The remaining B-rank subordinates, terrified by the dense web of deadly threads, stumbled backward in retreat.

  The Investor’s face twisted into a grimace, as if he’d swallowed half a worm. He glared at Hulim Heyerar through gritted teeth, then shouted at his fleeing underlings:

  "You cowards! Stop retreating! Most of her power is sealed, and she can’t even move freely—can’t you handle her even then?!"

  At his words, the panicking subordinates froze in their tracks.

  They exchanged uneasy glances with one another.

  Yeah... why were they running?

  Sure, her attack looked terrifying, dangerous, and undeniably lethal...

  But she was only a B-rank!

  A group of B-ranks led by an A-rank—if they fled now, they’d never live it down in the organization.

  With that thought, the once-fleeing underlings’ eyes turned fierce, and they wheeled around to charge back.

  Meanwhile, The Investor realized Hulim’s strength far exceeded his intelligence reports. If he didn’t intervene, his men would all perish here.

  "Hmph! I never liked getting my hands dirty personally."

  The Investor pulled out his wand, his voice cold,

  "But today, I have no choice! Die—!!"

  Boom——!

  The entire temple ruins shook violently.

  In the next instant, a colossal stone spear pierced through the dome, hurtling down toward Hulim.

  Hulim extended one finger and flicked it upward.

  Whoosh——!

  Countless black cutting threads filled the air in an instant.

  Crack, crack......

  The stone spear was sliced to fragments in seconds.

  "Hmph! Clinging to a hopeless fight!"

  The Investor snorted.

  "That was just a casual strike, and it already pushed you to your limit?"

  "......"

  The Investor raised his wand high.

  "Let me show you the vast gap between A-rank and B-rank——!!"

  Boom!!

  In an instant, the walls, dome, and even the ground beneath their feet trembled violently.

  The next moment, the entire temple ruins shattered into square stone blocks that rose into the sky, converging to form a floating continent above.

  "Attack with everything you’ve got!"

  The Investor roared.

  "Yes!!!"

  The remaining B-rank subordinates shouted in unison.

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  Immediately after, a maelstrom of magical energy erupted throughout the hall.

  Boom——!

  The floating continent descended like a meteor shower toward Hulim below, while the others’ attacks struck almost simultaneously.

  Boom!!!

  A massive cloud of dust billowed from the ground......

  "Is she dead?"

  The B-rank subordinates stared nervously at the dust cloud.

  "Definitely!""

  "With the boss attacking, there’s no way a B-rank could survive!"

  "Yeah, you’re right!"

  "We’ve eliminated another mortal threat!"

  Just as they celebrated their supposed victory,

  the dust began to clear......

  The Investor narrowed his eyes, his gaze fixed on a spot within the dust.

  There, a standing figure slowly emerged.

  The underlings, who’d been cheering moments before, stared in stunned disbelief at the figure in the dust.

  "How is this possible?!"

  "How is she still alive?!"

  "What trick did she use......"

  As they struggled to comprehend,

  Hulim’s form came fully into view—surrounded by a shimmering blue-green magical barrier.

  "A magical barrier?!"

  "That’s impossible! How could a B-rank’s barrier block that attack?!"

  The group grew even more shocked, unable to process what they were seeing.

  Only The Investor frowned deeply, his eyes locked on Hulim as a sense of foreboding washed over him.

  Water magic and wind magic......

  Could it be? An unprecedented six-attribute mage!!?

  What else was Hulim Heyerar hiding......

  Hum!

  Hulim dispelled the magical barrier,

  her calm gaze sweeping across her surroundings.

  The Magic Circle binding her was still intact, unharmed by the earlier assault.

  The temple ruins that had once stood here, however, had vanished without a trace in the attack.

  But fortunately,

  Berzera Ud, lying unconscious on the ground, had been unharmed—

  the barrier she’d raised had shielded him too.

  After all, he was a key prisoner; he couldn’t die here.

  Withdrawing her gaze from Berzera, Hulim slowly lifted her head to face The Investor across from her.

  She spoke flatly:

  "You seem to have misunderstood something?"

  Crack......

  "Hmm?"

  The Investor froze, then stared in shock, unable to believe his eyes.

  The halos sealing Hulim were cracking......

  Crack......

  "Why——"

  Crack, crack.

  "——did you think such a Magic Circle could contain me?"

  Crack!

  Boom——!!!

  The halos binding Hulim shattered in an instant, and the Magic Circle covering the ground crumbled to dust.

  A terrifying wave of mana erupted before them.

  The Investor and his men fell silent, staring dumbfounded at the girl who’d shattered the seal with sheer raw mana......

  "This is impossible......"

  The Investor muttered to himself.

  "Nothing is impossible."

  Now free from her restraints, Hulim extended her right hand once more.

  Hum! Hum! Hum......

  Dozens of brilliant orbs of light materialized in the air.

  Then Hulim dragged her right index finger across the air.

  Whoosh——!!!

  The orbs suddenly transformed into streaks of light, piercing toward the enemy like arrows.

  "Agh!"

  "Agh!"

  "Agh......"

  A chorus of screams rang out.

  All the B-rank foes were wiped out in a single strike!

  Only The Investor, an A-rank, managed to avoid injury by summoning a stone shield at the last second......

  "Impossible! This can’t be! A-rank! How are you already A-rank!!?"

  The Investor screamed repeatedly, refusing to accept the truth before him.

  An A-rank at 13?

  What kind of joke was this?!!

  No!

  No matter what, he had to kill her here. If he didn’t......

  It wouldn’t be long before she crossed that threshold!!!

  With that thought, The Investor unleashed his full power.

  "Die—!!!"

  Boom!

  The ground shook violently once more.

  The next moment, the rocks of the earth split into square blocks, rising into the sky to reform into a floating continent.

  Then, as if guided by an invisible hand, the rocks hurtled toward Hulim at meteor-like speed.

  Faced with this overwhelming assault, Hulim’s expression remained unchanged. Her gaze never left The Investor—she didn’t spare even a glance for the attacks coming at her from all sides.

  Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh......

  For every incoming strike was shattered by the streaks of light she’d unleashed.

  She moved like a walking force of destruction, reducing everything in her path to dust.

  No attack could slow her advance. Step by step, she drew closer to The Investor......

  Watching her approaching figure, The Investor finally felt a surge of primal fear.

  "No...... This can’t be. Even as an A-rank......"

  No one could be this strong!!!

  Boom!

  A beam of light pierced The Investor’s shoulder.

  He stumbled, barely keeping his balance.

  Before he could steady himself,

  Boom!

  Another beam struck his chest.

  Boom! Boom! Boom......

  Then a third, a fourth, a fifth......

  Each attack was only Tier 4 magic.

  Yet he couldn’t intercept them, block them, or defend against them.

  Though both were A-rank, a vast, unbridgeable chasm separated them......

  Boom——!

  A beam of light pierced The Investor’s heart.

  This time, he could no longer stand.

  As his body crumpled to the ground, the last thing his eyes reflected was the figure drawing ever closer. A bitter sigh echoed in his mind.

  ......The greatest prodigy in a thousand years?

  Lies, all lies. She was nothing less than——

  "A monster......"

  Boom——!

  In the next instant, The Investor’s vision was consumed by white light......

  ......