"Sister Kozi, thank you! For doing so much for Neruru!"

"Neruru is such a good girl. I'm just doing my duty as her sister."

"But... is it really okay? Am I being too selfish, Neruru?"

"Don't worry, Neruru. Sister Kozi is a Fighter King, after all!"

"Mhm! Sister Kozi is the best! Neruru loves Sister Kozi the most!"

"..."

"No! Neruru! The Emerald Dragon's power is beyond imagination! Run away now!"

"No! Sister Kozi! I must get the 'Golden Ring Marsh Grass'! For my father!"

Neruru... I'm sorry... It's all my fault. My arrogance led to this...

Kozi stared blankly, her mind churning with past memories.

Was that same scene about to replay before her eyes again...?

What could she say? She, who thought becoming a Fighter King made her invincible, was so utterly powerless...

Move, Luo Hua October Fragrance! You're the celebrated Radiant Ten Stars! Saving people from danger has always been your principle!

Kozi shakily propped herself up on trembling legs, facing the green monster in the vision, yet unable to budge an inch.

"It's too late... Far too late. Even at Fighter King speed, everything is too late now..."

Ryosuke's eyes locked onto the dragon's breath rushing toward him.

Within that endless sea of green, he seemed to see that frail figure again...

And that frail figure was slowly transforming before Ryosuke's eyes...

—into a giant towering five meters tall!

"ROAR!"

A giant, nearly matching the Emerald Dragon's size, suddenly clamped its arms around the dragon's snout. Man and beast tumbled to the ground, locked in a fierce struggle.

The dragon's breath, meant for Ryosuke, veered wildly off course, scorching the earth behind him.

The entire ground trembled.

The giant pinned the Emerald Dragon down, then straddled its back like a rider. One hand clamped the dragon's head, while the other swung a massive iron fist, hammering blow after blow into the dragon's skull.

The giant's pupils were completely white, hollow eyes filled only with endless bloodshot veins.

This was power pushed to its absolute limit.

Kozi sat frozen on the ground, muttering as she watched the vision of the giant swell violently in the wind.

"This... this is the lost Giant Clan... How did it appear here...?"

For some reason, a warm current surged through Kozi's heart.

"It seems... there's hope... There's hope... Now is the perfect moment to save that child..."

Kozi tried to push herself up, but her legs buckled, sending her sprawling face-first into the filthy, muddy swamp.

Her legs had gone numb. How... undignified...

Kozi lowered her head, whispering to herself.

"Just wait a little longer... maybe... there's still a chance... Just wait... Neruru's life... might still be possible... Please..."

She refocused on the vision, unaware tears were already streaming down her face.

"O... old man... is it you...?"

Ryosuke murmured blankly, head drooping lower and lower, his mind growing foggy, his legs completely numb.

He collapsed to his knees in the muddy ground.

Mud splattered everywhere.

The giant roared, turning its head to look at Ryosuke.

It was the gaze of a father caring for his son.

"Ryosuke! Run! While you still can!"

The giant bellowed at Ryosuke. Seizing the moment of distraction, the Emerald Dragon whipped its steel-like tail around the giant's neck. The green tail coiled like a giant serpent, tightening its grip.

A brief chokehold stole the giant's consciousness. The dragon flipped over, hurling the giant off its back, then unleashed a blast of dragon's breath straight at him.

"Why, old man?!!!"

Ryosuke screamed!

The giant raised its left arm as a shield, weathering the Emerald Dragon's breath. Like a battle tank, it charged forward again.

The muscles on its left arm visibly withered, thick white smoke rising from the burns.

Man and dragon crashed together again, rolling on the ground. The dragon sank its fangs deep into the giant's shoulder, blood spraying everywhere.

That shoulder—the very spot young Ryosuke had loved to rest on...

Was now a mess of torn flesh and blood.

In this scene, any fancy combat techniques? I'll say this...

They're all bullshit!

This is pure—utterly primal instinct—fighting!

To protect the one you cherish most...

"Old man! Don't worry about me! Just go! Damn it, are you even listening to me?!!!"

"Go, Ryosuke! Don't hesitate! You're still young!"

"Why?! Why are you going this far?!!!"

Ryosuke roared until his voice cracked.

The giant turned back. Despite the blood covering its face, it smiled.

"Because you're my son. Blood or not, that 'old man' you call me makes you my boy!!!"

My boy... My boy!

Back then, in the Forest of Beginnings...

"Why are you here again, you old geezer?! We settled our debts long ago! Go hug a tree somewhere and get out of my sight!"

