a steady hand on the hilt of the sword at his waist and steadying his breath.
"You call that crimson aura?! That's not even Aura—!"
Lohengrin's shout came from the right.
He had realized it a bit late, but at least he had realized it, so that was something.
"I want to use crimson aura like that too!"
Meanwhile, Sharen sounded envious.
She had always had less crimson aura compared to other Helmuts.
Before they knew it, the three Helmuts had formed a protective formation around Isaac.
Helik's lips still held a faint smile, but as he continued to unleash his endless crimson aura, his expression was slowly hardening.
"Soon, I'll break through."
A dense crimson aura gleamed on Liana's greatsword.
It seemed she had calculated the perfect straight-line opening.
"If we get too close, he might pull something unexpected."
Which meant they had to strike in one swift motion.
"Alright! Then I'll go!"
Lohengrin laughed boldly, swinging his greatsword.
Since Liana was the one clearing the path, the strongest fighter had to charge in.
"Isaac, I'm counting on you."
"Yeah."
"I'll—!"
"You lose to Isaac all the time!"
Lohengrin clenched his mouth shut at Sharen's sharp rebuke. A vein popped on his forehead as he resisted in his own way.
"You're not even a Helmut! Rushing toward that thing with such a weak body will only get you killed! Idiots!"
"…You're not wrong."
Right now, even running was a struggle for Isaac.
The distance to the enemy was roughly 40 paces. If he sprinted, he could reach it quickly, but that wasn't an option in his current condition.
Then—
"I'll help you!"
A surge of crimson aura condensed in Sharen's palm.
Unlike other crimson aura, its color was much fainter, carrying warmth rather than a burning intensity.
Normally, such a weak crimson aura would be considered a disgrace to Helmut, something to be scolded for.
But the moment Isaac saw it, his eyes widened as he recalled the words of his former Grandmaster.
[Isn't it fascinating? She's reduced crimson aura, something so many revere, to mere child's play.]
Though she was young and her capacity was small, Sharen had found her own way to wield crimson aura.
Crimson Aura had always been used solely for destruction. Yet, uniquely, Sharen could shape it into a form of support.
Liana also nodded upon witnessing it.
"Open the path. Get ready."
Whoooosh!
Liana's greatsword stretched back as she gripped it with both hands.
As the condensed energy completely enveloped the sword, she swung it in a diagonal arc, sending it skyward.
Crimson Love's End.
An attack once meant to split rivers now cleaved through the sky instead.
Amidst the blood-drenched world, a pure white landscape was revealed.
A path was opened.
At the same time, Sharen's crimson aura wrapped around Isaac's back and feet, preparing him to lunge forward in an instant.
"You've got some wit, I'll give you that."
Helik's laughter was audacious.
As if expecting this exact moment, a serpent-shaped crimson aura formed behind Isaac, jaws wide open, ready to clamp down on his nape.
Helik had anticipated that someone would seize this fleeting opportunity.
Thus, he had deliberately laid a trap.
But—
"Damn it aaaaall! Why the hell must Iiiiii?!"
Boom!
Lohengrin threw himself forward, taking the hit in Isaac's place. The snake sank its fangs into him, dragging him across the ground.
"I can't believe… I did this… for that bastard—!"
Even as he was pulled away, Lohengrin kept shouting, furious at himself for his own actions.
Thud!
Isaac shot forward.
The crimson aura coating his entire body was not hostile toward him.
Helik came into view, closing in fast. Isaac's sword scraped against its sheath with a harsh screech as he drew it.
"You're too slow!"
CLANG!
Helik's staff, shaped like a sword, deflected Isaac's sword, sending it flying into the air.
But Isaac didn't stop.
He had already lowered his stance, slipping beneath the staff and dashing past Helik's side.
Before Helik could regain his footing, Isaac was already behind him, sliding sharply into position.
"…!"
SCREECH!
His feet scraped deep into the ground, forcibly halting his forward momentum.
As he twisted his waist, his right foot naturally stepped forward to regain balance, while his left foot pressed firmly into the earth for support.
With a single spin, he achieved the perfect posture for a strike.
"I told you,"
"You—!"
"Your swordsmanship is pathetic."
Even before Helik swung, Isaac had already read his movements.
Helmut warriors prioritized raw strength, always seeking the most forceful trajectory for their blades.
Liana had gone beyond that, which was why she had defeated Isaac in their duels.
But—
Helik had not.
Because he was nothing more than a mere copy.
No matter how flawless an imitation was, it could never surpass the original.
Because it lacked progress.
The moment Isaac unsheathed a second sword, blood finally spilled from the man.
Helik's eyes flared red, his posture shattered.
Isaac had aimed for the throat, but his blade only managed to slice through half of it.
Something unseen had stopped his sword from going any deeper.
A type of sorcery.
"Krrrgh!"
Helic clutched his bleeding throat with his hands, stumbling backward away from Isaac.
"Not yet—!"
The crimson aua vanished. Not an imitation of the Helmuts, but the raw, primal power he had originally wielded—
But Isaac's fingertip pointed at him.
Right at his heart—where space twisted and swirled.
It signified that Helik's time had run out.
Noticing this, the veins on Helik's body bulged, and he let out a rough shout.
