Back at the estate, Mia didn't stop training.
Even without Ebruhan there, she practiced everything he had taught her.
In the open fields behind the barn—
She practiced mana control.
Condensing it.
Releasing it.
Shaping it again.
Sometimes she practiced striking trees with controlled force.
Sometimes she flew high above the estate, repeating the mana-assisted flight technique until her wings burned with exhaustion.
She was determined.
If a growth phase was coming…
She would not face it unprepared.
More and more, the dragon body began to feel natural.
Her balance.
Her wings.
Her claws.
Her senses.
It no longer felt like she was controlling a body.
It felt like it was hers.
Yet sometimes—
At night—
Memories surfaced.
Tall buildings.
Neon lights.
Crowded streets.
Motorcycles roaring through city roads.
Her old life.
Her old friends.
Her city.
Things she would probably never see again.
Sometimes she stared at the stars and wondered if that world still existed somewhere.
Then she would sigh and shake the thoughts away.
Because this world…
This life…
Had given her something too.
Leo.
Vinson.
A family.
One cloudy morning, Mia flew toward the palace for her usual training.
Grey clouds covered most of the sky.
Wind drifted slowly across the castle towers.
She landed near the training lake.
But Ebruhan wasn't there.
Mia looked around.
"…Hmm."
She glanced toward the sky.
"Probably patrolling."
She shrugged slightly.
"Maybe tomorrow."
The next day, she arrived even earlier.
Still no sign of him.
The training grounds were quiet.
Unusually quiet.
Mia frowned.
"…Weird."
She walked toward a nearby guard.
"Excuse me."
The soldier straightened immediately when he saw the black dragon.
"Yes, Lady Mia?"
"Where is Ebruhan?"
The soldier hesitated.
Then answered.
"The royal dragon is currently fighting a monster outbreak in a southwest town."
Mia blinked.
"…What?"
That day she returned home earlier than usual.
The sky remained cloudy.
Heavy.
Unsettling.
Over the next five days, she kept asking about it.
Every time Vinson received new reports from the capital, she listened carefully.
Finally one evening, she asked him directly.
"Lord Vinson."
Vinson looked up from his papers.
"Yes, Mia?"
"What is a monster outbreak?"
He leaned back slightly in his chair.
"Monsters normally live deep within wilderness regions."
"Mountains."
"Forests."
"Caves."
"But sometimes…"
He folded his hands together.
"They gather."
"Large numbers appear suddenly and attack nearby towns or villages."
"Those events are called monster outbreaks."
Mia frowned.
"…Why do they gather?"
Vinson shook his head slightly.
"The exact cause is still debated."
"Some say environmental changes."
"Some believe powerful monsters drive them."
"Others suspect magical disturbances."
He paused.
"Whatever the cause… outbreaks can be dangerous."
"Especially for towns without strong defenses."
Mia's tail shifted slightly.
"And Ebruhan fights them?"
"Yes."
"He is the kingdom's royal protector dragon."
Vinson's voice remained calm.
"It is part of his duty."
Mia looked toward the window.
The sky outside was still covered in heavy grey clouds.
"…It has been five days."
Vinson nodded slowly.
"Large outbreaks can last weeks."
The room fell quiet.
For the first time since meeting him—
Mia wondered if Ebruhan might actually be in danger.
And the thought made her feel strangely uneasy.
The next morning, the sky was still heavy with grey clouds.
Mia flew toward the palace alone.
The wind felt colder than usual.
As she approached the courtyard—
She saw him.
Ebruhan stood there in his dragon form.
But something was different.
Armor.
Dark blue reinforced plates covered parts of his chest, shoulders, and neck. The metal glinted faintly under the cloudy sky.
In front of him stood the King.
They were speaking seriously.
Mia immediately descended.
Her claws touched the stone courtyard with a loud thud.
"Ebruhan!"
The blue dragon turned his head.
"Mia."
She stepped closer.
