Kaizen's grin stretched wide, his eyes gleaming with wild confidence. "Do you really think adding that guy could stop the Legate?" he sneered, his katana lifting in a slow, taunting arc. "There is no one among you who can stand against him even if all of you come at once."

Before Lumberling could answer, Kaizen moved. His blade flashed, a blur of silver slicing through the haze.

Lumberling tried to twist away, his spear shifting to block, but the katana was faster. Steel bit deep across his chest, tearing through armor and flesh. Hot pain shot through him like fire.

He grunted, stumbling back, breath ragged. Blood ran down his torso in a thin red line, soaking into the dirt beneath his boots. But even as his vision pulsed with pain, he refused to fall.

His spear steadied, point angled toward Kaizen once more. He drew a slow, burning breath and forced a smirk through the agony.

"I don't think so," Lumberling said, his voice hoarse but steady. "But at least we can try."

Kaizen chuckled low, wiping blood from his blade with his thumb. "Try all you want. In the end, the Legate will wash this field clean. None of you can stand before him."

He smirked, preparing for another swing. But before his blade could fall, a roar split the air.

"YOU BASTARD! I'LL KILL YOU!"

Serik's voice thundered like a beast's growl. His bloodshot eyes locked on Lumberling as he charged, spear raised high.

Lumberling turned, heart pounding, already bracing himself for the impact.

But before Serik could close the gap, three figures leapt in from the side, Lucian's Quasi-Knights, their armor cracked and stained with blood, yet their eyes burned with resolve.

"We'll hold him off!" one shouted, planting his sword into Serik's path.

"We'll help you, Lord Lumberling!" another cried, raising his shield.

Lumberling's eyes widened in alarm. "No! Get away from him!" he barked, but his warning came too late.

Serik's spear blurred with a vicious arc. The first Knight's sword was split clean in two. The second barely had time to scream before the spear tore through his chest. The third tried to block, but Serik spun with brutal precision, the weapon slicing through armor and bone alike.

Serik didn't even slow down. He yanked his spear free with a snarl, his aura burning brighter. "You're all insects," he spat, voice cold and seething. "None of you are worthy to stand before me."

The few remaining Quasi-Knights froze in place, the will to fight bleeding out of them. Their grips loosened, their feet shuffled back.

Lumberling's jaw tightened. "Don't block him," he barked, forcing his voice to steady. "Let him come. He's mine."

The Knights hesitated, glancing at one another, fear flickering in their eyes. But when Serik roared again and charged forward like a maddened bull, they obeyed, stepping aside.

Serik's grin widened, his teeth bared as he twirled his spear, blood still dripping from its tip. "Good," he growled, eyes blazing with bloodlust. "Now there's nothing between us."

Lumberling shifted his stance, planting his feet, his own spear raised and ready. The wounds on his chest and side throbbed, his breath ragged, but his eyes burned with defiance.

Serik let out a beastly roar, eyes burning red, and charged. His spear cut through the air with murderous force.

Lumberling met him head-on, steel clashing with a thunderous crack. Sparks scattered, but before he could follow up, another voice sneered from behind.

"Don't forget me, idiot!" Kaizen spat, his katana flashing.

Pain exploded through Lumberling's body as cold steel pierced his back. His breath hitched, blood spilling from his lips.

For a moment, it seemed his body would give out. But instead of weakness, something else surged inside him. A blaze ignited in his veins.

(Blessing of the Undying Flame activating…)

Strength roared back into his body. His eyes widened, a twisted smile curling across his lips even as Kaizen's blade remained lodged in his flesh.

With a guttural shout, he shoved back against Kaizen, breaking free. Then, with thunder crackling from his body, Lumberling's spear glowed as three skills merged into one.

He lunged forward like lightning. One thrust became three.

Crack! Crack! Crack!

Three spears of force slammed into Serik's chest, tearing through armor and flesh. His eyes, once red with rage, now widened in disbelief as blood poured out.

"You… bastard…" he rasped, voice breaking into a hollow whisper before his body collapsed.

(You have devoured the Knight's essence. 3,500 essence absorbed. Absorbing a portion of the Knight's memories and experience.)

Serik's corpse hit the ground with a dull thud.

Kaizen's eyes went wide. "What the…?! You… you shouldn't even be able to move!"

He slashed again, katana gleaming. But this time, Lumberling caught the strike on his spear, the clash ringing through the battlefield. His legs no longer buckled. His arms no longer trembled.

"How the hell are you still standing?!" Kaizen barked, his confidence cracking.

Lumberling only bared his teeth in a feral grin. He pushed forward, his spear darting in a blur.

Inside, he knew the truth, the fire raging in him wasn't endless. The blessing he'd devoured was only a fragment. Unlike Kairo, he couldn't hold this state for long.

'Time is running out,' he thought grimly. 'I must end this fast.'

Their weapons met in a storm of sparks. Steel clashed, ringing through the chaos like thunder. Lumberling's spear snapped forward again and again, each thrust fueled by the Blessing's raging fire inside him. Kaizen's katana met it every time, fast and deadly.

The air cracked as they circled, feet grinding dirt and blood beneath them. Every swing shook through their bones.

"Ha!" Lumberling roared, twisting his grip. His spear cut through Kaizen's guard, the tip slicing across his arm before biting deep into his shoulder. Blood sprayed, hot and bright.

Kaizen staggered, teeth bared in fury. "You!" he snarled, whipping his blade in a savage arc. The katana sliced through the air, missing Lumberling by a breath. The second swing came faster, aimed for his neck. Lumberling ducked, the blade grazing his ear, cutting off a strand of hair.

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