Kairo could tell that if this continued, his sword might not hold together much longer.
And then, in the very next second—
Boom!
The raging Black Flame struck him head-on.
Agony exploded across his body as the searing heat engulfed him. His clothes burned away in an instant, his skin blistering beneath the scorching force. The pain twisted his expression; his entire body felt on the verge of collapse.
The burning agony made it hard for him to even stay upright.
But then—suddenly—an invisible force surged from deep within him.
That power swept across his body like a protective tide, pushing the Black Flame away as if brushed aside by an unseen hand.
In the blink of an eye, the flames that had been devouring him vanished completely—along with every trace of heat and pain.
"What… what's happening?!"
The male Fatui elite's eyes widened in shock, disbelief written across his face.
He stared at Kairo's unharmed figure, his voice trembling. "My Black Flame… how could it just disappear?!"
The other Fatui elites were equally stunned.
Aside from holders of Visions or elemental beings, no one—no ordinary human—should have been able to resist the binding power of the Black Flame.
And yet, Kairo had not only endured it—he had erased it.
Kairo himself was momentarily taken aback, but his eyes quickly hardened.
He could clearly sense the mysterious energy that had just awakened within him—an invisible barrier that had shielded him in the moment of greatest danger.
But that energy wasn't his own. It came from somewhere deeper, from a latent power that had been sleeping inside him.
Could it be… a trace of Path Resonance?
Then it struck him—the power he'd inherited earlier from Clara's Path Resonance ability—Family.
It must have triggered when he was struck by the Black Flame.
That ability granted a 35% chance to cleanse one negative status when taking damage—an echo of the "Family" shield that Clara once shared with Svarog.
And this time, it had activated—removing the Black Flame's corruption entirely.
"So that's how it works…" Kairo muttered, realization flashing in his eyes.
He hadn't expected that "35% chance to remove a negative effect" would manifest in such an absolute, reality-defying way.
If it can nullify the Black Flame… could it even resist the power of a god?
Even a blow from an Archon or Demon God might fail to harm him, if luck was on his side.
But Kairo didn't linger on that thought.
While the Fatui elites were still frozen in shock, he struck.
After all, "Family" wasn't absolute—only thirty-five percent. There was no guarantee it would save him a second time.
His sword traced a silver arc through the air, each swing smooth and effortless. The light of the blade cut through the air like a tempest.
Kairo's figure flickered like a phantom, appearing and vanishing between the enemies' lines.
Each strike was clean, precise, and unstoppable—imbued with the sheer destructive might of the Crimson Echo.
Shing! Shing!
In two flashes of sword light, one elite fell before realizing what had happened—blood splattering the ground as his body split apart.
Another tried desperately to dodge, but Kairo was faster. His next blow sent her weapon flying and carved across her shoulder, sending her crashing to the ground.
The two remaining Fatui elites were left trembling—rage and terror mingled in their eyes. Their confidence was gone; their formation had collapsed.
How could a man without a Vision, without divine backing, so easily destroy them?
Kairo's sword flashed again, and his cold voice echoed in the silent air:
"Fatui… I refused your offer once. You should've known—this is the consequence."
The fear in their eyes deepened.
They finally understood—this battle had been doomed from the start.
Moments later, even the last surviving elite, the one who had wielded the Delusion, fell beneath Kairo's blade.
Kairo exhaled softly as he sheathed his sword.
"Easier than I expected."
He glanced at the fallen enemies. If not for Clara's Path ability—Family—he would've been gravely wounded.
As he mused, his eyes fell on the ground, where the shattered crimson Delusion-core lay glimmering faintly—a fragment humming with the Tsaritsa's frozen will beneath its heat.
He crouched and picked it up.
He couldn't use it himself, but something like this might prove valuable in the future.
Just then, the familiar shimmering of a virtual panel appeared before him.
[The Fatui division known as Vagrants, impressed by your strength, is not angered by your slaying of their operatives. Instead, they admire your abilities and send an envoy to invite you. You refused their invitation, receiving Option Two's reward.]
[Option Two Reward Acquired — Enhancement Balm · Ice]
A viscous paste infused with Path-resonant minerals. When applied to a weapon, it grants a temporary Enhancement Effect (Freeze Resistance + Minor ATK Buff).
[Because you rejected the Vagrants's offer and killed their envoys, their disappearance will soon attract the attention of higher-ranking members. You may face investigations, retaliations, or the interest of other factions. You must now choose…]
[Option One: Apologize proactively.
Even if you just cut down their men, there's no harm in bowing your head afterward!
You decide to visit the Vagrants's headquarters, tearfully explaining the "misunderstanding" over a fine feast and good wine—maybe they'll spare you.
Reward:The Dignity of a Trash Can – In the next battle, Defense +20%. No one knows why a trash can has dignity. But it's said to be remarkably heavy.]
[Option Two: Wait for them to come.
What's done is done. Let them make the next move.
You return home, eat, drink, and rest easy. If the Vagrants comes for revenge, you'll greet them with your fists.
Reward:Fragment of the Silvermane Gauntlet – A relic of the Silvermane Guards. Blessed by the Path of Preservation, reducing damage taken by 8%.]
[Option Three: Strike first, spin the tale.
You contact another powerful faction—the Wildfire—and "leak" information that the Vagrants has fallen into internal strife.
Rumors spread, chaos brews, and while they're busy tearing themselves apart, you remain untouched—and maybe even gain allies.
Reward:Piece of Preservation Construction Material – a substance resonating with the Path of Preservation. Mixes into paste with water and hardens when exposed to air.
(Do not attempt to combine with Solidified Pure Water.
"We studied the Amber Lord's methods of forging subspace barriers," says a researcher of the Intelligentsia Guild.
"Unfortunately, its composition remains a mystery."
"…It's definitely not cement, right, Tarlafan?")]
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