Chapter 41: I will stop it.

Dragonkin demon: LV25.

Leanna’s heart sank.

LV25: human entry cap, low-tier demon peak. With it—fortress unbreakable.

Post-dungeon: no confidence.

No words. Divine scent confirmed—flashed before Leanna. Fist.

BANG!

Sword block—cracked. Impact flung her. Cheek gashes.

Melin aid—faster demon. Gut punch. Aaliyah barrier—or crippled.

Seli arrows crushed. Joyna traps null. Full effort—no scratch.

Tail sway. Overlook.

“Your ‘magic’—this?”

Magic: Knights’ flaw.

Month short—max physical, coop.

No spell time.

Attacks single—low threat. Else: not easy rout.

Claw raised—at Leanna.

Chains descended—bound arms. Current surged.

Pale-blue figure behind—four Knights.

“Teresa?!”

Leanna lit.

More shock.

Dragonkin snapped chains. To Teresa—fist met magic shield.

Ripples—no crack.

“Flank!”

Teresa order. Team assaulted. Leanna squad joined.

Ten Knights: wounds multiplied.

Blood pooled. Stared Teresa.

Threat: magic Knight.

Next—ignored attacks. Rushed Teresa. Flame claws burned chains.

“Careful!”

“Captain!”

Leanna pierced abdomen—unstopped. Claws trisected girl.

Shredded: ice crystals—vanished.

Schlick—

Back sword: heart.

“End.”

“Killed” girl behind. Calm.

Blood dripped. Staggered laughs.

Abyss magic swirled.

“Forced this—proud!”

Gold to blood eyes. Sword ejected. Wounds healed.

Roaming demons sucked—blood water. Cocooned.

20+ deaths: burst. Bulkier horns, body, tail. LV30.

Low to mid-tier.

“Ha—”

Bloody breath. Mid-tier: shield shatter punch.

“End.”

“Teresa!”

Crashed ruins. Dust. Rush—

Cool voice.

“Leanna—take them.”

Dust out: Teresa dusted dress. Faced demon.

“…You?”

“I hold.”

Eyes closed.

Divine aura enveloped. Brow scar gold-lit. Goddess perfect.

Dress white glow. Blue hair windless. Divine forced demon back, frown.

“Can’t long. Leanna—please.”

Glanced team. White sword—charged.

Form: LV30 mid-tier—no edge.

But: temporary.

Stall—victory hers.

Leanna hesitate.

Go?

Form Teresa: no win. Escape window.

Stay: waste sacrifice.

Go: heart pain.

Pera sword—three teammates edged battle.

No fear.

“Pera?”

Turn—apologetic smile.

“Sorry, Captain Leanna—no orders this time.”

“Can’t leave Captain.”