"No!!"
A hoarse, despairing scream squeezed from Jana's throat, splashing to the ground along with her tears.
Ragnar half-closed his eyes, a sickly look of intoxication appearing on his face.
As though he were enjoying some incomparably beautiful music, he chuckled softly.
"Yes! Just like that..."
"Now that Sun Minjie is dead, your support is gone. Do you still insist that the Spirit Clan will never be slaves?"
Jana's eyes were red as she glared fixedly at Ragnar, her gaze filled with hatred.
But Ragnar had never truly intended to persuade her to surrender.
He asked only to humiliate her further.
"Your godfather, the Rimewind King, is restrained by my flame current. As long as I remain alive, he will never be able to re-form his body and escape his scattered wind-element state."
"Your backer, the Formless Divine Lord, just had his neck crushed beneath my foot. I have destroyed all his Substitute Dolls, so resurrection is no longer possible."
"As for the forces you brought from the Tempest Domain..."
At this point, Ragnar glanced around.
Seeing those generals and soldiers struggling bitterly within the flame current, unable to approach even a single step, his mocking laughter grew louder.
"...They're nothing but rabble, incapable of withstanding a single blow."
"Who else can lend you a hand?"
"And who can save you from this living hell?!"
"Reality is just this cruel... So? If you beg me now, perhaps I'll be merciful and spare your life..."
As he spoke, Ragnar crouched down and leaned close to Jana.
"Come on. As long as you say the word, I can let you live..."
"Ptoo!" A mouthful of bloody spit struck Ragnar squarely in the face.
Ragnar's smile froze, and the corners of his lips slowly fell.
He straightened up, his eyes taking on the