-1282- [ Katharterio Salamandra ]

After about a week of training, Stella had now mastered the ability to awaken her true power and use it effectively.

Being able to recreate the concept of a "dragon" from mythology, giving herself the strength of a mythical dragon, was a recently awakened ability that Stella had begun to control.

Thus, just like now, Stella could not only control flames but also reproduce the concept of the "dragon's strength," elevating her power to a terrifying level. Even if she couldn't break the chains of the Injunction Shackles, she could still use pure strength to blast them away, clearing them from her path and rendering them ineffective.

Rozen's Injunction Shackles could no longer effectively defend against Stella.

"Come forth to serve me—Lævateinn!"

Stella summoned her Device, a greatsword burning with flames, gripping it firmly with one hand and lifting it effortlessly.

"Haa!"

Blasting away all the silver chains, Stella raised her Device high, infusing it with magical power, causing it to ignite. Using strength comparable to that of a dragon, she struck down towards Rozen, who was now undefended, with a blow that shook the entire training ground.

"Clang, clang, clang, clang—"

One after another, silver chains shot out from behind Rozen, blocking the descending Lævateinn, but they were sent flying by the immense force carried by Stella's weapon.

Thanks to the chains' interference, the speed of Stella's strike was reduced, and it even came to a halt.

"Is it now?"

Rozen, who hadn't moved an inch, suddenly smiled. With a surge of his magical power, countless chains flew from the side, wrapping around Lævateinn and connecting to the stands.

"Annoying!"

Stella shouted, not stopping her attack. Instead, she channeled more magical power and increased her strength, continuing to push Lævateinn down towards Rozen.

"Boom—!"

With the force of Lævateinn's strike, the chains wrapped around the sword didn't snap, but the powerful pull caused the connected stands to explode.

It looked as if one corner of the training ground's stands suddenly shattered, creating an exceptionally shocking sight.

With such power, Lævateinn, along with the chains wrapped around it, continued to strike towards Rozen.

Rozen had only seen a similar scene in the previous world when he used the Injunction Shackles to bind Cor Tauri Succinum. The Beast Vassal, now loyal to Rozen, had ignored the chains, bringing them along as it struck down with its flaming battle axe.

In other words, Stella's pure strength now rivaled that of Cor Tauri Succinum.

"A truly monstrous strength."

Rozen was speechless but didn't dare underestimate the blow.

However, faced with this near point-blank strike, Rozen had no time to dodge.

So...

"Swish!"

A silver chain suddenly shot from behind, wrapping around Rozen's waist and tightening, pulling Rozen away and flying towards the stands.

Stella's strike landed heavily where Rozen had been.

"Boom—!"

With an explosive sound, one corner of the battle circle shattered, as if a mountain had fallen, crushing the ground and causing it to tremble and crack.

The cracks extended to the stands, turning the entire training ground into a spiderweb of fissures, centered around the exploded pit.

Such a strike, capable of tearing the ground, seemed too excessive for a human.

However, Stella knew that without going to such extremes, even now, she couldn't make the man in front of her, who avoided her strikes in unimaginable ways, take her seriously and use his full strength.

Therefore, Stella never considered holding back and went all out from the beginning.

Even though this power shouldn't be used against a human, it didn't matter.

"Don't think you can escape!"

Stella raised her Device high again.

"Dragon Nest!"

With this shout, Stella thrust her Device into the ground.

"Buzz—!"

Blinding light erupted from the countless cracks covering the battlefield.

Seeing this, Rozen, who had been dragged away by the chains, was stunned.

"Are you kidding me...?"

As if knowing what Stella was planning, Rozen's eye twitched.

"That brute idiot...!"

After cursing under his breath, Rozen didn't dare slack off for a moment. Several chains descended from the sky like wires, wrapping around him and connecting to the ceiling of the training ground, pulling him upward.

Almost simultaneously...

"Boom—!"

From the countless cracks on the battlefield below, crimson lava erupted as if blood was gushing out.

It was real lava.

Just like a volcanic eruption, lava spewed from underground, breaking through the ground along the cracks, turning the entire training ground into a volcanic crater and a lake of lava.

Stella had turned the entire ground into a lava pool.

The high temperature not only disrupted the entire training ground's space but also created mirages, with heat waves and thermal energy continually surging forth.

The temperature in the training ground instantly skyrocketed to a terrifying level.

In this molten land, only Stella could stand, bathing in the lava.

"Now you can't escape...!"

Stella lifted her head, smiling as she watched Rozen ascend into the sky.

Then...

"Boom!"

Stella raised her Device high for the third time, aiming Lævateinn at the sky, and with a thunderous roar, an astonishing flame burst forth from the sword.

The flame formed a massive pillar of light, shooting towards the sky, melting through the ceiling of the training ground and piercing through, ascending into the heavens.

This hundred-meter-long blade of fire shone like the blazing sun, its path incinerating everything in its way, a flame of destruction.

This was Stella's most powerful Noble Art.

"Katharterio Salamandra!"

Shouting this, Stella unleashed the scorching pillar of fire at Rozen in the sky.

The fire pillar evaporated the atmosphere, burning everything, like the breath of a mythical dragon, shooting towards Rozen in the sky.

Finally, it completely engulfed Rozen's figure.