"Hmph! They say, 'A teacher for a day is a father for life!' I didn't even make you call me 'real old man'—that was me being generous! Don't you da—*cough*!"

"Waaah... Waaah!"

Ryosuke wailed to the sky.

It was all his fault! Chasing that elusive Source Power, trying to save the bespectacled, stuttering girl, he'd dragged another loved one into danger.

Was this... the right thing to do...?

Or was it wrong...?

Someone... anyone...

Who the hell could tell him the right path?!

Did he have to cherish the present and abandon the past?!

No... I won't accept that...

Past or present, I'll clutch them both tightly. I won't let go of either!

Yes, I'm that greedy! That shameless!

Power... Power...

With power, none of this would've happened.

I want power! I want power! I want endless, boundless power!

Power to change everything!

"God... where are you?! Do you even exist in this world?! Tell me!"

"If... if you truly exist! Grant me power! Give me power! I'll trade this body of mine for it! I don't care! I just want power! Only power!!!"

—Your plea... I have heard it. As you wish...

Far to the north, in Frostbound Dragon Valley, all high-tier magical beasts encircled an ice sculpture—a red-haired man—as decreed years ago by a great figure.

But something shocking happened, shaking the entire valley. The beasts huddled together, restless.

They sensed it...

The presence of that great figure...

Deep within the valley stood a pure ice-crystal tower, twelve stories high.

Now, the first-floor door creaked open. An endless surge of glacial energy erupted from within.

A pure silver dragon soared out—

Not solid, its entire form shimmering with boundless silver light.

Simultaneously, wind, rain, thunder, and moonlight converged above Poison Fog Swamp...

Echoing a scene from long ago.

At Kempfer Royal Academy...

Saori had a headache. The Enlightenment Class club was driving her crazy; teaching felt impossible. And that Silver Demon King? Nowhere to be found...

Had she given him too much freedom...?

Worried, Saori looked up at the window—and froze.

At the western horizon, strange weather gathered.

Saori stood up instinctively, eyes wide with shock and joy.

So familiar. Just like that day at Dragon Fang Mountain.

"You've finally shown yourself... Ice... flow... er... E... vil... God... Dra... gon..."

The door swung open. A graceful woman entered, face stern.

"Miss..."

Saori turned, grabbing her cloak from the chairback.

"Xier, ready the horses. To the post station."

"Miss, the destination?"

Saori fastened her cloak tightly.

"Crom City."

As for Ryosuke, after that mysterious voice, something deep in his mind began to shatter.

Countless fragments reassembled, flooding his thoughts...

"So you're awake at last?"

"Mas... ter..."

"Sadly, I'm not your master..."

"Are you... Lord Iceflower Evil God Dragon?"

"I suppose..."

"I see now..."

"What? Discovering the master you admired was actually the Iceflower Evil God Dragon who killed your former owner—do you hate me?"

"No... this servant... doesn't hate Master. Because... Master is the one who suffers most. Killing someone you cherished... then facing this servant... Master... I only just realized... I'm sorry..."

Tears streamed down the少女's cheeks in the memory...

Poison Fog Swamp. Torrential rain poured down.

Kozi couldn't tell if the wetness on her face was rain or tears...

For some reason, watching the silver-haired boy in the vision, an infinite sorrow surged within her.

And that grief swelled without limit...

In the vision, Ryosuke knelt in the swamp, arms limp at his sides.

His eyes overflowed with blood; crimson tears traced slow paths down his cheeks.

The battle between giant and dragon had reached its peak. With dragon's breath on its side, the Emerald Dragon now dominated the giant.

Half of Apsen's body had completely withered.

The other half was soaked in blood.

Ryosuke lifted his head mechanically, staring blankly at the silver light-dragon dancing in the stormy sky...

A sky-splitting lightning bolt crashed down. Poison Fog Swamp flashed blinding white for a heartbeat.

Kozi shielded her eyes. When the glare faded, she slowly opened them.

What she saw would haunt her forever...

The silver-haired boy on the ground had vanished. In his place, a silver dragon coiled mid-air, radiating an aura that defied heaven and earth. It threw back its head and roared!

I will have the heavens no longer blind my eyes!

I will have the earth no longer bury my heart!

"ROOOOAAAR!!!"

A heart-wrenching dragon's roar shook Poison Fog Swamp to its core...

Even the most ignorant knew its legend.

Sovereign of Frostbound Dragon Valley;

Repeller of the Demon Kind;

The strongest boss in history—

"So this is... Lord Iceflower Holy Dragon..."

Lord Iceflower Holy Dragon... You've finally come...

To save your suffering people~

Kozi could hold back no longer. She covered her face with both hands, weeping with joy.