"Shit!"

  Sargas’ expression changed. Ignoring his own injuries, he immediately unleashed a surge of flames centered on himself, rushing outward.

  Boom!

  In the next moment, the surrounding ground twisted and transformed into writhing giant rock pillars, slamming down on him.

  "Break for me!"

  Sargas swung his blade with all his strength, slicing a massive fire blade that cut the surrounding rock pillars in half.

  But in the next instant,

  more giant rock pillars erupted from the ground!

  They sealed off all his escape routes from every angle—sky, ground—forming a nearly spherical cage.

  Boom! Boom! Boom......

  Inside the cage of countless rock pillars, countless fire blades danced wildly. The scorching red light from within was clearly visible from the outside, and occasionally, fire blades pierced through the cage and flew out.

  On the other side of the sky, Leonagnus waved his hands continuously.

  With each wave, more giant rock pillars rose, forming a new layer of the cage.

  The layers of cages completely engulfed Sargas.

  Gradually, the scorching red light that had once emanated from the inside disappeared. All that remained was a massive rock sphere—and its size continued to expand......

  The outcome was clear.

  ......

  "......"

  Tanoklian watched this scene, his expression darkening.

  He had the urge to intervene, but before he could move, a gaze fell on him.

  Following the gaze, he saw Monroe staring intently at him.

  "......"

  Helplessly, Tanoklian abandoned the idea of interfering.

  "This guy isn’t cutting it......"

  Behind him, the Earth General Molbai spoke in a deep, rumbling voice.

  "Although he’s also reached Rank A, he became Rank A much later than Leonagnus. There’s a clear gap in both experience and strength. It seems relying on him from the start was a mistake."

  "Molbai......"

  The Shadow General Bodis interrupted.

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  "You seem to be misunderstanding something. The Vice-Captain knew from the beginning that Sargas couldn’t defeat Leonagnus."

  "Hmm?""?"

  Bodis’ words confused both Molbai and Kina.

  "Then why let him fight Leonagnus head-on?"

  "Heh......"

  At that moment, Tanoklian—who had stood in front of them with a "grim" expression earlier—let out a cold laugh.

  "Naturally, because I prepared a backup plan."

  "A backup plan?"

  Molbai and Kina looked shocked.

  It was understandable that Kina, who had just arrived, didn’t know the details. But Molbai had been acting with Tanoklian from the start, and he had no idea when his Vice-Captain had laid any backup plan.

  But Tanoklian didn’t explain. He glanced at Monroe on the distant rooftop, gave him an inexplicable smile, then took out a pitch-black crystal in front of him.

  "?"

  Monroe watched Tanoklian’s actions, feeling puzzled and alert. He assumed a stance ready to intervene at any moment.

  "Hehe, don’t misunderstand~! I said this is their fight—I won’t interfere."

  However, in the next second, Tanoklian crushed the pitch-black crystal in his hand.

  He then threw the crystal shards on the ground like trash. True to his word, he made no further moves, showing no sign of interfering.

  The problem was......

  His previously agitated demeanor had now turned relaxed, as if everything was under his control.

  "What on earth is going on......"

  Monroe frowned.

  "......What was that thing he just crushed?"

  Why did it give him an ominous feeling......

  As Monroe pondered what Tanoklian had done,

  Boom——!!!

  A deafening explosion suddenly rang out.

  Monroe’s eyes widened, and he looked toward the rock cage.

  There, the ever-expanding rock cage exploded, sending countless rock fragments scattering across the surrounding city.

  "This aura......"

  Monroe’s gaze turned sharp.

  "——The Demon Race!"

  ......

  At the same time,

  Sargas at the center of the explosion stared blankly at his mutated form.

  "What’s happening to me......"

  He recalled the moment earlier.

  Just as he was trapped in a desperate situation by Leonagnus’ suppression,

  a stabbing, burning heat suddenly erupted from his back. Before he could figure out what was happening, the intense pain spread throughout his entire body.

  Then, he felt an unfamiliar power surge within him—powerful yet sinister.

  Without hesitation, he unleashed that power.

  And the cage that had trapped him was shattered by his newly acquired strength.

  But......

  Sargas stared at the pitch-black veins on his body and his drastically changed form.

  "Am I still human now......"

  "Tanoklian——!!!"

  He roared in the direction of the Great Demon Mercenary Corps.

  "How dare you use such a trick on me!"

  "Hehe, I was only trying to help you!"

  Tanoklian showed no sign of guilt. "Think for yourself—without this, you would have already lost~!"

  "Great Demon Mercenary Corps——!" The Bear King Sandor shouted angrily. "You violated the agreement and interfered in their fight!"

  "Sandor, you can’t say that! Which eye of yours saw me interfere in their battle? Are you talking about Sargas’ current power?

  Let me clarify— that power was already dormant in him before the fight began. Isn’t it perfectly normal to prepare appropriate weapons before a battle?"

  "You——! You’re just quibbling!"

  "Heh!"

  Tanoklian shrugged.

  "Believe what you want. The fact is, I’m not rushing in to stand between them! Or could it be——"

  "Deep down, you want me to interfere?"

  "You......"

  Sandor was left speechless, only able to glare angrily at Tanoklian.

  After silencing Sandor, Tanoklian turned to Sargas, who was still in a daze, and said in a cold tone:

  "Sargas, how long are you going to dwell on this! Don’t forget what’s most important to you right now!"

  "......"

  Sargas stared deeply at Tanoklian.

  "......You’re right. I’ll settle accounts with you later. For now, let me use this power to defeat my enemy!"

  "Leonagnus——!"

  Sargas redirected his gaze to Leonagnus. The combination of demonization and his hatred for Leonagnus twisted his features almost beyond recognition.

  "Die by this overwhelming power!!!"

  Leonagnus stared at him calmly.

  "Sargas, come at me. No matter how much unrighteous power you acquire, it will be useless. Your fate is already sealed......"

  "Arrogant! Ridiculous!"

  Sargas laughed angrily.

  "Fire Magic—Ember Funeral!!!"

  Boom!

  A massive pitch-black fire orb appeared directly above him.

  The magical aura emanating from within was far more powerful than the same spell he had cast earlier.