Lucas downed a mug of coffee before taking a seat back in the control room. Two days had already passed since the beginning of the mission. In two days, two cities fell and Percival face four elites.

  With the golems left, it was unlikely for them to take down another city. But hopefully this achieves the goal they wanted.

  “How many survivors?” Lucas asked.

  “The two mages are still alive and three of the soldiers,” Maxwell answered.

  “Any chance they could get back?”

  Maxwell shrugged. “I honestly don’t know. Even if we open a rift from our side, it could appear anywhere in their dimension.”

  “What if we had an anchor?” Lucas asked.

  Maxwell raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”

  “If we had a connection on both sides. Could that be used to open a rift for them to return,” Lucas suggested.

  Maxwell rubbed his chin thought for a moment. “It could work, but we’ll need a strong source on both sides.”

  “We’ll figure something out,” Lucas refused to leave them there.

  --------------------

  Elise sat on top a golem as they marched towards another city. Judging from what was left of their forces, this was going to be the last battle and the place she dies.

  She had resolved herself for this.

  Elise glanced at Akina who was sitting on top another golem.

  Akina is a striking young woman with an elegant yet commanding presence. Her hair is long, dark, and flows in soft waves past her shoulders, perfectly styled even in the midst of chaos. She has sharp, emerald-green eyes that carry both warmth and intensity, framed by dark lashes and perfectly arched brows. Her features are refined—high cheekbones, a slender nose, and a poised, confident expression that suggests intelligence and determination.

  She dresses in a sleek, tailored outfit that blends practicality with a touch of high fashion—deep, rich colors like crimson and black, often with gloves or a high collar, giving off a sophisticated and almost noir-inspired vibe. Even in moments of stillness, there’s an air of quiet strength and composure about her, like she’s always a step ahead.

  Elise couldn’t believe that her ex-boyfriend broke up with her and dated Elise soon after. That was probably the stupidest thing she ever heard. When Elise found out about Akina, she practically went crazy because of her anxiety.

  Especially since Elise knew she was nothing compared to her.

  “You seem distressed.”

  Elise turned to see the overpowered dark knight that’s been slaying all the elite monsters that they faced.

  “Just wondering how I’m still alive.”

  “Why are you so adamant on throwing your life away?” the knight asked.

  “The whole reason I became a soldier was for my family,” Elise replied. “To repay them for everything,” she began tearing up. “They were everything to me.”

  The knight stayed silent and allowed Elise to let out her tears. Once Elise was finished, the knight offered a piece of cloth.

  “Thank you.”

  “I won’t say that I understand your pain, but I know that I would likely do the same,” the knight spoke. “I would do everything to avenge them, but I wouldn’t throw away my life in the process.”

  “What would you do then?” Elise asked.

  “I’ll live for them,” the knight replied. “Make sure that people know that I am who am I today because of them.”

  Elise bit her lower lip in thought. The words of the knight caused her to reconsider everything, all her decisions, but even if she changed her mind, there was no longer anything they could do. “It’s already too late. We’ll be dying here.”

  “That won’t happen,” the knight declared. “Stay alive. Once this mission is finished, we’ll be going home.”

  Elise watched as the knight walked ahead after making his declaration.

  -----------------

  A large amount of mana swirled around Maverick like a tornado as she cultivated. The military soldiers that were cultivating around her watched her in amazement. It was clear her mana cultivation technique was beyond average.

  After a while, the mana around her condensed into her body, completely being absorbed by Rose. When she opened her eyes, she felt her body feel lighter as she completed another mana circle.

  In just two days, Rose already used up all the cultivation boost the mana vein provided, so cultivating here was no different from cultivating at home.

  “I’ve never met someone with a mana cultivation method as good as yours,” a woman with gray hair approached Rose. “I’m Leona.”

  Rose had heard of her back in her universe but never met her since she had died before she even graduated from the academy.

  Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

  “Nice to meet you.”

  “Do you have a master?” Leona asked. “A cultivation method like that is comparable to someone in the continental rankings.”

  “My brother thought me,” Rose answered.

  It was technically the truth. Back in her universe, her brother was the one that thought her how to cultivate mana and aura. And the absurdly powerful cultivation method was created using his speed attribute.

  “Oh? Is your brother a ranker?” Leona asked.

  Rose shook her head. “He didn’t like associating with others, so he never got evaluated.”

  “A challenger then,” Leona nodded in understanding. “Maybe I’ll meet him someday.”

  Maverick shivered. “I think it would be in everyone’s interest if he never shows up here,” Rose commented.

  Leona raised an eyebrow. “I see... It’s one of those situations.”

  Rose didn’t know what conclusion Leona thought of, but it would be easier than explaining that the Lucas Atican that she knew was from another universe and a villain.

  ------------------

  Veronica Demonyo examined the golem that one of her servants brought her. “This is called the Iris: Infantry, right?”

  The servant nodded.

  Veronica was known as “The collector” a pretty plain title, but one she earned due to her collection of powerful and unique artifacts. Hailing from house Demonyo, a family that had the bloodline of demons, Veronica was born with a gift that contributed greatly to her success.

