Cruz and Skullfy arrived at the enemy’s elite unit. The unit immediately shifted into battle formation. Despite having only about fifty machines, the enemy showed no fear against Cruz and Skullfy’s thousand-strong army.

First, Cruz’s zealous subordinates charged forward. They were met by roughly ten enemy magicrafts.

A fierce clash of weapons began. Both sides seemed evenly matched, and the chaotic melee turned into a heated, back-and-forth contest. However, Cruz appeared dissatisfied. Taking command of the second squad himself, he led a charge. In response, another ten enemy magicrafts joined the fray.

Cruz’s strength was remarkable. His powerful aerial magic strikes were effective even against formidable opponents, allowing his forces to gain the upper hand. As the enemy began to falter, they brought in an additional twenty machines. Seeing this, Skullfy ordered his accompanying battalion to charge.

But Skullfy’s plan to overwhelm with sheer numbers took an unexpected turn. A sudden fiery sphere appeared on the battlefield, landing in the midst of the charging battalion. The massive explosion consumed everything nearby. The devastation was evident—the magicrafts in the area were barely intact, with most melted, shattered, or blown apart.

Cruz and Skullfy were left in shock at the sight.

“What destructive power that magic strike has…”

“If they can fire that repeatedly, even a large army would be meaningless.”

I scanned the battlefield for the enemy machine that had unleashed the fiery sphere. Soon, I spotted it—one of the reported top enemies, piloting a slender, golden magicraft.

“It’s likely a magicraft specialized in magic strikes. We need to approach and take it down before it fires again.”

Cruz decided and proposed teaming up with Skullfy. Clearly recognizing the threat, Skullfy agreed.

The two left the rest of the enemies to their subordinates and made a beeline for the golden magicraft. Cruz’s Dominion advanced from the air, while Skullfy’s Arondight charged along the ground. The golden magicraft, though surely aware of their approach, did not so much as flinch.

“Is it underestimating us? Fine. I’ll wipe that smug attitude away.”

“Skullfy! Let’s take it down with the first strike!”

“Yeah! Let’s crush it in one blow!”

Beside the golden magicraft stood another reported formidable enemy, piloting a silver magicraft, but that machine showed no signs of movement either. Could there truly be riders capable of enduring the combined force of Cruz and Skullfy’s attacks? For a moment, the faces of Pernecissa and Astaroth crossed my mind. Those two might survive it effortlessly, but they’re in a league of their own, incomparable to this.

Cruz’s Dominion readied its spear and focused its power toward the golden magicraft. The spear’s tip glowed brilliantly, and a blinding magic strike was unleashed. A strike powerful enough to effortlessly vaporize an Exranda-class magicraft hurtled mercilessly toward the golden machine.