Everything about the bracelet that had dragged him into this world remained shrouded in mystery.

The only thing Axton knew for certain was that it once belonged to his father — the man who had passed it down to him before his death.

But how had his father even come to possess such a relic?

What power had it held in his hands?

Axton didn't know all of these.

In fact, he had not even been aware of the bracelet's true nature until recently. It had been nothing more than a family heirloom in his eyes.

Only now had he learned that it was called a divine bracelet.

And yet… to think that another similar bracelet existed inside New Eden.

The revelation was like a spark.

If there was one, there could be more.

'How many more are there?' ,he thought, his mind racing as he thought about the possibilities.

Until now, Axton had believed the bracelet in his possession was the only one of its kind.

The thought that he was wrong made his heart pound.

"If I can lay my hands on another divine bracelet, then I can strengthen my bonus. I could become even stronger."

It was an intoxicating possibility.

He hadn't expected his path to cross with any hint of another divine relic, and yet here it was, right before his eyes.

But his moment of wild speculation shattered in an instant.

*Snap*

His instincts sharped, dragging him back to the present.

Axton whipped his head around, just in time to meet the face of the ox demon, already barreling toward him with its glaive raised high for the kill.

*Shing*

[Aura Sword]

He tried to ready his weapon, but he was a heartbeat too late.

The ox demon closed the distance faster than he could react.

*Slash*

The curved blade of the glaive slashed across his chest.

The impact threw Axton backward violently.

His feet slipped, and he tumbled off the dragon's back, free-falling through the sky.

"Hihihi! He's still alive!" the ox demon cackled as he looked down, amusement twinkling in its cruel eyes.

He had seen Axton move, meaning that he survived the slash.

"Perhaps not all of you humans are puny weaklings after all!"

The demon leapt off the dragon as well, diving straight after its prey with its glaive still in hand.

Axton gritted his teeth, fighting the spin of his freefall.

"Tch! It's not going to give me a second to breathe."

He had been distracted, too focused on the notification about the bracelet.

That momentary lapse had nearly cost him his life.

Not anymore.

His gaze locked onto the ox demon, tracking every movement the demon made.

Then, with a sharp exhale, Axton shifted his body posture mid-air.

*Thud*

A single sharp kick against the air propelled him forward with explosive force, launching him toward the descending demon.

They closed in on one another, two predators set to collide.

*Clank*

Their weapons clashed in mid-air, the impact sparking a small shockwave that rippled outward.

For a moment they struggled, locked in a contest of sheer strength. Then the momentum carried them past each other.

The ox demon landed on the ground with a heavy crash, its hooves making little cracks on it from the force of his landing

Axton adjusted his fall and directed himself toward the same battlefield.

Above them, the dragon roared, sensing its master's intent.

*Roooooaaaar*

[Dragon's Roar]

A crushing wave of invisible pressure surged outward.

The roar didn't just strike the ox demon, it spread across the entire battle zone, seizing the hearts of both players and demons alike.

Bodies stiffened.

Knees buckled.

Many collapsed where they stood, overcome by the oppressive will of a dragon.

'No… it won't work!' Axton's eyes widened as he descended faster. 'That demon… it's stronger.'

The ox demon didn't even flinch.

It glanced around, almost casually, noting the way weaker demons faltered and the way players cowered.

"Pathetic," the demon spat.

Then its aura burst outward.

A spiraling storm of black energy erupted from its body, tearing through the air like a living beast.

The dragon itself recoiled, its oppressive roar erased by something far darker.

[Demonic Aura]

The clash of wills ended instantly.

The dragon staggered, its massive form faltering as despair seeped into its very bones.

Then…

*Shing*

The ox demon shifted its stance, raising the glaive.

Its voice was cold, merciless.

"Glaive Divide."

A single destructive slash cut across the sky.

The dragon howled once before its body disintegrated, vanishing back into the summoning space.

The battlefield froze.

Every player who witnessed the scene trembled.

Some gawked at Axton's ability to fly.

Others were stunned by the dragon's roar.

And more still were left speechless by the ox demon's effortless counter.

They could barely comprehend what they were seeing.

"It's… it's like watching two gods fight," someone whispered, voice trembling.

"Khan…" another stammered, "…he's really out of our league."

A silent prayer broke out among them.

"Please… win."

******

Bitter frustration burned in Axton's eyes as his dragon was forcefully unsummoned, but he had no time to wallow in that.

He needed to defeat the ox demon quickly.

His hand flicked, equipping his shock plate.

*Clank*

Their weapons met again, sparks flying as the clash rang out.

They exchanged blows in quick succession.

Blade against blade.

Strike for strike.

Axton managed to land several cuts, though shallow.

The ox demon returned the favor, but Axton's armor absorbed most of the damage, leaving no visible wounds.

Every clash drained stamina.

Every strike carried a deadly intent.

******

Meanwhile, away from the heart of the chaos, Hart moved with urgency.

He picked his way through rubble and dust, eyes scanning frantically.

He wasn't looking for Axton.

He trusted that he could handle himself.

He was looking for someone else.

…QueenBee.

'Where are you?' Hart thought, narrowing his eyes as he pushed through collapsed walls and the broken remnants of the village.

Then his gaze caught a familiar figure struggling beneath the weight of a massive stone slab.

"QueenBee!"

Without hesitation, Hart rushed forward.

He threw his shoulder against the slab, bracing it just long enough for QueenBee to wriggle free.

Together, they shoved it aside.

QueenBee collapsed to the ground, panting, her face pale from exhaustion. "Thanks, Hart…"

"It's nothing," Hart said quickly.

His tone was calm, but his eyes were sharp.

"There's no time to rest. I need you…"

He stopped, shook his head. "No. Khan needs you to do something for him."

QueenBee's eyes widened, the mention of Khan snapping her attention fully to Hart.

"What is it?" she asked, voice trembling between fear and hope.

Hart hesitated, biting back the words.

He knew how insane it sounded.

How dangerous… but they had no choice.

"It'll sound like a crazy plan," he admitted, swallowing hard, "but it's the only chance we likely have."

QueenBee frowned, skeptical but curious. "What plan?"

Hart placed both hands firmly on her shoulders, meeting her gaze.

"He wants you to heal…" Hart paused, his throat dry, "…as many demons as possible."

The words hung heavy between them.

QueenBee blinked once… then twice.

Her lips parted, but no sound came out.

'Heal… demons?' she repeated in her head instead.

She stared at Hart, her mind unable to understand the idea behind that.

Surely she had misheard.

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