Lucia’s expression and voice were more agitated than usual. Her face looked like she was deliberately drawing out her emotions.0

At that moment, Ian recalled a conversation he'd had with her—the one where she said she might be able to use magic again if the holy stigma were to disappear. He had laughed it off at the time, dismissing it as an impossibility. And yet, it was happening.0

So her eyes lit up like that because of magic power.0

At the same time, a far more pressing conflict arose. Lucia was drawing far too much attention. That meant the monsters' focus would inevitably split toward her as well.0

Of course, the conflict lasted only a fraction of a second. This was beyond the Black Wall. Survival required everyone to shoulder their share of the danger.0

—Such primitive magic.0

Ian turned his gaze forward again at Yog's whisper, his eyes locking onto the massive beast ahead.0

The creature, writhing as if in a frenzy, was already lifting its head high once more. The long-armed creature clinging to its neck was nearly crushed by now, but the massive beast showed no signs of stopping until it had shaken the thing off completely.0

No… it just isn't dead yet.0

Ian narrowed his eyes, realizing that the long-armed creature's body was regenerating, its wounds visibly mending. Its vitality was astounding. To kill something like that, flattening it wouldn’t be enough. He’d have to turn it into minced meat.0

"Go to Lucy. Help keep her from getting too...0