Baylor was back to his usual self.
From the start, the only thing that had caught him off guard was the Iliad Curse.
Now that this unexpected variable was gone, he was certain he could handle whatever Ada threw at him.
And why wouldn't he be? Within the empire, those who could defeat him could be counted on one hand.
Yet Ada didn't waver.
"It seems you don't realize where you're standing, Lord Moonlight."
Her voice was calm—unbothered, as if she wasn't moments away from being bombarded by hundreds of attacks.
Baylor frowned, clearly confused by her words.
"What nonsense are you spouting?"
A radiant light flared beneath Ada's feet.
Swallowing everything.
"You are now standing on your own grave."
Even Carmen, despite her knowledge, seemed unaware of what was happening.
Baylor, with his years of experience, reacted instantly.
That was his conclusion, and he wasted no time attacking—hundreds of icy pillars surged toward Ada's position.
Yet the overwhelming assault vanished the moment it touched the light.
What the hell is going on?
In mere seconds, Baylor's expression twisted completely. A vague understanding began to take shape in his mind.
Beneath us, a layer of ice slowly took form.
A strange force spread outward, reshaping the surroundings into a place I recognized all too well.
My suspicions were confirmed the moment I saw them—towering bookshelves, filled with ancient tomes that had endured the weight of centuries.
The atmosphere was grand, oppressive, and unmistakable.
The Ancient Library of Semiramis had materialized from nothing, with Ada at its center.
And beside her, a familiar figure sat upon an old chair.
A blind girl—poised and motionless.
"My deepest gratitude... Lord Starlight."
Rem's voice was steady as she opened her hollow, empty eyes—fixing them directly on Baylor.
"Now, I can finally act."
A wave of unease washed over Baylor.
"Founder's Fragment…?"
His gaze darted around.
The library's doors had vanished.
We were now inside a sealed domain—one completely under Rem's control.
She continued staring at Baylor, clasping her hands together.
"We finally meet, Fifth One… You have no idea how long I've waited for this day."
Baylor's fists clenched as he took a cautious step back.
He had always known about Rem. He had always known about the Ancient Library.
She possessed power—immense power—but outside these walls, she had no influence.
That was why he had never feared her.
As long as he stayed away, he had nothing to worry about.
But now, she was sitting right in front of him.
"Have you lost your mind, Ice Fragment? You would side with these outsiders against your own family?"
A dry, mocking chuckle escaped Rem's lips.
"Lord Starlight has given me a worthy price… and even brought me a filthy rat who does nothing but run. So tell me, why would I complain?"
As her words settled, a suffocating pressure filled the space.
A monstrous presence surged outward—one that rivaled, perhaps even surpassed, Baylor himself.
I watched from the sidelines, stunned.
The sheer weight of her power was staggering.
She had always been here, hidden in the shadows of this library.
But if I had ever stood against her back then… I didn't even want to imagine the consequences.
"You betrayed your family, your bloodline… bowing to those wretched creatures, tarnishing the legacy of this household for centuries… For what?"
"For your title? To indulge in your disgusting desires?"
For the first time, Rem scoffed.
Not in amusement—but in genuine disgust.
"You don't deserve to be this family's lord."
"The only thing you deserve… is death."
I wasn't sure when it happened, but behind Rem, new figures had emerged.
Towering, spectral knights—silent, yet radiating an oppressive, ancient malice.
No—these were not mere knights.
The air trembled as their deep, guttural voices broke the silence.
"Let the execution begin."
One wielded a massive sword and shield.
The other, twin blades in each hand.
Baylor let out a low chuckle.
Not of amusement—but of understanding.
The suffocating weight of their presence.
"I see… so this is why you're so confident, Lord Starlight."
Ada stood behind Rem, looking utterly drained.
But Baylor—he was far from defeated.
"Come at me then, all of you!"
He spread his arms wide, unleashing an unfathomable amount of aura.
From that power, hundreds of colossal ice spears formed in an instant.
At the same time, the giant knights charged.
The air itself shattered as the ice spears descended.
The shielded knight braced himself, deflecting the projectiles.
The twin-blade knight sliced them apart as he advanced.
Both struck Baylor without mercy.
His ice spears couldn't stop them.
They were on the verge of overwhelming him.
Dozens of icy chains materialized from thin air, binding the knights in place.
Baylor clasped his hands together.
A colossal dragon's head manifested above him, its maw large enough to consume everyone in a single bite.
The monstrous entity lunged forward, attempting to swallow them whole.
Yet with a mere gesture from Rem, the knights flared with blinding light—shattering their bindings instantly.
The shielded knight stepped forward first, his shield expanding to an unimaginable size.
It collided with the dragon in a titanic clash.
A brutal struggle unfolded between the two forces.
But at the same time, the twin-blade knight leapt at the perfect moment.
His blades pierced deep into the overwhelming frost aura.
He slashed dozens of times.
The dragon's head fractured into a shower of ice shards.
But he didn't stop there.
He continued forward—toward Baylor.
Baylor refused to let him close the distance.
The moment the knight took his first step—
Dozens of celestial spheres materialized around him.
The sheer force erased the first knight entirely.
But it didn't end there.
The shielded knight charged forward, gripping his sword tighter than ever.
Baylor extended both hands.
Instantly, hundreds of ice projectiles rained down upon the armored behemoth.
Yet despite the relentless onslaught—
Even as wounds tore across his form, he pressed on.
But what he didn't realize—
Baylor was already above him.
He had leapt into the air, positioning himself directly overhead.
"Who said a Wave Controller has to stay in the back?"
With a chilling grin, Baylor outstretched his hand—
And unleashed a blinding pillar of frozen energy.
The second knight was obliterated.
Baylor landed gently, dusting off his coat.
"That should be enough for a warm-up, don't you think?"
Rem, however, only smiled.
"Yes… Now it's time for you to die."