In the darkness, over half of Orario's southeastern district was engulfed in flames.
The crackling inferno painted half the sky crimson as buildings continuously collapsed into the sea of fire, while adventurers' battle cries shook the heavens.
The evil dragon circled overhead, its scarlet breath scorching the earth.
Having escaped from the dungeon, adventurers now faced the dragon's relentless pursuit across the surface world, as it abandoned its initial goal of destroying the dungeon and those within it.
Initially only the Freya Familia was present, forcing adventurers to flee desperately in all directions—even Allen, formerly Orario's fastest cat person, could only scramble away in disarray.
Fortunately, the Loki Familia and Ganesha Familia soon joined the battle, significantly alleviating the pressure.
"Take this!"
Tiona roared in fury at the scorched earth below, hurling her massive dual blades toward the dragon.
Yet with a single flap of its wings, the evil dragon effortlessly deflected the incoming blades along with numerous magical attacks—not a single strike landed, as if an inviolable barrier surrounded it.
Finn, Tione, and others fared no better, their assaults equally ineffective.
Even Riveria's full-powered incantation was overpowered and shattered by the corrupted spirit's superior magic.
"It's too strong!"
"There's no opening at all!"
They couldn't even land a single hit.
"GRROOOAAARR—!"
"Danger!"
"Run!"
Annoyed by the persistent harassment, the dragon unleashed a breath attack brimming with terrifying heat.
A wave of dread washed over everyone as their adventurer instincts screamed warnings.
Gareth desperately threw his shield to intercept the breath, but the indestructible orichalcum shield was instantly engulfed in flames, melting into molten metal without a trace.
The adventurers scattered, but the ground behind them erupted into an inferno, claiming countless lives before they could even scream.
Ais's expression hardened.
Witnessing so many adventurers perish before her eyes, her face grew icy.
A dark wind swirled around her as golden eyes burned with rage.
It was just like back then!
The same sea of flames, the same monster, the same corpses strewn everywhere!
A terrifying aura radiated from Ais.
The dragon hesitated momentarily before both its reptilian pupils and the corrupted spirit's gaze locked onto her.
Sensing a threat, the dragon grew cautious, its maw agape as it gathered intense heat.
"Ais, don't let the power control your mind!"
Riveria's frantic shout echoed from afar.
But Ais couldn't hear her.
Trapped in the same nightmare as nine years ago, her vision was clouded by hatred.
BOOM!
The ominous black wind tainted with emerald hues.
The girl rode the howling gale into the sky, channeling the corrupted wind into her sword as she thrust straight at the dragon!
Her strongest strike—a spiraling tempest with unparalleled piercing force!
"Damn it, where's Eiji?!"
"Updating status takes at least a minute!"
Finn responded to Riveria's worried cry.
"Cover Ais!"
At the command, countless adventurers unleashed ranged attacks.
Though Ais' strike hadn't seemed particularly powerful, the evil dragon suddenly reacted as if facing imminent peril.
She had a premonition—taking that hit head-on would bring unimaginable consequences!
Without hesitation, the evil dragon spat out a fireball it had been accumulating for ages.
Ignoring the attacks from numerous high-level adventurers below, the fireball shot straight toward that spiraling black wind concentrated at a single point!
The fireball contained massive magical energy, accumulating unimaginable heat until it appeared pure white like the sun to the naked eye.
BOOM!
A tremendous collision sound erupted.
What happened next shocked everyone.
The spiraling black wind around Ais' sword didn't shatter upon impact but instead struggled fiercely against the massive white fireball.
It was actually holding up?
Utterly unbelievable!
Yet despite this, Ais' sword-hand trembled violently, cold sweat pouring down her forehead.
"Ais, retreat now!"
Riveria's voice carried panic for the first time.
The evil dragon had accumulated far too much magical energy.
Having absorbed most of the power her six clones had stored to activate the Spirit Hexagram, the attack's potency couldn't possibly be resisted by just one or two cheat-level skills!
"Ugh...!"
Ais groaned.
The black wind kept retreating under pressure, the tremendous force transmitting from her sword to her arm, the bone-shattering pain tormenting her mind.
Her eyes bloodshot, yet she refused to retreat even a step.
How could she retreat?
Every last one of these hateful monsters deserved to be slaughtered!
Blinded by hatred, the blackness swirling in Ais' wind grew increasingly murky, her ears deaf to all outside voices.
—[Avenger].
This was Ais' unique cheat skill!
Driven by intense hatred, it greatly enhanced attacks against monsters and provided overwhelming boosts against dragon species!
Loki had evaluated this as one of the most powerful skills in the lower world's history. Yet due to its extreme danger—the all-consuming hatred that would destroy the user's body to annihilate enemies, blinding them to reason and driving them to madness—Loki had forbidden its use except in life-or-death situations.
"You'll die if this continues!"
Riveria's exquisite face, worthy of a goddess' envy, was twisted with desperation.
"RAAAAAH—!"
The corrupted spirit shrieked, raising both hands from her perch atop the dragon's head.
Magical energy dozens of times greater than Ais' erupted from throughout her body, channeled through the evil dragon into the white fireball!
CRACK!
The black wind shattered instantly.
The evil dragon roared in triumph.
Ais screamed as both arms were shattered, her rapier sent flying.
The fireball closed in before her eyes.
One instant was all it would take to consume her completely.
Below, Riveria, Finn, Tiona and others stared wide-eyed, hearts filled with terror.
"——"
Silently.
Ais' vision blurred as the white fireball suddenly vanished before her.
"Must you always be so reckless?"
Through the haze, she heard a voice scolding her with resigned exasperation.
"...Sorry."
The black wind dissipated as abruptly as it had appeared.
Ais's eyes cleared as she looked at the boy holding her from behind, obediently lowering her head in apology.
The vengeful heart that had once shackled her soul was now broken free by another emotion.
"Leave this to me!"
The golden light sword slowly lowered its height.
As he spoke, Eiji handed the injured Ais, whose arms were damaged, to Riveria.
"Did that dragon anger you? Then let me vent your anger for you!"