Before Lafuente could turn, the cold bite of a spear punched through his back. His breath hitched, blood spraying from his lips.

It was Lumberling. His eyes sharp, his body moving in perfect rhythm. His spear shone with violent mana, a deadly storm of power.

He had combined three techniques into one. Thundering Lunge, a burst of speed and momentum, lightning cracking at his feet. Spearheart Thrust, a skill that sharpened his strike and guided it straight into his enemy's weakest point. And finally, Triple Fang, splitting the spear's power into three devastating fangs that tore through flesh and armor alike.

Three holes burst open across Lafuente's back. Lightning danced from the wounds, crawling over his body like chains of death.

The General staggered, his knees buckling, but his will refused to fall. He let out a raw, guttural roar, swinging his greatsword wildly as if to carve apart the very air. His arms trembled, his blade clashing against Lucian's in one last, desperate push.

"Not yet…!" he snarled through blood, eyes blazing with defiance. "I am a General of Sengolio! I do not fall…"

Lucian's eyes widened in shock as he felt the resistance in their clash vanish. "Lumberling…?"

The life in Lafuente's eyes dimmed, fading fast. His grip slackened.

Lucian's flaming sword came down in that instant, cutting straight through the General. While Lumberling had already pulled away, sprinting to the side after his killing blow landed.

A roar split the air as fire surged out, exploding in a thunderous blast. Lafuente's body was swallowed whole, burned to ash and cinders in the storm of flame.

Smoke and fire rose into the sky. The crushing weight of gravity that had smothered the battlefield was gone in an instant. The suffocating pressure eased, and little by little, the air began to cool.

Silence followed, as if the world itself held its breath.

When the smoke cleared, a voice carried across the field, steady and warm.

"You did it, Heir Arden. You defeated the General!" Lumberling called, his spear resting lightly at his side, a proud smile on his face as if offering nothing but praise.

Lucian turned, one brow lifting. For a heartbeat, his eyes studied Lumberling, but then he gave a small smile in return.

"It was thanks to your help."

Lumberling shook his head. "No, no. It was all your work, Heir Arden. I only tried to help a little." His tone was polite and respectful.

Behind them, Daigo's voice rang out, light and amused. "I'm surprised you jumped in at the last moment, Lord Lumberling."

"Sir Daigo," Lumberling said with a small bow, his tone courteous. "I simply thought it was best to lend a hand. I couldn't just stand back while you three bore the hardest burden. After all, it was we who asked for your aid."

Daigo tilted his head, amused. "Well, I guess that makes sense."

Lumberling gave a single nod, then turned his eyes back to the battlefield where Sengolio soldiers were already breaking, their morale shattered by their General's fall.

"Very well," he said firmly, his voice carrying the air of someone giving a favor. "You can leave the rest of these enemies to me. Please, take a moment to rest, Heir Arden, Sir Daigo… and Sir Silas."

With that, he spun his spear and charged toward the fleeing soldiers, cutting into their lines with renewed vigor.

Daigo chuckled, scratching the back of his head as he watched Lumberling's back. "He's quite energetic."

Lucian, however, remained still. His hand lowered slowly, eyes fixed on his blazing sword. A shadow of doubt crossed his expression, he felt strange that it wasn't his blade that ended the General.

"You okay, Lucian?" Daigo asked, stepping closer, his tone softer.

Lucian lifted his gaze to him, smiling faintly. "Yeah. We won. That's all that matters." His eyes hardened with resolve as he raised his sword. "This is our victory."

…..

The battlefield shifted the moment the General's body burned to ash.

The Sengolio soldiers froze in horror, their strongest pillar gone before their eyes. Their shouts of fury turned to whispers of fear, shields trembling in their hands. Some stepped back, some dropped their weapons outright.

On the other side, Lireath's soldiers erupted in thunderous cheers.

"The General's dead!"

"We can win!"

"Push them back!"

Their voices carried like fire through dry grass, lifting the spirits of every ally still standing. Knights roared, slamming into the shaken enemy line, while soldiers charged with newfound courage, blades and spears biting deep.

From a rise at the rear, Lireath herself watched with eyes sharp and lips curling into a satisfied smile.

"Kill them all!" she ordered, her voice like a blade cutting through the din.

Her soldiers answered with a unified roar, their momentum unstoppable.

…..

In the middle of the chaos, Lumberling's spear tore through enemy lines, flashing like lightning with every strike. Yet even as he fought, his mind wasn't only on the clash of steel.

'Lucian… you really are a child of luck,' he thought, eyes flicking briefly toward the golden-haired heir in the distance. 'I thought me and my group were the first to learn magic within Pentaline Empire. But you too? How convenient.'

His lips twitched into a faint smile that didn't reach his eyes. 'Well, whatever. I've gained more than enough today.'

Another soldier fell beneath his spear, and as the body hit the dirt, a familiar rush flooded his senses.

He turned to the series of messages that flickered before him.

(You have devoured the Knight-Mage's essence. 8000 essence absorbed. Absorbing a portion of the Knight-Mage's memories and experience.)

(Active skill, Dominion Strike has been learned. Lv. 0 (1/1000))

(You have gained the element: Element of Gravity. Lv. 0 (1/1000))

(Beginner Spearheart Thrust has reached Lv. 1. Power +100)

(Beginner Flowing Edge has reached Lv. 7. Power +299)

(Beginner Shadow Glide has reached Lv. 8. Power +358)

(Low Level Spearheart Doctrine has reached Lv. 2. Power +260)

His grin widened as he cut another man down. To anyone watching, he looked like a commander filled with battle joy. But inside, his heart raced for another reason entirely.

'Gravity… a whole new element,' he thought, excitement burning in his chest. 'And another skill to sharpen my spear. Today's spoils are worth more than any victory flag.'

His spear spun, striking down two more soldiers in a single sweep. He pressed forward with Lireath's men, his hidden satisfaction masked by the blood and dust of battle.

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