When that small red dragon descended from the sky and appeared in the arena, even Rozen couldn't help but be slightly surprised.
There was no helping it.
"So, there's actually a second Gram in this world?"
Rozen had no idea about this matter.
In fact, not even the others knew about it.
"What's going on here, Sigmund?!"
Charlotte anxiously turned to Sigmund and asked aloud.
But this time, it wasn't Sigmund who answered her—it was Orga.
"You didn't know, Charlotte?"
Orga let Thor rest on her arm while releasing magical power, her smile graceful and composed.
"In truth, there are seven Grams in total. They were all forged 150 years ago by a Puppeteer known as the Dragon King. After the Dragon King died, the seven Dragons of the Gram were scattered across the world. Your Sigmund was one of them—he ended up in a desolate mountain, feeding on livestock in villages, instilling fear in people, until he was finally subdued by Elaine, an ancestor of the Belew family. That's how the Belew family's Magic Dragon rose to fame."
But that didn't mean the Gram power was exclusive to Sigmund.
"My Seth family is a clan of ancient witches. We've had connections with Lady Elaine's lineage for over a century—though a bitter one. My grandmother greatly admired Lady Elaine and even invited her to join our ranks. She refused, and the two became enemies. Still, we are also Spirit Users, adept in using Spirit Arts, you know?"
As she spoke, Orga seemed to call upon surrounding spirits, causing light particles like fireflies to flicker around her.
Orga was indeed a Spirit User.
And her automaton, just like Charlotte's, was a Dragon of the Gram.
What did that mean?
"I can also use Gram Battle Art, Charlotte."
To Charlotte, Orga's smile had never looked so vile.
The two dragons on their arms locked eyes—one wearing a complex expression, the other grinning wide.
"Never thought you'd follow the witch of the Seth family, Thor."
Sigmund spoke in a deep voice.
"Didn't you follow a Spirit User too? I'm just imitating you, bro!" Thor replied casually, utterly unconcerned.
"But now we're enemies."
Sigmund's gaze sharpened like never before.
"So what?" Thor still acted indifferent. He even licked his lips and smiled. "We're automatons. If our masters decide to fight, then fight we must, right?"
"...You seem oddly happy about this." Sigmund took a deep breath, trying to suppress his emotions. "You were like this even when the Dragon King was still alive, but at least back then, you wouldn't bare your fangs at your own kind. Have you changed?"
Thor's grin faded.
But his gaze turned razor-sharp.
"Brother, do you remember what the Dragon King once said?"
Thor's voice was cold, as if reminiscing—or severing something.
"Though we Grams are unmatched under the heavens, when invincible swords clash, one of them must break."
As soon as those words were spoken, Sigmund froze.
Seeing this, Thor burst into laughter.
"When Grams clash, one must shatter. So, if any of us strays from the right path, the only ones who can stop us are ourselves!"
The meaning of those words couldn't be clearer.
Thor was telling Sigmund: if you want to stop me, then come and try to shatter me.
"Don't overthink it—you won't be the first anyway."
This line made Sigmund's eyes widen.
"Don't tell me, Thor, you...!?"
Sigmund's breathing turned ragged.
Thor only sneered wickedly.
"Brunhild is already dead." Thor sneered. "I devoured her."
Brunhild—another Dragon of the Gram.
She had been killed by Thor, and even her magic circuits had been consumed.
"So now I hold the power of two Grams in my body. My output is way above yours, brother."
Thor's taunting words made Sigmund lose control.
Not just Sigmund—even Charlotte was furious.
To the Belew family, Dragons of the Gram were special beings.
Now, Sigmund's brother had killed one of their own, serving a malevolent power. Both for personal and public reasons, Charlotte couldn't let this go.
"Give me your magical power, Charlotte!"
Sigmund's voice burned with fury.
"Got it!"
Charlotte did not hesitate, pouring her magical power into Sigmund. His presence became even more ferocious.
"Now we're talking!"
Thor, far from alarmed, seemed thrilled.
"Let's begin!"
Olga didn't hesitate either and immediately channeled all her magic into Thor.
The two Spirit Users glared at each other and shouted in unison:
"Lustre Cannon!"
A red and black dragon each fired a dazzling, scorching beam at the other.
The clash of destructive elements between them created a whirlwind, as fierce currents of light clashed and lit up the entire arena.
But the balance soon tilted.
The destructive element unleashed by Thor appeared to be nearly twice as dense as what Sigmund produced. In an instant, it overpowered Sigmund's beam. Charlotte's blast was overwhelmed, while Olga's attack drew closer and closer.
"Light!"
Charlotte dared not delay. She summoned the spirits of light, using their power to twist the trajectory of the destructive element and deflect the beam into the sky.
But Olga, as a Spirit User herself and skilled in both Spirit Arts and Gram Battle Art, was not to be outdone.
"Wind!"
Orga called upon the wind spirits. The refracted light beam was bent again by the wind and redirected back toward Charlotte.
"Lustre Shield!"
Charlotte used Gram Battle Art to manipulate destructive element particles released by Sigmund to form a shield in front of her.
"Boom!"
The beam struck the shield, once more triggering a clash of destructive forces. A booming explosion followed, sending out shockwaves and a violent gust.
Charlotte and Olga had now fully entered into a fierce battle.
Meanwhile, Loki had also made his move.
"Cherubim!"
Loki wielded a flaming sword that spun as it slashed toward the Zekaros brothers.
"The opponent is the Sword Emperor?"
"An excellent challenge!"
The Zekaros brothers summoned their automatons—two small fairies, one controlling wind, the other earth—rushing to face Loki.
As for Dorothy, she unexpectedly ended up facing Frey.
"Hey, big-busted girl! Don't get in my way! Step aside!"
Dorothy's tone and attitude were both extremely rude.
"Big-busted girl…" Frey seemed taken aback, but she didn't back down. Instead, she summoned her mana and said, "I'm a Puppeteer too. I'll fight."
Frey showed her own kind of strength.
"You're not even close to being my opponent! Idiot!"
Dorothy shouted loudly, then raised her magic staff.
"Hmm?"
Observing from the sidelines, Rozen sensed an unusual magical fluctuation. He turned in surprise—toward Dorothy.
There, an ancient and mysterious force began to emerge.