The giant beast roared.
Its voice shook the mountains.
The village trembled beneath its footsteps.
---
Elsa stood alone before it.
Golden flames danced quietly around her.
Not raging.
Waiting.
---
Behind her—
Jack, Rowan, the spear warrior, and the soldiers fought desperately to keep the smaller beasts away from the villagers.
Children were being carried toward the church.
The wounded were pulled from burning homes.
For the first time...
The village had hope.
---
The giant attacked.
Its enormous fist crashed downward.
---
Elsa didn't move.
Not until the very last instant.
---
She stepped sideways.
The fist shattered the earth.
Before the monster could recover—
Elsa leaped.
---
Her fist struck its chest.
A deafening crack echoed through the valley.
The beast staggered backward several steps.
Not dead.
But injured.
---
"It can bleed..."
A soldier whispered.
---
The giant roared again.
This time, its body began to change.
Black veins spread across its scales.
Its muscles swelled.
Its eyes turned completely crimson.
---
"It's evolving!"
Jack shouted.
---
The beast charged again.
Faster.
Much faster.
---
Elsa crossed her arms.
The impact launched her through two abandoned houses.
Wood and stone exploded around her.
---
The villagers screamed.
---
For a moment—
Nothing moved.
---
Then—
Golden flames burst from the rubble.
Elsa slowly stood.
Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth.
---
"...That hurt."
She smiled faintly.
---
Edward had once told her—
*"If you're still talking... you're still fighting."*
---
She wiped the blood away.
---
"Let's finish this."
---
The giant lifted both arms.
Dark energy gathered around its claws.
It was preparing one final attack.
Enough to erase half the village.
---
Elsa inhaled deeply.
Golden fire gathered into her right hand.
Not spreading wildly.
Compressing.
Brighter.
Hotter.
Smaller.
---
The entire battlefield became silent.
Even the beasts stopped moving.
Instinct told them to fear this flame.
---
Then—
A horn echoed from the western hills.
Not the kingdom's battle horn.
A different one.
---
Rowan's expression changed instantly.
---
"No..."
---
The spear warrior looked toward the hills.
His face hardened.
---
"They came..."
---
Jack followed their gaze.
Hundreds of black-armored knights appeared along the ridgeline.
No banners.
No colors.
Only black armor marked with the royal seal.
---
The villagers stared in confusion.
---
"Reinforcements!"
Someone cried happily.
---
Jack's face turned pale.
---
"No..."
---
The commander of the black knights raised his hand.
---
"Operation Black Dawn."
---
Rows of enchanted ballistae unfolded behind them.
Not aimed at the beasts.
---
Aimed at Elsa.
---
Jack's eyes widened.
---
"STOP!"
He shouted.
---
The commander ignored him.
---
"Primary target confirmed."
---
"Fire."
---
Dozens of dragon-killing bolts screamed through the sky.
---
The villagers watched in horror.
---
"...She's protecting us!"
One woman cried.
---
"They're shooting at the wrong person!"
---
The old woman Elsa had saved stepped into the road.
---
"STOP!"
She screamed toward the knights.
---
"That girl saved my grandchildren!"
---
No one listened.
---
The bolts continued falling.
---
Elsa looked upward.
She could dodge.
Easily.
---
But behind her—
The church.
More than a hundred villagers.
Children.
The wounded.
---
If she moved...
The bolts would hit them instead.
---
She smiled sadly.
Exactly like Edward.
---
"...Father."
---
Golden flames exploded around her.
Not to protect herself.
To protect everyone else.
---
One by one—
The dragon-killing bolts collided against her barrier.
The explosions shook the valley.
Her knees buckled.
Blood ran from her arms.
The barrier cracked.
---
Still—
She didn't move.
---
Behind the barrier—
A little girl looked up at Elsa.
The same age Elsa had been when Edward first called her his daughter.
---
"Mister..."
The little girl tugged on Jack's sleeve.
---
"...Why are the soldiers trying to kill big sister?"
---
Jack couldn't answer.
---
Because he no longer knew how.
---
The black-armored commander raised his hand again.
---
"Second volley."
---
The soldiers hesitated.
---
One looked toward the burning village.
Toward the civilians hiding behind Elsa.
---
"...Sir..."
---
"Fire."
---
"...But we'll hit the villagers."
---
The commander's voice became cold.
---
"If the target dies..."
A pause.
"...acceptable losses."
---
Silence.
---
Even his own men looked horrified.
---
Jack slowly drew his sword.
Not toward Elsa.
Toward the black-armored knights.
---
The spear warrior lowered his spear beside him.
---
Rowan stepped forward with a tired smile.
---
"Looks like..."
He cracked his neck.
"...we're betraying the kingdom today."
---
Behind them—
One by one—
The ordinary soldiers turned.
Not toward Elsa.
Toward Black Dawn.
---
The line between friend and enemy...
Had finally changed.