"Are you okay?"
Ebruhan gave a small nod.
"For now."
His tone was calm… but heavy.
"We have a bigger problem."
Mia frowned.
"What happened?"
Ebruhan looked toward the King briefly before answering.
"I've been fighting on the front lines of the monster outbreak for several days."
His golden eyes darkened slightly.
"And now their general is coming."
Mia blinked.
"…General?"
"A powerful monster commanding the swarm."
He continued.
"It will reach the battlefield tomorrow."
The courtyard grew quiet.
Ebruhan continued speaking.
"I returned to inform the kingdom so reinforcements and evacuation forces can be prepared."
He paused.
"And then I will return to the front line."
Mia tilted her head.
"…Return?"
"To face the general."
The King immediately spoke.
"That is a foolish plan, Ebruhan."
His voice was firm.
"We can hold the defensive line here."
"I will send reinforcements forward."
Ebruhan shook his head.
"Your Majesty… they will not arrive in time."
He lifted one claw slightly.
"All the soldiers currently holding the line."
"All the civilians trapped in those towns."
"What happens to them while we wait?"
The King's jaw tightened.
Ebruhan continued.
"We cannot abandon them."
His voice grew quiet.
"That is why I will go."
"To hold the general."
"To buy time."
Silence filled the courtyard.
The King spoke again, slower this time.
"…And if you fall?"
Ebruhan lowered his head respectfully.
"That is why I came to inform you, my King."
"So you may prepare the capital's defenses."
The King clenched his hands behind his back.
"I cannot simply send you to die."
Ebruhan's voice remained steady.
"I swore to protect this kingdom the day you saved me."
His eyes lifted toward the King.
"Allow me to repay that kindness."
"Allow me to save them."
The courtyard was completely silent.
Then—
Another voice spoke.
"I will go too."
Everyone turned.
Mia stepped forward.
Ebruhan blinked in surprise.
"…What?"
"Mia?"
She lifted her head firmly.
"I will help."
Ebruhan shook his head immediately.
"This is not a training exercise."
"It will be dangerous."
"There will be thousands of monsters."
Mia didn't step back.
"So?"
Her eyes were steady.
"You are my mentor."
"Do you really think I will let you face that alone?"
Ebruhan hesitated.
"If you fall there…"
She glanced toward the palace behind them.
"This kingdom won't be safe either."
Then she looked directly at him.
"You told me to stop pretending."
"To accept who I am."
Her wings spread slightly.
"So let me act like a real dragon."
"Let me fight."
"Let me protect my family."
The King and Ebruhan stared at her.
For a long moment—
No one spoke.
Then the King sighed deeply.
"You two are incredibly stubborn."
He rubbed his temple.
After a moment, he looked at both dragons.
"…Fine."
"But listen carefully."
His voice became strict.
"Your priority is not glory."
"It is saving civilians."
"Evacuate as many people as possible."
"Buy time."
"Do not fight recklessly."
Both dragons nodded.
When Mia returned home that evening—
The atmosphere at the estate felt tense.
Leo was the first to hear the news.
"What?!"
His voice cracked.
"You're going where?!"
"To the front line."
Leo's eyes widened in disbelief.
"No."
His voice shook.
"No. Absolutely not."
"You're not going."
Mia stood calmly in the courtyard.
"Leo—"
"I said no!"
His fists clenched.
"You're seven!"
"You're still growing!"
"You could die there!"
His voice broke slightly.
"…You could die."
Mia hesitated.
Leo looked away, wiping his eyes quickly.
"I don't care about royal orders."
"I don't care about monsters."
"You're my sister."
"So you're not going."
Vinson stood nearby.
Silent.
His arms folded.
His expression calm—
But his eyes said otherwise.
He clearly didn't want her to go either.
Mia looked between them.
Then she spoke quietly.
"If I don't go…"
"Many people will die."
Leo shook his head.
"That's not your responsibility!"
