Claudia braced against the shattered wall, gritting her teeth as she slowly pushed herself to her feet. She walked toward Leon, her sharp gaze flicking over his imposing, familiar figure before muttering with faint sarcasm,
"Don't tell me you're late because you were too busy polishing that dramatic armor."
Leon, now fully clad in his black-gold battle armor, the legendary Black Chariot, seemed unbothered by her jab. The moonlight danced off the sleek, intricately crafted metallic surface, giving the armor a mesmerizing, almost liquid glow under the night sky.
"No, the delay was purely logistical. The dragonhawk, for all its virtues, simply isn't as fast as Rossweise," he replied nonchalantly, as if discussing the weather.
"Rossweise?"
Claudia raised a skeptical eyebrow. She already knew Leon had formally bonded the six-winged dragonhawk as his summoned beast.
But in the midst of such a critical, world-altering battle, why hadn't he flown with his wife, the Silver Dragon Queen, whose speed was unmatched, instead of the slower beast?
"Where is she? Why didn't she come with you?" Claudia pressed, her voice laced with concern and confusion.
Leon's lips curled into a mysterious, knowing smile. "She's off picking someone up. A last-minute addition to the party. She'll be here shortly."
"Picking someone up?" Claudia's mind raced, trying to think of who could be important enough to warrant a detour at this hour.
She opened her mouth to press further, but before she could, the Tower Master's voice called out from a distance, strained and wary.
"Who goes there? Is that the Silver Prince?"
Leon's full black-gold armor, helmet included, made him hard to recognize at a glance, so the Tower Master could only speculate based on the distinct, powerful thunder magic Leon had just wielded.
Claudia turned to reassure the Tower Master briefly before lowering her voice to a urgent whisper directed at Leon.
"I don't know why you chose to wear that armor now, but doing so is as good as declaring your human identity to the Tower Master and every other Dragon King when they arrive. You know that, right?"
The black-gold armor, known throughout the continent as the Black Chariot, was legendary on the battlefields of the War of Dragons. It had earned immense renown and fear for the human faction, and its striking, terrifying design was seared into the memories of both humans and dragons alike.
Among dragonkind, Leon had been infamously dubbed "the man in the black armor." His heroic, stubborn defense of the human frontlines and the devastating losses he had inflicted on the dragon faction during that war were unforgettable scars.
Even St. Heath's Academy, the premier dragon institution, had ironically established a mandatory curriculum centered around analyzing the Black Chariot's combat capabilities, elevating it as a dark icon of respect and caution.
By wearing this armor now, Leon was essentially announcing to all the assembled Dragon Kings that he was the very legendary warrior who had once stood against them, who had slain their kin.
"So many years have passed," Leon said, his voice steady and clear through his helmet. "In every battle since my arrival here, I've fought as the Silver Dragon Prince. But this time... for this final fight, I want to fight as who I truly am—a human—and claim victory as one."
It was a decision he and Rossweise had discussed and reached in quiet agreement late one night.
Though he had been accepted, even loved, as a dragon prince, Leon's human blood remained a fundamental, unchangeable part of who he was. In this decisive battle for the fate of all races, he wished to embrace that identity fully, without disguise.
Rossweise, understanding her husband's heart better than anyone, had been the one to retrieve the Black Chariot from the deep vault where it had long been sealed away, knowing it was the right choice for him, for them.
Claudia studied him for a long moment, her expression unreadable, before asking the pivotal question,
"And are you prepared to face the consequences? The shock, the betrayal some might feel? The potential fracture in the alliance at the worst possible moment?"
Leon's smile was audible in his voice. "I'd already planned to come clean after this battle was over. Consider this just moving the timeline forward by a few hours. Let them see the truth while we're fighting for the same cause. It tends to put things in perspective."
Claudia couldn't help but chuckle, a dry, amused sound. "You're such a strange and reckless man."
Their conversation was interrupted as the Tower Master approached cautiously, his spatial magic flickering around him like a protective shroud.
As he drew closer, recognition slowly dawned in his wide eyes. The Black Chariot's distinctive silhouette left no room for doubt. The pieces connected—the thunder magic, the human legends, the Silver Prince's mysterious past.
"It's me, Tower Master," Leon said, his tone calm but firm. He reached up and removed his helmet, tucking it under his arm, revealing his face. "From your expression, I can see you've guessed the truth. I owe you a profound apology for keeping it hidden all this time."
The Tower Master, ever composed, stared for a heartbeat longer, a whirlwind of emotions passing behind his eyes—shock, understanding, and a flicker of old pain. But he quickly regained his legendary composure.
