Chapter 41: First of all, I am not copper. Secondly, I am not a love-brained person.

Balof’s form was barely human anymore.
His blood-red body pulsed with writhing veins, his face a grotesque mask of demonic fury.
His severed arm regrew, and spider-like spikes sprouted from his back, twitching erratically.

Now colossal, he dwarfed the purification center, his bulk threatening to collapse the underground structure.

“I didn’t expect he’d get bigger,” Cynthia remarked calmly, gripped in Balof’s massive hand.
Her tone was unfazed, as if she weren’t the one caught.

Ina, hearing the crumbling stone around them, panicked.
If this continued, the monster could wreck Bazerolle from below—and bury them all.

She raised her staff, channeling dark magic to drain Balof’s strength.
It wasn’t much, but it was something.

“Roar… dark aura…”

Balof’s gaze shifted to Ina, her magic slightly affecting him.
“You’re in my way!”

He swung his left hand at her, a blow that could shatter bones—or worse.

“Miss Ina!”

Lorena lunged, sword raised, shielding Ina with her body.
Her light shield absorbed the impact, sparing her organs from the brunt.

Ina, reacting, layered a dark shield over Lorena, easing the pressure.
Lorena unleashed her sword’s magic, repelling Balof’s hand just enough to create distance.

“Damn… this is God’s power!”

Balof’s rage flared at being thwarted by “mere humans,” diverting his focus from Cynthia.

A surge of force erupted from his right hand, where Cynthia was held.
She smirked mockingly, prying his grip apart with raw strength.

Black wings burst from her back, shattering his hold.
In a blink, she soared to eye level with Balof.

His anger and confusion met her cold gaze.
Yulandel materialized, slashing into his eye like butter, its magic tearing the orb apart.

“ROAR!”

Balof’s pained bellow shook the chamber.
His back spikes stabbed at Cynthia, but she ignored them—their speed couldn’t touch her.

Her wings twitched, and she darted along the spikes, slicing them off with Yulandel as she closed in.
Landing on his neck, she glared down.

“You dared attack my people? Find a better god in your next life.”

Before Balof could resist, Yulandel flared with blood-red light, expanding massively.
With a single slash, his head parted from his body, blood spraying.

Yulandel absorbed every drop, its magic stone glowing until sated.

Boom.

Balof’s headless corpse crashed down, rattling the purification center.

Cynthia landed lightly before Ina, wings retracting.
“You okay?”

Ina’s face was flushed.
“Cynthia-chan… you said I’m yours…”

Her eyes darted shyly.

“What’s the issue?”

Cynthia blinked.
“You’re under my protection. Nothing wrong with that.”

“Huh? Protection?”

Ina faltered, sensing a misunderstanding but unable to pinpoint it.
“Uh, yeah…”

“Scared silly?”

Cynthia leaned in, touching Ina’s forehead.
“No fever.”

“You’re the one with a fever!”

Ina’s face reddened again, turning away, annoyed at herself.
She’s a girl! Stop overthinking!

But… so cool.

Cynthia glanced at Lorena, puzzled by Ina’s expression.
“What’s with her?”

“Let her cool off. She’ll be fine,” Lorena said, hesitating before asking, “Senior, what now?”

The chamber held Balof’s corpse and the unconscious Paladins.

“You inform the city lord. I’ll handle the body.”

“Understood. I’ll go.”

Lorena left.

Cynthia eyed the bloodstone, still pulsing in the center.

[The controller’s gone. It’s stopped.]

The Blood Demon spoke, sensing her thoughts.
[Absorb its power.]

“What happens then?”

[We retrieve the Blood Crown.]

The Blood Crown’s pressure had weighed heavily, but Cynthia, aided by the Blood Demon, endured.
Balof’s inept control spared her full strength, but time was critical.

The blood mist revealed the orc children’s blood fueled the Crown, enraging Cynthia.
Her transformation into the Blood Princess shocked Lorena, but their shared enemy kept them united.

Ina’s [Eternal Night] subdued the Paladins non-lethally, while Cynthia’s clash with Balof showcased her dominance.
His “divine” power crumbled against her skill and Yulandel’s might.

Now, with Balof dead and the Paladins down, the bloodstone’s power beckoned.
The Blood Crown awaited.