Ranking System

William, wielding a spear, quickly attacked the closest of the four targets. Rather than capturing, he chose to eliminate his opponent.

To justify his actions, taking a foe alive was more challenging than ending their life, especially when he was at a disadvantage. He couldn't afford to be lenient.

He was also unaware of the power granted to him, prompting his hasty choice to take a life.

"Gerald! Move!" One of the four insurgents shouted urgently. With William's aggressive move, everyone present understood that a battle was bound to happen.

William's agility was formidable. As the commander of the nation, he was the most battle-hardened. The man's response was slightly delayed, and though he avoided a fatal strike, his left arm suffered a deep wound.

"WILLIAM! YOU BASTARD!!!" The injured man howled in agony, hurling insults at William as if he were the vilest creature.

The commander wasn't satisfied with just wounding Gerald; he saw an opportunity to end him.

Regrettably for William, the other three opponents sprang into action, doing everything within their power to thwart him.

Meanwhile, Wendy aided William from afar without engaging directly, using her magical abilities.

"You wretch! I've always sought to bring down your lineage, and with your rebellion, I can now act without repercussions." Collaborating with the trio, Vega chose to part ways and targeted Wendy.

Using a sword whip as her weapon, Wendy enveloped it in a luminous golden glow, aiming to halt Vega's advance.

Adding to the intrigue, an assault with a sword whip wasn't just a direct slash. Unlike a standard sword, this weapon could bend and twist in any direction, provided the wielder possessed the expertise to control it.

"Do you truly believe your whip can best me?" Offended by what he deemed a "simple" move, Vega charged forward undeterred, ready to confront the attack directly.

As Vega's staff and the whip collided, the whip was redirected, wrapping around him. Anticipating this, Vega didn't bother evading the whip; instead, he cloaked himself in a protective barrier, allowing him to bypass the weapon's binding. Wendy's expression twisted in frustration at his maneuver.

My focus shifted to William, who was now surrounded by three individuals. Despite being the most formidable amongst us, except for myself, fending off three assailants and an injured one was no small feat.

As the battle turned against him, an attack finally connected with William's back, stopping him in his tracks. But to his surprise, the curse activated, making him realize that he hadn't sustained any injuries from the blow.

"Do you appreciate my gift? It might hit hard, but only a feeble assault won't harm you." With my revelation, the dynamics of the battle shifted.

The three opponents soon understood that their most forceful attacks were virtually ineffective. As for William, driven by curiosity and the desire to evaluate the gift, he fearlessly charged straight into the fray, undeterred by potential consequences. After all, he was a seasoned fighter; a bit of pain wasn't going to deter him. His pride simply wouldn't permit it.

Offering no defense against the incoming blows, he decisively took down the man who had been injured earlier.

"GERALD!!!" The demise of Gerald fueled the fury of the remaining two.

Even though Gerald might not have been the most significant threat, removing one opponent from the equation significantly reduced the pressure on the battlefield.

Having taken down Gerald, William didn't pause. He lunged at the next adversary with relentless fervor, attacking with wild determination.

William's aggressive onslaught had put one of the two remaining rebels on the defensive. Aware that William wasn't going to shield himself, the rebel found himself in the position of having to do so.

"Ronald! HELP ME!" As he suffered multiple strikes from the spear, he called out for reinforcements. Yet, to his dismay, Ronald remained motionless, offering no assistance.

Ronald cast a glance my way and began to flee from the skirmish. Recognizing the futility of continued combat, he deemed escape to be his wisest move.

"Not so fast, little rat." I intervened before Ronald could get far, paralyzing him and sending him crashing to the ground.

I had initially considered sparing some of these individuals, but having witnessed the battle, I changed my mind. It wasn't their lack of strength that influenced my decision, but their character and disposition.

I had the ability to erase their memories, as I had done with my subordinates, but doing so would also diminish their combat capabilities.

"Commander William, I've reconsidered. End them." By the time I gave the order, William had already dispatched his adversary, and Ronald had attempted to flee.

Following my command with unwavering loyalty, William approached Ronald, gazing down at him coldly. He positioned his spear, aiming it directly at Ronald, devoid of any emotion.

"Wait!" Ronald tried to talk it out, but before he could say anything, William poked a hole in Ronald's head, ending this whole charade.

Meanwhile, Wendy had been closely monitoring William's confrontation and deduced that she, too, possessed the same bestowed gift.

But, in contrast to William, she didn't have the means to take down Vega decisively. Her only option was to employ every ounce of her strength and skill, attempting to ensnare and choke him with her sword whip.

Once the battle had concluded, William observed Wendy's struggle from a distance. Even with the advantage the gift conferred, she was still struggling to showcase her prowess in combat. This was not concerning; I required their lineage primarily for administrative roles.

"Kukuku, even with that enhancement, it's pointless if you lack the might. It's quite pitiful for a noble of your stature, don't you think?" Gaining confidence, Vega couldn't help but mock Wendy, gloating at his perceived superiority.

Irritated by his jeering, I stepped in and inflicted a curse on Vega, rendering him so frail that even a gentle breeze could cause him harm.

Vega suddenly felt his vitality ebbing away. His once-mocking laughter vanished, replaced by a look of sheer terror. He turned his gaze towards me, realizing I was the orchestrator of his sudden vulnerability.