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His body barely managed to twist to the side. The white thread scraped past his arm, leaving a smooth cut in his sleeve.

Beads of blood seeped from the surface of his skin, but his arm was saved.

The sudden turn of events startled both Black and Alvin.

They both turned to look in the direction from which the light shield had been shot.

A young woman stood on the path by the lake.

She wore a sky-blue dress, her silver hair draped over her shoulders, the ends swaying gently in the lake breeze.

In her hand, she had been holding a wicker basket.

But now, the basket had fallen to the ground.

Silver Lily Lotus Soup was spilled everywhere. The exquisite pastries rolled into the dirt, and the food was covered in dust.

Kristine’s face was as pale as paper.

Her ruby eyes were wide open, filled with an unbelievable horror.

Her lips trembled slightly. Her gaze moved back and forth between Black’s bloody wound, the light of her father’s staff, and the containment magic array on the ground.

Her mind was a blank.

‘How could this be?’

On the way here, Kristine had been rehearsing the words she would say later in her mind.

She had envisioned the beautiful scene of the two of them walking side by side by the lake.

For this date, she had meticulously chosen her dress all night, selecting this favorite sky-blue dress.

She had also woken up early this morning, pestering the chef to teach her various recipes, cooking for a whole morning.

In the process, she had accidentally cut her fingers several times.

But now…

“Black… Father…”

Her voice trembled uncontrollably.

“What are you doing?”

Black’s heart tightened suddenly.

‘Why is Kristine here? Was she also tricked by Alvin?’

He frowned and looked at Alvin.

But the other party’s face wore an equally bewildered expression. Clearly, he hadn’t known Kristine would appear either.

Then, there was only one explanation.

Alvin had also been lied to.

Alvin’s face instantly became extremely grim.

He had completely failed to anticipate Kristine’s presence here.

Last night, after the Sacred Rite, Randolph had told him that their plan had completely failed and that Black was an unavoidable obstacle.

Things had come to this. Even if it meant offending the Imperial Family and the Dragon-Slaying Guard, Black had to be killed.

To that end, Randolph had personally sent him here.

“You must kill him, no matter what.”

Although Alvin didn’t understand why Randolph had suddenly changed his attitude, no longer fearing retaliation and insisting on killing Black.

But after everything that had happened, he knew that this young man had to be eliminated.

However, the current situation was something he had never expected.

Randolph had only told him that Black would be here, not that Kristine would also come.

A storm of doubt raged in Alvin’s heart. He couldn’t figure it out at all.

But, at least one thing was certain.

No matter what, Black had to die here today.

He stared at Kristine, and ordered, word by word, without question.

“Kristine!”

“If you still acknowledge me as your father, leave this place now. Don’t come any closer.”

Kristine’s expression was almost shattered. She shook her head, trembling, and tears welled up in her voice.

“…No!”

“Father! Why… why do you want to kill Black?”

Seeing his daughter question him for the first time, Alvin’s face darkened considerably.

He simply stopped looking at her and aimed his staff at Black again.

“He must die!”

“If you help him again, you will be your father’s enemy.”

Before his words fell, an even more violent magical attack had already taken shape.

Flames, ice cones, wind blades, lightning arrows…

High-tier spells of various attributes rained down like a storm. Black was struggling to cope alone.

Kristine gripped her dress tightly with both hands, tears streaming from her eyes.

On one side was the father who had raised her, and on the other was the young man she deeply loved.

What should she do?

Watching Black struggle to block the storm of spells, the wounds on his body constantly increasing, and his blood staining the golden sword.

Kristine felt her heart being torn in two.

She knew why Black wasn’t asking for her help.

Even at this stage, Black didn’t want to put her in an embarrassing situation.

But the killing intent in her father’s eyes was real.

If this continued, the young man she loved would surely die.

The light of the magic array restricted Black’s movement, and Alvin’s magical attacks grew more ferocious.

A lightning arrow grazed Black’s forehead, leaving a scorched mark.

Immediately after, the ground suddenly softened, trying to swallow him like a swamp.

Black plunged his sword into the ground and leaped up, using the leverage.

A wind rope that had been set up in advance wrapped around his ankle, pulling him back to the ground!

A cold light flashed in Alvin’s eyes. He aimed at Black’s throat, and another purple thread of magic cut across the air.

Kristine moved.

She didn’t know how she raised her staff, nor how the spells had left her mouth.

She only knew that she didn’t want to see Black die.

Absolutely not!

“Holy Barrier!”

“Light Arrow!”

“Healing!”

Light-attribute spells shot out from her staff, one after another.

The first transformed into a barrier to block Alvin’s attack. The second attacked Alvin himself, interfering with his casting.

The third restored Black’s condition.

Alvin was momentarily distracted dealing with his daughter’s attack. The thread missed, leaving a bloody cut on Black’s neck, but it was not fatal.

“Kristine! You dare?!”

Alvin was both shocked and enraged.

“Father, stop! I beg you!”

Kristine wiped her tears and walked resolutely in front of Black, pointing her staff at her father.

Black seized the opportunity to sever the wind rope on his foot. The Demon-Cleaver drew an arc, cutting the core runes of the surrounding magic array.

The light of the magic array dimmed considerably.

With Kristine’s intervention, the battle fell into a brief stalemate.

Alvin’s face was ashen.

He had to resolve Black quickly, or if he delayed, and others were drawn here, the consequences would be unimaginable.

But Kristine’s interference had tied his hands, making it impossible for him to use his full power.

If this continued, Black would surely escape again.

“In that case…”

A fierce look flashed in Alvin’s eyes.

“Don’t blame your father then.”

He slammed his staff heavily onto the ground and began to recite a lengthy incantation.

The surrounding magical power began to gather frantically around him. The elements in the air became restless.

He was about to cast an area-of-effect spell that would include both of them in its attack range.

Kristine might be injured, but Black would surely die.

Sensing the terrifying magical fluctuation, Black acted without thinking.

“Summoning!”

A profound, ancient aura, carrying endless coldness and pressure, suddenly permeated the air!

A sigh seemed to sound from the bottom of the deep sea.

A ghostly blue magic array appeared under Black’s feet.

Immediately after, a domineering blue figure spiraled up from the array!

“ROAR!!!!”

Jörmungandr had appeared!