Silver Bottle Fifteen

Boom!

Rumble!!

The ground of the elegant, tranquil Chessboard Manor shook violently. Amid thunderous blasts, the lawn was ravaged by the aftermath of battle, dirt and shredded grass spraying everywhere.

Whoosh!

Thud!!

Thud, thud, thud!!

A scalp-numbing shriek tore through the air, like the howl of some massive object moving at high speed. It was followed by dull, devastating impacts that seemed capable of stopping one's heart.

A male and female Long-Lived One from Midnight Rose stood there, grievously wounded and covered in blood. They stared at the stone-and-bone sculpture ahead of them, their faces filled with terror.

That towering figure radiated an overwhelming pressure.

It wore a crown, a scarlet cloak, and wielded a terrifying stone hammer. Embedded behind the hammerhead was an enormous wooden Rending Wheel, spinning continuously with a clattering rattle.

Not far away, their female companion lay in a pool of blood, barely alive. Half her body had been smashed into pulp, yet she had not drawn her last breath and was still letting out faint screams.

After being struck by the hammer, she had suffered double damage to both body and soul. The pain was unbearable.

"Who... who the hell is this guy?!"

Of the two still standing, the male Long-Lived One's expression shifted as he spoke in a hurried voice.

His female companion shook her head, wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth, and said gravely:

"I don't know. But he's clearly only Tier 4, yet his strength is comparable to Tier 5. We're no match for him..."

"Where is Mr. Red Duke?"

"Still conducting his research..."

The two exchanged words quickly.

Gritting her teeth, the woman said:

"This won't do. We have to notify Mr. Red Duke immediately—"

Boom!!

Before she could finish, the stone-and-bone sculpture moved again.

With a deafening