Kael glanced at him like he was watching a madman. He knew the truth. The reason the plan had failed wasn’t something anyone could predict. The avatar of the Bitchy woman that found him wasn’t just any trace.That avatar was core region of the whole set up and its death foiled all the plains. It carried a wisp of her consciousness—a pure fragment of divine essence. And when it died, that divine essence remained. He had devoured it. The power inside him wasn’t just mana now. It was divine energy in its rawest form. Kael’s smile widened. He raised the draconic sword, its edge now pulsing in sync with his heartbeat. "Let me give you a proper show," he said calmly. As soon as he spoke, his mana surged. The air around him started to buzz. Threads of crimson lightning danced along his skin. The pressure grew so thick that it made breathing difficult. The ground cracked beneath his feet, unable to handle the energy building inside him. James reacted fast. He leapt forward, intending to stop Kael mid-activation. But Kael vanished in a blink. James gritted his teeth and barked, "Someone stop him!" "Whom are you ordering?Your guards?" "Will they even listen to you after you did all this?" The knights from his place hesitated. None of them moved. Veins popped along James’ forehead. "Move!" he screamed again. Emilia, who had remained silent till now, shouted in shock, "Please protect him!" Before her voice could even finish echoing, two black-robed guards appeared in front of Kael, weapons drawn. Kael glanced at them with a twitch of annoyance. "Get out of the way," he muttered. James charged the guards, sword raised high. The impact of his attack created a shockwave that blew debris everywhere. But the two guards held firm. One of them raised his arm and pointed at James. "You’re not allowed to move from her side," he said simply. James’ rage exploded. "I will kill you!" he roared, slamming his blade again. But Kael was done watching. He ignored the chaos and closed his eyes. Slowly, he channeled his mana upward, guiding it to the center of his forehead. The outside world faded from his senses. He focused, searching for the thread of connection between his soul and body. He had done this before in moments of clarity and power, but this time was different. He pried open the door of his own mind, crossing into a realm of shadows and whispers. Inside, his spiritual core pulsed like a heartbeat. At the center was the divinity he had consumed—a tiny spark, but blinding in its purity. Kael drew closer to it, letting it seep into his soul. As the energy sank into his core, his entire being shifted. His mana changed color. It turned deeper, denser, crimson like blood and fire. It wasn’t just magical power anymore. It was a spiritual force fused with divine energy. His veins ached. His muscles trembled. But Kael held firm. He wasn’t afraid of pain. He welcomed it. The energy built higher. His senses extended beyond his body. He could feel everything around him—the blades in the air, the sound of trembling breaths, the heartbeat of his enemies. And then, the transformation began. From the outside, Kael’s body began to glow faintly. A crimson light, soft at first, but growing steadily. The wind around him stilled. Time seemed to slow. Even the ongoing battle between James and the guards paused. The glow expanded, encasing Kael’s entire figure in a red aura. His face vanished behind the light. His hair lifted slightly, carried by a quiet force. His clothes rippled, untouched by wind. It was like something sacred and cursed had merged in one vessel. Everyone watched in silence. The black knights looked unsure. Ariana whispered, "This... isn’t normal." Vic said nothing. He only stared. And then, the glow began to fade. Kael found himself floating in a vast pool. The surface shimmered with colors that danced and shifted, carrying the weight of memories and old emotions. As he opened his eyes, the world around him lit up in a dazzling array of lights, like a painting filled with countless stories. He smiled faintly as he saw his reflection in the pool and began moving toward the center, where a massive burning orb floated quietly. "Divinity from the past," he murmured. Without hesitation or fear, Kael reached out and touched the orb. The moment his fingers met the surface, the world around him burst open. A soothing, cooling sensation washed over his body. It was calm yet overwhelming, like falling into the deepest parts of his own soul. Kael slowly opened his eyes. The outside world returned to view, but he was no longer the same. He raised his hand and gently touched the glowing crystal mark on his forehead, his expression calm but nostalgic. That mark was something he had long used to store his divine energy—something that both strengthened and healed him over time. But today, something was different. Something new had awakened. He had found a way to access the hidden divinity that had been buried deep in the corners of his soul. A force he hadn’t been able to reach before. It wasn’t just power—this was something far more refined. It allowed him to completely hide his presence now. To suppress his strength at will. Not far away, James was still locked in fierce combat with the Black Guard. Since the fight began, James had been attacking non-stop. The Black Guard, however, had been on the defensive the entire time, waiting, reading, resisting. Suddenly, James stopped mid-swing. His eyes shifted to Kael, who now stood calmly, still and quiet, as if nothing had happened. Even the Black Guard turned to look. A moment ago, Kael had triggered such a strange and powerful outburst. Now, he stood like someone who had completely lost his strength. Confusion filled the air. "Did the young lord just... lose it?" one of them whispered. Kael didn’t respond. Instead, a grin tugged at the corner of his lips. He didn’t care what they were thinking. In fact, he was quietly thrilled. He hadn’t expected to gain something so incredible. Maybe it was time to visit the base of the Secrets Organization and take everything they had. In the past, he could devour and grow stronger without fear. But now, his position and name had placed invisible chains on him. He couldn’t act freely like before. But with this new ability to suppress and draw out divine energy at will, everything was about to change. "It’s time," he said softly. James took a small step back. For the first time, fear flickered in his eyes. He didn’t know what Kael was planning, but he could feel it in the air. Something heavy pressed down on the entire field. The atmosphere thickened. It felt like standing beneath dark clouds just before a storm tore through. It receded slowly, peeling away from his limbs and face. It condensed around his forehead, forming a distinct, diamond-shaped crystal. The crystal pulsed once, then settled. Kael opened his eyes. They were no longer the same. His pupils had turned slit-like, his gaze sharp and calm. Not just a man’s gaze anymore, but something ancient. Something awakened. Kael took a deep breath. The power around him was controlled now. Contained. But it was thick, heavy, pressing down on everyone present like a storm waiting to burst. Whatever came next, no one would forget it. Kael pulled the Draconic sword and raised the draconic sword once again, and the blade lit up with the same crimson glow. The ground cracked beneath him. The night grew darker. Kael took a deep breath. The energy around him was calm now. Still. But everyone could feel it pulsing, barely restrained. The pressure weighed down on their shoulders, cold and suffocating. He slowly took his stance. The blade came to life, glowing with a deep crimson light. The earth cracked under his feet. A beam of light exploded out of the blade, forming the shape of a massive dragon. The dragon’s roar echoed across the sky, loud and wild, shaking the air itself. With the roar came a blast of freezing energy. Ice spread rapidly over the battlefield, covering everything in a deathly chill A blinding beam of light shot straight at James, fast and deadly. But at the last moment, he twisted his sword, angling the blade just right to deflect it. The redirected beam tore through the forest, slicing down trees in its path like they were paper. Though he managed to survive the hit, James wasn’t unharmed. A freezing aura surged into him from the clash. Frost crawled up his hands, locking his fingers around the hilt. His body began to tremble violently as if the cold was biting into his very bones. "Damn..." James cursed through clenched teeth, his voice shaking. The devastation caused by the attack began to settle, and then he heard a cold, piercing voice echo across the battlefield. "Your heart... It’s weak. It’s pathetic." The voice belonged to Kael. He stood tall, his expression calm but distant. "It seems after being beaten by my father, you never recovered. You got stuck in S-rank and just rotted there." James’s eyes widened. Anger filled every inch of his face. His breathing grew heavier, rougher. And then he roared, the sound echoing like a wild beast. "It’s all because of your family!" Kael casted a demonic smile. "Since my family created this problem,I will take care of it thoroughly and cut the roots."