Silas stumbled back, alive only because Lucian had taken the blow in his stead.

On another front, Daigo's clash with Kaizen raged just as fiercely. The two katanas rang again and again, sparks flying with every strike. Daigo's eyes flicked toward Lucian for just a moment, and his chest tightened at the sight of him barely holding on.

Kaizen noticed the shift and smirked, his voice dripping with mockery.

"What's this, pretty boy? Getting desperate now?"

Their blades locked, pressing against each other with grinding force.

"Shut up!" Daigo roared, twisting his blades free. He swung hard, releasing a sharp crescent of energy that tore through the air. Kaizen caught it on his sword, but even so, the force ripped his stance back and left a cut across his arm. Blood spattered onto the dirt.

Daigo's chest heaved. He was stronger, his form sharper, his strikes more precise but Kaizen refused to fall. Each time Daigo pressed harder, Kaizen slipped away just enough to hold on.

Kaizen laughed, his voice booming across the field.

"Do you really think you dogs can defeat the Legate? Dream on! Every single one of you will die here, crushed beneath him!"

"I said… shut up!" Daigo bellowed. His aura surged as he crossed his twin blades, and the air itself trembled around him.

'Twin Katana Domain!'

In an instant, the air rippled as hundreds of spectral blades whirled into existence, weaving a storm that shredded ground and sky alike. The battlefield screamed with steel and wind, a storm of death swallowing everything within reach.

Kaizen braced himself, his katana flashing wildly as he parried and deflected. The cuts grew deeper along his arms and shoulders, blood dripping freely, but his laughter didn't stop. Even injured, even forced back step by step, he was still standing.

Daigo's blades slashed in a furious storm, but no matter how deep he cut, yet Kaizen's grin only widened, teeth bared in wild defiance, his sword swinging back with wild strength. Blood poured from the man's wounds, yet his eyes burned with madness. He refused to fall.

Daigo's teeth ground together. 'Damn it… I can't break through.' Desperation seeped into his chest. Every second wasted here was another second Lucian and Silas bled under the Legate's spear.

His head turned sharply, catching sight of a familiar figure clashing not far away.

"Lord Lumberling!" Daigo shouted, his voice raw.

Lumberling, locked in a brutal exchange with Garron and Serik, turned his head for an instant, spear flashing to keep the two commanders at bay. "What is it, Sir Daigo? Say it quick!"

Daigo's breath came heavy. His blades shook, not from weakness, but from the weight of what he was about to say. "I want to ask you a favor."

Lumberling frowned. "What favor?"

"Can you hold this Knight for me just for a while?" Daigo's request came sudden, almost reckless.

"What?" The word slipped from Lumberling before he could stop it.

Daigo's eyes hardened, but his voice carried a plea that Lumberling had never heard from him before. "I swear I'll repay you. But please… hold him back. Just for a moment. I need to get to Lucian and Silas. If they fall, everything falls."

For a heartbeat, Lumberling hesitated. Two commanders pressed him from both sides, and Kaizen was no ordinary Knight. But then his eyes flicked toward the distance, where Lucian staggered, his golden hair dimming, and Silas barely stood. They were hanging by a thread.

Lumberling gritted his teeth. He couldn't help with the fight against the Legate, not with his current strength. But Daigo… Daigo might.

With a hard resolve, Lumberling drew in a steady breath. His aura swelled, flaring like a storm breaking free, and in the next instant he unleashed it, the fusion of three spear skills at once.

The ground split beneath his feet as he lunged, his spear howling through the air with crushing force.

Garron braced, his shield glowing as it expanded, trying to hold the attack back. For a moment, the clash was deadlocked, the impact shaking the earth around them.

But Lumberling roared, muscles straining, his aura burning brighter as he pressed harder.

Serik's eyes widened in alarm. He threw himself forward, his spear blazing with killing intent. "Don't you dare!" he shouted, thrusting straight at Lumberling's unguarded side.

Lumberling saw it coming. He could dodge, but he didn't. His jaw clenched. 'No… I'll trade it.'

He braced himself, let the strike come, and pushed forward. "AHHHHHH!"

His spear ripped through Garron's shield, through the man's armor, until it finally pierced his throat. Blood sprayed, Garron's eyes went wide, and life left them in an instant.

At the same time, Serik's spear punched into Lumberling's side. Pain exploded through him, but with a snarl, he caught the shaft with his free hand, stopping it from digging deeper. His other hand didn't let go of his own spear until Garron dropped lifeless to the dirt.

(You have devoured the Knight's essence. 3,500 essence absorbed. Absorbing a portion of the Knight's memories and experience.)

The system's cold message rang in his head as he ripped his spear free. He staggered back a step, blood dripping down his side, but his eyes remained sharp.

"Garron!" Serik's roar echoed, rage twisting his face. He lunged toward Garron's fallen body, but it was too late. His partner was gone. His eyes turned bloodshot, locked on Lumberling with pure hatred.

Lumberling smirked through the pain, his grin taunting. "One down."

Without waiting, he turned and sprinted, his body screaming but his resolve unbroken. He cut across the battlefield, straight toward Daigo's duel.

"Alright, go!" Lumberling bellowed as he arrived, his spear already flashing.

Daigo's eyes lit up with relief. Lumberling didn't hesitate, he activated his triple-skill fusion again and lunged at Kaizen.

Kaizen snarled, bringing up his blade to block, but this time the clash wasn't so easy compared to their first clash. The force of the thrust shook his arms, blood spraying from a reopened wound. He held on, but his stance buckled.

That instant was enough.

Daigo's aura flared as he prepared himself, his blades trembling with power. He looked once at Lumberling, his expression unusually soft. "I really owe you one this time, Lord Lumberling. If we survive, I'll repay you."

Lumberling shook his head, pressing Kaizen harder. "No need. Just go!"

Without hesitation, Daigo sprinted past, his twin katanas gleaming, rushing straight toward the battlefield where Lucian and Silas struggled against the Legate.

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