"That man…??? What do you mean by those words???"
Lorian's voice came out strained—caught between confusion and rising tension...
Araki let out a low, mocking laugh, his eyes filled with quiet contempt:
"Heh… how naïve.Have you truly never heard of him???The man… who subdued a distinguished dragon… like the Dragon of Wrath."
Lorian's expression froze...
…Then—
The ground trembled beneath them...
This was no ordinary tremor—it was an announcement...
A faint smile formed on Araki's lips, his voice dropping as if savoring the moment:
"Oh… it has begun."
×On Raym's Side...
The tremors intensified.
Several cult members stood before what appeared to be an ancient shrine…
And slowly—
…it cracked.
A deep, hollow fracture echoed—followed by silence.
Then—
An arm emerged...
Stillness...
The man drew a deep breath… as though the air itself had weight after such absence.
Then he stepped out.
His movements were calm.Measured.
Yet overwhelming.
He glanced at his hand… then at his surroundings.
A single moment.
Then—
He vanished...
"—!!!"
No one saw him move...
But Aldous…
His expression changed.
"…He passed us."
He spoke quietly, eyes sharpened with disbelief:
"In a moment… too small to perceive..."
His gaze slowly lifted—
"…and now…"
His words halted.
"…he's standing there."
Next to the massive body of Agnyr…
The man stood...
The dragon looked at him—a look filled with disbelief.
"…After all this time…""…you're still alive???"
The man smiled faintly, completely unshaken:
"And who knows… what fate chose to leave behind."
Silence fell.
Heavy. Suffocating.
"…It seems you've had a rough time."
The man spoke calmly...
Agnyr rose at once—proud, despite his exhaustion:
"Hah… don't forget… you were the cause."
The man's smile deepened slightly.
"…Just like the old days..."
—
With complete ease…
He stepped onto his back.
Agnyr ascended into the sky—
Crimson flames engulfing his body.
A terrifying… magnificent sight...
Everyone—
stood frozen...
Even those far behind—
Lyra and Arvela—
raised their heads in shock.
The man tightened his grip...
A blade—
engulfed in flames.
Agnyr roared—
This fire was different.
Deeper...
Redder...
Alive...
Then—
They descended.
Standing in their path:
Aldous ,Daniel ,and Round
Together.
But—
This time…
it wasn't enough.
And in an instant—
The man moved...
His eyes locked onto one target...
Aldous.
He vanished—
Then reappeared—
One strike.
A direct hit...
Aldous was sent flying.
The balance broke—
And Agnyr crashed down.
Silence...
An explosion...
Smoke filled everything.
Then—
…nothing.
No sound.
No breath.
Even the air… stood still.
On the other side...
For the first time—
A subtle shift appeared on Araki's face...
Just for a moment...
Then he smiled...
"…Do you see???"
He spoke calmly, eyes fixed on Lorian:
"This is what I meant."
He stepped closer...
"A warrior from a forgotten age…who subdued a dragon… as if it were nothing."
A brief pause...
Then—
"And you still speak of reverence???"
He leaned slightly, voice lowering:
"You saw it yourself…even the greatest of them… can be ridden..."
Lorian
He said nothing.
But his eyes…
wavered.
—
"…Even if…""…there is some truth in what you say…"
He slowly raised his gaze...
"…that does not justify what you've become."
But—
That moment of hesitation…
was enough.
Araki moved.
A direct strike.
Return to the Battlefield...
The smoke began to fade...
The man stood—unshaken...
Agnyr, however…breathed heavier now.
The man approached him:
"Don't strain yourself.I'll take it from here..."
The dragon let out a low laugh:
"Hah… I'm still at full strength… you fool."
"—"
A sudden surge.
From within the smoke—
Aldous...
A swift attack.
For a brief moment—
The man was caught off guard.
But it wasn't enough.
Aldous stepped back...
Tension filled his expression.
"…This man…"
"…he's at least on Leo's level..."
He glanced at the dragon… then back at him.
"…and letting them stay together…"
He clenched his fist...
"…is not an option..."
"…even if it costs me my life."
Raym emerged with light injuries.
He saw Aldous…
standing alone.
—
"You're not going any further."
Zak appeared before him.
But—
he wasn't alone...
—
Saon...
A silent strike.
Driving Zak back.
—
He didn't even look...
He simply pointed his blade—
toward Aldous.
Raym understood.
He stepped forward—
standing beside him...
Silence...
Aldous glanced at him briefly.
"…What kind of will…"
"…does this boy possess???"
A quiet exhale.
"…Vail… you were right."
He spoke firmly:
" Bright Boy… there is no turning back..."
Raym smiled...
A calm, unwavering look in his eyes...
Then he said:
"…As long as I stand—"
—
"…no one will fall..."