[Minor revisions and polishing from initial draft, focusing on flow and consistency]
Erica lay quietly on the ground, her breathing steady and even.
The adventurers had regained sensation in their bodies, their eyes filled with astonishment.
They hadn't expected Viktor would actually manage to slay such a terrifyingly massive monster.
The shock and amazement still resonated in their hearts.
While they naturally had no knowledge of what a Calamity was, they had witnessed it firsthand.
That terrifying and mysterious entity was the most powerful monster they had ever encountered.
And Viktor, who had vanquished such a formidable beast, seemed even more frightening in their eyes.
With the crisis now over, they no longer wished to dwell on these matters. Instead, their attention shifted to the young woman lying unconscious on the ground.
Seeing this, their eyes widened in bewilderment.
That huge monster should be... dead, shouldn't it?
But why had a strange young girl fallen from its massive body?
Who was she?
At this moment, Viktor reached into his black coat, making a show of searching before pulling out a blue potion from his backpack.
In full view of everyone, he uncorked the luminescent blue potion and brought it to his lips, drinking it down.
Soon, a faint blue light enveloped Viktor's body.
A cool current coursed through him, seemingly alleviating even his mental fatigue.
After some sparkling effects, he could feel his magical power rapidly recovering.
Witnessing this, the other adventurers remained confused, but the sole fourth-tier elderly mage was visibly unsettled.
He stared wide-eyed at the distinctive potion bottle.
"Is that... the mana potion exclusively sold in the Imperial Capital?"
As a fourth-tier mage, Watt had naturally heard of these mana potions that were widely discussed among mages.
He had even offered astronomical sums, hoping to purchase such a potion.
Most mages weren't short on wealth, especially fourth-tier mages - their fortunes beyond what some might achieve in a lifetime.
Yet even so, those potions were simply unavailable in his region.
After all, mages constituted a massive demographic within the Empire.
The limited fifty bottles weren't even sufficient for the mages in the Imperial Capital.
Let alone distribution to other regions.
Although he was a fourth-tier mage, he wasn't the only one in the Empire.
There were plenty of wealthy mages, so why would anyone relinquish such miraculous potions merely because he offered a high price?
Watt had considered journeying to the Imperial Capital himself.
But as a high-tier mage and member of the Adventurers' Guild,
He naturally couldn't spend days traveling to the Capital just to purchase a single potion.
At this moment, Watt recalled Viktor's full name.
Viktor Kravina!
Those coveted mana potions were produced by the Kravina family.
In his daze, Watt suddenly understood everything.
No wonder Viktor's magical power was so terrifying.
After all, he had unlimited access to mana potions - a single sip could restore significant mental energy.
That explained his vast magical power.
The only thing he found difficult to accept was:
How could this mage, single-handedly, cast such powerful war magics as easily as breathing?
If he was already this powerful, how were other mages supposed to measure up?
Both being fourth-tier, why was he alone so exceptional!
It was simply humiliating!
Meanwhile, Viktor paid no attention to what those behind him were thinking.
He checked his status bar where some mana had been replenished, sufficient to support normal spellcasting.
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He extended one hand.
A white mist formed two streams of air, twirling around Viktor's forearm before encircling Erica's body.
The unconscious Erica gradually levitated, drifting into Viktor's arms.
In a princess carry, Viktor steadily held the unconscious Erica.
He cradled her, feeling her presence, her faint breath warming his skin.
She was in no mortal danger, merely physically weakened.
However, if not for her appearance, millions in the Northern Territory might have perished in endless storms from Doragon's emergence.
She alone had saved countless lives.
And...
Viktor's eyes scanned her thoroughly, clearly sensing within Erica's body an additional power of wind elements.
That natural magical power had merged with her blood, making her breathing more stable.
Erica, lv28
Half a year ago, when Erica first entered the academy,
She was merely a newly advanced second-tier mage.
But after just one holiday period,
She was about to breakthrough to third-tier.
Vega's eyes flashed with wisdom.
"It appears she has gained part of the Calamity's power."
