"A dragon? How could there be a dragon?" The continuous, resonant low roar was clear and imposing, making Ainz's body tremble involuntarily.
In every legend, dragons stood at the apex—or near it—of the food chain. They were an exceptionally powerful race within the dimensional universe. The same was true in YGGDRASIL, where dragons were among the strongest beings.
Ainz did not know how powerful the dragons of this world were, but judging from the force and pressure carried within that roar, they were likely no lower than level 40.
Worse still, he did not know whether these dragons had been infected like the other magical beasts. If they had been contaminated by that mysterious energy, what special abilities would they gain? He had no way of knowing.
Most importantly, would the appearance of a dragon force him to fight at full strength? This was a main road. If such a massive disturbance failed to attract attention, he would not believe it.
Even if people were too afraid to approach, who could guarantee they would not hide somewhere and observe from a distance?
If someone saw his true form and spread word of it, the existence of the Great Tomb of Nazarick might be exposed. He did not dare imagine the consequences.
"That's a dragon's roar. Everyone, be careful. A dragon may be approaching along with them," Chu Lian said, her pupils contracting slightly as caution deepened in her gaze. Ever since encountering that overwhelmingly powerful dragon in Miami, she had fully understood just how terrifying such creatures could be.
Even if the dragons here were not as strong as that one, they were certainly not to be underestimated. Once they appeared, a fierce battle was inevitable.
"A dragon?" Chu Lian spoke lightly, but her words left the members of the Swords of Darkness and Nfirea stunned. They had never imagined encountering such a legendary creature.
"Don't worry. You won't be their opponents. Only big brother and I will face them. Nabe will stay here to protect you. As long as you're careful, guard against the magical beasts around you, and don't provoke the dragon, you'll be fine."
Turning slightly, Chu Lian spoke softly before tightening her grip on the Seven Illusions Bow. Her right hand reached toward the small bell hanging at her neck. It rang with a crisp, pleasant jingle jingle. She hesitated, then lowered her hand. It was not time to use it yet.
"They probably won't arrive immediately. Big brother, let's clear out the surrounding magical beasts first. Nabe, use magic to hold off those monsters. If their numbers grow too large, big brother and I will help you. Don't push yourself," she instructed, noticing Nabe's tense expression.
"Lady Liliana, Mr. Momo, please be careful. Don't let the enemy injure you," Nabe said. In truth, she had no desire to protect the weak and timid humans behind her. But with magic rendered ineffective, unless she reverted to her original form and used seventh-tier magic, she had no way to harm the enemy.
The only foes she could currently deal with were the zombified magical beasts. Her magic excelled at clearing large numbers, ensuring that too many enemies would not gather in a short time—buying Chu Lian and Ainz precious time.
"All right, big brother, stand in front and block them. Watch Liliana's flawless archery," Chu Lian said lightly. As long as Nabe listened, that was enough. As for Ainz, wearing that armor and not serving as the front-line tank would be a waste.
"Please do keep an eye on me. Don't shoot at me again," Ainz replied. Though most of these magical beasts were above level 15, he felt no real threat. What worried him more was whether this obviously black-hearted little sister might casually fire an arrow at him when he wasn't paying attention. If that happened, he would have no one to complain to.
"Oh? You noticed? Fine, I won't shoot you. Relax. Big brother, hurry and be the meat shield. Do you understand how terrifying a protected backline DPS can be?" Chu Lian pouted, seemingly displeased that her little scheme had been exposed, then urged him forward.
As expected, Deloris's personality is becoming more and more troublesome. What am I supposed to do? Though inwardly troubled, Ainz still gripped his twin swords and stepped forward, positioning himself before the magical beasts.
Unfortunately, this was not a game. It was not as though monsters would obediently attack the warrior standing in front while ignoring the damage dealer behind him. In the real world, animal instinct could be more terrifying than human calculation.
More than half of the magical beasts immediately began circling around him, avoiding the obviously powerful opponent.
Their target was the white-dressed girl holding the bow.
A voice echoing within their minds continuously guided them to attack her. And in their eyes, the petite girl radiated a deadly allure that compelled them to emerge and strike at her.
Chu Lian paid little attention to the other beasts. Her focus was drawn entirely to a pack of wolves at the rear of the horde. Their blue-green fur was also covered in mysterious black runes, dark light flowing across them in constant motion—an ominous sight at a glance.
At the front of the pack stood a massive silver-white wolf king, blood trickling from its body, ferocity blazing in its eyes. While the other wolves stood about one meter tall, this alpha exceeded two meters. Compared to the wolves' average level of 15, it was ten levels higher.
If this level 25 wolf king led its pack to assault a human city, the damage would likely cripple E-Rantel for some time. Yet now it stood here, its target unmistakable.
She focused on it not only because it was the strongest among the beasts, but also because she sensed something beneath its savage gaze.
Calmness.
Like stagnant water—utterly still.
No ripples. No turbulence. Only a faint emptiness.
It was an indescribably strange sensation. She did not know why she perceived such emotion in the wolf's eyes, but there was no doubt the wolf king had captured her attention.
"These magical beasts weren't originally this strong. It's probably those runes attached to their bodies forcibly elevating their power. I wonder whether this enhancement is permanent or temporary. Either way, it's bad news for Nazarick. We'll need to adjust our strategy going forward."
Ainz continued cutting down the magical beasts rushing at him while silently analyzing the situation. Much of the intelligence they had gathered before was likely no longer reliable. An unpredictable aberration had begun. If the Great Tomb of Nazarick did not adapt accordingly, it might be swallowed by this tide of change.
