In front of the Town Hall…
Guards desperately dodged the monsters' attacks. They avoided attacking the monsters.
Corpses already littered the ground … only a handful of guards were still standing.
"How long will you keep dodging?" Lacey mocked, her voice dripping with amusement.
"Maybe… if we kill her, this will all stop," one of the guards muttered, gripping his weapon with trembling hands.
Lacey smirked. She flicked her wrist and hurled a blade toward one of the monsters.
The blade pierced the monster. The monster exploded, the blast tearing through the nearby guards and throwing bodies into the air.
"What kind of monster are you?" a guard screamed in horror.
Lacey simply smiled at him.
"Chief, you should get out of here! We'll hold them back!" one of the guards shouted.
The town chief turned and ran.
"Looks like your chief is a scared little rat after all," Lacey laughed.
"How dare you insult our chief!" the guards roared, fury burning brighter than fear.
"Oh?" Lacey tilted her head. "Look at the rats trying to be heroes."
She threw another blade toward another monster.
The monster exploded … but this time, the blast was far weaker, no more than a firecracker.
"What… what's happening?" Confusion spread across the battlefield.
Even Lacey frowned.
Above them, the town chief hovered in the sky, mana swirling violently around his body.
"What's that geezer doing up there?" Lacey thought.
"Did he find the reason behind the explosions? Even if he did, it's impossible to stop them… Unless he's willing to kill himself."
"Yes, my friend… you were right," the town chief thought quietly.
Two days ago…
At the edge of the mountain, Eldrick sat in silence, watching the sun sink below the horizon.
"Are you here thinking about Davi?" the town chief asked, approaching from behind.
"Just thinking about my life," Eldrick replied softly. "About everything I've done."
"Look at the town," the chief said, sitting beside him. "You're the one who made it this happy."
"And I'll be the one to destroy that happiness," Eldrick said, his voice heavy.
The town chief turned to him.
"Have you ever heard of mana combustion?" Eldrick asked.
"When a certain individual dies, their mana overflows in the heart," the chief answered slowly. "That overflow causes a massive explosion — forcing the mana hearts of everyone nearby to explode as well."
"I only read about it in books," the chief added. "I thought it was a myth."
"It was," Eldrick said quietly. "Until now."
The town chief stared at him.
"Zorayel came," Eldrick continued. "He witnessed mana combustion with his own eyes."
"We don't know who succeeded in triggering it… but there's a strong possibility it was Davi."
The chief exhaled deeply. "Judging by your expression… I assume you already know how to counter it?"
"It's risky," Eldrick admitted.
The town chief stood up, resolve hardening in his eyes.
"When it comes to saving the town, we must risk our lives," he said firmly. "That is the oath we took when we became town chiefs."
Present time…
"Kill the monsters one by one," the town chief commanded.
"But, Chief—" one of the guards tried to protest.
"Do what I asked you to do," the town chief said firmly, his voice leaving no room for argument.
One of the guards stabbed a Shadowfang.
The same thing happened—the monster exploded like a firecracker, its mana dispersing weakly into the air.
"What's happening?" the guards murmured, confusion spreading among them.
"If you continue this, you will die," Lacey said coldly.
"It's time this old geezer saves this town," the town chief replied.
"Another," he ordered.
The guards struck again. Just as the monster was about to explode, the town chief raised his hand and absorbed all of its mana.
One after another, the monsters fell. One after another, the town chief absorbed their overflowing mana.
After several had been slain, the town chief suddenly coughed—blood splattering onto the ground.
"You fools, do you even know what he's doing?" Lacey shouted. "He's absorbing the mana of those monsters. If he keeps this up, he'll die."
"Don't worry about me," the town chief said, wiping the blood from his lips. "I won't die that easily."
"How much more mana can you absorb?" Lacey snapped. "You'll reach your limit soon."
"And these aren't all of them," she continued. "There are hundreds more."
"Even the strongest mage—no, even the Demon King—can barely create a few dozen," the town chief replied calmly. "You think you can control hundreds?"
"That geezer…" Lacey thought. "There are only a few left."
"In that case—" Lacey tried to summon her dragon.
Nothing happened.
Her eyes widened.
She used her link… and felt it.
The connection was gone. Dead.
"There's no way…" Lacey whispered. "Who killed my dragon?"
"Chief, if what she said is true, you should stop now," one of the guards pleaded.
"Yes, Chief," another added desperately. "You've done enough. Please go now."
"I've lived my life long enough," the town chief said softly. "It's time I join my family."
"But, Chief—"
"I'll grant your wish," the advisor said.
He stepped forward, striking down the remaining monsters one by one—each time, the town chief absorbing their mana without hesitation.
"I'll bring all the monsters here!" Lacey shouted.
Before she could move, two guards seized her arms. More surrounded her, blades drawn.
"We won't let the Chief's noble sacrifice go to waste."
Soon, all the monsters were dead.
And the chief collapsed.
Guards rushed forward, catching him before he hit the ground. Blood spilled from his mouth as his breathing grew shallow.
"Someone call the healers!" the guards screamed in panic.
"I… don't have much time left," the chief said weakly.
"Chief, you can't leave us like this," the guards cried.
"Protect the town," the chief whispered. "You are the loyalist guards of Everdawn—"
His voice faded.
The town chief was dead.
The guards fell to their knees, tears streaming down their faces.
The advisor turned away.
Silent tears slipped from his eyes and fell to the ground.