"To reveal this now, at such a critical moment, is a calculated decision, Your Highness," he said, his voice measured. "One that speaks volumes."
Leon nodded. "With the enemy at our gate, preparing to unleash the Ultimate Fear upon the world, the question is a simple one—will you settle old scores with me now, or will we unite to fight the greater evil?"
The answer, in the face of the violet pillar of light and the snarling horde, was obvious.
"No need for further formalities now, Tower Master," Leon continued, his gaze shifting toward the four Flame Demons regrouping to block their path and the ominous, pulsing violet glow emanating from the distant ruins of the Twilight Tower. "Shadow's there, isn't he? At the heart of the seal."
"Yes," the Tower Master confirmed grimly. "Judging by the intensity of that light, he's already deep into the process of breaking the seal of Ultimate Fear. We must stop him, and quickly, but these creatures are relentlessly holding us back. Be careful. They regenerate, and they grow stronger by consuming their fallen."
Leon nodded, gripping the hilt of his retrieved Thundercloud Blade. "Reinforcements will arrive soon. For now, I'll handle these pests."
The moment he finished speaking, he slammed the blade back into its sheath and then drew it again in one fluid motion, unleashing a powerful wave of lightning that rippled outward in a visible circle. The concussive energy pulse forced the Flame Demons and the surrounding lesser creatures to stagger back, buying a precious few seconds.
"Before the main force arrives," Leon declared, his voice ringing with authority, "I'll clear the way."
With that, Leon dashed forward, his form becoming a blur of black and blue. In the blink of an eye, he reappeared directly before the lead Flame Demon, his blade already raised high for a decisive strike.
"Without the advantage of the Flaming Valley's geothermal energy to sustain you," he taunted, "I wonder if you can withstand this."
The blade descended, not with brute force, but with impossible speed and precision, crackling with concentrated electricity as it sliced through the air.
Clang!
The strike was clean and brutal. It sheared off one of the demon's massive, burning horns and tore a huge, sizzling chunk from its thick, molten flesh. Lava-like blood sprayed from the wound as the creature howled in agony and fury.
Despite its grievous injuries, the demon roared and lunged at Leon with undiminished rage, attempting to crush him in a fiery embrace.
"You've been upgraded, I see," Leon remarked, sidestepping the charge with practiced ease. "But it's not enough."
With a swift, almost casual upward slash, the Thundercloud Blade cleaved through the demon's body from hip to shoulder, bisecting it neatly. The two halves fell apart, dissolving into slag and dissipating black smoke.
Without a pause, Leon charged toward the remaining three Flame Demons. From the rear, the Tower Master watched, his initial shock giving way to sheer awe.
"He's... even more formidable than the legends from the war said..."
Claudia, having recovered slightly thanks to a self-applied healing spell, approached the Tower Master with a wry smile.
"A human's drive to grow stronger can rival, and sometimes surpass, that of the most ancient dragons. And Leon..." She paused, her gaze following his relentless assault. "He was simply born to fight. It's in his blood."
The Tower Master glanced at her, a sudden suspicion flickering in his eyes.
"Princess... you knew he was human all along, didn't you? Since when?"
Claudia smiled knowingly, a rare, genuine expression. "Was it that obvious?"
"Next time, perhaps spare me the scolding during our Dragon King meetings about inter-species relations," the Tower Master quipped dryly, earning a soft, genuine laugh from Claudia.
"Enough talk," Claudia said, her smile fading as she summoned twin orbs of swirling water. "We should assist him. He's clearing a path for a reason."
By now, Leon stood atop the last Flame Demon's dissolving corpse, severing its head with a final swing and kicking the smoldering skull directly into the oncoming horde of lesser creatures.
He raised his free hand, palm open, and unleashed a thick bolt of chain lightning that obliterated the head mid-air, the resulting explosion sending shockwaves and dismembered body parts through the ranks of the monsters.
As the path was momentarily cleared, two powerful beams of magic—one silver spatial energy, one deep blue water—shot out from either side of him, pushing back the flanks of the swarming creatures and creating a narrow corridor.
"Your Highness, we'll hold them here! Go to the Twilight Tower and stop Shadow!" the Tower Master shouted over the din.
"Understood!"
With the path opened by the combined efforts of the Tower Master and Claudia, Leon summoned his dragonhawk with a sharp whistle.
The creature's piercing cry answered him as it swooped down from its aerial patrol. Leon leapt, grabbing its talons as it ascended, soaring swiftly over the battlefield toward the distant, glowing ruins.
Swinging his blade to fend off diving aerial attackers, Leon's gaze remained locked onto the lone, dark figure standing at the center of the violently pulsing seal.
