Basking in the air of the surface, finally free after centuries, Tiamat folded her arms and nced at the now almost destroyed outpost.


    Out of everyone here, there was only one girl that grabbed her interest. The split haired one.


    Not only did she show signs of Allura''s Sigil and Velouria''s bindings, but she also used a trick that only sealed Abyss Lords know.


    Bloodline release.


    It was a crude imitation with hints of the true technique but the fact that she knows how to perform this interested Tiamat.


    Which sealed Lord taught her? How did she convince them? She wanted to know and thus she''ll keep her alive.


    "Ah… Right she also showed signs of my power. But it seems quite weak." Tiamat tapped her chin.


    The first arrow that pierced the fissure acted as a node for her. A guiding light to figure out how to get out. In this aspect, the girl has her appreciation.


    "Now to erase the witnesses of my freedom."


    Raising her hand, mes began to gather but she paused upon seeing an old man appear in front of her.


    "May I ask an esteemed Lord not to kill everyone that has survived the cmity?"


    Looking at the old man in front of her, Tiamat narrowed her eyes as his aura was weak. Weak to the point of practically being non-existent. But strangely, it still held signs of what it used to be.


    "Hou? And who are you to bargain with me? Or are you saying I should just listen to the suggestions of an old man that appeared randomly?" Tiamat decided to humour him.


    Centuries of no interaction and being stuck in one ce was unbelievably boring after all. She couldn''t die but it couldn''t be considered to be living either.


    "I''m just a humble farmer. I merely wish to avoid more bloodshed after such devastation has already urred." He bowed slightly, hoping that Tiamat would take pity on them.


    Flicking her wrist, a crimson throne appeared behind Tiamat as she sat down and crossed her legs.


    "And if I don''t want to? Don''t y around with me old man, you can hide it all you want but I can sense it. You have the stink of a Lord." Tiamat chuckled, creating a fan and pointing at the old man.


    "That… I won''t deny. But I can no longer be considered a Lord." Ragnar chuckled softly.


    "Oh? I''ll permit you to tell me why. If I feel like it, I might even spare this outpost."


    Seeing that Tiamat wasn''t making a move for now, Ragnar sighed in relief. He could only hope that the people still within the range of this outpost understood the situation and left as soon as possible.


    "I made a contract with the Abyss. To give up my status as a Lord in order to seal another from the enemy nation. Had I not done so, we would''ve suffered many losses." Ragnar exined while Tiamat tapped her fan.


    "To make a contract with the Abyss, especially one that makes you give up their favour, you were close to the pinnacle, weren''t you? The Abyss doesn''t show this kind of favour to just anyone." Tiamat raised an eyebrow in surprise.


    The Abyss, excluding the Will, favours all with no bias. It doesn''t care if your enemy bes a Lord or not. Once you receive its blessing to be a Lord, everyone could be considered to be of one family.


    Yet for the Abyss to allow this old man to give up his Lordship to seal another Lord… that''s a treatment she''s only seen when it ''speaks'' to those with nine Sigils in the age of old.


    "Name and title." Tiamat demanded.


    Hesitating for a moment, Ragnar opened his mouth.


    "Agar. Formerly known as the Abyss Lord of Titans. I''ve long passed on my title along with the seventh and eighth Sigil to my sessor and now I''m just Ragnar, an old man who tends to a farm of fruits."


    Hearing this, Tiamat was silent. To think that people could now pass on Sigils to sessors… She didn''t know why the Abyss allowed this kind of transfer but seeing as how she''s been sealed for centuries, it''s only natural that there are things she didn''t know about.


    "If you gave your Sigils away, that means you have six Sigils right now, am I correct?"


    "Indeed, it is as you say." Ragnar nodded, unsure as to why that was important.


    "I was going to make us fight to see if you can save the outpost if you were still a Lord. But if you just have six Sigils then it''s going to be boring. I''ll give you one chance. Give me your best attack. If you can wound me even by a little, I''ll leave this outpost be." Tiamat smirked.


    After so many years, she could finally get the entertainment she craved.


    Ragnar was surprised that Tiamat would be this lenient as doubt filled his mind. He knew what some Lords were as all they wanted to do was see the desperation in someone''s eyes.


