A trace of emerald light flickered from Lynn's fingertips, and then, with a sharp crack, an emerald green beam burst forth!
In an instant, it swept through the black flame beam and shot forward without pause!
"!"
The Black Death Emperor's Brother's eyes widened, his beast-like pupils instantly dyed in emerald.
The next moment.
The emerald beam swallowed him whole!
Boom—
The underground mausoleum trembled violently!
Crack—
A web of fractures spread rapidly across the thick ice. The crisp sound echoed sharply through the space.
Seconds passed.
The emerald beam vanished.
And with it, the Black Death Emperor's Brother and the Beastman army behind him were gone without a trace.
The underground mausoleum fell into silence once again, save for the sharp cracking of ice.
Liana stood frozen, staring blankly at the scene before her, confusion clouding her eyes.
It had happened too fast. She hadn't even registered what she'd just witnessed.
Where was the Black Death Emperor's Brother?!
Just like that...
He was erased?
That green beam...
She forced herself to calm down, her gaze turning toward Yukari.
But what she saw instead.
A man with disheveled black hair and deep wine-red eyes.
Who...
A flicker of doubt flashed across Liana's face.
But one thing was certain.
That beam of light just now.
It had come from him.
Her eyes locked onto Lynn's fingertips, where a faint emerald glow still lingered.
Another monster.
One powerful enough to instantly obliterate the Black Death Emperor's Brother, whom she couldn't even stand against.
The unease in her heart only deepened.
She didn't know why this man had come to the underground mausoleum.
But...
What else here could attract people, if not the Fourth True Ancestor?
With that thought, Liana's heart sank again.
All she wanted was to revive her family... why was it so difficult?
Elsewhere.
Akatsuki Kojou blinked and asked uncertainly, "Wait, are we... saved?"
But...
No one responded.
Akatsuki Gajou's face remained tense. He didn't dare move.
Yet deep inside, waves roared through him.
His immortality...
Had actually sensed death?!
And it was coming from.
That man.
Gulp.
Since leaving the City of Death, he'd seen plenty. Fought plenty.
He'd even had the fortune of meeting the legendary War King.
But never.
Never—had he felt this kind of oppressive fear.
Not even the Warlord made him feel this helpless.
That was why he'd always acted so boldly.
But from the moment he laid eyes on the man now standing before them, that confidence shattered.
His body screamed at him:
This man could kill him at any time.
Gulp.
He swallowed hard. The carefree smirk he always wore was long gone.
This man...
Might actually be more terrifying than the Warlord.
The very thought sent chills down his spine.
Someone stronger than the Warlord?
Could such a being really exist?
At that moment...
He remembered what Yukari had said earlier.
Wait.
That's right...
They were waiting for him.
Realization dawned on Gajou.
No wonder...
Yukari and Himeragi Yukina had been completely calm the whole time.
So this was why.
On the other side.
Yukina bowed deeply when she saw Lynn.
"Master Lynn."
Lynn?
So they knew him?
Liana furrowed her brow in thought.
As she tried to piece it together, the Snowdrift Wolf Schneewalzer—lodged in the ice—suddenly quivered.
Whoosh.
It sprang into the air and darted toward Lynn, circling him happily like a loyal dog.
Lynn reached out and stroked it gently, then turned to the ice coffin nearby.
He chuckled.
"Just like Sleeping Beauty..."
It reminded him of Ingvild.
Back when they met, she had also been sleeping peacefully inside an ice coffin.
Hmm...
Maybe he should bring her here next time.
As Lynn's gaze rested on the Fourth True Ancestor, Liana tensed slightly. She opened her mouth to speak, but Gajou quickly shook his head.
Seeing that.
Liana bit her lip but stayed silent in the end.
Yukari noticed and smiled faintly.
Then she spoke.
"Of course. Only the prince can wake Sleeping Beauty."
Liana's eye twitched slightly.
Thanks for the sarcasm...
But even she had to admit...
Because of this man, they had been saved.
And...
Those two children were no longer in danger.
She still felt guilty about dragging the Akatsuki siblings into this.
Lynn stepped in front of the Fourth True Ancestor's coffin. He raised his hand and tapped lightly on the ice.
Crack—
Suddenly, the sound of shattering ice intensified!
Then—
Bang!
The ice-blue casket exploded into powder!
The figure of the Fourth True Ancestor was finally revealed in full.
The blonde girl slowly leaned forward, her body soft like jelly, and fell into Lynn's arms with a gentle thud.
Feeling the warm weight in his embrace, Lynn gently called her name.
"Avrora..."
"Mmm..."
As if responding to his voice, Avrora let out a sleepy hum. Her eyelashes trembled, as though she were about to awaken.
Liana held her breath, her hands clenched tightly, heart full of anxiety.
A few seconds passed.
Avrora opened her eyes as if in response to Lynn's call. Her deep blue pupils were cold and emotionless.
Liana hurriedly stepped forward and knelt on the ground.
"I am Liana Carauna, sixth head of the Carauna family. I offer my greetings to the Fourth True Ancestor!"
"?"
Avrora lowered her head and looked at Liana in confusion.
Her eyes clearly said:
Who are you?
She blinked, then completely ignored Liana.
Instead, she placed her hands on Lynn's chest, slowly sat up, scanned everyone with a guarded look, and tilted her head slightly.
"Who are you? Why did you wake me up?"
She tried to sound imposing, but her trembling voice ruined the effect.
Yukari: "..."
The dignified Fourth True Ancestor...
Why is she like this?
Liana also paused, but quickly reminded herself.
She just woke up. It was normal for her to be a little confused.
That's right.
Normal.
Seeing Avrora looking like a startled kitten, Lynn chuckled and gently rubbed her head.
Avrora's eyes widened, pupils trembling. She struggled slightly under his palm.
"You... Let go!"
"I-I'm very powerful! Don't underestimate me!"
She puffed up her cheeks and tried to act fierce.
But...
Grrrl~
"...Mmm..."
Her stomach rumbled loudly. She gave up struggling and weakly hugged her stomach, looking defeated.
"Stomach... hungry...."
(To be continued.)
***
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