As Caesar was preparing to bring Kong Nai over, on the outskirts of Magnolia, in a small, slightly dilapidated but cleaned-up house, Lance was carefully repairing the roof.
He held a hammer and pressed down on the wooden planks.
Betty went out to buy food.
They did not have much money, so they borrowed some from Caesar and bought this slightly dilapidated little house as a place for the two of them to live.
When Caesar suggested helping them fix it up, Lance immediately rejected the idea.
Seeing the admiring look in Betty's eyes and Caesar's calm gaze made him even more stubborn.
He said this was his and Betty's home.
If anything was broken, he would be the one to fix it.
The words were spoken confidently.
Lance enjoyed Betty's adoring gaze.
But when it came to actual repairs, he was completely helpless.
He nailed a wooden plank and smashed a hole straight through it.
He cleaned a window and ruined the window frame in the process.
When it came to destruction, Lance was a master.
When it came to repairs, it was a disaster.
Now he was repairing the roof with extreme caution.
He was afraid that one wrong move would collapse the entire house.
He had already bragged that he would fix everything.
Betty had entrusted the task to him without hesitation.
If Betty came back and saw the house in ruins, he would not be able to face her.
Just imagining the disappointed look in her eyes made Lance's heart ache.
"Careful, don't mess this up…"
"Are you Lance?"
A sudden voice came from behind him.
Lance was startled.
His heart skipped a beat.
With a loud bang, he smashed a huge hole through half of the roof.
"You're asking for trouble!"
Looking at the massive hole, repair was no longer an option.
The tension in Lance's heart snapped instantly.
A terrifying and violent aura erupted from his body.
"As expected."
"I knew you carried the aura of a dragon."
"It seems you really are that black dragon, Acnologia."
Lance turned around.
He saw Ignia floating in the air, dragon wings spread behind her.
A mocking smile hung on her face.
"I thought you were impressive."
"But now you look like a stray dog."
"You are a disgrace to the dragons."
Ignia spread her arms wide.
She sneered openly.
"I am Ignia, the Fire Dragon."
"One of the Five Divine Dragons."
"On the continent of Giltina, I am no weaker than you."
"Your legend will end someday."
"But my legend has only just begun."
Before she could finish speaking, Lance punched her in the face.
Ignia's face twisted violently.
Her body was sent flying like wreckage.
She crashed into a small mountain outside Magnolia.
The mountain collapsed instantly.
"Roar!"
Ignia roared in fury.
Without hesitation, she transformed into a dragon.
She charged at Lance at full speed.
"Dragon."
"Dragon."
"Dragon!"
As Ignia rushed toward him, Lance's suppressed memories awakened.
The dragon before him wanted to destroy his home.
It wanted to take Betty away from him forever.
Unforgivable.
Unforgivable!
Boom!
Lance shot forward.
The house beneath his feet shattered into dust.
"Fire Dragon's Iron Fist!"
Thump!
The dragon claw collided with Lance's fist.
The shockwave tore apart the clouds for tens of kilometers.
Ignia screamed in agony.
With just one punch, her arm bones shattered.
Sharp fragments pierced through her scales and flesh.
"Impossible!"
"This is impossible!"
"I am one of the Five Divine Dragons!"
"A being comparable to Acnologia!"
"How could this happen?!"
Clutching her mangled arm, Ignia retreated in panic.
The legend forged in Giltina was shattered by a single punch.
Roar!
Lance's magic surged wildly.
He fell into a frenzy.
He once again became Acnologia.
A being that knew only destruction.
A beam of black light erupted from his mouth.
It shot straight toward Ignia.
Ignia sensed death approaching.
She flapped her wings desperately to dodge.
But her speed was far too slow.
In an instant, her lower body vanished.
A mushroom cloud erupted in the distance.
"Am I… going to die…?"
Weakness washed over her body.
Ignia slowly raised her head.
Before her stood Lance.
His right hand was raised like a dragon's claw.
He slammed it down toward her head.
Ignia smiled bitterly.
So this was the gap between them.
She closed her eyes.
She accepted her fate.
Bang!
A dull sound rang out.
The pain she imagined never came.
Ignia opened her eyes.
A figure stood in front of her.
Someone was holding a small girl.
"No fighting!"
"Brother Lance!"
"If you keep this up, I won't talk to you anymore!"
The girl's clear voice rang out.
Lance instantly regained his composure.
The violent aura vanished.
"Uh… Betty."
"I didn't mean to."
"Yes."
"It was that guy who destroyed our house."
"I got angry, that's why…"
Hearing this, Ignia almost spat blood.
Blame me?
You destroyed it yourself!
What does this have to do with me?!
This is a complete scapegoat!
Ignia watched Lance smile at Betty.
Then he turned back with a vicious glare.
His eyes were full of warning.
She understood instantly.
He wanted her to take the blame.
She could not win.
There was no way she could win.
If she spoke up, her future would be miserable.
Unless she escaped Magnolia forever.
Why was she thinking so much?
If she was going to die anyway, she would not take the blame.
Thinking this, Ignia roared while coughing blood.
"What does this have to do with me?!"
"You ruined it yourself!"
"I only said a few words!"
"You beat me half to death!"
"Is there no justice?!"
"Is there no law?!"
"Caesar!"
"You have to stand up for me!"
Lance's face darkened.
He stared at Ignia coldly.
His eyes said only one thing.
Just wait.
Ignia sneered inwardly.
I'm about to die.
What am I waiting for?
"That's enough."
Caesar spoke calmly, but with authority.
"This has gone too far."
"Lance."
"You are sentenced to one month of solitary confinement."
"You are not allowed to see Betty for one month."
"As for Ignia."
"Wait for Ignir to arrive."
"He will beat you again."
"You will be beaten every day."
"For a whole month."
"Until the swelling goes down."
Lance's face turned even darker.
Despair filled his heart.
Ignia did not care anymore.
If you are so capable.
Beat my corpse for a month.