"What a terrible tank. Can't even hold aggro?" Chu Lian muttered.
Despite Ainz's best efforts, he was not a pure warrior-type player. Even clad in this armor and possessing strength comparable to—or even exceeding—Hero-class due to his level, he was far weaker than when he stood as the Overlord of Death.
More importantly, he could not use martial arts skills like a true warrior. Though he could swing his greatswords hard enough to produce wind blades, he could not wield them with the same mastery.
As a result, more and more magical beasts seized opportunities to bypass him and charge at Chu Lian.
This is bad. If this keeps up, Deloris really will shoot me. Being the front line yet failing to draw aggro… how infuriating. Ainz felt like crying without tears. He loathed these beasts. Why did they have to attack Deloris of all people?
"Do you really think I'm that easy to bully?"
A bewitching violet light flashed through Chu Lian's eyes. Her aura shifted—from sharp precision to overwhelming pressure.
Though she still held the Seven Illusions Bow, the oppressive force she exuded now surpassed even Ainz with his twin greatswords. It was the power known as Battle Soul.
As her presence transformed, the Seven Illusions Bow suddenly glowed with a mysterious radiance, as if about to undergo some change. Yet after a moment, the light slowly receded, returning to normal, as though the flicker had never occurred.
The bow's glow faded—but Chu Lian herself began to shine.
A layer of white armor formed from Magic Power enveloped her slender body, overturning her previously delicate image. She now resembled a valkyrie descending upon the battlefield.
If only Inori were here. With the Void Greatsword in hand, what would these enemies amount to?
A trace of regret flickered in her eyes. She released the Seven Illusions Bow. It dissolved into a streak of profound light and merged into the back of her hand, becoming a quiet emblem once more.
"Even without the most suitable weapon, it doesn't mean I'm unarmed."
With a flick of her wrist, a snow-white longsword appeared in her grasp. The blade reflected her gaze like polished ice. She was grateful she had not exchanged the blade taken from the Yaksha clan's Onikage for Item Points. Otherwise, she would have had nothing appropriate to wield now.
The Senra Longblade measured one meter in blade length, with a hilt roughly twenty centimeters long. It weighed over twenty kilograms, forged from some special metal.
Though she had just dismissed her bow, transformed, and summoned the blade, less than three seconds had passed. The nearest magical beast had only just opened its blood-soaked maw toward her throat.
"Noisy…"
Her blade fell.
In an instant, its head was severed. The longsword whirled around her, and within a single exchange, every beast lunging at her was cleaved in two.
Amid flying corpses and a rain of blood, Chu Lian stood spotless, untouched by even a drop—radiant beyond compare.
The golden-haired youth felt his heart sink irretrievably.
A gentle breeze lifted her hair as she stood calmly, gazing at the beasts that now hesitated to advance. A light smile curved her lips.
"Why won't you attack me? Are you afraid? It seems you have some sense after all. I just hope you can withstand even a single strike from me."
With a blade in hand, Chu Lian's edge was sharper than ever. Just as she and Inori were a match made in heaven, any longsword in her grasp moved as freely as a dragon soaring through the sky.
"Even if you're afraid, I won't let you go."
She stepped forward.
In the next instant, she appeared atop the head of a level 23 giant bear and brought her blade down.
The bear's body split cleanly in two. The chilling sword aura carved a deep fissure into the earth itself, proclaiming her strength.
"Awooo~"
Seeing the other beasts falter before her might, the wolf king at the rear raised its head and howled. Then it charged forward, leading by example.
"Why bother?" Chu Lian shook her head slightly. She had not truly wished to strike down this wolf king. The calm hidden within its eyes had stirred her curiosity. She had wanted to understand what it had experienced.
But its charge now made that impossible.
She would not spare it out of personal curiosity. That would be irresponsible—to herself and to her opponent.
The wolf king was fast—like a violent gale.
Yet in Chu Lian's eyes, it was slow. Slow enough that she could clearly see the resolve within its gaze.
"Farewell."
Time seemed to halt.
Gripping her blade in her right hand, she spoke softly and swung with the force of descending thunder.
The wolf king passed by her, ran several steps, then turned to look at her one final time before collapsing onto its side.
Only then did blood begin to seep from its back, which had been split open by her strike—as though its body had just now realized it had been cut.
Looking at the wolf king lying in a pool of blood, Chu Lian felt something calling to her. But circumstances did not permit investigation. She turned, slit the throats of two wolves in passing, and dashed into the beast horde, cutting them down one by one with effortless ease.
Her leisurely composure stunned not only the four members of the Swords of Darkness and Nfirea, but even Ainz and Nabe.
Ainz was shocked because Deloris now appeared more like a true warrior than he did. Though one of her three classes was indeed warrior-based, she was suppressing her power and yet accomplishing with ease what he could not—this was a blatant slap in the face of the warrior Momo.
And he could not even protest.
Because—she was his little sister.
Why did a young girl seem more like a warrior than he did in his current role? It was simply absurd.
Nabe's shock was simpler. If Lady Deloris unleashed her full strength, even at level 45, Nabe believed she would not stand a chance. The talent and potential displayed were astonishing. Though she felt joy, a faint worry lingered. Was it truly all right for Lady Deloris to reveal herself like this?
Minutes later, no matter how numerous the magical beasts were, they could not withstand Chu Lian's slaughter. Gradually, they no longer dared approach. Instead, they turned and fled, ignoring the persuasive voice echoing in their minds and focusing only on escape.
Chu Lian did not pursue.
Not because she lacked the will—but because the situation did not allow it.
A stronger enemy was approaching.