The ice shattered, and from within emerged a massive figure wreathed in flames. It spread its wings and let out a furious roar, attempting to unleash the wrath that had been sealed for countless years. However...
"Do it!!"
With Duanmu Huai's order, everyone struck at once.
Augis spread her hands wide, and her thin puppet threads wrapped around the Flame Dragon's wings and limbs like chains. Then she pulled hard, dragging the Flame Dragon—who had only just climbed back up—straight back down to the ground.
The Flame Dragon had not even figured out what was happening yet. It lifted its head in confusion, seemingly trying to understand its situation. But at that moment, Lorena leapt high into the air, gripping her holy tome in both hands, raising it above her head, and then smashing it down onto the dragon's skull!
"Bang!!!"
With a heavy thud, the Flame Dragon howled and collapsed.
"Anne!"
"Gureya!!"
At the same time, the two princesses raised their hands, immense magical power gathering and condensing into a massive fireball. A magic circle flickered, expanded, and in an instant enveloped the entire dragon.
"Grand Magic!"
"Deadly Blaze!!"
With their furious shouts, a fireball like a miniature sun plummeted down like a comet, crashing straight into the Flame Dragon and engulfing it in a massive explosion.
It certainly looked impressive, but was using fire magic on a Flame Dragon really a good idea?
Almost as if to prove Duanmu Huai's complaint, the explosion soon faded. The dragon's body on the ground had completely lost its former grandeur—or rather, it was impossible for it to look impressive when its head and most of its torso had been blown apart, not even scraps of flesh remaining. This time it should be dead for sure... huh?
But just then, Duanmu Huai caught sight of a flash of red light within the dragon's remains. Suddenly, its body burst into flames again and began regenerating at a speed visible to the naked eye!
Damn, don't tell me you're a phoenix's illegitimate child or something?!
Though he cursed inwardly, Duanmu Huai didn't panic. He had faced plenty of regenerating monsters before and knew exactly how to deal with them.
"Anne, Gureya! Destroy the core inside it!"
"Yes!!"
The two princesses, who had been flustered by the regenerating dragon, immediately snapped back to focus. Anne raised her hands, and a bright red magic circle formed beside her.
"Rune Cannon!!"
With her shout, a blazing red beam fired straight through the regenerating body of the Flame Dragon, striking its core. But to everyone's shock, Anne's powerful strike had absolutely no effect!
Don't tell me this thing is magic immune?!
Everyone was stunned. At the same time, the Flame Dragon's body suddenly swelled, then exploded, turning into several flame monsters that rushed toward Duanmu Huai's party.
Damn, it wants to stall us to buy itself time to regenerate!
Duanmu Huai's heart sank. The others were caught up fighting the suddenly appearing flame creatures, unable to break free. Meanwhile, the dragon's body continued to regenerate at alarming speed. If this kept up, things would get bad.
" Tch, why does every [BOSS] love to struggle on its last breath? Can't you just die quietly?!"
Snorting, Duanmu Huai quickly waved his hand, instantly summoning several large mechanical soldiers to block the flame monsters. At the same time, his jetpack roared, propelling him high into the air. He leapt across the battlefield, gripping his [Warhammer], and swung it down at the Flame Dragon!
"Gyaaaaaaaa!!!"
Even without a head, the Flame Dragon seemed to sense the danger he posed. Its flames surged, forming a fiery bird to intercept his strike.
But at that moment, a blast of frigid wind swept past.
"Fwoooooooosh!!"
Filine spread her hands, and a freezing gale—cold enough to solidify stone—howled forth, instantly shattering the fiery bird. Even the blazing flames covering the dragon's body wavered and nearly vanished under the icy wind.
"Haaaaaaaahhhhhh!!!!"
Duanmu Huai burst through the fiery bird's remains, his [Thunder Warhammer] crackling with lightning. He swung it down with all his might at the Flame Dragon's core, which gleamed like a ruby. The warhammer smashed into it, shattering it to pieces in an instant before it exploded violently!
"Boom!!!"
The scorching flames swallowed Duanmu Huai whole, but it was nothing more than the Flame Dragon's last desperate struggle. Fire erupted skyward with a roar of unwilling rage, then blossomed like fireworks, lighting up the entire night sky.
At the same time, the flame monsters vanished into smoke.
"Phew..."
Everyone finally let out a sigh of relief.
The Flame Dragon was finally slain.
"Fantastic, Gureya, we defeated a dragon!!"
Seeing the monster destroyed, Anne hugged Gureya tightly. This was the first time they had ever personally slain such a legendary creature. It was no wonder Anne was so overjoyed she nearly jumped for joy.
"Don't get careless. This dragon just had bad luck, that's all."
Duanmu Huai walked over and offered a reminder. As he said, perhaps this Flame Dragon had once been terrifying, but after being sealed away for hundreds of years, it was like a hitman who had been locked in prison for decades. Finally released, before he could even breathe in the air of freedom or enjoy the sunlight, he got thrown into a sack and beaten to death.
Still, this was the first [BOSS]-class monster they had taken down since beginning their adventure. It was no wonder Anne and Gureya were so excited. Even Lorena's cheeks flushed red with excitement. As a missionary priest, she likely never had the chance to face such an enemy before.
Unfortunately, before they could savor their victory, the entire tower began to collapse...
The tower had been sustained only by Filine's magic, and after taking a direct hit from Anne and Gureya's spell, the fact it hadn't already crumbled was a miracle.
By the time they scrambled out, covered in dust, the tower had become nothing but ruins.
Filine stood silently, staring at the ruins, her eyes filled with loneliness and sorrow.
Though it had been a prison, it was still a place she had lived for hundreds of years. To say she felt nothing would have been impossible.
Duanmu Huai stepped forward and patted her shoulder.
"Let's go. The road ahead is still long."
"...."
Filine didn't answer. She simply gave a small nod.
After all, she no longer had a reason to stay here.
And so, Duanmu Huai's party gained a new member—or perhaps one and a half?
The flying fairy counted as half, right?
Filine's addition made Gureya very happy. As a dragonkin, she had never met another of her kind, so she felt deeply connected to Filine.
Filine, however, was somewhat surprised after hearing Gureya's circumstances. In her era, dragonkin were rare, but not unheard of. Like Gureya, she was also born from a union of dragon and human.
The difference was that Filine's mother had been a water dragon, so she lacked wings. Instead, she had the power to command ice and water, and could swim freely through the sea. Incidentally, Gureya was quite envious of Filine's tail—a slender, long appendage with a translucent, crystalline beauty.
By contrast, Gureya's own tail was thick and stubby... like how a girl with thick thighs envies one with slim, delicate legs.
Anne found Gureya's tail cute as it was, and Duanmu Huai didn't see a problem with it either. But Gureya herself seemed rather self-conscious...
Well, dragonkin matters weren't something they could really understand anyway.
(End of Chapter)