The massive blood spear tore through the sky like a crimson comet.
The **Sixth-Star Commander** moved the moment it was released.
His blade flashed.
A single step through the air—
And the spear split cleanly in two.
The halves detonated behind him, exploding into a rain of blood fragments that scattered across the sky like burning embers.
Aldric stared.
"…Well."
More blood swirled lazily around him as if it had a mind of its own.
"…that was rude."
The commander said nothing.
He was already moving.
His figure blurred through the air.
Aldric tilted his head slightly as the sword appeared again—this time aimed straight for his throat.
**CLANG**
The blade struck the crimson barrier surrounding Aldric.
The impact rippled through the blood shield like a stone dropped into water.
The commander didn't stop.
His sword moved again.
And again.
And again.
Each strike faster than the last.
**CLANG—CLANG—CLANG—CLANG**
The barrier trembled violently with every blow.
Behind Aldric, the cultist flinched as the shockwaves passed through the air around them.
Aldric sighed.
"…You know."
Another strike slammed against the barrier.
"…if you keep swinging like that…"
More blood gathered in his palm, slowly shaping into a long spear.
"…I might accidentally kill her out of pure annoyance."
His red eyes flicked sideways toward the cultist.
The woman's face had gone pale, but her gaze remained sharp and calculating.
Her lips parted.
"If I may—"
Aldric's expression immediately twisted with irritation.
"Shut."
The word snapped through the air like a whip.
The cultist froze.
Aldric didn't even look at her as he spoke again.
"Just shut your mouth and try acting like someone who's about to be killed."
The commander's sword struck again.
This time the barrier cracked slightly.
Aldric noticed.
"…Oh?"
The commander spoke for the first time.
"You seem awfully calm for someone surrounded by knights, mages, and airships."
Aldric smirked.
"Oh, I'm not calm."
The blood around him suddenly surged.
Dozens of crimson blades formed behind his back like wings made of sharpened steel.
His smile widened, revealing sharp fangs.
"I'm just entertained."
Then his eyes glowed a deeper red.
"And trust me…"
The blood constructs behind him multiplied.
Hundreds now floated in the sky around him.
"…you're helping with that."
The commander tightened his grip on his sword.
Wind howled across the battlefield as more mages finished forming spell circles in the distance.
Below them—
The town burned.
And far across the battlefield—
Draven and Seraphine's clash continued shaking the streets apart.
Aldric glanced briefly in that direction.
"…He's taking his sweet time."
Then he looked back at the commander.
His grin returned.
"So."
Blood chains burst outward again.
"Shall we continue?"
Aldric rolled his shoulders slowly in the air, crimson energy drifting around him like smoke.
Then he laughed.
Low.
Amused.
"Well… it's about time we stop holding back."
The blood around him surged violently.
"It's about to get fun."
Dark red mana flooded down his arms.
Liquid blood twisted and hardened, wrapping around his forearms and hands. The mass condensed, thickening layer after layer until **massive blood gauntlets** formed around both arms. Veins of glowing crimson pulsed across their surface like living arteries.
The air trembled.
Below them, several knights instinctively stepped back.
Aldric flexed his fingers.
The gauntlets groaned like grinding metal.
At the same moment—
Blood chains suddenly burst outward behind him.
Before the cultist could react, they **wrapped tightly around her body**, coiling around her arms, torso, and legs like serpents.
The chains yanked her closer, suspending her behind Aldric in the air.
She stiffened immediately.
"Sir—"
Her voice sharpened.
"You shouldn't do that. It isn't necessary."
The chains tightened.
Blood spikes protruded slightly from their surface, pressing against her robes.
Aldric didn't even glance back.
"Of course it is."
His red eyes remained locked on the **Sixth-Star Commander**.
More blood gathered behind him, swirling like a storm cloud.
"You think I'm stupid?"
Another chain wrapped around the cultist's waist, locking her completely in place.
"If I let you float around freely, you might try something clever the moment I get distracted."
The commander watched silently.
Aldric tilted his head slightly.
"So let's remove that possibility."
He tugged the chains lightly.
The cultist was pulled closer behind him like a restrained puppet.
"Now you're my shield."
His fangs flashed in a grin.
"If someone fires a spell at my back…"
He shrugged.
"…well."
His gauntleted hand clenched.
"We'll find out how loyal you really are."
The cultist's eyes narrowed, but she said nothing.
In front of them—
The commander slowly raised his sword again.
Wind mana gathered along the blade.
Farther in the distance, the **airships rotated**, their mana cannons charging once more with a deep, humming sound.
Aldric cracked his neck.
Then he spread his wings wider.
"Alright then…"
Blood constructs began forming around him again—denser, sharper, more violent.
"…let's see if a **Sixth-Star Knight Commander** can actually entertain me."
And then—
He moved.