When skeletons surged up from beneath the ground one after another and crossed into the interior of the magical barrier woven by the White Rose Blossom, the faces of everyone who witnessed the scene instantly drained of color. Shock and terror intertwined in their eyes.
"What—!? How is this possible?!"
"Why can they enter the arena without being repelled by the White Rose's power?!"
"Damn it! Those skeletons were once Oathbound Knights! Who did this? Who stole the remains buried in the sacred cemetery?!"
"The cemetery of the Guardian Knights is known only to the highest authorities of each noble family—and even then, entry requires the cemetery's guardian key!"
"Someone betrayed us! They handed the remains of the Oathbound Knights to a wicked necromancer!"
"Bastards! They're heading straight for Roxia! Hurry—stop the Oathbound Knight selection ceremony at once!"
"It's impossible! We cannot interfere with the White Rose Rite! The only way is for Roxia to withdraw from the arena herself—but that would mean forfeiting her qualification to become an Oathbound Knight!"
In an instant, despair spread through the crowd.
No one could do anything.
They could only watch helplessly as seven skeletons—once proud Oathbound Knights—advanced step by step toward Roxia within the arena.
The knights of the Yerman Family immediately rushed toward the edge of the magical barrier, attempting to shatter it and force their way inside. However, an invisible force violently repelled them, sending their bodies flying through the air before they crashed to the ground, crying out in pain.
"This is bad…"
Roxia bit her lower lip, a trace of worry surfacing on her usually cool, composed face.
The enemies surrounding her were former Oathbound Knights—figures who, in life, had once stood at the pinnacle of Sunset City's martial power. Though death had drastically weakened them, they were still far beyond what a newly awakened knight like Roxia could deal with alone.
Worse still, two phantoms created by the White Rose Blossom remained on the battlefield.
The situation was overwhelmingly unfavorable.
No matter how talented she was, being attacked from both sides left her stretched thin—completely overwhelmed.
What should I do?
Roxia tightened her grip on the Oathbound Sword, a faint light flickering in her eyes.
Was she really left with no choice but to give up?
No—she couldn't accept that.
This selection only happened once every twenty years. If she missed it, she would lose the only opportunity of her lifetime!
And more than that—she carried the future of the Yerman Family on her shoulders. If she withdrew now, everything she sought to protect would crumble into nothing.
"It's not time to give up yet!"
Roxia drew in a deep breath, forcing her emotions back under control.
The light in her eyes hardened into resolve. With both hands gripping the Oathbound Sword, she prepared to face the undead Oathbound Knights closing in on her.
"Kurose Akira… this—"
On the viewing platform, Natasha looked anxiously toward Akira, her beautiful eyes brimming with worry.
Because of the White Rose Blossom, the knights outside the arena were unable to cross the magical barrier and eliminate the skeletons threatening Roxia. The girl had been pushed into mortal danger.
Now, the only person she could place her hope in was Akira.
No—perhaps from the very beginning, she had believed that only Akira could save Roxia.
"Don't worry, Lady Natasha," Akira said calmly, signaling for her to steady herself. "Loserine has already moved."
Akira had carefully observed the undead skeletons formed from former Oathbound Knights. Their levels appeared to be forcibly suppressed at Level 16, and most of their attributes were lower than Loserine's. Only the jet-black skeleton possessed slightly superior stats.
With her traits active, Loserine had a real chance of fighting seven opponents alone.
Although she had lost her memories, the moment Loserine saw Roxia in danger, her skeletal frame instinctively leaned forward—an overwhelming urge to act surging through her, compelling her to save her niece.
Akira trusted her completely.
Even against seven Oathbound Knights of comparable strength, he believed Loserine would prevail.
And more importantly, Loserine didn't need to defeat them all—she only needed to prevent them from interfering with Roxia. Once Roxia passed the trial, every conspiracy and scheme would collapse into nothing.
"Go, Loserine!" Akira called out encouragingly. "Smash them to pieces!"
[Encourage: All Attributes +10% (Duration: 30 minutes)]
"…Mm."
Loserine responded softly, her figure exploding forward like a hunting leopard, charging straight toward Roxia's position.
Watching her surge forth with such fighting spirit, Akira allowed himself a satisfied smile.
Looks like the forum wasn't exaggerating—Encourage really does ignite an adventurer's passion and power…
Wait.
Akira's heart suddenly skipped a beat.
Did Loserine… just speak?
Before he could process that thought, gasps erupted all around them.
"Look! A knight in white robes is charging toward the arena!"
"She's so fast!"
"Is she going to save Roxia?!"
"That's impossible! The White Rose's power blocks entry—she can't get inside! Tell Roxia to give up already! Don't die chasing a dream!"
The crowd was utterly confused by Loserine's appearance. They couldn't understand what she was trying to do.
The rules of the White Rose Rite filled them with despair—no one could imagine a way to break what seemed like Roxia's inevitable defeat.
And yet, amid the cries of doubt, Loserine broke through the White Rose's magical barrier and sprinted toward Roxia.
For a split second, the entire venue fell deathly silent.
Then—
"Holy shit!? How did she do that?!"
"Is there still an Oathbound Knight alive in this world?!"
"No way! The previous Oathbound Knights all rest in the cemetery—only Knight Loserine's body went missing after that shipwreck!"
"Could it be… Knight Loserine?!"
"Impossible! That maritime disaster wiped out most of the Yerman Family's elite—even the family head and the Oathbound Knight perished! If anyone had survived, there's no way they'd vanish without a trace for ten years!"
"Then how did she break the rules of the White Rose Rite and enter the arena?!"
Shock rippled through the air like crashing waves. No one could comprehend how the white-robed knight had entered the battlefield.
Loserine, of course, offered no explanation.
She drew the sword at her waist, her movement light as a swallow. In the blink of an eye, she arrived at Roxia's side.
"You—?"
Roxia's sapphire eyes froze in astonishment.
She knew this white-robed knight—the adventurer Aunt Natasha had hired—but she had no idea how the woman had entered the arena.
Wait—
Roxia suddenly recalled something Natasha had said before.
That she had once met her aunt…
Could it be—
Clang!
Before Roxia could finish the thought, Loserine's blade came down in a precise, devastating arc, striking a skeleton that had been attacking Roxia.
The clash of metal exploded in her ears. A terrifying wave of sword wind swept across the battlefield, forcing Roxia back several steps before she barely regained her balance.
"So strong!"
Roxia's pupils trembled violently.
The combat power of this white-robed knight far exceeded her expectations.
She was certain—there was no one in Sunset City today with such overwhelming strength.
Unless… unless Natasha had been telling the truth.
Unless this knight really was her aunt.
As Roxia's thoughts spiraled in chaos, another icy sword gale tore through the air. With irresistible force, it ripped away the white robes wrapped around Loserine's body—
Revealing a suit of unique platinum-white armor beneath, gleaming brilliantly under the sunlight.
In that instant, her true identity was laid bare before the world.