"Isaac—! I will remember you! Ahaha! I already look forward to our next meeting—!"
"Hah… hah… Just get lost, already."
"I will kill you. I swear it."
Even after he disappeared, his hateful curse lingered in Isaac's ears.
His strength drained, and he collapsed to his knees.
From afar, Helmut siblings approached.
Liana caught Isaac as he fell forward, patting his back.
"You did well, Isaac."
"Mm…"
But his voice held no strength.
He had done it.
He had overcome.
Yet he couldn't hold back the tears welling up in his eyes.
"So… what now?"
Isaac had been pondering that question ever since he first swung his sword.
He had defeated Helik and sent him back to his world.
And yet, the Malidan Wall had not returned.
Helik had remained here due to a powerful spell, but now he was gone.
Which meant the spell was still in effect.
"Sil… verna—"
Tears fell from his eyes as he clung to Liana.
In the end, he had failed to protect everything.
Sensing his sorrow, Liana held him tighter.
The northern wall was gone.
And with nothing to shield them, the freezing wind pierced their hearts.
Battles against the Transcendents were always like this.
Even in victory, there were no triumphant cheers.
Only grief for the fallen and the silent flow of tears.
***
At some point, the battle had pushed them all the way back to the inner fortress.
Though their defense had grown stronger the deeper they retreated, it felt like they were gasping for air—on the verge of collapse.
'What happened to Father?'
The outside world was engulfed in frost.
The Malidan Wall exhaled its final breath, freezing everything around it.
Looking out the window, nothing could be seen beneath the dark sky except white mist, billowing like clouds.
Uldren Caldias had gone out alone to block the fortress entrance.
There was no word of his fate.
Yet, seeing the Transcendents continuously pouring in, Silverna could already guess the outcome.
They were in a tavern inside the fortress.
It hadn't been planned, but they had all ended up here.
In a way, it was for the best—at least this place could shelter many people.
"My lady, they'll find us soon…"
Anna's voice was noticeably weak.
She hadn't eaten properly for days, and now she barely had the strength to grip her spear.
And she wasn't the only one.
The once-reliable soldiers of Malidan could hardly recall their last proper meal.
Even the most skilled warrior was powerless without supplies.
They were slowly dying.
From the hallway, the voices of the Transcendents echoed.
They were searching for the remaining soldiers inside the fortress.
"They're here! The scent is coming from this way!"
Their shouts rang like a death sentence in Silverna's ears.
"Prepare for battle."
She gripped her spear tightly.
Forged anew from Frostsilver, it was already worn and dulled.
A sign of the fierce battles she had fought.
And now, this would be Silverna's last fight.
Her weapon was far from ideal—but she had no choice.
"… …."
Standing at the door, she slowly closed her eyes.
A man's face surfaced in her mind.
We couldn't hold on.
Surely, even now, you're still searching for us.
But by the time you arrive, we won't be here anymore.
Had they given up?
Had they failed?
She couldn't say she hadn't wondered.
But now, it no longer mattered.
She hadn't held on.
That was the conclusion she chose to accept.
"I'm sorry, Isaac."
If there was a next time—
If another life awaited her, or if fate granted another chance—
She wished it would go to Isaac instead of her.
Because if you do it again, you won't fail.
That was the kind of man Isaac was. Even if he had failed this time, if given another chance—
Next time, he would surely succeed.
A foolish thought.
The fact that she was indulging in pointless fantasies made her realize—
Her time had come.
One day, when you finally reach this place, you'll find me here, eyes closed.
If that was the case—
"Then let me die beautifully."
Bang! Crack! Boom!
A commotion erupted outside.
Someone was fighting the Transcendents, preventing them from entering the tavern.
Normally, holding their position inside would have been the right choice.
But—
"I'm going out! We leave no one behind!"
She was already a dead woman.
Silverna chose to die with honor, and the northern warriors agreed with her.
Clatter!
The door swung open, and she stepped into the inner fortress's corridor.
The air was biting cold, filled with the remnants of the last breath of the Malidan Wall.
Standing atop the corpses of the transcendent beings—
"…Ah."
There she was.
The woman known as the Blood Rose stood, a greatsword in hand.
"…It really succeeded."
Silverna stared in disbelief, mouth slightly open, as Liana murmured to herself.
And then—
A sudden embrace.
Not from Liana, but from someone else.
A familiar warmth, a comforting hold—
Yet rough skin, calloused from battle.
"Silverna—!"
A whisper filled with barely restrained tears.
And in response, tears welled up in Silverna's own eyes.
"…Ah."
She had wanted to see him.
So desperately, so clearly—
Turning her head ever so slightly, she took in his face.
There he was.
Isaac Logan, looking absolutely wretched.
Yet, instead of finding his appearance pitiful or miserable, she saw it as proof.
A testament to how much he had endured to reach her.
"…Isaac."
"I finally… finally found you."
"Isaac… Isaac!"
She repeated his name as if to convince herself he was real.
"Yes. It's me, Silverna."
Holding her as if he would never let go, Isaac whispered—
"I came to save you."
Her heart broke.
All the tears she had held back—
Everything she had endured—
At last, they spilled over.
Not to the ground—
But onto Isaac's shoulder.