"But it is."
Her voice was gentle but firm.
"If Ebruhan falls alone…"
She looked toward the distant horizon.
"Those monsters will come here next."
She turned back to them.
"And this estate… this family…"
"I want to protect it."
Leo clenched his teeth.
"…You always do this."
"Acting responsible."
"Acting brave."
His voice trembled.
"…Even when you're scared."
Mia didn't deny it.
"Of course I'm scared."
She stepped closer.
"But running away from fear isn't strength."
She placed her head gently against Leo's shoulder.
"I'll come back."
Leo didn't answer.
He just stood there silently.
After a long moment—
Vinson finally spoke.
"…If you have decided."
Mia looked at him.
"Then go."
His voice was steady.
"But remember this."
"You have a home to return to.so.. be careful"
Mia nodded.
"…I know."
And for the first time since hearing about the monster general—
She truly understood what she was fighting for.
Morning came quietly.
Gray clouds drifted across the sky as soft light spread over the estate. The air felt heavy, like the world itself knew something important was about to happen.
Inside the courtyard, Mia stood in her human form, adjusting the small bracelet on her wrist.
It was the bracelet Emma had made from one of her dragon scales. When Mia transformed, the bracelet would merge with her body and reappear when she returned to human form.
She tightened it slightly.
Behind her, Leo stood silently.
Then suddenly—
He rushed forward and hugged her.
"Idiot…" Leo muttered, his voice shaking.
For someone who was already seventeen, he looked like a little kid trying not to cry.
"You're really going… aren't you?"
Mia smiled softly and patted his back.
"I have to."
Leo clenched his fists, burying his face against her shoulder.
"You better come back!!" he shouted, his voice cracking. "Dragons don't break promises!"
Mia chuckled lightly.
"I know."
She gently pushed him back and looked him in the eyes.
"I'll come back. I promise."
Leo sniffed and wiped his eyes, trying to act tough again.
"…You better."
Beside them, Vinson had been silent the whole time.
He stepped forward and placed a large hand on Mia's head, gently patting her hair.
His expression was calm… but the heaviness in his eyes betrayed him.
"Be careful," he said quietly.
Mia nodded.
"I will."
She stepped back, took a breath—
—and transformed.
Black scales spread across her body like flowing armor. Wings unfolded, casting a shadow across the courtyard.
A moment later, the young black dragon took off into the sky.
When Mia arrived at the palace courtyard, Ebruhan was already there in his dragon form.
His massive body stood like a fortress of scales and scars.
But something was different.
He was removing his armor.
A nearby soldier looked confused.
"Sir… shouldn't you keep the armor? You'll need protection."
Ebruhan shook his head calmly.
"No."
He placed the heavy armor pieces aside.
"They'll only slow me down."
His wings stretched wide.
"We need speed more than defense."
The King stood nearby, watching him with a grave expression.
"Do not forget what I told you, Ebruhan."
The king's voice was firm, but there was clear worry behind it.
"Do not act recklessly."
He looked at both dragons.
"Reinforcements are already on their way to the front lines. Focus on saving the civilians."
Ebruhan lowered his head respectfully.
"Understood, my king."
Then he pushed off the ground—
BOOM
Wind burst outward as the massive dragon launched into the sky.
Mia quickly followed behind him.
For a moment, they flew in silence.
Then Ebruhan glanced sideways at her.
"You know," he said, "you can still change your mind."
Mia snorted.
"And let my big bro fight all those monsters alone?"
She shook her head.
"Yeah, no thanks."
Ebruhan laughed quietly.
"…Fair enough."
Their wings flared.
Mana gathered along their bodies—
Blue energy flowed along Ebruhan's wings.
Dark purple mana shimmered around Mia.
Then—
WHOOSH
They accelerated.
Two streaks of light cut across the sky, leaving glowing trails behind them.
Far away, from the Count's estate—
Leo stood on the balcony.
