"It seems our returning friend is preparing something strange… sending only two men to greet us?" Vail said coldly.Then he added, his eyes sharpening, "Alright, Daniel—leave them to me and go after him."
Daniel didn't hesitate for even a heartbeat. He sprinted after Araki, accompanied by several soldiers, while the rest braced themselves for battle.
One of the two men charged forward violently, his entire body engulfed in roaring flames.Getting close to him was clearly dangerous.
But Raym was ready...
He intercepted the attack head-on, while Vail faced the other man alone.Meanwhile, Raym, Lyra, Lonz, and a handful of soldiers engaged the second enemy.
It was strange—only two men had been sent.Strong, yes… but still only two...
Suddenly, one of them rushed toward his companion who was fighting the group.The movement was so fast that most barely noticed it.
At the same moment, the first man leapt toward Lonz.
Raym blocked him and pushed him back, but the second enemy aimed for the same target—only to be stopped by Vail.
"Hey!!! Lonz—wake up!!!" Raym shouted desperately..."Don't lose focus, or you'll become an easy target!!!"
Yet Lonz remained motionless.
The two enemies retreated together. They exchanged glances… then whispered.
Suddenly, one charged forward while the other stayed behind.
Gasps spread among the group.
They had split up...
The one who advanced targeted the weakest links, throwing soldiers to the ground with terrifying speed.His burning body turned every strike into a crushing blow.
Vail attempted to intercept him—but was suddenly assaulted by a barrage of attacks from the second man.
It was planned...
Raym and Lyra realized it instantly...
Raym rushed toward the man in the rear, while Lyra focused on the attacker in front.But something strange happened.
The man Lyra confronted suddenly switched targets and attacked Raym,...while the other lunged toward Lyra...
Both of them were knocked to the ground.
Vail surged forward—but found himself trapped.
They were strong.Worse—they fought in perfect synchronization.
Vail felt the weight of the situation press down on him.He couldn't fight freely with his comrades so close.
Still, he endured.
Raising both hands, he activated his technique.
"Nine Arts of Flame—Seventh Form: Total Combustion!"
Fire erupted across Vail's body, flames roaring violently as he charged both enemies at once.
The two men immediately realized they couldn't match him in a direct clash.
One of them withdrew and targeted Lyra, who was struggling to stand.
Vail's focus shifted instantly....
That moment of distraction was enough.
A flaming punch struck him squarely, sending him crashing to the ground.
Vail rose quickly—only to see Raym and Lyra holding the man at bay.
Raym looked at him once.No words.Just absolute trust.
Vail understood...
He focused entirely on the man before him.
The enemy tried to retreat to support his ally—but Vail cut him off with a crushing punch.
"Now we're even," Vail growled.
The man staggered backward.
As his companion rushed to assist him, Raym slashed him with his sword,and Lyra drove her blade into his shoulder.
The two enemies realized their situation had turned dire.
Their flames intensified violently.
The heat became unbearable...
Raym and Lyra leapt away from the first,while Vail retreated from the second...
The two enemies regrouped—then launched a relentless barrage of attacks at everyone.
Vail watched in disbelief.
How had things turned this way so quickly???
Lonz still stood frozen.The remaining soldiers were either wounded or unable to keep up...
Then—
Thunder roared.
The situation worsened instantly.
Rain poured down in torrents, lightning tearing across the sky.
Cold rain splashed against Lonz's hands.
He finally snapped back to reality...
Grabbing his sword, Lonz rushed forward to support Raym and Lyra.
Raym smiled faintly...
The timing of the rain was perfect.
Vail's body had begun to overheat. He canceled his technique, trying to cool himself.Meanwhile, Lonz, Raym, and Lyra struggled to keep pace with the two enemies.
Their temperature continued to rise—and with it, the ferocity of their attacks.
Dodging became harder.Landing a counterattack felt impossible.
Vail realized the truth.
They were in a critical situation.
There was only one way to end this.
"To everyone—hide!" Vail shouted."Find cover, now!"
Shock spread across their faces—but no one argued.
They moved...
The two enemies looked at Vail in confusion as he walked toward them slowly,ignoring the damage inflicted by their attacks.
Then—both men collapsed to the ground, as if crushed by an unseen force.
Vail smiled bitterly.
"Harming my students and comrades before my eyes…""That's something I will never accept."
He raised his hands once more.
"Nine Arts of Flame… Fifth Form: Miniature Sun."
The air itself compressed...
A massive, concentrated sphere of fire formed in Vail's hands.Everyone could feel its heat.
Raym's eyes widened.
"It's… not like last time."
Even Vail felt a flicker of unease.
The two men didn't react.
Not even fear—despite their certain death.
Vail didn't hesitate.
He unleashed everything...
A deafening explosion tore through the land...
The sound reached Daniel far in the distance.
"…That doesn't sound good," he muttered..."Let's stop."
Smoke filled the area...The heat was overwhelming, despite the raging storm.
Vail collapsed from exhaustion, struggling to breathe.
Everyone gathered around him, voices full of awe.
"Sir Vail… where were you hiding that kind of power???"
Vail smiled weakly...
"What matters… is that everyone's safe."
Then—
A strange atmosphere descended.
A foreign presence.
Only Vail felt it.
His expression changed instantly.
The ground began to shake.
The storm intensified.
Fear seized everyone.
Something enormous was coming.
The clouds twisted into a massive vortex.
Thunder roared.Rain fell harder.
The earth trembled violently.
A deafening roar split the sky—
And from within the swirling clouds…
It appeared...
A colossal form...
Dull, hardened scales...Massive claws...Jagged fangs and towering horns...A deep, old wound carved across its chest...
Eyes burning with hatred...
Two wings that covered the sky...
A" dragon"...
Silence claimed everyone...
Even Daniel, watching from afar, failed to steady himself.
The dragon roared again—the clouds scattered, the sky cleared...
It stared at them with blazing fury, fire gathering in its maw...
It raised its head—
And unleashed a torrent of flame, accompanied by a warning roar that said only one thing:
"You are already dead"...!!!