The tranquil night was shattered by flames and chaos.

The Red Dragon Clan’s guards immediately rushed to intercept the enemies that had suddenly appeared.

"Is that... the Dragon King? Or... something else?" one guard murmured as he stared at the colossal creature before him.

The reason for his question was simple—the "creature" that attacked the Red Dragon Sanctuary tonight was far too bizarre.

Its body displayed numerous traits of S-class, even super S-class Dangerous Beasts—

Steel-Rock Mammoth, Scaled Battle Rhino, Lava Three-Headed Snake, and more.

These were only the most obvious features visible at first glance; other parts of its body were so complex that they couldn't recognize.

However, the creature’s head was easily identifiable, and this was why the Red Dragon guard initially mistook it for the Dragon King.

It had the head... of a dragon.

The enormous dark red dragon head looked as though it had been glued onto this "stitched-together" body.

Its pair of ferocious and fearsome dragon eyes glared menacingly at the ground below. With every step it took, flames spread further across the land.

"That’s... that’s the severed head of the Crimson Flame Dragon King!"

Another Red Dragon guard recognized whose head it was.

"The Crimson Flame Dragon King? But wasn’t he slain long ago by Prince Leon? How could—"

**Boom!**

Before the guards could finish their astonishment, the 'reborn' Constantine launched an attack.

With a body like that of the Steel-Rock Mammoth, a mere stomp was enough to shake the ground.

The guards immediately unfolded their dragon wings, preparing to engage from the skies.

They had just observed a critical detail that, this stitched monstrosity, despite bearing many traits of Dangerous Beasts, lacked one specific feature—

Wings.

That meant it couldn’t fly.

Attacking from the air was thus the best option.

All the Red Dragon guards unleashed Dragon Flame upon Constantine.

However, the fireballs struck its body without causing so much as a scratch.

"Is this... the Steel-Rock Mammoth’s body? Its defensive power is truly absurd," one guard muttered with cold sweat dripping down his forehead.

The Steel-Rock Mammoth—an ultra S-class Dangerous Beast.

Even the Dragon Clan itself wouldn’t hunt it casually. Its defensive capabilities rivaled even that of a Dragon King.

Even without deliberately adopting a defensive stance, Constantine remained unaffected by the guards' earlier assaults.

It continued marching toward the Red Dragon Sanctuary, as though that was its sole target tonight.

The guards persisted, launching attack after attack to halt Constantine’s advance.

But their efforts remained futile.

More guards soon gathered, their Dragon Flames illuminating the night sky,

But not a single step of Constantine’s could be stopped.

Meanwhile, on a distant mountaintop, Scott stood silently with a member of the Dragon Clan, watching the event unfold.

"I thought Mr. Nacho would be the supervisor for this operation again," the Dragon Clan member remarked.

"He’s not coming, Fael."

There was a hint of smugness in Scott’s tone. "He won’t be back anymore."

The Iron-Winged Dragon King, Fael, had been instrumental in stealing a portion of Noa's power during the expedition in the Far North.

Now, following the deaths of Ravie and other Dragon Kings, Fael had no choice but to personally engage and collaborate with the Empire.

In Fael’s mind, Nacho Salaman, the human, had always been fascinating—

Primarily because Fael often heard Ravie complain about him.

But now, not only was Ravie gone, but even Nacho, the subject of her complaints, was nowhere to be found.

Ah, how things change. People—and dragons—are gone, Fael thought with a faint sense of melancholy.

"Mr. Elandy seems very confident about the reborn Constantine," Fael commented. "He sent only me, a single Dragon King, to assist in this operation."

"Of course. After all, this so-called ultimate being is a product of the Empire’s effort," Scott said, narrowing his eyes as he watched the rampaging monster intent on reducing everything to ash.

"It is also the Empire’s ultimate weapon, specifically created to hunt down Leon Casmode."

"Given how many abilities and traits of Dangerous Beasts it incorporates, it certainly must’ve required substantial resources," Fael observed. "But, I do have one concern."

Scott turned to look at him. "What is it?"

"The reborn Constantine—is he truly under the Empire’s complete control? Has he entirely lost his own independent will?"

At these words, Scott let out a cold snort.

"Of course. What independent will could a dead dragon possibly have? There’s nothing to worry about, Fael. The Empire’s Royal Sorcerer Division is nothing if not thorough."

"Is that so? Then I’m relieved," Fael replied.

"After all, if Constantine, that lunatic dragon, gained control over his newly powerful body... well, let’s just say Leon wouldn’t be the only one hunted. Constantine might end up obliterating most of Samal Continent’s living beings as well."

Though Constantine had been the first Dragon King slain in the Empire and Dragon Clan’s "plan" by Leon Casmode, no one doubted his ferocity and brutality.

He had embodied every single trait of the Dragon Clan to the fullest.

Now, having returned from hell, it seemed he had become even more fitting to his personality from life.

"Unyielding... unrelenting. Constantine," Fael murmured as he continued gazing at the distant battlefield.

Outside the sanctuary, the battle was entirely one-sided. The guards’ attacks couldn’t harm Constantine, who bore the impenetrable body of a Steel-Rock Mammoth.

"What now... This thing is truly terrifying."

"Our attacks can't even scratch it... What should we do?"

"..."

Amid the guards’ despair, a firm female voice echoed from behind them—

"Everyone, fall back."

The guards turned to see Isa approaching, flanked by two other princes.

"His Majesty is finally stepping in... It seems this opponent is indeed beyond us," the guards murmured as they stepped aside, making way.

Once Leon and the other two reached the central courtyard of the sanctuary, a guard stepped forward to report.

"Your Majesty, after brief engagement, we cannot determine precisely what kind of creature this is. However, we can confirm that its head... belongs to the Crimson Flame Dragon King, Constantine."

Isa’s expression turned grim. "Understood. Lead the nearby clans people to the underground shelters. Ensure the safety of the three princesses, no matter what."

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

The guards began retreating in an orderly fashion, guiding the clans people to safety.

Soon, the vast courtyard was left with only Leon, Isa, Roswitha, and that monstrous creature burning with flames of vengeance.

"I swear I’ll never tell another Constantine hell joke again," Leon muttered as he regarded the colossal being ahead.

"He really has won the resurrection lottery."

"Resurrection... takes many forms. The question is, how did he approach the Red Dragon Sanctuary so silently?" Roswitha asked. "That massive body—just one step should cause tremors. Yet he suddenly appeared right outside. And from the looks of it, he can’t fly. It’s almost as if... he materialized out of thin air."

"Maybe he crawled up directly from the grave, so there wasn’t any noise—"

**"ROAR!!"**

"Alright, alright! I swear I’ll stop with the hell jokes, don’t get worked up!"

Roswitha spread her dragon wings and assumed an attack stance.

"Time to get serious, Leon."

"Got it."

Leon took a step forward, spreading his right hand as blue light blazed brightly.

In the next instant, the crackling sound of Chidori filled the night sky.