Storm Overlord

A deafening cloud of smoke billowed across the area. It had all happened so suddenly.

The dust that had been kicked up gradually settled. A flash of lightning appeared through the haze, followed by a tremendous roar like that of a giant dragon.

The shockwave swept away the dust outside the crater, revealing a massive white figure wreathed in lightning.

A thunderous giant bear stood five meters tall on all fours. It had smashed a crater a full meter deep into the ground.

Wild, fierce, unstoppable!

Its enormous jaws gaped open, revealing fangs sharp enough to bite through rock. Faint blue patterns shimmered with lightning across its pillar-thick forearms, and its huge, blade-like claws tore through the earth!

A Lower Rank Storm Bear!

Every Overlord-level magical beast was incredibly dangerous. Hunting one required an elite knight order with at least one Middle Rank Knight in command, as well as thorough preparation and a rotation strategy to wear it down.

But the only people here were Aurelian and Jeanne, two Lower Rank Knights!

Aurelian gritted his teeth and stared into the crater, fearing that Jeanne had been caught in the attack. That had been a lethal blow from an Overlord-level magical beast. If Jeanne hadn't been there, he would have likely been killed by the Storm Bear, which had descended like the Thunder God.

"Damn it, the beast actually knew how to ambush us!"

The dust in the crater hadn't settled yet, and he couldn't see what was happening inside.

But there was no time to wait. Even against an Overlord, he had to fight. If nothing else, he could buy Jeanne a little time to escape.

He drew Innocent Starlight and summoned the surging Star Magic within him. The azure blade trembled, its engraved runes glowing.

Violet magic, sparkling like starlight, began to swirl around the azure blade!

Aurelian gripped the sword in both hands, pushed off with one foot, and leaped into the air. Moving at a speed beyond ordinary human limits, he used Flash Step to appear before the towering Storm Bear and thrust at it.

This was a commonly used technique among Star Knights: they enhanced their bodies with magic to swiftly strike down their opponents.

But even on all fours, the Storm Bear stood five meters tall. If it reared up on its hind legs, it would likely exceed ten meters. It was an immense behemoth, worthy of its Overlord rank.

The sharp blade struck the Storm Bear's forepaw, sending lightning crackling through the air. Aurelian's hair whipped about as the lightning illuminated his face.

The Storm Bear roared. Its other paw, wrapped in lightning, churned up a gale and slammed toward him!

A thunderous explosion!

Ice shards and dust filled the air.

Aurelian was sent flying. His legs carved a deep furrow in the ground, and a trace of blood appeared at the corner of his mouth.

That was the power of a Lower Rank Overlord-level magical beast. Humans of the same rank couldn't meet it head-on.

A direct clash meant death or serious injury!

He wiped away the blood, determination in his eyes.

"I was too reckless. Ordinary slashes and thrusts can't hurt it at all."

The Storm Bear pounded its chest with both paws and roared at Aurelian, as if showing off its incomparably powerful body.

Aurelian raised Innocent Starlight again and took a deep breath.

"I'll give it everything I've got!"

He lifted his sword once more and charged the Storm Bear, unfazed by its roar that could shake the mountains and forests. He rushed right up to it again.

His armor, bathed in dragon's blood, could neutralize most of the lightning surging around the Storm Bear.

Facing the giant's immense body, Aurelian raised his sword in both hands, pointing its tip at the bear's head. He channeled all his magic. Star Magic surged over the blade of Innocent Starlight, then suddenly erupted into a violent violet storm that slammed into the giant's head and chest.

Magic unleashed—Wind King Hammer!

The Storm Bear didn't dodge. In its eyes, attacks from insects like these were usually beneath notice. All things had a spirit, and having reached the Overlord rank, it had gained considerable intelligence—though it was, of course, nowhere near as clever as a human.

Boom—!

"Can you fire off another one?" Jeanne asked, turning to him.

"Another what?" Aurelian looked baffled. Why did that sound so strange?

"The move you used just now to knock back the beast." Jeanne didn't understand why he looked so odd, but she had no time to dwell on it.

"Wind King Hammer? I could manage it, but I need a little time. It'll probably drain all my magic, and I might overexert myself, too."

Aurelian looked utterly despairing. Magic was precious, after all.

"Then I'll hold it off. Give me a signal when you're ready."

Jeanne was quick and decisive. Aurelian suddenly found himself believing that his little maid really had once been a knight.

"Okay."

He nodded. There was no time to lose. Master and the others were waiting outside, and he had to deal with this Overlord quickly.

Roar—!

Its earlier attack hadn't crushed the two insects to death, and that enraged it.

Thick black lightning burst forth, as if a storm were sweeping everything away. Dark clouds flickered in and out around its body.

Surrounded by rolling waves of lightning, the Storm Bear charged. Its thundering footfalls shook the ground beneath them.

Jeanne was already stepping forward. She drew the magical weapon at her side: a silver-white longsword bearing golden runes.

Her expression was cold, her blue eyes fixed solely on the charging Storm Bear.

She rushed to meet the giant's roar, moving swiftly as she chose to face the beast head-on!

The cross-shaped longsword shone like a streak of golden light in her hand. Its slender, gleaming point was aimed straight at the Storm Bear!

The Storm Bear paid her no heed. As far as it was concerned, these insects' weapons couldn't hurt it—not even a little.

It only had to trample them, and they would be crushed beneath its feet.

Jeanne closed to within three meters of the Storm Bear. The cross-shaped longsword flickered like a beam of light as it darted toward a single point!

Squish!

The giant felt pain for the first time in a long while. A deep gash opened in its forearm, and blood poured out like a fountain.

Furiously, it swung its lightning-wreathed right paw at Jeanne.

But after landing her hit, Jeanne leaped more than ten meters into the air. The giant's right paw didn't even brush a single hair on her head.

All the clumsy beast could do was roar in fury. It reared up and tried to strike Jeanne in the air with its lightning-covered claws!