He watched the two dragons disappear into the distant sky.
His hands clenched tightly on the railing.
"…Please," he whispered.
His voice trembled slightly.
"Be safe… sis."
Location: monster outbreaks
The battlefield was chaos.
Five soldiers stood in a broken street, surrounded by corpses of wolf-like monsters and twisted, corrupted humans. Their armor was dented, their breathing ragged, but they still stood between the monsters and the terrified civilians behind them.
A soldier swung his sword desperately, cutting down a lunging beast.
"Come on!! Don't let them through!"
Another soldier suddenly screamed.
"Zask!! Nooooo—!"
A wolf monster had torn into his comrade, dragging him to the ground.
"ARRGH!!"
The remaining soldiers fought with everything they had left.
Blood stained the ground.
Steel clashed against claws.
But then—
One of the soldiers looked up.
His heart sank.
More monsters were coming.
Not five.
Not ten.
Thirty.
The beasts rushed through the broken road like a living wave of claws and fangs.
The soldier tightened his grip on his sword and raised his shield.
Behind him, frightened civilians huddled together.
He took a deep breath.
"…For the king."
The monsters lunged.
Then—
BOOOOM!
A blue mana blast slammed into the center of the charging monsters, sending bodies flying in all directions.
A massive shadow dropped from the sky.
CRASH!
Ebruhan landed between the soldiers and the monsters, the ground cracking beneath his weight.
He let out a thunderous roar.
ROOOOAAARRR!!
The battlefield froze for a moment.
The soldiers stared in disbelief.
"Sir Ebruhan…!"
"By the gods…!"
Another shadow landed behind him.
Mia.
Her dark scales shimmered faintly with purple mana as she looked at the battlefield.
Ebruhan didn't turn around.
"Retreat now!" he ordered.
Then he glanced back at her.
"Mia. Protect the civilians."
Before she could respond—
He charged.
Like a living storm.
Ebruhan slammed into the monster pack, claws and wings tearing through them.
One beast lunged at him—
Slash!
In the middle of the charge, his body flashed with light—
He transformed into human form mid-motion.
A blade of blue mana formed in his hand.
SHING!
The mana sword cut through two monsters in a single strike.
Before the bodies even hit the ground—
He shifted back into dragon form.
BOOM!
His head slammed forward in a brutal mana headbutt, purple-blue energy exploding outward.
Six monsters were thrown through the air.
Behind him—
Five monsters slipped past the chaos, rushing toward the civilians.
Mia's eyes narrowed.
"Oh no you don't."
Mana gathered around her horns.
THUD! THUD! THUD! THUD! THUD!
Five dark mana spikes shot forward like arrows.
Each one pierced a monster's skull.
The beasts collapsed before they could reach the civilians.
The soldiers stared at her in shock.
But the battle wasn't over.
More monsters poured into the street from the distance.
Dozens.
Mia spread her wings and stepped forward.
Purple mana began swirling around her claws.
"…Guess it's my turn."
Then she charged into the battlefield.
Ebruhan tore through the monsters like a storm.
Claws ripped through flesh. Wings slammed beasts into the ground. His mana blade flashed again and again as corrupted humans and wolf monsters fell around him.
But even in the middle of battle, his sharp eyes glanced toward the distance.
Mia.
She was exactly where he had told her to be—between the monsters and the fleeing civilians.
Mana spikes shot from her horns, dropping enemies before they could reach the retreating people. Soldiers were guiding the civilians away while she held the rear line.
Ebruhan allowed himself a small smile.
"Good work, Mia."
He called out across the battlefield.
"Retreat with the civilians!"
Mia looked toward him immediately.
"What about you?!"
Ebruhan turned back toward the endless tide of monsters approaching.
More were coming.
Dozens.
Maybe hundreds.
He cracked his neck slowly.
"I'll hold the line."
He glanced back at her one last time.
"Now go."
Then he grinned confidently.
"Don't worry. I got this."
