''Fuck… I let my emotions get ahead of me''


    But seeing Elena coughing up blood like that made my body move instinctively, and I immediately jumped towards their direction. Elena and the princess loked at me with confusion, uncertain about my intentions.


    The high-grade potion in my hands felt fragile, almost shattering undeor the pressure of my trembling fingers.


    Although my sole purpose was to heal Elena, the reality was that I was currently ying the role of the Viin.


    Kindly giving her a potion would only lead to more confusion, potentially jeopardizing the n we had in motion.


    But I really wanted to hug and apologize to her right now….


    "Saintess, Princess!"


    Tristan''s urgent shout echoed from the distance. He swiftly dodged an attack from the Orc Lord and dashed right through, closing the gap between us in a matter of seconds.


    It didn''t take him more than a few moments to reach us. With concentrated mana on his de, he executed a powerful sh towards me.


    Of course, I anticipated the move and manifested a portal behind me, teleporting out of harm''s way just in the nick of time.


    As the portal closed, I reappeared a short distance away, maintaining a cautious distance from Tristan.


    The confusion in Elena and the princess''s eyes mirrored the turmoil within me. I had to suppress the desire to exin my intentions, knowing that rity would only hinder therger n we were orchestrating.


    "Are you guys, okay?"


    Tristan immediately asked the princess and Elena, his eyes searching for me. His gaze wandered around before making eye contact with me again. I hadn''t teleported far away, making it easy for him to spot me.


    But, damn it, I dropped the potion.


    The high-grade concoctiony shattered on the ground, a glimmering red shimmer near the princess and Elena.


    The princess''s calctive green eyes scrutinized me, clearly curious about y identity''


    Elena''s eyes widened as she took in the sight of the shattered potion. The revtion seemed to puzzle her, leaving her with questions.


    ''I''m not busted right?''


    "Who is that?" the princess inquired; her gaze still fixed on me.


    "I don''t know... but there''s a highly likely chance that he was the perpetrator in all of this," Tristan responded, his suspicion evident in his tone. Well, he wasn''t entirely wrong. However, couldn''t they pay attention right now? The Orc Lord was approaching, and there were more pressing matters at hand.


    "Watch out!" Alex''s urgent shout interrupted the conversation. A flying axe hurtled toward them.


    ng…! Tristan managed to deflect the axe with a swift strike, but the weight of the weapon still seemed to affect him.


    Immediately, the Orc Lord attempted to rush towards them, but Alex intercepted it with relentless attacks.


    Aria and Be joined the fray, seamlessly coordinating their efforts despite fighting together for the first time.


    Their teamwork was wless, and it became apparent that these individuals, despite their differences, worked perfectly in tandem.


    Tristan seized an opportunity to strike, advancing to cut the Orc Lord''s head, only to be blocked by one of its four powerful hands.


    His quick decision-making showcased a pragmatic approach, acknowledging the futility of focusing on me for the time being, as I remained motionless.


    Meanwhile, I began gathering mana into my hands, condensing it to form four powerful mana bullets.


    Tristan noticed my actions, but before he could react, I unleashed the projectiles.


    The four purple streaks streaked through the air, and Tristan''s eyes widened in realization.


    However, it was toote for any counteraction as the mana bullets raced toward their intended targets—Aria, Be, Alex, and the princess.


    Explosions erupted upon reaching their supposed destination, but a simple celestial magic altered their trajectory.


    Instead of hitting their initial marks, the shots redirected toward me with a speed even I couldn''t register properly.


    The battlefield became a chaotic dance of magical energy as the explosive shots closed in on me.


    A triumphant smile graced my lips as my n worked.


    The reflective celestial magic on the staff of Estelle that Aria wielded was still in effect and fully automatic.


    Their eyes widened in shock and realization as the magic, intended for them, was now redirected back toward me.


    A purplish explosion engulfed me, creating a mesmerizing yet ominous spectacle on the battlefield.


    ''That should be enough tips, right?''


    ….


    As the battle raged on, confusion and chaos gripped the group.


    "What was that?" Aria wondered, her gaze fixed on the unexpected explosion that had enveloped their seemingly motionless adversary.


    "Guys, focus!"


    Alex''s urgentmand cut through the air.


    Sweat trickled down his face as he struggled against the pressure from the Orc Lord.


    Two massive axes threatened to bury him into the ground, his sword the only defense blocking the impending assault.


    Be, with her typically sleepy demeanor, now wore a serious expression. She channeled binding spells, attempting to immobilize the Orc Lord. However, with every spell she cast, an inching pain intensified within her body, a testament to the toll the mana release took on her.


    Aria, refocusing her efforts, unleashed a barrage of wind shes targeting the Orc Lord''s eyes. The relentless assault aimed to disorient the creature and gain an advantage in the battle.


    "GROOOAAAGGHHH!!!!" The Orc Lord, irritated by the bindings and the onught of spells, roared. The red aura surrounding its body intensified, and bones protruded down its back, resembling sharp spines emanating a red lightning dance.


