Adam's Abyssal Piercer and Ignis's Solar Nova converged on the gravity-locked core in a cataclysmic merger of void and starfire. The explosion of light and sound was immense, shaking the very foundations of the Crags.

But as the glare faded, a chilling sight met their eyes. The Wind Elemental Sovereign was not gone. Its form was shattered, translucent and flickering wildly, and the core was now a spiderweb of cracks leaking volatile energy. Yet, it held. A last-ditch, instinctual defense had manifested—a final, desperate shell of hyper-compressed air, reinforced with the very leyline energy it had been absorbing. It had sacrificed its stability to survive the blast.

"It's still standing?!" Ignis yelled, her flames guttering in surprise.

"Its core is critically damaged. It's clinging to existence by a thread," Lilith observed, her voice sharp. "But that thread is anchored to the land's mana. It will begin repairing itself unless the core is completely destroyed."

The Sovereign let out a weak, ragged shriek, already drawing faint wisps of blue energy from the stones.

Adam didn't hesitate. There was no time for another combined attack, no time for fancy tactics. This called for a single, perfect, surgical strike.

He blurred forward, Mirage Cascade carrying him across the amphitheater in an instant. He didn't summon a new skill. He focused everything into the original, the ultimate armor-piercing technique born in the depths against his own progenitor. His form seemed to sharpen, his horned silhouette becoming a lance of darkness as he aimed for the very center of the cracked core.

"MONARCH'S PIERCE!"

He struck not with an explosion, but with a terrifyingly focused penetration. His attack was a needle of supreme force and sovereign will, designed to bypass all defenses and shatter what lay within.

CRACK—SHATTER!

The sound was final. The web of cracks imploded inward, and the glowing core disintegrated into a shower of silent, fading motes of blue light. The shimmering, violent form of the Wind Elemental Sovereign unraveled completely, dissolving into a harmless, dispersing breeze.

The howling that had plagued the Crags for months ceased abruptly, cut off as if by a blade. The vicious, intelligent gusts vanished. The air, once a weapon, became just air again—rushing through the ravines in a natural, roaring flow that quickly settled into a strong, steady, and non-malicious wind. Within minutes, it mellowed further into a brisk, clean breeze that swept the dust from the stones.

[Wind Elemental Sovereign (Lv. 71) Defeated!]

[+300 EXP | +450 EP]

[Ding! Level Up!]

[ You are now Level 64! ]

[ Next Level: 7/ 500 ]

[Evolution Points: 348 -> 798]

The system notifications scrolled through Adam's vision. One level gained. A solid infusion of Evolution Points. The silence that followed was profound, filled only by the natural wind and the heavy breathing of the victorious party.

Adam landed lightly, the aura around him fading. He looked at the clear, windy sky, then at his companions. It was over. The Duke's task was complete.

Ignis stretched her arms, the scales on her skin slowly receding as she fully returned to her humanoid form. "Huh. That ended up being easier than I thought," she remarked, though her slightly labored breathing betrayed the effort it had taken.

As the unnatural wind faded, leaving behind only a brisk, natural breeze, Elise moved cautiously toward the center of the amphitheater, followed closely by Seraphina. Where the core had shattered, a few crystalline fragments remained, glowing with a soft, blue-white light. They pulsed gently with residual wind-aspected mana.

"Even broken, the core remnants hold significant power," Elise said, kneeling carefully to collect the largest fragments. Seraphina helped, using a piece of cloth from her pack to gather them. "While not useful for high-grade enchantments anymore, these can still be valuable. They can be ground for potent alchemical reagents, used as stable catalysts for wind-based spells, or even power minor elemental constructs."

Lilith glided over, her curiosity piqued. "Fascinating. A being of pure energy leaves behind physical remains. What are the primary applications? Weapon augmentation?"

Elise nodded, securing the fragments. "All of the above. For weapons, they could grant wind-cutting properties or lightness. For golems, they'd provide motive force and elemental affinity. They could also stabilize magical engines or be sold for a considerable sum to the right artisan."

"Hmm. Quite versatile," Adam mused, walking over. The system notification of his level-up still hovered pleasantly in his mind. "Good loot, then."