Another wave of monsters rushed toward him.
Ebruhan lowered his body and spread his wings.
"GO NOW!"
He charged straight into the horde.
Time passed in a blur of battle.
Claws.
Roars.
Mana explosions.
Bodies falling.
Ebruhan fought like an unstoppable force, slaughtering monster after monster. Even when wounds opened across his scales, a glowing royal mark on his wing pulsed softly, slowly healing his injuries.
Still—
Even dragons could feel fatigue.
His breathing became heavier.
His movements slightly slower.
But when he looked toward the road behind him, he saw Mia in the distance still protecting the retreating civilians.
They were getting farther away.
Safe.
"…Good."
After countless monsters fell, the remaining beasts hesitated.
Some began to retreat.
For a brief moment—
The battlefield grew quiet.
Then suddenly—
BOOM!
A red mana bomb shot through the sky toward him.
Ebruhan's eyes widened.
He immediately raised a mana shield.
CRASH!
The explosion slammed into him with terrifying force.
Dust and fire erupted outward.
Ebruhan skidded backward across the ground.
His shield cracked like shattered glass before fading.
Smoke drifted through the battlefield.
Then—
THUD.
Something enormous landed ahead of him.
The ground trembled.
Through the smoke, a massive figure emerged.
A red dragon.
Its scales burned like molten metal, glowing faintly with crimson mana.
It was enormous.
Nearly twenty-two meters long.
Bigger than Ebruhan.
The dragon slowly lowered its head, glaring at him with cold amusement.
Then it spoke.
"So…"
Its deep voice rumbled across the ruined battlefield.
"You are the little pest that has been destroying my fleets."
Ebruhan slowly straightened, shaking the dust from his scales.
His cracked mana shield faded completely as he stared at the massive red dragon standing before him.
The heat of the creature's mana filled the battlefield.
Ebruhan narrowed his eyes.
"…You must be the general behind this invasion."
The red dragon tilted its head slightly.
Then it laughed.
A deep, mocking laugh that echoed across the ruined battlefield.
"Oh? I'm that famous?"
Its crimson eyes glowed with amusement.
"Hahahaha… I'm flattered."
The dragon lowered its massive head closer, studying Ebruhan like a curious predator.
"You know… I almost feel bad killing you now."
It smirked.
"I might even consider sparing your life."
Ebruhan didn't move.
He lowered his body into a combat stance, wings slightly spread, claws digging into the ground.
The red dragon's eyes shifted past him.
Toward the distant road.
Toward the fleeing civilians.
The dragon's expression twisted with disgust.
"…Pathetic."
It snorted.
"You're really fighting for those insects?"
Its gaze hardened.
"Creatures so weak… so insignificant… unworthy of living?"
Ebruhan followed the dragon's gaze for a brief moment.
He could still see the distant figures of soldiers guiding civilians away.
Then he looked back at the red dragon.
"They're not unworthy."
His voice was calm but firm.
"They have lives."
He took a step forward.
"They have feelings."
"They have families waiting for them."
The red dragon's eyes narrowed.
Then it chuckled again, though this time there was no humor in it.
"Feelings?"
It scoffed.
"They are nothing but a plague on this world."
Its massive wings stretched slightly, crimson mana flickering along its scales.
"You clearly don't understand the one rule of this world."
The dragon's voice grew colder.
"Only the strongest deserve to rule."
It leaned forward, staring directly into Ebruhan's eyes.
"And the weak…"
A faint smile spread across its face.
"…exist only to be crushed beneath them."
The battlefield fell silent.
Wind blew across the broken ground between the two dragons.
Ebruhan slowly inhaled.
Then he lowered his stance even further.
"…Then I guess," he said quietly,
"You'll have to crush me first."
The red dragon grinned.
"Oh."
Its claws dug into the earth.
"That can be arranged."
Crimson mana erupted around its body.
The ground trembled.
And the true battle was about to begin.