Otherwise, there would be no explanation for her power increasing so rapidly.
But Viktor didn't respond to the crow, his expression remaining impassive.
Without turning, he spoke coldly:
"Do you understand why I prohibited any adventurers from entering the Abyss?"
At these words, the adventurers behind him shuddered.
Hearing Viktor's emotionless voice, they knew he addressed them.
Though his voice carried no trace of emotion, they trembled continuously from fear, their bodies growing cold.
Given another chance, they would definitely not enter the Abyss at this time.
After all, Viktor's power transcended human limits.
And now they fully comprehended how he had earned his impressive title of Councilor.
At this moment, Hela gracefully stepped forth from the crowd.
Her bearing was elegant, an aura of composure emanating from her.
She covered her mouth with a fan, the patterns in her eyes rotating like slowly blooming flowers.
"You were prepared to battle that monster here all along, weren't you?"
Viktor neither spoke nor nodded, but his response was equivalent to confirmation.
"Is that so."
Hela lowered her head, eyes slightly raised, those gradually blooming flowers now fully opened.
A gentle voice emerged.
"You are truly powerful, and kind."
Viktor heard Hela's praise, turned, and gave her a look.
His gaze remained indifferent, seemingly unmoved by her compliments.
"Kind? I've never considered myself that way."
The incidents between him and the Reiser family had spread throughout the Empire, known to all.
Judging by how Viktor had vented his fury on the Reiser family, few would consider him kind.
But Hela laughed unusually, her eyes narrowing, the patterns settling.
A mysterious aura burst from her eyes.
"Please don't misunderstand, Councilor Kravina. I'm praising your kindness, not... the useless mercy of the weak."
Her flower-blooming eyes kept rotating, as if a beast emerged from those dark gray flowers, opening its maw.
"You needn't have notified them, yet you did."
Hearing her words, Viktor spoke flatly.
"It was merely done in passing."
"But even such a casual act prevented them from losing their lives."
"That is your kindness."
Hela laughed softly, her laughter carrying an alluring quality.
As she said, without Viktor's advance warning, the adventurers in this rift might have been annihilated.
Even as fourth-tier adventurers, they could only safely observe under Viktor's special protection.
And Viktor couldn't protect everyone.
At this point, Hela particularly eyed the blonde girl in Viktor's arms.
She looked young, carrying no threatening presence.
Perhaps Viktor had sealed the rift to conceal her existence.
After all, when such a terrifying and powerful monster was defeated, a human girl emerged from its body.
Such news would be explosive anywhere, in any nation.
Hearing this, Viktor slowly raised his head, glancing at Hela again, his voice growing cold.
"Then, who sent you here?"
Hearing his question, Hela lifted her massive skirt, curtseying slightly to Viktor, wearing a particularly mysterious smile, appearing exceptionally refined.
"Councilor, we are the Adventurers' Guild."
"We are free, no one can command us."
"Unless..."
At this point, Hela licked her lips, looking at Viktor expectantly.
"Someone proves stronger than us."
At these words, Viktor reassessed Hela and the fourth-tier adventurers behind her.
Although the power displayed by the adventurers except Hela seemed disappointing to Viktor.
They were still fourth-tier adventurers, elite anywhere.
Viktor understood the Beast Guild well.
When the Crown Prince lived, the south was under his direct control.
Due to military presence, guilds had little room to operate.
Even the mighty Beast Guild was heavily regulated in the City of Adventurers.
Consequently, resources available to adventurers were extremely scarce.
Basically, they had no opportunities to rise in the south.
So, Hela's words carried clear implications.
"Interesting ambition."
He turned, holding Erica, to face Hela directly.
"Then if I require your obedience, what price should I pay?"
Hearing this, Hela's body slightly tensed, as if in anticipation.
Her eyes grew misty, her face flushing.
The roaring beast in her eyes retreated, the patterns rotating rapidly as two dark ash-colored love hearts appeared.
She gazed at Viktor as if beholding a perfect treasure.
"You need pay no price, need not even move."
"I merely hope that you would..."
"Have a child with me."