The danger level of a Transcendent Magical Beast increases exponentially compared to regular monsters—ordinary adventurers couldn’t hope to deal with one.
So when news spread that the Ironblade Wolf was ravaging the land, the Saint Luo Empire’s soldiers joined forces with the Holy Land’s Holy Knight Order to subjugate it.
Originally, the plan was to observe the wolf’s lair after entering, wait until it left, then lay traps for an ambush.
But before they even reached the den, the Ironblade Wolf suddenly appeared and launched an attack.
“Awoooo—!!”
A chilling howl shook the earth. Sophie could feel the nearby trees trembling.
A massive beast leapt from the forest and landed before the subjugation team.
It was an enormous wolf, bigger than an elephant. Its gray fur gleamed under the sunlight like sharp blades.
“Magicians, attack!” commanded the subjugation leader.
Several magicians raised their wands and chanted quickly—Fireballs, Wind Blades, and Thunder Spears flew toward the Ironblade Wolf, launching the first assault.
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Explosions blasted the Ironblade Wolf back.
The group assumed the attack had wounded it—but when the dust cleared, they found it had only lost a few tufts of hair.
What’s more, the beast was enraged. A sinister, dark purple aura began to rise from its body—making it even more terrifying.
Everyone shivered.
“This is… abyssal corruption?!”
The Holy Knight Captain raised his shield in one hand and greatsword in the other, pointing at the beast.
Fighting a Transcendent Beast was tough enough—but now it was tainted by abyssal energy?
If they didn’t give everything they had, everyone here would die.
“Holy Knights—form the ranks!”
Under the captain’s lead, the knights formed an impenetrable wall of overlapping shields to block the Ironblade Wolf’s path.
“ROAR!!”
With a furious charge, the massive wolf crashed into the shield wall.
The Holy Knights stood firm, withstanding the force without breaking formation—but the abyssal aura clung to their armor and shields, rapidly corroding them.
Some knights couldn’t resist the corrosion—pain twisted their faces, their vision tinted with blood-red, and madness stirred in their hearts, pushing them to attack even their comrades…
“Lady Sophie, please purify the abyssal aura!!” the commander cried.
“Understood!”
Sophie clasped her golden crucifix, lifting it with reverence as she prayed.
Golden holy power burst forth, rising into the air before turning into a radiant pillar of light that fell upon the frontline knights.
Holy power clashed fiercely with abyssal energy—like water splashing into boiling oil, the purple aura writhed within the golden light before slowly evaporating.
“Wonderful! Lady Sophie has purified the abyssal energy!” the knight-captain cheered.
The knights who had been gripped by madness gradually regained clarity. Hope bloomed on the battlefield.
“Lady Sophie, please hold on just a little longer!!”
“Ugh…”
Sweat dripped down Sophie’s brow.
The abyssal presence was far more sinister than usual, almost as if it had a will of its own—resisting the purification, even trying to launch a counter-infestation.
It drained her holy and mental power at a terrifying rate.
But she couldn’t falter—if the abyssal influence spread, they were all doomed.
The battle raged on.
The Holy Knights held the front, magicians attacked from behind, and forces from the Saint Luo Empire circled around to strike the wolf’s flank—forcing it into a two-sided assault.
Under the relentless offensive, the Ironblade Wolf was being pushed back—its once sturdy fur was breaking, its body covered in wounds. It was close to death.
“Everyone, press the attack—we’re about to win!!” the commander ordered.
The Holy Knights and imperial soldiers charged together.
“AWOOOO—!!!”
The Ironblade Wolf’s eyes blazed red. With a bone-shaking roar, its fur exploded outward like deadly shrapnel.
“Aaahhh!!”
The blade-like strands of fur pierced armor and shields alike. Agonized screams echoed across the battlefield.
In a crazed frenzy, the beast tore through the Holy Knight formation, ripping apart the once-impenetrable shield wall.
“Damn it!! We were so close—just a bit more!!” the captain yelled, face twisted in anguish. His legs were shattered, helpless to stop the monstrous wolf from breaking through to the backline.
“It’s no use…”
Sophie was at her limit—her glowing holy aura faded rapidly. She fell to one knee, drenched in sweat.
A rancid wind rushed toward her. The aura of malice closed around her like a cage.
The empire’s soldiers tried to protect the saintess candidate—but they were all knocked aside by the Ironblade Wolf.
Sophie raised her eyes, her heartbeat faltering.
The towering wolf loomed above her, claw raised like a scythe blotting out the sun.
I’m… going to die?
Despair filled her heart.
She had always played a supportive role from the rear—never faced a beast up close.
With the wolf this close, she was as good as dead.
—A soft sound.
Just before the deadly claw fell, a sword that had been flung in the chaos slid across the ground and landed by Sophie’s side.
She turned her head, staring at the imperial soldier’s fallen blade. Her crimson pupils shrank.
A sword…?
Her terror vanished—like a tide receding.
Her stiff body moved on instinct. She flowed forward, grabbing the weapon smoothly.
The moment she touched it, a shock of familiarity flooded her being—every cell igniting, as if waking from a deep slumber.
The red-haired girl who had never once wielded a sword swept it up as though she had rehearsed the motion countless times, drawing a straight arc and hurling it into the beast before her.
The Ironblade Wolf froze.
The blade was buried deep in its chest. Its hulking frame collapsed like a felled statue, blood pouring onto the earth.
The battle ended in total silence. No cheering—only stunned stillness.
Everyone watched the red-haired girl in disbelief.
Only moments ago, she had been the delicate, gentle saintess candidate—and now she had felled a Transcendent Beast with a single perfect strike.
“Lady… Sophie?” the knight-captain murmured, pure disbelief in his voice.
“Huh?”
Sophie blinked, snapping back to herself. She stared at the beast’s corpse, red eyes puzzled.
“Did I… just kill it with a sword?”