“No matter how great he is, he couldn’t come back victorious from the first encounter,” muttered Carmen while repeatedly opening and closing the lid of her lighter. Gilead and Gion felt dizzy from hearing the annoying ping, ping, over and over again, but they didn’t say anything. Although Carmen looked the youngest out of the three, she was still an aunt to Gilead and Gion.

“No one’s ever broken through the Dark Room on their first attempt in the Lionheart’s history, right?”

“In the first place, those who reached the Sixth Star of the White Flame Formula aren’t common,” answered Carmen with a shrug. “And it’s even rarer for anyone to reach seven Stars. In that sense, our generation has been greatly blessed. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that the Great Founder is looking after us personally.”

“I think so too.” Gilead nodded with a faint smile.

Indeed, this truly was a blessed generation. The previous elder, who had reached seven Stars of the White Flame Formula, was dead, but Carmen was still alive and well. Moreover, Gilead and Gion were still active, and in their prime, so it was entirely possible for them to someday cross over to the next level. But more than anything else, it was a true miracle for the Lionheart family. Moreover, Cyan and Ciel had reached the Fourth Star of the White Flame Formula, so the current generation of the Lionhearts was strong enough to be counted in the entire history of the family.

“Hmm.” Carmen was the first to sense the change. She stopped flicking the lid of her lighter and pulled herself up. Gion and Gilead immediately felt it as well, and they stood up from their seats with stiff expressions.

The door to the Dark Room was tightly closed, but the three could feel a presence approaching the door from beyond.

Gion whispered with a deep sigh, “Was it the right decision to leave my sword behind…?”

Gilead gave a bitter grin in response. Carmen did not use a sword, but both Gilead and Gion did. It was true that they were powerful individuals who would fare just fine even in the absence of their weapons, but considering the situation and their opponent, not having their weapons was disappointing.

“We wouldn’t want to accidentally...