"BEGIN!"
Noa lunged forward, swinging his scythe in a wide arc.
Aven dodged and stepped back several paces, carefully observing Noa's movements, searching for any opening.
A sharp downward slash came crashing toward him—but Aven managed to block it.
He countered immediately, kicking Noa in the stomach and sending him flying backward.
Noa regained his balance and charged again, unleashing a relentless barrage of sharp swings and slashes with his scythe.
Aven dodged and parried every strike with his sword. He stepped back once more, then delivered a horizontal slash aimed straight at Noa's abdomen—but it was stopped by the scythe's handle.
Noa retreated, trying to reposition himself.
His hand trembled as he struggled to withstand the force of that blow. He stared silently at his shaking hand.
The soldiers watching were stunned—some of them openly awed.
"Wow, he's amazing, right, Papa?"
Claude glanced at Mika, who had somehow appeared beside him.
"Mika, what are you doing here?"
"We just wanted to watch!"
"We?" Claude turned his head—and saw Lilith and Cecilia standing there.
"You two as well?"
Lilith smiled sheepishly and scratched her head.
"I was just curious."
"I'm only tagging along" Cecilia replied coolly.
The soldiers jolted when the three suddenly appeared. They stepped back to make space, and one of them brought chairs over.
"Please, miladies."
"Thank you" Lilith said with a smile.
Cecilia and Mika nodded politely and took their seats.
At the center of the training ground, Aven and Noa stood still, waiting to see who would make the first move.
Aven scanned Noa from head to toe, analyzing his posture.
He took a single step—
—but it was like a flash of lightning.
SWING!
Noa's eyes widened.
The blade of his scythe was severed cleanly and flew into the air.
In the next instant, Aven was already behind him, delivering a powerful kick to Noa's back that sent him crashing into the wall.
"Gah!"
His face struck the stone with a dull thud.
Aven turned around and scratched his head.
"…I might've overdone it."
The soldiers erupted into applause, some even cheering in amazement.
Lilith, Cecilia, and Mika clapped enthusiastically, while Claude merely watched with a faint smile.
Aven approached Noa, who lay sprawled on the ground.
"Sorry about that. I went a bit too far" Aven said, extending his hand.
Noa grasped it and stood up with a slight pull.
"You're strong, Sir Aven."
"Haha…" Aven laughed awkwardly.
"Thanks. You're impressive too—your speed, endurance, and technique."
Claude clapped his hands.
"You're still as strong as ever, Aven. Even while recovering, you amaze me."
"To be honest, Sir Claude, that last burst used up almost all my strength."
Aven glanced toward Lilith, who waved at him with a sweet smile.
"Hi~"
"…What are you three doing here?"
"Just sightseeing" Mika replied.
"I'm only tagging along" Cecilia added.
Claude pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Where is your mother?"
Mika snapped her fingers.
"She's in her room. Looks like she's sulking at you, Papa."
"Huh? Why? I didn't do anything weird!"
Cecilia looked at him flatly.
"You've been ignoring Mother for weeks. And after breakfast, you came straight here."
Claude clicked his tongue.
"…Troublesome."
The soldiers tried their best not to smile at the situation.
Aven pretended not to hear anything and stayed out of it.
"I'll excuse myself" Claude said before walking away.
The soldiers saluted Lilith and the others, then returned to their training.
Mika turned to Aven.
"Hey! What are you going to do now?"
Aven thought for a moment.
"I'm probably heading out somewhere."
Lilith raised both eyebrows.
"Where to?"
"To visit an acquaintance."
Mika jumped up from her chair.
"Can we come with you?"
Cecilia clicked her tongue as if refusing—though her eyes sparkled with interest.
"We? "
"Come on, sis~"
"You sure? Sir Claude might scold you."
Lilith shrugged.
"Father never gets mad at us. And if we say we're going with you, he'll definitely allow it."
Mika nodded enthusiastically.
"Please~!"
Aven sighed.
"…Alright."
"Yay!" Mika raised both hands.
Cecilia's eyes lit up, though she maintained her cool, indifferent look.
Lilith smiled and reflexively grabbed Aven's hand.
"So, where are we going?"
"To the mountains where the Red Dragon Clan lives."
The three of them froze.
"You're joking, right?" Cecilia stared at him.
"I'm not."
Mika tilted her head nervously.
"You know someone from the Red Dragon Clan?"
"I do. I'm going to ask for their help."
Aven started walking ahead.
"Wait for us!" Lilith shouted as she chased after him.
Cecilia and Mika followed close behind.
Lilith caught up and walked beside him.
"We're going there on foot?"
"No. I'll open a teleport outside."
Cecilia looked up at him.
"You can do that?"
"I can."