  Veronica had demonic eyes with one its abilities being appraisal. Using that ability, Veronica could find out how certain artifacts are made and provide that information to the crafters working under her. This process greatly contributed to the success of house Demonyo.

  But she was in quite the predicament right now. A new crafter had popped up in the southeastern sector and had been producing good quality mechanized golems. Seeing it as another money bag, Veronica planned on poaching its crafting method and sell them as well.

  That led to their current problem.

  The crafting method wasn’t something that could be replicated just by knowing about it. She doubted it could even be considered a crafting method at all. Iris simply drew a very complex magic circle using mana circuits and attached runes to it and allowed the artifacts to make itself.

  This method wasn’t crafting.

  It was simply runic golem magic.

  “Unless someone is able to see mana circuits, this would be impossible to replicate,” Veronica muttered.

  The magic circle wasn’t even simple. It was an entire script that formed everything about the golem. Its form, abilities, and even every little movement it could do. It was like someone made a whole movie using a programming code.

  Because of this lunacy, Veronica was forced to investigate Iris.

  The more she learned, the angrier she got.

  “This bastard!” Veronica roared as she glared at the images of the most well-known golem Iris supposedly created. Iris: Percival.

  If anything, it would be one of the few things he actually created. The majority of the other golems are mere weakened versions of it presented with different names. He was doing nothing more than selling watered down versions of his greatest creation. To support her claim, he did the exact same thing to the Iris: Ragnar and the Iris: Sabre.

  Veronica was certain that if she questioned Iris about crafting, it would be a miracle if he even knew about other crafting methods.

  She had every right to be outraged, not just because she couldn’t steal his crafting method for her own selfish gains.

  ----------------

  The army of golems arrived at what was likely the final severium city they were going to attack in this dimension.

  And it looked like they were waiting for them.

  Surrounding the city was a fifty-meter-high stone wall lined with turrets aimed towards them. On top of the walls, Lucas could see two figures. One of them held a great sword, while the other held a sword and shield.

  “Talk about a final stand,” Lucas muttered as the army stopped just out of range of the turrets.

  “Preparing all go-” Maxwell was interrupted when several beast-like golems charged ahead despite him not controlling them. “What’s going on?” Maxwell said in confusion as the other golems, except for Percival charged as well.

  The soldiers were about to charge as well, but Percival stopped them by raising its lance to block their way. The golems blindly charged and got shot dead by the turrets. After getting destroyed, the golems proceeded to self-destruct.

  Lucas didn’t know what was going on, and clearly, Maxwell didn’t as well. But all the golems decided to go kamikaze. Most of them didn’t even reach the wall before getting shot down and exploding. A few managed to get to the wall, but the explosion they created barely cracked the walls.

  “Get out of there!” Maxwell yelled. “Limestrow’s golem is about to explode.”

  Percival grabbed Elise and Akina with each arm while using its telekinetic ability to grab the others. Lucas immediately understood the severity of Maxwell’s words. The golems were using their cores to explode, and Fredrick Limestrow’s golems were famously known for having a massive core filled with monster cores. That was how it could unleash massive beams of energy repeatedly.

  Percival didn’t need to look for Lucas to know that the golem detonated.

  The ground trembled. Dust cascaded from the fractured walls of the steel citadel as the shriek of rupturing energy howled behind him. Percival ran—not out of fear, but out of duty. His heavy armored frame smashed through walls and debris like thunder crashing through silence, crimson power lines glowing across his obsidian plating. Each step was calculated, precise—but he could already tell. He wouldn't make it.

  Behind him, the containment core ruptured.

  The sky was on fire.

  Behind them, the great city wall stood like a jagged crown over the broken earth. Its alarms wailed, echoing across the scorched plains. Dust coiled around Percival’s massive cybernetic frame as it sprinted away from the gates, the golem’s black armor gleaming under the dying sun, every step leaving deep imprints in the sand.

  Far behind him—a pulse of white light. The soldiers Percival was carrying had a good view of the golem exploding.

  A boom rippled through the air, flattening the dunes for miles. The explosion grew like a second sun, ravenous and absolute.

  Percival glanced back. Maxwell began calculating the scenarios after seeing the explosion.

  "Detonation radius exceeds projected escape path," Maxwell stated grimly.

  There was no time.

  The knight stopped mid-stride and tossed the soldiers in front of it. With a grinding hiss, the golem turned around, cape whipping in the rising wind.

  Percival slammed its lance into the earth, the sand exploding outward in a ring. The polished spear tip sank deep, its mechanized roots locking into the bedrock below. Crimson glyphs ignited across his body, pulsing outward from its chest like a heartbeat as core break activated.

  Then came the aura.

  Dark energy surged from Percival’s core, spiraling up the lance and expanding outward—a black dome of shimmering, hexagonal runes forming a barrier between them and the oncoming storm. The blast reached them like a divine hammer—blinding, howling, endless.

  Percival roared—voice distorted and ancient, like thunder scraping iron.

  The ground behind them melted.

  The sand turned to glass.

  The wall he had just fled began to collapse.

  But still, Percival held. Knees bent. Armor cracking. The weight of the world pressing down on a single immovable will.

  A knight does not flee.

  A knight stands.

  And Percival stood—between the city and the end of all things.