Particles of destruction energy scattered. Shards of the Netherworld flew in all directions. The furious roar of a dragon tore through the dim, oppressive environment, echoing across the entire battlefield.
Humans and dragons alike turned their heads. The dragon horde was horrified. The human mages, however, smiled—they recognized that familiar aura within the terrifying energy storm.
If Bahamut's Netherworld Domain hadn't absorbed most of the destruction energy, Gandora's table-flipping attack alone would have leveled the primeval forest!
But even without the impact of Chase and Bahamut's battle, many had still been eliminated, "killed" by the dragons' world-ending roars and sent back through the Eclipse Gate.
On the chaotic battlefield—
Both Zirconis and Lucy, who had been locked in combat, froze.
Zirconis's bright emerald scales were barely intact. Its exposed muscle tissue bled freely. Even its signature chin whiskers had been torn off, half its face a bloody mess.
Its aura was depleted, its body covered in wounds. The dragon's arrogance was gone.
Lucy's condition was no better. She had multiple injuries and could only keep going on her remaining magic power.
As for Future Lucy, the two Wendys, and the two Carlas—
Despite all the buffs, their current strength wasn't enough to match a dragon. They had been "sent back to spawn" early by Zirconis.
"Bahamut's Netherworld Domain—destroyed by a human mage?! How is that possible?!"
Sensing the dissipating Netherworld magic in the air, Zirconis's pupils contracted. Waves of shock crashed through its mind.
If the human girl's powerful Celestial Spirit Magic had impressed it, then the shattered Netherworld Domain was pure terror!
That was the strongest creature in this region, even this continent—Bahamut the Nether Dragon King. And it had been suppressed by a human?
What kind of monster humans existed in the future world?!
With that thought, the self-preserving Zirconis's eyes shifted. It began to consider the possibility that Bahamut might actually be defeated.
The opposition faction had never been united. Zirconis had no intention of fighting to the death for other dragons.
In contrast, Lucy—famous for being cowardly—was energized. She puffed out her chest with pride. "I don't know this Bahamut you're talking about, but losing to my idiot brother wouldn't surprise me at all~!"
Beside her, the summoned Future Loke nodded in agreement. "She's right. He's the big brother of that Lucy—my brother-in-law, after all."
"That completely unnecessary title is totally redundant!!" Lucy snapped, her expression shifting instantly.
Turning to see Future Loke's familiar, self-satisfied face, she couldn't even be bothered to complain. She sighed, rubbing her forehead in exhaustion.
"Haha! Just as (Future) Lucy said—not honest at all," Future Loke remarked.
"Your habit of annoying others is also the same! And who's not honest?!"
While the two bickered, Zirconis quietly absorbed the surrounding magic particles, regulating its ragged breathing.
Though it had thoughts of retreat, it feared only the "monster" who could match Bahamut. Toward Lucy, who had dared to raise her fist against it, it still harbored a strong killing intent.
"Save the flirting for when we get back."
Loke noticed the hostility. His relaxed demeanor was replaced by seriousness.
Who's flirting with you?!
Lucy wanted to shout back, but looking at the dragon eyeing them hungrily, she held it in. She drew her Celestial Spirit Keys and entered combat stance.
It was then that she realized a serious problem.
Because of Kuriboh's life-saving mechanism, she had become too relaxed.
If this had been an unprepared encounter, if Future Lucy and Wendy hadn't been teleported back but had truly died by Zirconis's claws—
Just imagining that scene made her heart stop.
Wasn't this exactly why Chase had gone to such lengths to bring everyone here to fight dragons—to prevent such a despairing future?
Lucy took a deep breath. Determination shone in her eyes. No matter what, even if she had to drain all her magic power for tomorrow and the day after, she would give it her all.
At the very least, she had to defeat one dragon. She couldn't let Chase down!
"Let's go, Loke!" Lucy switched to her Leo Celestial Spirit Dress.
Future Loke saw the change in her expression and smiled. His fists blazed with golden light. "Got it, Lucy!"
But just as they were about to go all out, a new dragon roar echoed from the distance.
With a gust of wind, a dragon landed heavily beside Zirconis.
Its most striking feature was the crescent-shaped jaw on its forehead and chin. It was Shizalansa the Iron Sound Dragon—the one that had defeated Future Sting's team!
Another dragon?!
Lucy and Loke's expressions shifted dramatically.
"Reduced to such a pathetic state by mere humans. Zirconis, how embarrassing."
Shizalansa surveyed the battlefield and mocked the battered Zirconis.
"These creatures are nothing like the pathetic prey we know."
Zirconis glanced at Shizalansa's torn, hole-ridden wings and shot back. "You're wounded too. Did you come here fleeing after being beaten?"
"Hmph. Just two brats raised by the White Dragon and Shadow Dragon."
At that, Shizalansa's claws clenched, a hint of malice and anger flickering in its eyes. "If they hadn't run so fast, I would have torn them to shreds!"
"Ran fast? If I'm not mistaken, you mean some kind of special teleportation array?" Zirconis thought of Lucy and the others vanishing before its claws.
So all the humans probably had similar "life-saving devices."
"You too? No wonder just twenty or thirty people dared to storm our dragon territory—they came prepared!"
Shizalansa snorted in disdain. "No matter how many years pass, humans never change their tricks."
"So, you have a countermeasure?" Zirconis asked.
"Not yet."
"Hmph. A brute who only knows how to blast magic around."
"What did you say?!"
"This is the biggest difference between us, Shizalansa."
Zirconis ignored the enraged Shizalansa, tapping its massive head with a claw. "To enjoy delicious food, sometimes you need to use your brain."
"Watch closely. Let me teach you this lesson."
Seeing its overwhelming confidence, Lucy's nerves tightened.
It had already found a way to counter Kuriboh's teleportation?
***
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