As Lancer activated his "Demonization," the dancing flames on his spear were instantly smothered by blood energy. What was once a warm, radiant fire turned predatory in an instant—but it still wasn't enough!
A new element began to bleed into the vivid red energy. It was darker than the blood mist but possessed a far more brilliant luster.
Crackle~
Something resembling an electric current surged across Lancer's body. While his physical form remained largely unchanged on the surface, he took a firm step forward with his right foot when "Fatalis" took flight and dived toward him. It looked as though he intended to meet the dragon head-on.
This act of pure provocation utterly enraged the arrogant evil dragon.
Since its birth, it had laid waste to countless kingdoms. Even those who dared to resist it had always done so in trembling terror; never had it encountered a creature like the one before it, who dared to stand its ground so defiantly.
"ROAR!!!"
Accompanied by a furious howl, a massive fireball hurtled toward Lancer's position. The dragon expected the man to be reduced to cinders just like before, but to its surprise, it saw only a massive plume of steam erupt. When the flames died down, the man was still standing right there.
It wasted no time, banking sharply and diving low to tear Lancer apart with its own claws.
But was Lancer truly being reckless?
Of course not.
He had been scorched to a crisp earlier only because he was caught off guard without a defense. This time, fully prepared, he raised walls of ice around him the moment the dragon began brewing flames in its maw. These shields absorbed the brunt of the heat; by the time the fire reached him, it was a spent force that he easily shattered with a swing of his spear.
Facing the massive black dragon charging head-on, he gripped his spear with both hands, steady as a mountain. As the dragon reached him, its hideous face filled his vision, and the sparks leaking from its jaws brushed against his skin.
The waiting Lancer finally moved. His right foot slammed into the earth as he delivered a violent upward thrust. The armored scales that once required his full strength just to scratch were carved open in a shower of sparks, leaving a massive gash.
But he wasn't done. Lancer stood like a reef in the ocean, unmoved by the hurricane-like momentum of the dragon. His spear dug deep, carving a trench through the creature's flank.
The armor, forged from the melted gear of dead soldiers, shivered under the baptism of Dragon Qi before finally falling away, scorched by the heat.
BOOM!!!
Having overshot Lancer, the black dragon slammed violently into the castle ruins. The impact caused an entire watchtower to collapse, burying the beast in falling stone. It ignored the rubble, snapping its wings and claws to clear the debris before letting out another roar of pure indignation.
Lancer responded with nothing but a cold sneer.
There was no questioning the dragon's destructive power—its strength, flight speed, and the sheer temperature of its breath were terrifying. If it weren't, Lancer wouldn't have been nearly killed instantly. However————
"A beast is just a beast. Driven by nothing but simple rage, you'll eventually be consumed by your own fire!"
Looking at the dragon's "impotent rage," Lancer reaffirmed the importance of the "calmness" his masters had drilled into him.
No matter how powerful you are, once you lose your mind, your enemy will inevitably find a way to dismantle you. Humans, despite their unremarkable physiques, became the masters of the planet precisely because of their wisdom.
Olga Marie, who had left the tunnel feeling somewhat dejected, stepped forward to help Arrou, who was busy setting up Large Barrel Bombs. Despite her frustration, her pride wouldn't allow her to sit around crying like a little girl; her only recourse was to find a way to "launch a counter-offensive."
With Olga Marie's magic assisting the movement of the heavy barrels, Arrou focused entirely on prepping the explosives. But just as the cat was about to seal the lid on a bomb, the sky turned dark, and a terrifying pressure descended from above.
Olga Marie immediately halted her movement spells, gripping her staff and looking around warily. Before she could prep a defensive ritual, a massive black shadow dived from the sky into the castle ruins.
BOOM!!
The impact made the very ground tremble. From outside the walls, Olga Marie couldn't see what was happening inside, but the sound of falling masonry and that bone-chilling roar filled her with a primal terror.
"Wait, this isn't right!"
Realizing something was wrong, she quickly cast a spell. As a faint glow covered her body, the feeling of dread began to fade. It was clear that the sensation was a form of mental interference.
Though she understood the situation now, she became even more worried about what was happening inside. If she was being affected this much from the outside, Lancer's situation in the thick of it must be dire.
But remembering her performance in the tunnel, she hesitated.
It wasn't that she was afraid; she was simply wondering if she would actually be an asset or just a liability to Lancer.
While Olga Marie was wavering, Arrou had already acted.
The main gate to the ruins had been blocked by fallen rocks. The cat took a grappling hook from its pouch, swung it twice, and tossed it toward the top of the wall. After a quick tug to ensure it was secure, Arrou leaped up, but stopped after a few steps to turn around.
"Meow~!!"
Seeing Arrou already halfway up the wall, waving a paw and calling for her, she grit her teeth.
"Even if I can't help much, I have to at least see what's going on!"
Resolute, she floated herself upward. Seeing her follow, Arrou nodded silently and picked up the pace, since the cat couldn't simply turn off its physical weight to fly like she could.
When the girl and the cat reached the top of the wall simultaneously, they were stunned by the scene before them.
Lancer, shrouded in a strange aura, stood in the center of the ruins brandishing his spear, while a dragon dozens of meters long circled above, alternating between strafing runs of fire and physical lunges.
Every burst of flame melted the ground; the gale from its wings sent stones flying, and its claws shattered monuments. The already dilapidated castle was being reduced to dust. Yet, Lancer remained centered, reacting only when the dragon committed to an attack. With subtle side-steps and parries, he held his ground against the onslaught.
The evil dragon rained fire from the heavens while the warrior with the spear stood unyielding. To Olga Marie, it looked like a scene ripped straight from the Age of Myth...