CASTLE GARDEN
Aven closed his eyes, spreading his mana into the ground.
A glowing magic circle formed beneath their feet.
Pow—
They vanished, leaving behind a scorched magic circle etched into the garden grass.
The Mountains
Aven narrowed his eyes, looking down at the city nestled within a massive crater—the territory of the Red Dragon Clan.
Lilith blinked several times, staring at the city below.
"This won't be dangerous for us… right?"
Mika shivered.
"She's right. Dragons are known to be extremely aggressive."
Aven clicked his tongue.
"You're the ones who insisted on coming. Now you're whining?"
"Nothing will happen. Dragons are actually kind— so long as you're not seen as a threat."
Cecilia eyed him skeptically.
"Not seen as a threat? We're Claude Scarlet's daughters. How is that not threatening?"
She sighed.
"Just appearing here will make them suspicious."
Aven closed his eyes. She wasn't wrong.
"…Whatever. You'll be fine."
"…Alright" the three replied in unison.
Aven scanned the area.
"Tracking Eye."
A magic skill capable of locating a specific individual, depending on the user's intent.
"Where are you now…" Aven muttered, carefully searching every corner.
Lilith and Mika sat on nearby rocks, gazing at the city below.
Cecilia stood behind them calmly.
A light tap landed on her shoulder.
Her body stiffened as she slowly turned around.
"…Ah."
A tall woman with long crimson hair, dragon horns, and a tail stood behind her, arms crossed and eyebrow raised.
Cecilia trembled.
"S-sis… you should see this."
Lilith sighed irritably.
"What is it, Ceci—"
Her words stopped.
Mika turned around.
"AH!" she screamed instinctively.
Aven flinched at Mika's scream and spun around.
"…Tia?"
Tia Wyn—one of Aven's acquaintances and a close friend.
She was a Red Dragon and the first princess of the Red Dragon Clan.
Tia froze when she saw Aven.
"You… You're still alive?" Her legs nearly gave out.
Aven walked toward her.
"It's a long story. I was actually looking for you."
Tia sniffled, then suddenly slapped Aven hard across the face, sending him flying to the ground.
"Idiot! I thought you were really impossible to kill!"
Lilith gaped.
"Hey! Watch your hands!"
She helped Aven up.
Cecilia stood face-to-face with Tia, glaring challengingly, while Mika wisely stayed out of it.
"L-ladies, please control your emotions…" Aven tried to calm them down.
Tia snorted.
"Vampire, stay out of this. This is between me and Aven. And why are you in our territory? Looking for bodies, huh?!"
Aven rubbed his cheek.
"Enough fighting. Tia, these are Lilith, Mika—the short blue-haired one—and Cecilia. And you three, this is Tia, the acquaintance I told you about."
Lilith eyed her coldly.
"…Nice to meet you."
Tia frowned.
"Likewise. Aven, why are you with them?"
"They saved my life and took care of me. I'm staying at their castle now."
Tia smacked her forehead.
"…Alright. I'll accept that."
"But Lucas told me you were dead."
"I survived thanks to Lilith. And don't tell Lucas that I'm alive."
Tia nodded.
"So now," Aven continued, "I need your help. What's happening in the Kingdom of Eidolan?"
Tia thought for a moment.
"Your death hasn't been announced publicly yet. As for how I knew—Lucas told me."
"What exactly did he say?"
"We met by chance in Eidolan's city center while I was… shopping."
Aven raised an eyebrow.
"You're still sneaking into other kingdoms just to buy food?"
Tia cleared her throat.
"Anything for food! No one notices I'm a dragon anyway."
"Back to Lucas," Aven said.
"What did he tell you?"
"He told me about the kingdom's alliance with demons, the plan to kill you… and that you asked him to protect Nia."
Aven nodded.
"…I see. Things aren't completely ruined yet."
"…Not exactly," Tia replied hesitantly.
"What do you mean?"
"He said Eidolan has begun seizing profitable villages—and wiping out the rest."
"And one more thing…"
Aven tilted his head.
"What?"
"That bastard king has started… targeting your sister."
Silence fell.
Aven clenched his teeth, suppressing his rage.
"…Anything else?"
"No. Lucas said he wouldn't let Krai even get close to Nia."
Aven slowly calmed down.
Tia scratched her head.
"How about we talk inside my palace instead? It'll be easier."
"Alright."
Tia sighed in relief when Aven didn't explode in anger.
"You three—if anyone asks why vampires are here, just say you're my guests. Got it?"
Lilith, Cecilia, and Mika nodded.
Tia stomped the ground three times.
Blue light surrounded them, and in an instant, they appeared inside the palace hall.
Lilith blinked in amazement.
"Come to my room," Tia said, walking ahead.