Armland and Nina were on high alert, preparing to unleash their full power in response to the oppressive mark coming from the distant sky. They seemed poised to enter battle at any moment.

With mark levels reaching ten, defeating other apprentice sorcerers had become increasingly difficult. Now that many sorcerers were forming groups, obtaining marks was nearly impossible, except for those known as Despairers.

Whoosh!

A wind-element bat appeared in their view. Immediately, Nina drew her bow taut, channeling life and wind element energies into the arrow, her eagle-eye aiming precisely at the figure on the bat, poised for a devastating strike.

Meanwhile, golden patterns, alive and writhing, appeared on Armland's body. Silver lightning crackled to life on his greatsword, sparking in the air.

Armland shouted, "Honorable Despairer, we mean you no harm. Please leave to avoid conflict!"

Beside him, Nina maintained her lock on the "Despairer," her magic and spirit pushed to their limits. Though she had talked tough earlier, the prospect of confronting a Despairer made her nervous, and beads of sweat appeared on her forehead.

The wind-element bat hovered thirty meters away, flapping in the air without advancing.

Just as Armland and Nina's hearts pounded in anticipation, a head peeked out from the bat's back. With surprise, it exclaimed, "Nina, Armland?"

On the other side, using eagle-eye, Nina recognized the pale mask and felt her body shiver instinctively, immediately suspecting the worst—

Nidhogg had been killed by this Despairer!

Instantly, a surge of uncontainable hatred and anger exploded within Nina's eagle-eye.

She had to avenge Nidhogg!

"Ah..."

With a pained scream, Nina released the arrow.

Whoosh!

The Hurricane Arrow transformed into a violent cyclone, reaching the wind-element bat almost instantaneously.

However, at that moment, a surprised voice reached Nina and Armland's ears.

"Nidhogg? No!!"

With Nina's disbelief, the arrow turned into a swirling wind sphere in the sky, engulfing the bat and Nidhogg.

Inside the furious wind sphere were countless life magic-formed sharp leaves, slicing through whatever was within like blades.

Nina stared blankly at the sky, at the ultimate attack sorcery she had created herself. No one understood its terror better than she did.

With a thud, Nina's legs gave way, and she sank to her knees in despair.

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Pale as paper, tears streamed down her face as she gaped at the sky, sobbing uncontrollably.

"What... what have I done? I actually... actually..." she wailed.

Armland, lacking vision-enhancing sorcery, couldn't grasp what had happened. The incident transpired so quickly—by the time the Despairer in the sky called out their names, Nina's sorcery had already erupted, completely swallowing the figure.

Armland hadn't fully processed the events. Feeling the terrifying energy above made his heart race with fear.

No wonder the poison-tongued queen acted with such impunity—this sorcery's power likely reached 100 degrees in intensity!

And it lasted so long...

He was about to ask what happened when he saw Nina kneeling and sobbing uncontrollably, stunned by her reaction.

On one hand, he didn't understand why she was so affected; on the other, he was struck by her vulnerable beauty.

So, even the poison-tongued queen had such a side...

After a long moment, the wind sphere and life-blades dissipated. With a thud, a figure fell to the ground, weakly saying, "Nina, it's me..."

...

Nidhogg's face was pale. The magic consumed in that moment nearly equaled his encounter with Yunli.

Luckily, the mask’s shield protected him, or he would have been shredded by Nina’s sorcery.

Nina was stunned for a moment. Armland, who had seen Nidhogg with his mask at the Bloodsail Alliance ball, doubted his memory but cautiously asked, "Nidhogg?"

"Yes," Nidhogg replied softly, still the quiet, mysterious figure from Armland’s memory who rarely attended alliance gatherings.

Nidhogg's magical imbalance left him barely able to stand, but his face, masked, hid this from Armland. Seeing Nidhogg emerge from such terrifying sorcery seemingly unscathed left Armland with a sense of deep mystery about him.

"Now I understand why Nina chose him over Astalada, who pursued her for three years. It turns out this alliance hides such a beast..."

Armland muttered to himself, realizing the situation should be left for Nina and Nidhogg to resolve.

It also left him embarrassed over his past pride—boasting as the top newcomer’s rank now felt foolish...

As Armland departed, Nidhogg noticed Nina still kneeling, staring at him, realizing the inevitable had come.

He could well imagine Nina—a woman of strong control and expression—facing the truth that her protected lover was more powerful than herself, leading to profound emotional conflict.

Nidhogg approached Nina, gently trying to lift her, softly saying, "Get up."

She harshly shook off his hand, tears spilling from her eyes as she looked at him, chokingly asking, "In your eyes, am I just a clown performing for myself?"

Hurriedly, Nidhogg responded, "No, you are my lover, my family, the woman I want to marry!"

"Lover? Family? Wife?"

She laughed bitterly, tears flowing, mocking herself, "But all this time, I’ve been the foolish idiot, acting as your protector, not realizing how laughable I must have seemed to you..."

"No!"

Nidhogg interrupted quickly, preventing her spiraling thoughts.

She coldly laughed, "Not? Then tell me, if I’m not a clown to you, what am I? Nidhogg, I was naive and immature. We should end..."

"Stop it! Nina, to me, you will always be the vine queen protecting me. I’m always yours, silently supporting you."

Nidhogg embraced her tightly, cutting off her words.

Her body tensed momentarily.

Instantly, she was transported back to when she was proud and arrogant, dangling from a vine above the endless sea—a devouring abyss.

Just as despair loomed, counting down her magical strength, this man saved her.

Never had Nina imagined trusting, loving someone so deeply, willing to give him everything, even change herself for him.

Yet, undeniably, in that moment, this man, seemingly ordinary, vulgar, ignorant, and dull, had moved her heart profoundly.

Slowly retracting her sarcastic smile, Nina silently gazed at Nidhogg, seemingly caught in internal conflict.

Seeing her hesitance, Nidhogg gently placed a necklace—his earlier prize, a flame-resistant sorcery item—around her neck.

"No matter the world outside, by your side, I am always Nidhogg, needing your protection."

Nidhogg solemnly promised, as if vowing lifelong devotion.

Nina saw his ear adorned with the vine heart earring she had gifted him, heard his earnest vow, and after a long pause, stood softly, saying, "Let’s go find Yorkris and Binhan."

Without another word, Nina walked away, leaving Nidhogg relieved and quietly following.