The Operation

“You too… you’re actually alone…” Luna asked with a hint of tension.

What a reckless person…

“Savich, Left Bishop of the Red Diocese Headquarters of Bordeaux Church, welcomes your arrival, outsider~”

He wore a sorrowful smile, slightly bowing in a bishop’s manner toward Luna.

“Enough nonsense. What do you want?”

Luna’s crimson eyes glimmered faintly as she faced him.

She was no weakling, and neither was the bishop before her.

“You took our black mage. You should hand him over.”

His smile was like that of a benevolent father, his half-bald head gleaming under the sunlight.

“And what do I get in return?” Luna asked with a faint smile.

“The benefit is that you won’t be wanted by our Church.”

He looked straight into her rose-colored eyes calmly.

Her face was hidden beneath the cloak, so he couldn’t see her appearance clearly.

“Then take back your ‘mercy.’ I’m keeping him.”

Luna answered decisively.

“And besides, he’s not a black mage at all. He’s just an ordinary human. Have you ever seen an immortal black mage get knocked out by a single chop? They only fear crimson flames and holy light!”

Luna spoke indignantly.

“Oh, Holy Mother above, punish this heretic with holy light!”

Seeing there was no room for negotiation, he decided to eliminate her as well.

Luna closed her eyes and began circulating her energy.

A violent aura spread evenly through her blood, veins, and pressure points.

She opened her eyes.

Her rose-red pupils shone brilliantly.

Luna’s principle was simple—solve everything with brute force.

That’s why she became a fighter, destroying all problems with her fists.

“The ‘holy light’ you’re talking about—is it your shiny bald head?”

Luna teased.

Under the sunlight, his head reflected light like a crystal mirror, almost blinding.

“Y-you…!”

He felt humiliated and furious.

He was used to people whispering about their hairstyle, but never had anyone said it directly to his face.

“What? I’ll beat you until you cry.”

Luna had already adjusted her state.

“Mind’s Eye…” she murmured.

In an instant, the bishop in her vision broke into countless blue particles, slowly forming a human shape again.

She could see things ordinary people couldn’t—his cultivation, elemental affinity, and more.

But there was no vital point.

As expected.

That method wasn’t reliable.

As a being from hell, she had only seen a true vital point once—when she was nearly frozen to death.

And by striking it, she had shattered her opponent into particles.

In that instant, she understood—

This bishop had strong fire and dark affinities.

A member of the Church cultivating dark magic…

He was the real black mage.

“Crimson flames, huh…” Luna said coldly.

“You noticed?” he sneered.

For a moment, he felt as if everything about him had been seen through.

A high-level fire mage… already at archmage level.

Troublesome.

That meant he was at least Tier 5.

But Luna…

In martial terms, she was already a Sword Saint.

How laughable.

Without another word, Luna threw a straight punch.

Though the distance was far, her speed turned into an afterimage.

“Fast!”

The bishop was shocked.

He had underestimated her.

As a mage, he should never have let her get this close.

But it was too late.

Her punch struck his jaw directly.

It felt like being smashed by a hammer.

Pain exploded instantly.

“Ugh—!”

He couldn’t even speak as he was sent flying out of the alley.

“Martial Art—Shift!”

Luna launched a condensed energy mass forward and dashed into it.

The impact bounced her into the air.

Like a cat, she adjusted midair, her eyes locked onto his shining head.

She calculated his trajectory.

Raised her leg.

And brought it down.

Within two seconds, while the bishop struggled to regain balance midair, another devastating blow struck him.

This all happened within four seconds.

Boom!

He was slammed into the stone street.

“Ahhhhhh—!”

Pedestrians screamed and fled.

A fight involving a bishop—it was terrifying.

He coughed up black blood.

His ears rang, his vision darkened.

He was about to lose consciousness.

No… not yet…

“Life Drain…”

Just before passing out, he activated it.

The red beads around his neck glowed.

Three beads lit up brilliantly.

He instantly felt revitalized.

Jumping up, he quickly distanced himself from Luna.

“I underestimated you…”

He looked at her seriously, instinctively feeling fear.

“You’ve killed many people, haven’t you?”

Luna’s eyes turned cold.

There was anger—and pity.

That was Life Drain.

A forbidden technique requiring human lives to create life beads.

A life-for-life exchange.

Three beads meant three lives.

“Seems you know too much…”

He smiled bitterly.

This wasn’t just an advanced swordsman.

He couldn’t even last four seconds.

She was at least a Sword Saint.

A saint-level fighter… and young.

Terrifying.

“I’m no match. You win, outsider… farewell!”

He chose to retreat.

He tore open a prepared teleportation scroll and vanished.

Luna tried to chase, but he had already gained distance.

“Mass murderer…” she muttered.

Looking around, only a human-shaped crater and a pool of blood remained.

She sighed.

She still needed information about the so-called black mage.

Returning to the alley, she found a nameplate on the ground.

It belonged to the bishop.

Savich.

“Hmph… don’t let me see you again.”

She tucked it into her cloak and walked toward Eugene.

“Everyone, listen. Our mission is to rescue my sister from the underground prison of the Black Church of Glenridge. She was framed.”

Alex spoke to his six companions.

“We act tonight. Hide in the supply wagons and wait for my signal. We will rescue her.”

A seven-man team.

They planned a prison break—silent and unseen.

“Eugene Kabul.”

Eugene answered honestly.

The crimson-haired girl had saved him.

He could only repay her with truth.

“No matter what happened, tell me everything clearly.”

He explained how he was falsely accused of being a black mage.

Luna listened carefully.

“Did you meet a silver-haired girl?”

“No… wait… my cellmate… she had silver hair!”

He suddenly remembered.

So it really is her…

I have to save her.

“Thank you. I’m going to save her now.”

Luna turned to leave.

“The money on the table is yours. Good luck.”

She spoke lightly, then prepared to leave the inn room.

“Wait!” Eugene called.

“?”

“I’m going with you.”

“Fine.”

“Don’t slow me down.”

Her rose-colored eyes fixed on him.

“There are things… I must return to them… even if it costs my life.”

A flame ignited in his dim eyes.

A crimson flame of revenge.