"Shadow," he muttered, his voice low and cold, carrying the weight of all their history. "We meet again."
Leon raised his Thundercloud Blade slowly, the tip of the blade crackling as lightning magic began to concentrate into a single, devastating point.
Before he could unleash his strike, a massive shadow fell over him. A pelican-like creature, larger than any he had seen before, dove toward him with startling speed, its obsidian beak aimed like a spear.
The dragonhawk reacted with instinctual swiftness, halting its forward momentum midair and beating its six wings powerfully to retreat, carrying Leon back to a safer distance.
Leon looked up, narrowing his eyes at the familiar figure perched elegantly on top of the colossal bird.
"Elizabeth..."
Recognizing his adversary, Leon flipped himself gracefully from the dragonhawk's talons onto its broad back, standing ready.
Elizabeth, however, didn't attack right away. She manipulated her pelican mount to hover steadily at Leon's level, her expression carrying its usual smug contempt, though her eyes burned with a new, fanatical fire.
"Leon Cosmodeous," she sneered, arms crossed over her white robes. "Wearing the armor forged for you by the very Empire you betrayed, now standing against your former master... how perfectly, poetically rebellious of you."
Leon arched an eyebrow, his voice laced with dry amusement. "Elizabeth, is it really you speaking up there? Or just the dark little vagabond hiding behind the hooded figure you call your master? I recall a queen with more pride than to become a mere lackey."
"Don't you dare insult Lord Shadow, you insolent worm!" she shrieked, her composure cracking.
Clang!
Leon raised his blade, the sound of metal ringing clear. He pointed its crackling tip directly at her. His voice turned cold and flat, all humor gone.
"Get out of my way, Elizabeth."
"Get out of your way? I could, but..." Her gaze shifted meaningfully, motioning behind her. "I don't think they will agree."
At her signal, the sky itself seemed to darken. A massive swarm of the pelican creatures descended from the higher clouds, their sheer number blotting out the moonlight and filling the air with the thunderous beat of countless wings. Leon glanced upward, his frown deepening only slightly.
"Impressive, isn't it?" Elizabeth smirked, regaining her smugness. "Even with your fancy armor and your new tricks, what can you possibly do against this? Shadow will break the seal and unleash the Ultimate Fear while you're being swarmed and torn apart by my pets."
"Numbers are the most effective tactic against you, Leon. They were at the Flaming Valley, and they are here as well. In fact, this time my pelican army dwarfs anything you faced before."
Elizabeth's mocking laughter echoed through the battlefield, her tone full of triumphant vitriol.
Behind Leon, the Tower Master and Claudia watched the new threat emerge with shared shock.
"By the ancestors... how many of those things are there?" the Tower Master muttered, his spatial magic flickering uncertainly. "How can the Prince handle this alone?"
Claudia's expression darkened, her hands clenching. "Even with all my years of battles, I've never seen such a concentrated force. Leon... hold on. I'll find a way to come to help you."
"Why so silent, Leon?" Elizabeth taunted, raising her hand dramatically as if showcasing her terrible army. "Weren't you just full of bravado? Are you struck speechless by the sight of my pets?"
Haha!
"You have all the time in the world to regret your lone hero act," she continued, her voice dripping with malice. "How will you, isolated and utterly unsupported, possibly stand against Lord Shadow's black-scaled horde?"
Boom!
A thunderous crack, louder than any natural lightning, drowned out Elizabeth's laughter.
She froze, her smug smile vanishing as she whipped her head toward the source of the sound.
From the storm clouds above, a blue-scaled figure descended slowly, majestically. His massive, powerful dragon wings stretched wide behind him, his white hair flowing like a banner in the wind. His deep blue dragon eyes, ancient and wise, radiated a calm, unshakable confidence and immense strength.
Behind him, the very air danced with electricity and roared with thunder, as if the storm itself was celebrating his arrival.
Elizabeth's face paled. She immediately recognized him.
"Thunder Dragon King... Odin."
Her moment of shock passed quickly, her expression hardening into defiant resolve. "So what if reinforcements have arrived? They're still just—"
A new, fiery voice interrupted her from the side.
"Brother-in-law, don't tell me your former boss is this loud-mouthed woman. Her voice is even more grating than I remember."
A magnificent red dragon flew up alongside Leon, its scales shimmering like living lava. It shifted into a human form in a flash of light, revealing the imposing presence and fiery red hair of the Red Dragon Queen.
Elizabeth's eyes widened further. "You're… Isabella Melkvey... the Red Dragon King..."
