Journey to Become the Zenith

The Lioness’s Resolve

Then she finally spoke.

"I have heard about everything you’ve done while I was asleep."

There wasn’t the slightest exaggeration in her tone.

Only honesty.

"I am grateful that you saved Fantom City."

Victor shrugged.

"It needed saving."

She continued as though he hadn’t interrupted.

"I am also grateful that you found and rescued the Prince of Skyfall."

A faint crease appeared between her brows.

"Even I never realized..."

"...that the prince had become the Ox King."

Victor scratched the side of his face.

"I suppose life likes surprising people."

Another silence settled between them.

Victor tilted his head slightly.

"So..."

"Is that all?"

"Did you come all the way here just to thank me?"

For the first time...

The calm air around Isabella shifted.

An immense surge of mana erupted from her body.

Boom!

The earth beneath her feet trembled.

The surrounding trees bent beneath the invisible pressure.

Birds scattered into the evening sky.

Even the air itself seemed heavier.

Victor’s smile widened.

His heartbeat quickened.

This...

This was the feeling he had been waiting for.

The pressure wasn’t forced.

It wasn’t meant to intimidate.

It was simply the natural aura of someone who had finally decided to reveal their true strength.

Interesting...

So you’ve been hiding this all along.

Diana instinctively took half a step forward.

Victor casually raised one hand without taking his eyes off Isabella.

The simple gesture was enough.

Diana immediately understood and stopped.

She trusted him completely.

Isabella’s dark eyes remained locked on Victor.

"I am grateful..."

"...for everything you’ve done."

She paused.

"But..."

Her voice grew noticeably firmer.

"What you’re planning to do by deceiving the Prince of Skyfall..."

"...is something I cannot accept."

The words hung in the evening air like a drawn blade.

A gentle breeze swept across the road, stirring the dust beneath their feet.

Victor’s smile never changed.

If anything...

The golden gleam in his eyes grew even brighter.

There was no anger.

No irritation.

Only anticipation.

"Hmph..."

"What exactly isn’t acceptable?"

He slipped both hands into the pockets of his golden jacket and tilted his head slightly.

"Everything I’m doing..."

"...is for the good of the people."

Isabella met his gaze without wavering.

"What you’re doing may seem beneficial now..."

"...but it will only lead to even more deaths."

Her voice remained calm, yet every word carried undeniable conviction.

"The current nobles will never tolerate an independent city."

"Once news of what’s happening here reaches the capital..."

"...they’ll accuse the Prince of Skyfall of treason."

"They’ll mobilize an army."

"They’ll come to subjugate Fantom City."

Victor listened quietly.

His smile never faded.

"You may be strong, Victor."

"I won’t deny that."

"But I assure you..."

"The Kingdom of Skyfall has many hidden masters."

"They have remained in the shadows for years."

"If they decide to intervene..."

She paused before continuing.

"You might survive if you choose to run."

"But everyone else..."

"Your companions..."

"The innocent citizens..."

"They will all die."

Her black eyes sharpened.

"Are you truly prepared for that?"

Silence followed.

Even the wind seemed to grow still.

Behind Victor, Diana watched the exchange without interrupting.

She trusted him enough to let him answer for himself.

Isabella also remained silent.

She believed her warning had reached him.

Surely...

Anyone hearing those consequences would reconsider.

Instead...

Victor slowly lowered his head.

His shoulders trembled ever so slightly.

Then...

He laughed.

"Heh..."

The laugh gradually grew louder.

"Hahaha..."

Finally, he lifted his head.

A fierce grin spread across his face.

"Hidden masters?"

His eyes shone with excitement.

"If that’s true..."

"They should hurry over and join the party."

His grin widened.

"I’ll see whether they’re worthy enough to become my dance partners."

The excitement radiating from him was impossible to hide.

It wasn’t arrogance.

It wasn’t recklessness.

It was the pure thrill of someone who welcomed powerful opponents with open arms.

Isabella felt a headache coming on.

Tsk...

This man really is insane.

She could almost feel his desire for battle growing stronger with every passing second.

Rather than fearing the hidden experts she had warned him about...

He looked disappointed they hadn’t already appeared.

She slowly let out a quiet breath.

"I see..."

"So that’s your answer."

Victor shrugged casually.

"I’ve already made my choice."

She looked at him one last time.

"Victor..."

"Will you truly not stop?"

His answer came without the slightest hesitation.

"Why should I?"

"I’m not forcing anyone."

"I’m not threatening anyone."

"They’re choosing this path of their own free will."

"And neither am I doing anything wrong."

Another long silence settled between them.

Isabella slowly closed her eyes.

When she opened them again...

The hesitation within them had disappeared.

"I understand."

She straightened her posture.

"I may no longer be a noble..."

"...nor the General of Skyfall’s army."

Her voice echoed steadily across the open plain.

"But..."

"I am still the Lion of Skyfall."

"And today..."

"I shall once again prove my loyalty..."

"...to the Crown..."

"...and to its people."

She extended one hand.

"If you refuse to listen to reason..."

"...then I will make you listen."

Victor’s smile only deepened.

"That’s more like it."

"I was beginning to think today would end peacefully."

Without another word...

Isabella raised two fingers.

Mana gathered around her fingertips until they shone with a pale blue light.

Then—

She drove them into her own left forearm.

A glowing magic circle briefly appeared before fading.

She moved without hesitation.

The right side of her neck.

The left side of her chest.

The right side of her chest.

Her abdomen.

Finally...

Her forehead.

Each strike released another seal hidden within her body.

The surrounding mana began to surge violently.

Then...

A cold mechanical voice echoed through the air.

"The first seal released."

"The second seal released."

"The third seal released."

"The fourth seal released."

"The fifth seal released."

"The sixth seal released."

The instant the final announcement ended...

Six massive currents of magical power erupted beside Isabella.

One after another...

Six figures gradually materialized from swirling pillars of light.

The first stretched lazily before laughing.

"You’re finally awake, isabella!"

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