The adventurer's town has descended into chaos.

Earlier today, there was a violent tremor coming from the depths of the Dark Swamp, causing varying degrees of damage to many buildings and creating some disturbance.

But compared to what happened afterwards, those incidents were nothing. Within the next hour, all sorts of animals, beasts, and even monstrous creatures like the Blackwater Crocodile started running out of the Dark Swamp as if in a panic, nearly destroying the adventurer's town.

The scene of the mass exodus of creatures was truly spectacular, with the earth shaking, the sky crumbling, and the sound of firecrackers and drums echoing through the air... Wait, it seems like something strange has mixed in...

Fortunately, the swarm of creatures had no intention of lingering here. They crossed the adventurer's town without stopping and continued their mad rush, narrowly sparing the adventurers in the town.

"What on earth is happening..."

The commanding officer of the town's garrison felt immense pressure as he watched the receding swarm and the billowing dust they stirred up.

This town is located within the Milanía borders, and under normal circumstances, a kingdom garrison of about a battalion would be stationed here. However, considering the unique nature of the adventurer's town, where eight out of every ten residents are capable fighters, even three hundred people, let alone three thousand, would likely be unable to handle any major trouble.

The commanding officer in charge of the garrison was at a loss. In the end, he just symbolically sent a few dozen people to make it look like they were doing something. Their main role was to provide oversight and reports, as long as they didn't do anything too outrageous, the rest was left for the adventurers to handle themselves.

Naturally, the garrison soldiers sent to this remote place were not the cream of the crop. In a way, it was a compliment to them that even warped and withered fruits were praising their abilities. That's why when the swarm attacked, these few dozen soldiers didn't even have time to react.

—The guy on the lookout tower was still dozing off and didn't wake up until after the swarm had passed.

"So, how do I explain this to my superiors!"

The garrison officer's brain was trembling. From the scale of the swarm he just witnessed, it seemed like beasts from half the swamp had run out. If things got chaotic, several nearby provinces would be in trouble.

What's even more troubling is what happened in the deep parts of the swamp. When those creatures rushed out, the dispelling runes set up by the church were completely ignored. The fact that these creatures were so desperate to run out could only mean that there was something even more terrifying inside the swamp, right?

Headache! The garrison officer's scalp was tingling. If some major incident occurred, he would probably be the first one held responsible. It was bad enough being thrown into this wretched place as a garrison officer, and now he might even end up thrown into a prison cell, labeled with some crime...

The only way to avoid punishment was to achieve something significant, but with just a few dozen soldiers under his command, they were completely insufficient whether it was to clear out the beasts or enter the swamp for exploration...

Thinking about his bleak future, the garrison officer knelt down in the corner in despair and repeatedly knocked his head against the wall.

Praying to the Goddess for her protection seemed more practical...

"I...what?" The officer of the garrison fell silent for half a second, quickly clasping his hands together and closing his eyes to pray. "Oh, Goddess, I was just joking! Can we have a 50% discount, please?"

If the Goddess actually heard that, she would probably break your bones...

...

"I'm dead, I'm dead, I'm dead. I probably can't even run away now."

After the first wave of dragon roars, the soul of the devil dragon did not calm down. The dragon roars continued one after another, and the commotion grew louder and louder, startling all the birds and beasts in the vicinity, causing them to flee or be stunned on the spot.

While Aya could still complain, Iino's face showed a hint of pain. She had to release Chi to barely isolate the fear that was about to explode in her heart.

On the other hand, Angelica, who had the weakest strength due to being the core of the seal formation, remained calm and seemed to be the most relaxed.

According to her, even if she were killed right now, the protective formation would not be able to stop. They could only wait for the devil dragon to break the ban and emerge.

"This is forcing us to fight for our lives..."

Aya covered her face and squatted in the corner, making circles with her fingers, indicating her frustration.

Why did I, in the prime of my youth, have to encounter such an unlucky thing as a super ancient level dragon? I haven't made enough money, haven't raised a daughter, haven't become a princess, haven't asked for votes, haven't updated my story, how can I die in this kind of place!

