Thick smoke rolled across the city, choking the streets and suffocating countless people with a fear that felt like drowning.
Flames—like maddened beasts—had already swallowed several districts whole, turning them into a sea of fire and lighting up the entire sky.
Staring at the two red dragons in the distance—so violent they were practically turning half of Chernobog into molten slag—the Crownslayer clicked her tongue and bumped her shoulder against Faust, who was keeping watch over their surroundings.
"So when is this going to end? And where the hell are Patriot and FrostNova's Yeti Squad?"
"…No idea."
"Tch. You don't know anything, and you call yourself a recon sniper?"
Faust clearly didn't want to talk. Meanwhile, Skullshatterer had gone off with the sister he'd finally managed to find.
Crownslayer didn't want to deal with Mephisto either, so she dropped into a seated position on the spot, ignoring the filthy environment around her.
"Still don't get why those two siblings are fighting. Chernobog's about to get wrecked by the pair of them."
They looked so alike. If she had a little brother that close, she'd be cherishing him, not trying to take his head off like Talulah.
And the way those two fought was terrifying. Calling them "humanoid catastrophes" wouldn't be exaggerating.
Still, Crownslayer wasn't exactly upset. It was Ursus' city getting demolished—she was one step away from cheering "good death" on the spot.
Thud—
A familiar, heavy set of footsteps sounded behind them.
So they finally showed up… and they came here first instead of going straight to Talulah. Looks like they really didn't want to get involved in the fight between Talulah and her brother.
With questions boiling in her head, Crownslayer stood. Along with the other Reunion members, she turned to look at Patriot arriving with FrostNova.
"Mr. Patriot."
Faust spoke first. Seeing the obvious signs of battle on Patriot's body, he asked, "Where were you earlier? And do we need to intervene in Talulah's fight?"
Patriot didn't answer. He simply stood there, drawing everyone's attention, and stared toward the distant blaze that climbed into the heavens.
FrostNova sighed and, instead, gave a few curt instructions to their comrades.
"No, Faust. You're going to stay right here, and you're not leaving my line of sight."
"And Crownslayer—send word. Every member still roaming the city gathers here. Now."
"Lastly… be patient."
After that, FrostNova didn't bother with them further. She walked to her father's side and asked softly, "Dad… are those Lungmen people reliable?"
"They have… ties to that male Draco. No need to concern ourselves."
Thinking of the mysterious figures who had helped the two of them hold back the extra Imperial Guard, FrostNova nodded. She said nothing more, simply standing with Patriot as they watched the distant, terrifying natural disaster erupt once again.
…
Boom!
A wave of blistering fire surged in, hot enough to char the earth and split it open.
As a Draco, Chen Mo ignored it completely. In his eyes, there was only the black greatsword that thrust straight for his chest through the flames.
Clang—
Their swords crashed again and again—colliding, separating, then slamming together once more. In that storm of steel, the blazing fire scattered and whipped through everything around them.
The ground beneath their feet had long since become a deadly pool of magma, yet the two fire dragons fought on as if nothing was wrong, locked in relentless combat.
In a moment where every second mattered, Chen Mo kept blocking Talulah's assaults with the burning Ash in his hand, all while laughing through his words.
"Didn't you say you've lived for thousands of years? How come you still haven't taken me down?"
"A foolish question. Aren't you already struggling to withstand my offensive, Draco?"
Chen Mo only curled his lip and didn't answer, blocking yet another slash that aimed to shave his head off.
It was true. If someone hadn't been "piloting" Koschei's account the whole time—if it weren't for that king-tier micro and awareness—there was no way Chen Mo's bronze-league self would've held on this long.
But even against a Talulah who felt like she was fighting on hundreds of milliseconds of lag, Chen Mo—who barely knew any real combat technique—was starting to run out of steam.
Good thing he was a Draco. In a world of towering flames like this, anyone else wouldn't even have the right to stand in front of Talulah.
Bang—
The black blade and the silver-black sword scraped past each other again, shrieking with harsh metallic friction.
When Talulah frowned once more—her body betraying her—Chen Mo seized the opening. He twisted and slammed her away with his massive tail, buying himself a breath.
"…Didn't expect a fight this long to be this tiring. Looks like I'll have to use something outside the rules."
No idea if it would work.
Boom—
The moment the thought fell into place, another blast of fire crashed into him head-on. Chen Mo didn't dodge—he let the scorching heat wash over him like someone dumping water from a bucket.
Talulah's soft, mocking laugh followed.
"And what trick are you trying now, Draco? Your technique is laughable. Your fire is weak as well."
"This body's will can only watch helplessly. I can even hear her screaming every time I swing at you."
With elegant steps, Talulah—seemingly having figured out exactly how much Chen Mo could do after this prolonged clash—walked toward him slowly.
The smile at her lips was undisguised, as though victory was already resting in her palm.
"And yet… I choose to forgive you, Chen Mo."
"Abandon Lungmen. Abandon Wei Yenwu. Come to my side. Stand beside me."
Talulah came to a stop in front of him. This time, what met Chen Mo was not a ruthless slash.
Under Chen Mo's puzzled stare, Talulah smiled and—without fear of a sudden ambush—extended her dust-covered left hand toward him.
"Come, my younger brother. My blood kin."
"To keep fighting will only lead to the extinction of the last male Draco in this world. You possess the right to stand as my equal."
At this point she was still trying to recruit him. Was this old monster really so convinced she could look down on him?
Still… perfect. He could use it to test something.
Chen Mo lifted his guard and, with a counterfeit sincerity, reached for her hand—
In the next instant, Talulah's sword snapped up and carved straight toward him.
Slash—
A spray of blood cut across the sky—only to be instantly evaporated into nothing by the terrifying heat.
"An ambush. Of course. What else would I expect from an old monster that's lived for thousands of years?"
Chen Mo glanced at the gash along his arm. He had already hopped back in time, but his voice dropped low anyway.
"…But it worked. I think."
Across from him, Talulah showed no disappointment at her failed sneak attack. Instead, she continued explaining in a tone that was almost gentle.
"You are this body's weakness. Dying at my side—like just now—would be the best help you could possibly give me."
"Why would you—tch, not again…"
Suddenly—
Talulah's body began to tremble.
Like a cold current piercing through her flesh, like leaves shivering under a winter gust.
Clearly, the moment she harmed Chen Mo, this body's resistance erupted more violently than ever before. Even the black greatsword slid from control, stabbed unconsciously into the magma below.
Chen Mo's expression turned into an "I knew it" look. He flicked his eyes at the system display—95% beside the character's name—and immediately broke into a grin.
Two wins at once.
Just like their first encounter, Chen Mo's bright, delighted voice rang out.
"You've been failing to log back in because of lag, Talulah? That doesn't sound like the fighter I know."
Sword in hand, Chen Mo advanced until he stood right in front of the trembling Talulah. Koschei had lowered her head, barely gripping the black blade—still squaring off against him.
She could still fight. This man's pathetic technique couldn't defeat her.
A weak man. She still could—
"Enough of Draco siblings tearing each other apart. How long are you going to let yourself be used like this?"
"Big sister—stop letting that old Black Snake play your account."
"Wake up."
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