If it had to be described, it would be a storm.
When two Autonomous Guardians, each nearly ten meters tall, roared at the humans closing in on them, the sheer force of their roars alone became a raging storm, crashing toward the knights.
""!!!""
Facing the overwhelming roars that crushed against them like a violent storm, the knights froze in place as if they had been turned to stone, their bones and flesh creaking under pressure.
At this moment, the knights of the Mavros family, who had been hardened by countless battles and wouldn't normally fear mere giants, showed expressions of terror.
"Tch!"
Kaiser and the others struggled to hold their ground against the roaring storm, their eyes filled with shock at the sheer force of the Autonomous Guardians' roars.
Even Raven and Nibald had grown tense, gripping their weapons tightly—one holding a greatsword, while the other held a staff.
Among everyone present, Riezel was probably the only one who remained completely calm, almost indifferent.
However, the same couldn't be said for the girl at his side.
"Ugh..."
Clutching Moslow, Lizbeth let out a soft whimper as the storm of fury swallowed her.
It was trembling.
It was fear.
She didn't even need to fight to understand, as just from those roars alone, she knew that the enemies before her were the most terrifying she had ever faced. Against a foe that even a Sword Saint would have to take seriously, it was only natural for a young girl who had only just become a Sword Master to feel powerless.
Regardless, she didn't back down because, at this moment, a warm, steady hand rested on her shoulder, giving her courage.
"Honestly, you don't have to be here."
Riezel spoke casually, his expression as calm as ever, even as the storm of fury raged around him.
Seeing Riezel's calmness, Lizbeth couldn't help but feel a deep sense of admiration and respect once again, but at his words, she simply shook her head, refusing his kindness.
"I'm your attendant! I should be the one standing at the front!" Lizbeth declared with a firm expression.
She didn't want to see Riezel, her master, standing in front of her anymore. If he always had to protect her, then what was the point of her existence as his attendant?
An attendant's duty was to shield their master from attacks, to stand before them, to buy them time to chant magic. Yet up until now, not only had Lizbeth never once fulfilled that role, but she had also been the one protected instead, forcing her master to step in for her, to stand alone against danger.
In her eyes, it wasn't just negligence but also a failure.
She didn't want to feel that same helplessness again, so this time, she had made up her mind that she would always stand in front of her master—would fight for him.
Riezel looked at the light in Lizbeth's eyes and the determination on her youthful face for a moment before smiling slightly.
In the next moment, Riezel began casting magic on Lizbeth.
"Fly."
As Riezel chanted, Lizbeth realized that her body had started floating.
"Master?"
Lizbeth looked at Riezel in surprise, wanting an explanation, but Riezel's chant wasn't over yet.
"Greater Full Potential, Infinity Wall, Freedom, Paranormal Intuition, Greater Resistance, Mantle of Chaos, Indomitability, Sensor Boost, Greater Luck, Draconic Power, Greater Hardening, Heavenly Aura, Absorption, Penetration Boost, Greater Magic Shield, Bless Weapon, Magic Weapon, Lion's Heart, Resistance from Natural Weapons, Sanctuary Protection, Quick March, Haste, Aspect of Elemental, Power of Gaia—"
With a rapid and precise chant, layers upon layers of magic were cast onto Lizbeth, causing magical energy to flicker and glow all over her body.
Seeing this, not only were the knights frozen in place and left speechless, but even Nibald, who had been wearing a serious expression, faltered as he widened his eyes.
"W-What?!" Nibald cried out in shock. "Are those support magic spells from the Interference System?! Why are there so many?!"
Even Nibald, who was known as a grandmaster of magic, had never seen anyone apply more than a dozen support spells at once, throwing him into disarray.
It was only natural.
In the Akasha Continent, magic wasn't something that could just be stacked infinitely like this. If multiple magic spells with different effects were cast on a single individual, conflicts between the magic could cause them to cancel each other out or even fail entirely.
At least, that was how Nibald understood it, especially for Interference System Magic, which directly affected the caster or another person—unexpected interactions between magic spells could occur when cast simultaneously.
For this reason, generally speaking, no one would ever stack dozens of magic spells on a single individual.
Amazingly, the magic spells actually seemed to be working, proven by Lizbeth, who was surrounded by flickering magical energy, and the aura around her was steadily rising.
Such a sight shattered Nibald's understanding of the world once again.
Unaware of all this, Lizbeth unconsciously closed her eyes, feeling the sudden surge of strength within her, and soon, a ridiculous thought popped into her mind—she was invincible.
Of course, even though that was just an illusion, it proved that her strength had indeed increased, and not just by a little.