"Decision made!"

Aya stood up and slapped the nonexistent small table, her fighting spirit soaring as she shouted at the sky, "Kill that son of a bitch! Lieutenant, where the f**k is your Italian cannon?"

"Aya, calm down. They said this barrier can't be broken without a Holy Rank." Etras gently waved his hand and sighed, trying to persuade her.

"...I'm talking about the dragon! And even if the barrier is broken now, it's too late to escape!"

With no way to retreat, the only option left was to confront it head-on. Aya still held a faint hope that the dragon had already been suppressed and had only a little strength left to roar.

But before that...

"Tiran, can you hear me?" Aya initiated the contract communication. Before going all out, she had to leave a few words. To be honest, if she hadn't been pressed for time, she planned to carve a monument with the inscription "Dragon-slaying hero Aya" or something...

"Aya? Sizzle... You... Sizzle... Are you... Sizzle..."

What's going on? Seems like the signal isn't very good?

"Well, um, I'm about to fight a really powerful guy, and I might not come back." Aya took a deep breath, trying to lower her voice as much as possible to make herself sound serious.

"Poohaha... Sizzle... Fight... Sizzle... You... You're just... Sizzle..."

"..." Why can't I hear clearly what you're saying, but I can still sense the obvious mockery! What do you mean "just with me"! Don't forget that you still can't beat me! I finally managed to brew up some tragic emotions and you just ruined it all!

"Hey, Aya," Etras called from behind, "look over there."

"What am I supposed to look at? Is the sun going to miraculously kill that dragon?... Oh my eyes!"

As soon as she turned her head, she was hit with a dazzling golden light, causing her adapted eyes, accustomed to the dim environment, to narrow into slits in order to barely see. What the hell? Did the clouds part and reveal the sun?

No, where would the sun come from in this lightless place?

Aya suddenly felt a little uneasy.

Hold on, this blinding special effect seems quite familiar...

"Eh?! This is?! Wait, wait a minute!"

Aya heard the panicked voice of Angelica in her ear, followed by the sound of glass shattering and the crumbling of the surrounding water contraption.

The barrier broke?

At the same time, the interference in her mind from the contract communication seemed to have stopped, and Tiran's voice became clear.

"Aya Aya, I've come to find you! Stand still and don't move, catch this~"

Catch? Catch what? Before Aya, who was dizzy from the bright light, could understand, an unidentified object had already fallen from the sky and hit her in the chest. The impact was so strong that it knocked her down backwards, but luckily the ground here was relatively soft grass, so it didn't hurt too much.

"..."

The atmosphere on the island in the center of the lake became somewhat awkward.

Etras siblings - with confused faces, they looked at the broken barrier that was suddenly smashed, and then at Aya who was knocked down on the ground.

Angelica - because the forcibly broken barrier caused a backlash, she kept coughing up blood, with a face full of shock. This amount of bleeding seemed a bit dangerous.

Aya - completely dumbfounded, she reached out and poked at the creature that was proudly lying on her chest like a cane.

In the sky - a winged creature flapped its pure white wings and surveyed the ground.

Gurgling.

Aya swallowed her saliva and asked uncertainly, "Tiran?"

"Mhmm, yeah, aren't you moved? I came a long way to visit you, you know." The princess hummed twice, with a look on her face like a child who scored full marks on an exam and was seeking praise, but her eyes couldn't conceal her joy.

"No, can you please get up first, it hurts when you kneel on me..." Damn it, Aya accidentally blurted out her true thoughts.

The princess fell silent, lowered her head, and glanced at a certain flat area on herself...

"Ow ow ow ow ow! This is unreasonable! I thought you were disabled?! Why does your fist still hurt so much?! Wait a minute! Stop biting me! It hurts! Are you a cat?! Let's make a deal, I'll take you fishing if you stop biting! Hey, let go! Let go, it's bleeding!"

This was a brief reunion between the princess and a certain dragon sister after their separation, touching and applause-worthy~