Everyone looked at that attack in complete surrender…
Daniel smiled involuntarily—perhaps out of admiration for the dragon's power, or perhaps it was simply a man's instinct when he senses his death approaching.He spoke in a calm voice, tinged with admiration:
"Well… I never expected my end to come at the hands of a dragon.And that attack of his… it paints a picture of terrifying beauty.I won't regret this. Not at all."
As the dragon twisted its body mid-charge, its attack shaped like a massive blade, Vail had already forced himself back onto his feet.He stared in shock—but didn't think, didn't hesitate, not even for a moment...
He charged forward at full speed, supported by Seventh Flame Art: Total Combustion, combined with the power of gravity...He managed to delay the dragon's attack for a few brief moments.
At first glance, what he did seemed utterly reckless…But to his comrades???Those moments were enough—more than enough...
Raym and Lyra stood firm without showing even a trace of fear and rushed to support Vail.Daniel thought to himself:
What did you do to them, Vail, to make them throw themselves into certain death beside you without hesitation???But I won't disgrace them either—standing still while the young ones face such an absolute being…
Daniel joined them...
The clash at that decisive moment was thunderous,yet the upper hand clearly belonged to the dragon...
Sir Lonz leapt in as well, followed by Zack and the remaining men.For a brief instant… they believed the balance had evened out.
But it was an illusion...
All their hopes and combined effortdidn't even equal a single true attack from the dragon.
The dragon ignited its body and beat its wings faster, violently breaking that fragile balance.Its attack struck everyone at once...
A massive explosion echoed...Then—an eerie silence.
Had everyone… perished???
From within the ruins, Vail emerged, his body covered in burns and wounds.Daniel followed—his condition even worse than Vail's.
It was clear: they had deliberately absorbed most of the attackto spare the others...
Zack and Lonz emerged with light to moderate injuries.
As for Raym…
He appeared almost unharmed...
The reason became clear immediately.
Lyra had taken the damage in his place.
She collapsed in front of him, motionless...
That exact moment—the one Raym had desperately tried never to relive.Watching those he loved fall before his eyes, powerless to stop it.
He caught her quickly.She was breathing with great difficulty...
"Lyra… I'm sorry. Please—just hold on a little longer…"
Raym struggled to steady himself.He stood up and looked toward the dragon—serious… and afraid.
When he glanced at his hand,it was trembling violently...
The dragon grew furious that they were still alive.This time, it chose something decisive.
It twisted its body unnaturally, spread its wings high, and roared at the top of its lungs.
Everyone covered their ears—but that wasn't the real danger...
That roarerased all the air within its range...
A horrifying moment...
No sound...No air...
The worst possible situation...
Raym tried to remain standing,but the dragon lunged at him with its fangs...
Sir Lonz shoved Raym aside—and the dragon tore through him instead, severing his arm...
Lonz collapsed to the ground.
Raym tried to shout—but no sound came out...
Vail, Daniel, and Zack realized that movement without air was nearly impossible, so they conserved their strength...
Raym, however, was consumed by blind rage.
That rage drained what little oxygen he had left,his vision blurring,his balance faltering.
And yet—
He charged...
With every step forward,the dragon felt farther away…and the world darker...
Vail found himself rushing toward Raym without realizing it,but the dragon was ready, swinging its tail violently.
Vail deflected it using gravity,while Zack and Daniel attacked from behind.
It was useless...
The dragon's scales were harder than stone...
The effects of the roar began to fade,air slowly returning—far too slowly.
Vail and Raym realized the wounded wouldn't survive like this.With the last of their strength, they carried them to a slightly safer location.
Behind them,Zack and Daniel fought desperately just to stay alive.
Daniel leapt high and unleashed a powerful lightning strike at the dragon's arm.The dragon staggered.
Zack seized the moment and struck its leg, nearly knocking it off balance.
Vail saw it...
And made his decision.
Now… or never...
He unleashed gravity at its absolute limit,slamming the dragon into the ground.
He roared at the top of his lungs:
"RAAAAYM—NOW!!!"
Raym leapt high above them all,his weapon flooded with light,and struck with everything he had...
The dragon was barely scratched—
But Raym didn't stop...
He drove his sword with all his strengthstraight into the dragon's eye.
The dragon exploded in rage,flinging everyone away...
It lunged to finish Raym with a devastating, flame-coated claw.
But Daniel moved without thinking...
Why am I moving without realizing it???Is this his true power???The power of people believing in him???
With nothing but his raw physical strength,Daniel stopped the dragon's arm—barely...
The dragon grew even more furious and brought down its other arm.
Daniel resisted in desperation—but the attack finally struck him...
He fell...
The dragon turned its blazing eye toward Raym.
That terrifying gaze delivered a single message:
"You're next..."