"You damn kid!" the second assassin yelled, attacking Mixarnt nonstop. His focus sharpened as he blocked her strikes. Though her attacks were strong for his 11-year-old body, he kept up, matching her blow for blow.

"Enigma Enhancement—5%," Mixarnt said, boosting his speed by 5%. The assassin was shocked as he overwhelmed her with his newfound agility. "Radiant Pillar!" he shouted, spinning and leaping into the air. His wooden sword glowed with radiant energy as he slammed it down on her.

She blocked the hit, but the force unleashed a blinding pillar of light that engulfed her and wrecked the already ruined fortress. The other criminals shielded themselves, while their minions were blinded by the blast. The assassin who took the full force of the attack was left badly hurt, her body scorched and shaking.

"Whew, good thing I can use Enigma’s power on my weapon. It saves mana and stamina," Mixarnt said, barely tired. During his gathering quest, he had trained to increase his mana and stamina, making sure he wouldn’t run out of energy if he faced Kaelzar or another strong foe again.

"Damn, there’s still so many of them," Mixarnt muttered with a grin, knowing he couldn’t waste energy if he wanted to use Enigma against Kaelzar later.

"Nice work, kid!" a familiar voice called out. It was Arthur, along with the other adventurers. Arthur launched a massive fireball toward the criminals, while the rest of the group charged into battle. The adventurers had arrived quickly because five of their mages knew teleportation magic. Using Mixarnt’s location as a marker, they had teleported near him the moment they saw the pillar of light earlier.

The sudden arrival of the adventurers gave Mixarnt a much-needed boost. Arthur’s fireball exploded among the criminals, their screams mixing with the roar of flames. Chaos erupted as warriors and rogues unleashed a storm of steel and spells against their enemies.

Amid the chaos, Mixarnt felt a mix of relief and unease as his companions took on the overwhelming odds. He knew the battle would only get tougher, especially with Kaelzar still out there. But seeing Arthur, Elyssia, and the others fighting with such determination inspired him to push harder.

He scanned the battlefield, looking for new targets to distract and harass while his comrades handled the stronger foes.

"Hah! Making us come out, you useless foot soldiers! Damn adventurers!" shouted one of the 13 notorious criminals as they stepped forward. These were dangerous individuals, locked away in the continental prison for heinous crimes—using dark magic, slaughtering innocents, and other unspeakable acts of cruelty.

Carlos charged forward, his sword gleaming in the chaos. Arthur and Elyssia unleashed powerful spells, their magic clashing with the dark sorcery of the criminals. Grimbold, a towering Ruby-rank adventurer, roared as he swung his massive warhammer, crushing enemies with brutal force. The other adventurers joined the fight, their skills and abilities creating a fierce resistance against the enemy.

Mixarnt watched the battle unfold, his mind racing. He realized the 13 criminals were different from the ones he had fought earlier—these were the strongest under Kaelzar’s command. "Damn... Should I use Enigma? Should I join them?" he muttered, glancing around. All the adventurers were locked in combat, and if he exhausted himself here, no one would be left to face Kaelzar. It was clear Kaelzar had planned this—to wear them down before finishing them off.

With a determined look, Mixarnt made his decision. He sprinted past the hardened criminals, shouting, "Guys! I’m going ahead!"

Arthur and Carlos were shocked but quickly grinned, understanding his plan.

"You won’t get past us, you damn kid!" the notorious criminals shouted, but as they tried to stop Mixarnt, the adventurers stepped in. Each criminal was blocked by a skilled fighter, and when magic was hurled at Mixarnt, Arthur or Elyssia countered it, clearing the path for him.

Mixarnt ran, his heart pounding as he left the chaos behind. He knew the real battle—the one against Kaelzar—was still ahead.

Mixarnt charged forward through the fortress until he reached a secluded room. There, Kaelzar stood, having just finished casting a spell on a massive magic circle. He chuckled darkly, his eyes gleaming with madness.

"Too late, kid. This magic circle is linked to the skies of Naeva. Soon, a rain of dark energy will destroy the city. And after that, I’ll die too, joining my beloved sister—the one Naeva betrayed!" Kaelzar declared as the giant magic circle shrank and marked his body. He had become the catalyst for the spell.

With a roar, Kaelzar charged at Mixarnt, his demonic blades glowing with dark energy.

"Haha! And here I thought you planned to destroy the other kingdoms too! Come to me, Enigma!" Mixarnt shouted, summoning his spirit weapon with a grin. He dashed forward, ready to clash with Kaelzar.

"Fool! My magic is set to rain destruction on every kingdom in the continent, even after I die! Naeva will just be the first to fall!" Kaelzar snarled, his unholy weapons clashing with Mixarnt’s glowing sword.

The battle erupted in a storm of light and darkness. Kaelzar’s strikes were wild and relentless, each swing of his blades fueled by rage and despair. Mixarnt countered with precision, his movements sharp and calculated. Sparks flew as their weapons met, the force of their clashes shaking the room.

Kaelzar unleashed a wave of dark energy, but Mixarnt dodged, leaping to the side and retaliating with a burst of radiant light from Enigma. The light collided with Kaelzar’s darkness, creating an explosion that sent both of them skidding backward.

"You think you can stop me, boy?!" Kaelzar roared, his voice filled with fury. He lunged again, his blades slicing through the air like shadows.

"I don’t think—I know!" Mixarnt shot back, his grin unwavering. He parried Kaelzar’s strikes, his movements growing faster as he tapped into Enigma’s power. "Enigma Enhancement—10%!"

Mixarnt’s speed increased dramatically, his sword becoming a blur of light as he pressed the attack. Kaelzar struggled to keep up, his dark energy faltering under the relentless assault.

But Kaelzar wasn’t done yet. With a roar, he unleashed a massive wave of dark magic, forcing Mixarnt to leap back. The room trembled as the energy surged, but Mixarnt stood firm, his spirit weapon glowing brighter than ever.

"I won't let you destroy the continent Kaelzar!" Mixarnt shouted, charging forward. Their weapons clashed again the impact sending a shockwave through the fortress.

The battle raged on, light and darkness colliding in a desperate struggle for the fate of the continent.