Someone in the warband stared at the flames in panic, a flicker of terror in their eyes.

Beside them, the Brown Bear captain’s face was etched with grave concern.

He’d spent years in Nexar City—he’d even stepped into the dungeon’s third floor a few times, let alone the second.

Yet he’d never heard of such a terrifying flame creature lurking on Level 2.

But soon, he learned exactly what it was.

“Dragon! It’s a dragon!!!”

“Impossible!? How could a dragon appear in the dungeon!?”

“…”

As the air grew scorching, a massive crimson claw erupted from The Abyss and gripped the cliff edge.

“ROAR!”

A dragon’s head emerged. With an earth-shattering roar, the entire Level 2 trembled violently.

Rocks rained down. The ground quaked unnaturally. Heat cracked and shattered stones along the cliff.

Brown Bear Warband adventurers cried out—some frozen stiff, others scrambling desperately toward Level 1’s entrance.

Before the dragon, all struggle meant death.

It gazed down at the scurrying humans like ants. A glint of mockery flickered in its magma-like eyes.

*Humans… always so weak. So ugly.*

Just as hope lit the eyes of those nearing the exit, a curtain of water descended from midair, slamming them back.

All looked up—there, standing atop the dragon’s head, was a figure cloaked in black.

“C-captain… isn’t that the mage Raging Lion recruited?” the deputy stammered, eyes wide with fear.

The Brown Bear captain froze slightly, his face darkening further.

An’s gaze swept over them. Flames surged instantly, encircling the group like a cage.

Despair flooded every heart. They were lambs trapped in a ring of fire.

An quickly lost interest. It had seen this panic countless times—some far more desperate.

Trapping them was just mockery before the kill.

Sophia knew An’s cruelty well, yet she did not stop it. Her aquamarine eyes remained calm as still water—cold, deep, and utterly frozen.

*“Little Princess, shall I kill them all?”* An’s voice echoed in her mind.

Sophia pressed her lips tight, fingers tightening around her staff.

Every Lion Warband adventurer’s final moment haunted her—especially Windsor’s desperate gaze, vivid as yesterday.

“Kill them…”

She lifted her head sharply. Her eyes now burned with killing intent.

*“Heh. As you wish, Little Princess.”*

An wasn’t surprised.

Temperature spiked. Flames shot upward several meters.

The inferno crept closer. Outer adventurers’ skin began to crack from the heat.

“Please! Spare me! I don’t want to die!”

One plea broke the silence. Then more followed—offering silver coins, a stolen magic staff, anything they thought could buy mercy.

Sophia saw it clearly: those handing over Lion Warband relics still clutched pouches of looted coins.

“An. Kill them all.”

“Of course, Little Princess.”

An chuckled darkly. A low growl rumbled. Flames erupted—no hesitation this time.

The blaze engulfed them instantly.

A hot breeze lifted Sophia’s hood, spilling silky golden hair.

To the dying, her breathtaking beauty felt colder than a demon’s face.

“AAAAHHH—!”

Screams filled the air. Flames crawled from cloth to skin.

Heat carbonized flesh, ignited organs. Some tried to scream—only spewing fire.

“Wh-why!? I curse you!!”

Even in death, they didn’t understand. Curses and vile words poured from flaming mouths. Ghostly hatred burned in their eyes.

Sophia watched the hellish scene, expression unmoved.

Firelight danced in her eyes—as if flames burned within them too.

Wild fire magic raged across Level 2, stirring elemental-sensitive monsters.

They cowered, trembling. Each dragon’s breath melted stone to slag.

They bowed helplessly before the apex predator.

Silence fell after the last scream—signaling the Brown Bear Warband’s total annihilation.

Sophia leaped down from An’s head, landed lightly, and walked to the corpses.

An shrank silently into a small red cat and followed.

She paused, then kicked the largest body—the Brown Bear captain.

“At the very least… I’m taking back my gold,” she murmured.

An snorted mockingly.

Ignoring it, Sophia retrieved a pair of massive ox horns and a small insignia.

“An, let’s go.”

She tucked the items away and headed for Level 1’s entrance.

An glanced at the corpses, leaped onto her shoulder—then was gently lifted into her arms.

Sophia pulled her hood up.

After she left, Level 2 sank back into dead silence.

Minutes later, a strange roar echoed. Corpse-eating rats slithered from shadows, ghastly green eyes gleaming with greed at the scattered remains…