Coincidentally, the moment of enhancement came to an end as the two Autonomous Guardians took heavy steps forward, charging toward them.
"Go. Remember your breathing."
Riezel's voice finally reached Lizbeth's ears, making her instinctively adjust her breath.
It wasn't the way she normally breathed—it was the breathing technique she had learned from her master after arriving in Mavros Territory.
As Lizbeth's breathing rhythm changed, a surge of air flooded her lungs, and in that instant, her heart and lungs pulsed, her blood circulation accelerated, and yet another surge of strength rose within her.
Feeling this strength, experiencing just how powerful she had become, Lizbeth lifted her gaze and locked eyes with one of the roaring Autonomous Guardians.
*BOOM!*
In the next second, Lizbeth disappeared.
Hovering in midair, Lizbeth suddenly stomped on the air, causing it to explode as her figure transformed into a flash of light, zipping through the air while drawing the sword she had held close to her chest.
*ROOOAAAAAARRR—!!!*
Seeing Lizbeth, the Autonomous Guardian roared in fury, shaking the air, but Lizbeth moved like a nimble cat, dodging and weaving as she swung Moslow.
"Love Breathing - Third Form - Catlove Shower!"
Golden slashes appeared, massive in range.
Mirroring Lizbeth's movements, the slashes spun like an agile cat as they cut across the Autonomous Guardian's entire body, completely engulfing it.
*Pu-chi!*
In that instant, the golden slashes tore through its flesh, slicing across its entire body, down to its limbs and bones, leaving it instantly covered in deep wounds.
*ROOOAAAAAARRR—!!!*
For a brief moment, the Autonomous Guardian didn't seem to realize what had happened, and it wasn't until a second later that it let out an agonized roar.
Lizbeth had landed the first strike, injuring the Autonomous Guardian—once considered an overwhelming foe—faster than anyone else.
"What?!"
Among them were Raven, Nibald, and the three Mavros brothers—Kaiser, Axel, and Diego.
*ROOOAAAAAARRR—!!!*
Howling in pain, the Autonomous Guardian flew into a rage and, ignoring the shock of those around it, hurled a meteor-like punch toward Lizbeth midair.
*BOOM!*
With an explosive sound, the Autonomous Guardian's massive fist crashed into a nearby stone pillar, shattering it on the spot.
Boulder-sized fragments rained down from above, but they failed to stop Lizbeth, who dodged at high speed, slipping past the Autonomous Guardian's attack with ease.
"Love Breathing - Second Form - Love Pangs!"
Lizbeth moved with an oddly swift and unpredictable motion while swinging Moslow, unleashing a series of slashes that were as flexible and erratic as a whip.
*Pu-chi!**Pu-chi!**Pu-chi!*
One by one, the slashes landed on the Autonomous Guardian's body as if invisible wind blades were slicing across its form, leaving fresh wounds all over.
*ROOOAAAAAARRR—!!!*
Howling in pain again, the Autonomous Guardian roared in fury as it chased after Lizbeth, who kept leaping back and forth like a cat.
*BOOM!**BOOM!**BOOM!**BOOM!*
Leaving consecutive explosive sounds, the Autonomous Guardian's punches and swings of its stone spear struck the spots where Lizbeth had been just a second before, shattering the ground, walls, and nearby stone pillars. Even the debris falling from the ceiling was blasted apart one after another, sending dust clouds billowing through the air.
Lizbeth continued her fierce clash with the Autonomous Guardian, leaving those who had never seen her fight completely stunned.
"I-Is she really a Sword Master?"
Nibald, who had once speculated about Lizbeth's strength, felt his scalp tingle.
Naturally, if even Nibald reacted this way, the others were even more shaken.
To those unfamiliar with Lizbeth, she was nothing short of breathtaking—a beauty so stunning that calling her a goddess capable of toppling kingdoms wouldn't be an exaggeration.
They had never known that such a beauty could be this powerful.
They had never imagined that this goddess-like girl possessed such overwhelming strength.
As a result, when Lizbeth displayed strength that surpassed every knight present, perhaps even surpassing Kaiser, who was second only to a Sword Saint, everyone was left in shock.
At the same time, Riezel, seeing Lizbeth's fight, suddenly smiled and began chanting magic.
"Harbinger of the end, the white snow."
"Blow with the wind before the twilight."
For the first time in a long while, Riezel chanted a long magic incantation, letting his mind transform into surging magical energy.
"Closing light, the freezing land."
"Blizzard, the three severe winters—my name is Alf."
What Riezel chanted was one of the magic spells personally taught by Orario's strongest mage.
"Wynn Fimbulvetr."