Seraphina stood, brushing stone dust from her knees. "We should return to Oakrest immediately and report our success to the Duke. Securing our lawful passage should be our priority now. Any delay might give him reason to reconsider or impose new conditions."

Ignis groaned. "Do we have to go back? Can't we just fly straight to the Red Hollow Pass now? It'd be faster!"

Elise shook her head firmly, though she gave Ignis a patient look. "We cannot, Ignis. I gave Duke Arkwright my word as a princess of Melium. A formal agreement was made: we resolve this threat, and he grants us safe passage. To simply leave would be to break that contract. It would make us oath-breakers in his eyes, and likely mark us as enemies of Solaria. Our journey would become infinitely harder. We must return, complete the bargain formally, and receive his sealed documents. That is how diplomacy and honor work."

She looked at Adam, her expression serious. "It's not just about power. It's about trust. We need at least one human authority to acknowledge our... group... as something other than monsters. This is our chance to establish that."

Adam considered it. He hated backtracking, But Elise was right. They couldn't just be fugitives forever if they wanted to move in the human world, especially with the goal of finding the Archivist to heal Alice. A Duke's signature on a travel pass could open doors and smooth over a lot of trouble.

"Alright," Adam conceded. "We go back. We get our prize. Then we leave for Red Hollow Pass immediately." He glanced at the sky, judging the sun's position. "If we fly back, we can be there before nightfall. Let's finish this business and get back on our real path."

Ignis was just about to shift back into her draconic form when Adam's head snapped up, his crimson eyes narrowing. He raised a hand sharply, signaling her to stop.

'Someone's coming,' he thought, his senses stretching out. 'More than one. Moving fast. Not trying to hide.'

The entire group immediately tensed, moving into defensive positions. Seraphina's hand went to her sword hilt, while Lilith's fingers twitched, ready to weave threads. Ignis let the transformative energy fade, her fists instead curling into fiery orbs.

From the mouth of a side canyon, a group of four figures emerged, moving with urgent, hurried steps. They skidded to a halt upon seeing Adam's party amidst the settling dust and newly calm winds.

The leader was a man with a stern, weathered face and a practical traveler's cloak over sturdy leather armor. A well-used longsword was strapped to his back. His posture was that of a seasoned warrior—balanced, grounded, and instantly assessing the scene. Beside him was a stout Dwarf, his broad frame almost as wide as he was tall, a magnificent braided beard streaked with grey tucked into his belt. He hefted a massive, double-headed war axe that looked like it could fell a tree in one swing.

Next to them was a woman in dark blue robes, clutching a staff of polished white wood topped with a glowing blue crystal—a clear sign of a magic-user. Bringing up the rear was a lean, wiry man with restless eyes and a pair of wicked-looking daggers sheathed at his hips.

It was the dagger-wielder who spoke first, his voice laced with frustration as he stared at the obvious signs of a concluded battle—the scorch marks, the displaced energy, and the calm air. "Dammit, Hill! I told you we were taking the scenic route! I said 'the main ravine is faster'! But no, you knew a 'shortcut'! And now we're late! We got lost, and someone else bagged the contract!"

The leader, presumably Hill, shot him an irritated glance, his voice a low growl. "It's your fault we got turned around in the first place, Kael, with your constant 'sensing vibrations' in the wrong direction. If you'd focused on the wind patterns like I said—"

He cut himself off, his full attention returning to Adam and his companions. His eyes scanned them—the disheveled but regal princess, the injured knight, the unnaturally beautiful woman with crimson eyes, the fiery-haired girl, and the handsome man with an aura of quiet, terrifying authority. They didn't look like a standard Duke's cleanup crew or a rival adventuring party.

"Who are you?" Hill asked, his tone cautious but not immediately hostile. He glanced at the broken crystal fragments in Elise's cloth. "And it seems you've... dealt with the problem here. The Howling Crags are quiet."

The dwarf grunted, hefting his axe. "Aye. Too quiet. Means the job's done." He sounded more disappointed than angry.

The mage woman simply observed, her eyes lingering on Adam and Lilith with clear academic curiosity and a hint of wariness.

Adam relaxed his posture slightly, but remained on guard. These were adventurers, clearly here for the same bounty. "The wind's been handled," he confirmed, his voice neutral. "You're a little late to the party."

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