    But even if this was a trap, he had to do it.


    "I''m not as young as I used to be. One strike is all I can manage anyway." Ragnar shook his head as he took a few steps back.


    "I sincerely hope that I can meet your expectations." sping his palms together, an aura burst out from Ragnar''s body.


    Sigils burned across his skin as the remnants of what belonged to a Lord seeped out.


    Standing up, Tiamat dismissed her throne and gave off a light yawn. She hoped that he wouldn''t make her wait with this attack.


    As he was no longer a Lord, Ragnar couldn''t muster up the power he had in his prime. The power he used to seal away a Lord.


    However, if it''s just one strike, he''ll aplish it. Even if it''s just a fraction of his power, he''ll drag it out no matter what.


    Opening his palms, a condensed array of symbols could be seen as he threw it into the air, expanding into arge ritual.


    *RUMBLE!!!


    Breaking open the clouds, a single golden de could be seen as mes danced on its edge.


    It was a simple strike.


    Just a simple stab with everything he''s got in hopes of damaging the body of a Lord.


    ncing up at the de, Tiamat felt bored. She gave him this challenge because she thought he would be able to show something exceeding that of a six Sigil user considering his previous identity.


    But this? This could be suppressed by even those with a little bit of talent using just five Sigils. It''s all size and no substance.


    A strike that looked intimidating butcked proper power.


    ''I suppose that''s all this old man can muster up right now. His body is clinging onto life in desperation.'' Tiamat sighed in disappointment.


    She could sense the state of his body but still wished for a miracle and entertainment.


    Since he wasn''t able to give her that, then it was time to end this farce.


    Just as she raised her hand to block this strike, her pupils constricted.


    *drip…


    A single bead of blood rolled down the corner of her lips as the energy within her body was in turmoil.


    *BANG!!!


    Violet mes burst out from her arm as it began to bite against her skin. It wasn''t able to damage it but it hindered the gathering of her power.


    Furrowing her brows, Tiamat gritted her teeth as she had little time to expel whatever was doing this within her body before the de would hit.


    *CLANGGGG!!!!!


    As the de collided with Tiamat, an explosion of dust pulsed out, obscuring Ragnar''s view and causing him to stumble back. ncing up at the Lord, Ragnar held his breath. He knew his power had waned but he still dared to hope.


    Standing in the sky, she held the de between her index and middle finger. Twisting her hand, she snapped the de in half but a single cut wound could be seen.


    Looking at the regeneration that was hindered, a vein bulged on Tiamat''s neck as she tilted her head back and reached in with her hand.


    From the pits of her stomach, Tiamat ripped out a condensed orb that was burning with violet mes. Within the orb, ck blood bubbled.


    ''What the hell is this…'' Tiamat frowned.


    It was consumed by her during the first instance where she decided to interfere. A left over of the attack that shook thends.


    The source, no doubt, was the split haired girl.


    But then the question changes. How is she able to live with this kind of blood inside her?


    Gritting her teeth, she crushed the orb before throwing it aside, burning it with her fire.


    It was a little difficult with her current power but soon the violet mes and blood disappeared.


    Looking back at the old man who was staring at her with an expectant gaze, Tiamat felt annoyed.


    Even if it wasn''t him that caused the damage to her internally, his de still caused a slight cut on her finger.


    "Tsk, fine. Now get out of here before I''m sick of your wrinkly ass." Tiamat scowled as she walked towards Alice''s location.


    She wanted to figure out what the hell that blood was.


    Seeing this, Ragnar sighed in relief but dread soon hit as he realised she was looking for Alice.


    ###


    Landing in front of the crater where Alice wasying down, Tiamat walked towards the unconscious girl slowly.


    The multitude of energies that raged within her body…


    Had it not been its strange property that Tiamat couldn''t digest, she''d be half tempted to eat her now and take it all for herself. But it''s a risk she wasn''t willing to take especially when she''s just been freed.


    Kneeling over Alice, Tiamat stared at the curse on her body, the golden chains and finally, the aura of Allura''s Sigil.


    Thinking to herself for a moment, Tiamat''s lips curled up into a grin.