"Cracks started developing on the barrier that was surrounding Alice, protecting her. 

The barrier was strong, but it wasn't one that could last for infinity against attacks of someone as strong as the Spirit General. 

With each passing attack, more and more energy of the barrier was used until in the end when it didn't have enough to sustain itself. 

The Spirit General puppet attacked one last time, shattering the barrier like it was made of glass. 

"Princess!"

Seeing Alice in danger, the second spirit general was shocked. He only had thirty seconds in his boost left, but he didn't think about them. Saving Alice was more important to him than killing the enemies. If Alice was dead, this whole thing was over. Their victory wouldn't matter anymore since he'll die in thirty seconds. 

Not a single person was left after them who could lead the Spirit Realm. Saving Alice was most important for him. 

He turned back, leaving the injured High Duke Magna behind as he started flying towards Alice. 

"What's the hurry? I want to have some fun as well. Don't leave. Let's continue our battle."

While the Second Spirit General was flying away, a man appeared before him who happened to be none other than High Duke Oris that had just finished destroying all the tree trunks that were annoying him. 

Now he was free to interfere in the battle. 

"I don't have time for you!" The Second Spirit General called out as he waved his hand. "Move aside!"

A large gust of wind appeared as he moved his hand, which intended to move High Duke Oris to the side; however, this was useless. 

"Step aside? Why? What's the hurry? We just began," High Duke Oris asked as he smiled. 

...

Back near Alice, Ryder was walking towards Alice as the barrier was just broken. His Moon Scythe was held firmly in his hand, intending to attack at a moment's notice. 

"I don't have any personal enmity with you. I don't even know who you are, which is good, I guess. But I can't be defeated. I have too much to lose here. So you must be killed here," Ryder told Alice as he raised the Moon Scythe. 

'Hmm?'

Even though Alice couldn't see Ryder's face, she recognized his voice since he was speaking in his normal manner here. 

Her eyes lit up in surprise. The person before her was Ryder? But what did he mean? He has too much to lose? He can't afford to lose?

If Ryder hadn't said those words, Alice might have talked to him and told him about her, but now that she knew it, she didn't want to talk. If Ryder knew it was her, he wasn't going to attack. And winning was important for him. She didn't want to come between him and his victory now that she knew who it was. 

She was also about to use some skills to fight Ryder previously, but after knowing his identity, she didn't do that. 

She didn't even step back. Instead, she stood calmly as she gazed at him coming closer. She didn't even speak. 

'It's fine. I can afford to lose here. Even if I'm banned, I have that special reward. By taking part in the billion-dollar event through their invitation, I can get unbanned. Maybe he doesn't have that. I should help him here. This is what he wants. It's just a game for me anyway,' Alice thought as she closed her eyes and stood unmoving. 

"Hmm? You're not moving? That makes it easier for me," Ryder said as he realized that the girl had stopped moving. Now he didn't need to chase after her. 

Gripping the scythe firmly in his hand, he slashed down. 

The girl was already prepared for the attack, it seemed. She didn't even open her eyes as the Scythe came and sliced her Avatar apart. 

"Argh!"

She didn't know why but that actually hurt. In this world, she had set the pain settings to the minimum, but that attack still hurt badly, making her scream in pain. 

"Huh?"

Her scream seemed family to Ryder. The voice... It reminded him of Alice. 

'Wait a minute! Alice played inside Divinity too. Is this her?' Ryder thought, frowning. 

Even though he asked this question to himself, he was already sure that it was Alice. Unfortunately, it was too late already. Alice had disappeared. She was gone, and her Avatar was dead. Ryder didn't know what to do anymore but stood there, confused. 

The girl he was fighting was Alice? Is that why she stopped moving back and let her be attacked after hearing his voice. 

"I'm a real idiot!" Ryder muttered as he sighed in disappointment. 

"Wait a minute. Isn't this a good thing? Divinity is a dangerous place. She probably had the same task as me. Now that she lost, she is most probably banned from here. That means she can't log in. She will be much safer now," he suddenly remembered that it wasn't a bad thing either. 

He had wanted Alice to stop spending time inside Divinity since this place was actually deadly. Unfortunately, Janus had stopped him by telling him that he shouldn't interfere in this. 

Even though this time was also an interference, it was an indirect interference. He had received what he wanted. Even though it was still bad that he literally killed Alice, he could apologize to her. Dying here didn't mean that she died in the real world too. 

He was thinking that it was a good thing when he suddenly realized that this wasn't all that either. A game death had resulted in real death for him the first time. He couldn't be sure that Alice wouldn't suffer the same. 

He wanted to go check up on her and reverse any damage if something happened to her while he still had time. 

Without caring for anything, he opened the system screen and tapped on the option to log out. 

[Can't log out in the middle of Universal Quest]

[Please finish the quest first]

" What finish the quest? I killed the enemy princess. The quest should be over," Ryder complained, seeing the warning notification. 

"Wait, I remember. That was only the first part of the quest, in a way. I also need to neutralize the enemy army now," he thought, understanding the meaning of the quest. It wasn't over now, so it meant the soldiers were also a part of the quest. 

"Fine! If they stand between me and my goal, I'll wipe them all out too," he declared as he started flying towards the place where the soldiers were fighting.

He was going to join and finish the process faster while also letting out some of his frustration. 

The Second Spirit General also flew behind him as a good puppet. Rale did the same. 

Ryder flew in the center, Rale in his right and the Spirit General in his left. 

All three of them joined the fight as they started killing the enemy soldiers. 

Seeing their Prince join, the Demon Realm soldiers were filled with even more battle intent. They all fought even more fiercely now. 

Not only them, but the Dukes that were standing near the base of Demon Realm also joined the free for all battle. 

Since their leader had joined already, what was keeping them behind? 

"Hahaha! I know this is more fun!"

"I guess this is fun when our enemy is weak. Let the rivers of blood flow!"

The Dukes were excited as they flew towards the warzone. All of them wanted to land near Ryder to safeguard him while getting most of the action and recognition. 

"I can't fall behind, can I?" High Duke Devilia also joined. 

A minute was over, and the Second Spirit General was also dead. Now that the biggest enemy was gone, the High Dukes were free. 

They all gazed towards Ryder, who was fighting. 

"Oris, look at his face. That fighting spirit? That no respect for old traditions? Doesn't it remind you of someone?" High Duke Magna asked High Duke Oris. 

"Hahaha, You mean him? His Majesty Salem was also like him in his young days, I remember," High Duke Oris answered. 

"That's right. He does have great potential," High Duke Magna said. 

"I know. I've known it from the moment I met him. And I'm sure you did too. But you're really giving him a really hard time sometimes," High Duke Oris answered. 

"That's important too. He shouldn't be allowed to be complacent. I'm only doing what I should as a respectable adult. You're the caring High Duke; I'm the strict one. That's the role we were given, and that's what I'm doing," High Duke Magna answered, smiling wryly. 

"Sigh, I feel bad for you. I'm sure he doesn't like you at all. He doesn't know the truth," High Duke Oris said, sighing. 

Gazing towards Ryder, High Duke Oris answered, "He doesn't need to know either. Things are fine the way they are right now. They need no change."

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