    "Fuck!" Alex cursed, sensing the imminent danger. Summoning all his strength, he maneuvered to escape the perilous position, making a daring jump to evade the uing strike.


    "GROOOAGHHHH----"


    The Orc Lord roared once again, summoning a beam of pure red energy that condensed at its open mouth.


    The beam surged forward, creating multiple sonic booms as it tore through the air.


    The snicker emanating from its gaping mouth indicated its retaliation—a payback for the relentless onught of spells unleashed upon it.


    Aria''s eyes widened as she saw the red beam hurtling toward her.


    Panic seized everyone, and even Elena desperately attempted to conjure a barrier, but time slipped away too quickly.


    The entire dungeon floor quaked as the beam from the Orc Lord''s mouth exploded in the distance, casting a red hue over everything.


    Boom…!!!


    She positioned staff right in front of her hoping for the best.


    Aria closed her eyes, bracing for impact,only to open them once again to a surprising revtion—nothing had happened.


    "Aria!" Elena''s almost crying voice resonated in the distance.


    Aria, undamaged and seemingly unscathed, pped her hands, and the winds she controlled cleared the ck smoke that veiled her surroundings.


    Smiles broke out on the faces of herrades, their eyes widening with relief and astonishment.


    However, their attention quickly shifted toward the once-mighty Orc Lord just a few meters in front of Aria.


    The once-gigantic figure, adorned with a demonic aura and four formidable arms, now stood burned too almost a crisp.


    A colossal hole marred the Orc Lord''s once formidable figure, creating a circr void that consumed more than 70% of its right side. Its right chest, arms, neck, and almost half of its face were obliterated, leaving a grotesque and mangled appearance.


    Aria, holding the staff that seemed to be the source of this immense power, stared at the glowing bluish mana circles embedded onto it. The intricate enchantments on the staff had yed a crucial role in turning the tides of the battle.


    "That—thing is... Overpowered," Be remarked, her usual sleepy voice tinged with a hint of awe.


    The entire party stood in collective astonishment; their gazes fixed on the staff that had be the catalyst for this unexpected turn of events.


    The near-world-ending spell that the Orc Lord had unleashed was not only countered but reflected back at itself with devastating consequences.


    Expressions of amazement and realization filled the faces of everyone present.


    "Can I borrow that?" Be''s question broke their awe and tension.


    ….


    I couldn''t ascertain whether it was idental or intentional, but somehow Aria had managed to employ the reflection spell.


    Despite dropping a subtle hint just moments ago, her confused look at the staff and the Orc Lord suggested that this time, it was more of an idental urrence.


    Understandably, she had every right to be bewildered, considering the staff had reflected the shots not intended for her just a while ago.


    As much as I wanted to extend congrattions on their apparent victory, a lingering sense of anticipation held me back. The battle was far from over.


    pping my hands, I materialized just a few meters above the defeated Orc Lord. Seated on the crumbling floor, I looked down upon the party.


    My mask concealed any emotions, and a perpetual smile adorned my face.


    Tristan, ever vignt, assumed a martial position, ready for a potential attack. However, the ground beneath us trembled once more.


    The reddish aura of the Orc Lord enveloped its body anew, and its flesh and muscles convulsed, intertwining and condensing in a grotesque disy.


    Tristan and the others stepped back, repulsed by the nauseating sounds of merging bones and flesh, and even the foul smell that apanied the transformation.


    In a matter of moments, a small ck cocoon formed around the spot where the Orc Lord had fallen, pulsating with an ominous red glow.


    "Destroy it!"


    Tristanmanded, recognizing the ominous signs.


    The realization dawned on them—Phase two of the battle was about to begin.


    ''Sorry, but you''ll handle this on your own this time, Tristan. I wonder if the goddess would participate in his little experiment of ours''


    I snapped my fingers, and multiple ck portals materialized under their feet.


    "What—?"


    Alex wondered but before he could question, they were all falling.


    In an instant, everyone was swallowed by the shadows and transported to a different ce.


    Only Tristan remained, poised with his sword upfront, facing the emerging threat from the cocoon.


    Tension, curiosity, and confusion yed out across Tristan''s face.


    "Guys….?"


    One thing was certain at this moment—he had to fight for his survival.


    ….


    In the far distant northern edge of the empire, the skies trembled as a storm began to brew.


    The horizon crackled with anticipation as green lightning sparked in the distance, and thunderous rumbles reverberated with each passing moment.


    The atmospheric energy heightened, and the air became charged with an electrifying tension.


    Suddenly, the thunderstorm exhibited an unprecedented speed, almost as if it were responding to some cosmic call.


    At its center, a formidable being roared, its mighty voice echoing through the vast expanse.


    Green eyes, aglow with sparks of lightning, reflected a mix of determination and anger that engulfed its formidable mind.


    "How dare they harm my granddaughter!!" resonated a powerful thought within the being''s consciousness.


    The tribalmunities of the north, deeply connected to nature and its mystical elements, would speak of the legend that unfolded on that day.


    The skies bore witness to the majestic presence of the lightning dragon Azir, soaring with unmatched speed and fury.