Before she could finish, another massive figure approached—a dark gold dragon whose scales gleamed like desert treasure. Shifting to human form, he flew next to a scowling Isha, attempting a friendly pat on her shoulder. She shot him a deadly glare in response.
"Come now, Red Dragon Queen, no need to be so distant," Morgan, the Golden Sand Dragon King, teased, his voice a smooth rumble.
"You and I have had no dealings for centuries. Let's keep it that way," Isha replied coldly, brushing his hand away.
"Ah, but today we're both here to help your dear brother-in-law. That's some connection, isn't it?" he persisted with a charming grin.
"Don't push your luck, sand-crawler."
"Enough fooling around," Odin said sternly, his voice cutting through the banter as he joined Leon's side. A silent, respectful nod passed between the two warriors, an unspoken understanding of the mission that transcended their past duel.
Seeing the opening, the Tower Master and Claudia broke free from the swarm of lesser creatures and swiftly regrouped with the others, forming a powerful line in the sky.
Elizabeth's gaze swept over the gathered dragons—Odin, Isha, Morgan, Claudia, the Tower Master—her fists clenching so tightly her knuckles turned white.
"Odin, Isabella, Morgan... and the Sea Dragon Princess..." she spat, her voice trembling with barely contained rage.
But her sharp tongue refused to yield.
"More reinforcements? They're just more fodder for the grinder! Nothing will change the outcome of this battle!"
She sneered directly at Leon, aiming for his most vulnerable point. "And where's your precious dragon wife, hmm? The mighty Rossweise? Hiding back at home with your children, trembling in fear?"
"Did you at least say a proper goodbye to her before coming here to die? If not, what a shame—"
Bang!
A single, sharp gunshot cut her off.
Elizabeth gasped, staggering back on her pelican as blood blossomed from her shoulder. She fell to one knee on the bird's back, clutching the wound with a grimace of shock and pain.
"Who.. who dares—"
A magnificent silver dragon descended from the sky above, its gleaming wings stirring the air with authority. On its back knelt a green-haired woman, holding a long, customized sniper rifle in a steady, practiced grip.
Rebecca Clement, her shot perfectly placed to wound and humiliate rather than kill, rose slowly to her feet, the massive rifle slung over her shoulder with casual expertise.
"Bitch," she called out, her voice clear and cutting across the battlefield, "you dare insult my sister-in-law?"
Claudia's eyes widened as she took in the silver dragon and the group of figures emerging behind it—key members of the famed Lionheart Guild, led by Rebecca herself.
"So this is what you meant by 'picking someone up,'" she muttered, a slow smile spreading across her face as she looked at Leon.
Leon grinned, the expression visible even through his helmet. "Surprised? Or is this about what you expected?"
"I had a feeling you wouldn't just call the Dragon Kings," Claudia admitted. "Calling in your Lionheart Guild was the obvious tactical move, so no, this isn't shocking."
"Oh? Well, in that case..." Leon gestured toward Rebecca and called out, "Is he here yet?"
Rebecca cupped her hands around her mouth and shouted back, "If you want him to show up now, isn't it a bit early for the grand finale?"
"It's not early at all!" Leon retorted with fierce joy. "No one in the Samuel Continent times a rescue better than me. Bring him out!"
"Fine!" Rebecca pulled a signal gun from her belt and fired it into the sky.
The flare streaked upward, a brilliant red contrail against the dark clouds, bursting in a dazzling display of light.
Elizabeth scowled at the spectacle, clutching her bleeding shoulder. "Idiots. What meaningless pageantry are you planning now?"
A deafening, earth-shaking roar split the air, a sound of pure, unbridled power that dwarfed all previous noise. The pressure of immense dragon might was palpable, a physical force that made the very air heavy and forced the swarming dangerous creatures to falter in their tracks. Some of the weaker ones simply collapsed outright.
From the far edge of Sky City, a fiery light blazed into existence, growing brighter and brighter. It surged forward across the city like a burning blade, cutting through the darkness and hordes of monsters alike with unstoppable, purifying force.
Before Elizabeth could even process this new threat, the inferno halted directly beneath them. The flames dissipated outward in a wave, reducing the surrounding creatures to instant ash.
In the center of the lingering heat and embers stood a single, towering figure, unmoving and resolute as a mountain.
He gripped a massive, intricately crafted war hammer, his fiery red dragon eyes glowing with the intensity of molten lava. His presence was a statement in itself.
"Constantine..." Elizabeth whispered, her voice a mix of horror and disbelief.
The Crimson Flame Dragon King lifted his head, his voice a low rumble that promised vengeance.
"Constantine... has arrived."