"Huh?"

Every Chaos Cultist stared in shock at their shattered comrades.

But shock gave way to swift action—they retaliated without hesitation.

Otherwise, they’d be next.

"Eye of the Storm!"

A shout ripped through the air. Howling winds erupted instantly.

The quiet alley twisted into a raging tempest, surging toward the white streak at terrifying speed.

"Inferno Blaze!"

"Earthspike Barrage!"

A sea of fire roared to life, scorching the walls until bricks nearly melted.

Jagged earth spikes erupted from every direction like vicious weeds, glinting coldly as they lunged at Rayelle.

Rayelle frowned at the overwhelming assault.

Every path forward was blocked. Dodging would waste precious time.

Plowing through would hurt—though she still held traces of draconic power, her flesh remained soft, unprotected by scales.

Her priority was reclaiming Chriss and capturing their leader, Seth.

He’d yield answers under interrogation.

No choice. She’d have to use *that*.

Drawing on the lie of "Rayelle," magic surged back into her veins.

Her pupils slit like a dragon’s. Amber-gold light shimmered around her.

A faint wave of weakness rippled through her body. Her skin prickled strangely.

She ignored it.

"You can’t stop me."

Her whisper cut through the chaos. She kicked off the ground, charging straight into the storm of fire, wind, and spikes.

The Chaos Cultists gasped. *No defense?*

They refused to believe she’d break through.

Her magic aura felt like First Rank. They were all Second Rank or higher.

Each tier gap was absolute. How could they lose?

"Her Extraordinary Power must be physical enhancement!"

"Yeah! First Rank with this power? She’s specialized in offense and speed. Defense must be weak."

"That delicate little thing? She’ll get skinned alive if she makes it through!"

*Impossible. How could she break through—*

Their disbelief sealed their fate.

Rayelle’s lips curled into a cold smirk. She didn’t flinch, plunging into the maelstrom.

*Crash—BOOM!*

Amid shattering glass and the cultists’ stunned gazes, fire, storm, and spikes shattered against her like crystal—vanishing into glittering dust.

"What the hell...?"

"This can’t be real!"

"Huh?"

Rayelle gave them no time to process. She struck.

*BOOM!*

Two more bodies flew toward Seth like cannonballs.

"!"

Seth, covertly gathering magic for a sneak attack, barely dodged the human projectiles.

*CRASH! CRASH!*

Twin craters exploded where he’d stood.

His heart lurched. Such speed could wound him—even if it wouldn’t kill him.

He bit his lip, hesitating.

This girl wasn’t First Rank. At least Third. Probably masking her true tier.

If so, her power was unfathomable. He wasn’t confident he could win.

*Run?*

His eyes flicked to Chriss, unconscious nearby.

One terrified cultist noticed Chriss too—and how Rayelle’s gaze kept darting toward her.

*She’s here for this girl!*

Watching his comrades crumble at terrifying speed, pure terror seized him.

Death loomed. To survive, he lunged, yanking Chriss upright. Flames licked his palm, pressed to her throat.

"Stop! Or I’ll kill her—"

Before he finished, killing intent erupted from the white streak.

Rayelle was already upon him.

Her fist slammed into his face.

*Squelch.*

He saw only a blur before his head separated from his body.

Chriss tumbled free—caught gently by Rayelle and laid on the ground.

Rayelle hated chatter.

Action spoke louder.

With overwhelming power? Just crush them. Words were for fools.

"...Urgh."

Seth’s desire for Chriss evaporated, replaced by icy dread and the desperate urge to flee.

*This white-haired monster... kills without blinking!*

Before he could cast his escape spell, Rayelle read his fear.

She became a blur again, hurtling toward him.

A small, soft-looking white-haired girl.

Blood speckled her cheeks.

Her pale blue eyes held only cold, lethal intent.

Seth felt it—not a child charging him, but a bloodthirsty ancient dragon.

"STOP HER!" Seth bellowed, throwing himself backward.

Shadows around him writhed to life.

Some coalesced behind him into a massive portal, swallowing his body.

Others snaked toward Rayelle, inky tendrils coiling around her ankles and wrists.

"Annoying."

Rayelle scowled, yanking her leg free. She slammed a tiny fist into the ground.

*BOOM!*

A draconic aura exploded from her, shredding the tendrils into black mist.

Even as a cute little dragon girl, her presence commanded terror.

"This ends now."

She unleashed the draconic power she’d regained these past days.

*BOOM!*

Crouching low, she kicked off. A white meteor shot toward Seth’s escaping shadow.

The ground shattered beneath her, cratering into a five-meter pit.

Then—weakness surged through her veins like wildfire.

As she closed in on Seth, it peaked.

*What—?*

Rayelle’s eyes flew wide. Her body went limp.

*Splat.*

She crashed face-first onto the rubble.

An unnatural pink flush spread across her skin.

A crawling sensation—like ants biting—mixed with feverish heat.

*No...*

Strength drained away. Rayelle’s mind went blank.

This matched the one toxin even the Abyssal Dragon King feared.

*When was I poisoned?!*

*Those damn Chaos Cultists!*

Fury surged through her—but she couldn’t lift a finger. Couldn’t resist if they did... anything.

Then—a familiar presence neared.

Rayelle froze.

Panic clawed up her throat.

*Oh no—Aerin!*