When the plot-skips players into the game world

"No regrets?"

"Lancelot" sneered mockingly at "himself," "Using your precious control to save your enemy—she should be your enemy, right?"

As expected, Aiwass couldn't say anything.

He kept pushing Aiwass's will down—just like during the struggle by the lakeside, ceaselessly pushing another's fiercely struggling face under the water, causing them to choke and suffocate.

A mortal's soul could never compete with an Angel Envoy who harbored clear hostility—even a killing intent.

In such intense conflict, it would only gradually be torn apart.

However, Aiwass's will still had not given up.

"Lancelot" mocked, "What are you waiting for?"

"Let me tell you, I came to kill you, Aiwass. I will not let you go until I have completely torn apart your soul—and you actually dared to take the initiative to come into this body, to try to interfere with me?"

"Do you not know where you got the courage from—see clearly! Do you think you've caught me?"

"Wrong, I've caught you! I am the strong one!"

And at that moment, the long-awaited Defiant Flame Butterfly arrived, enveloped in golden-red flames, flying over.

That was a golden-red halo of firelight condensed from life force—surging heat roaring forth.

...Dawnfire?

"Lancelot" of course recognized this skill.

Burning life to exchange for the more pure fire of Dedication, thereby raising the penetrating power of all fire-related abilities, causing even those foes who would not be harmed to also be injured.

—If "Lancelot" were too active, it would make him keep suppressing Aiwass's soul.

All he had to do was make him unable to spare the strength to suppress Aiwass!

"Sorry, Father. Although you said not to let me use it, but this time the situation is special..."

The Defiant Flame Butterfly Liya's dark red pupils gradually ignited, turning into flowing liquid gold: "I just wanted to try..."

"...to what extent I can do it."

As she spoke, that scorching halo of flame suddenly spread, enveloping "Lancelot" within it.

It was like an invisible deep red barrier, causing everything it enveloped to begin burning—even "Lancelot" was no exception.

This was the power of "Dawnfire"!

And at this moment, "Lancelot" had already guessed what she was going to do.

But just as he intended to leave, his body was once again immobilized.

[Of course...]

Aiwass's faint voice rose by his ear, calm and resolute.

[—Of course, I've caught you.]

Elsewhere.

In that terrifying storm, roaring incessantly with thunder, the great Guardian charged towards the Gargoyles.

But it was not a charge towards death.

It was a charge towards hope—

—He directly burst through the Dark Cloud!

Isabel's small boat floated mid-air, wrapped in a bundle of silver light, closely following behind.

Shafiya noticed what the great Guardian was doing in the distance.

Without second thought, she lifted the invisibility Spell, exerting all her power to make the boat take flight!

The bow of the boat rose slightly, like a silver comet, drawing an arc as it fell towards the sea area of the Eternal Theocracy.

However, the Gargoyles had no time to pay attention to them.

They hurled barrages at the great Guardian, but they were gradually extinguished in the dense thunderstorm.

The white Gryphon, flying down at an angle, and the boat rising up from below met in the sky, becoming aware of each other's existence.

Shafiya, holding a wand, looked up to see the great Guardian above, who looked down at the boat with a surprised expression.

Isabel, clinging to the mast, also had a bright gaze, confident and full of hope.

The Stranger watched this scene, his brain seemingly at a halt.

No...

It wasn't an illusion, it had indeed stopped.

A rough, hoarse voice rang in the ears of all survivors:

"Princess Isabel has reached the designated location. Necessary mission complete, ritual settlement ahead of schedule."

Just at that moment, in the direction of the eastern sea, towards Avalon, a glimmer of dawn broke through.

—The night had ended, the morning sun rose.