In perfect sync, the two sprang to their feet.

A little girl and a little boy—faces lit with mischievous, almost demonic grins, the very picture of meme-worthy chaos.

Brimming with joy, the two overpowered kids jogged over, eager to see the battle’s results.

"Hahahaha! So much for a Boundless Realm powerhouse rivaling the Primordial Dragon King! Before me? You’re all just destined to be ground into the dirt!"

The moment the little girl spotted a pool of blood trickling from the cave, she couldn’t stop gloating.

As her temporary companion, Cang Xiaoxi was utterly speechless.

*Little girl… weren’t you just moments ago all heroic, ready to sacrifice yourself to take it down? How many minutes has it been? So quick to eat your words?*

"Sigh… Truly, all brawn and no brains," Cang Xiaoxi muttered, then added gently, "Still—stay cautious. Don’t lower your guard until we confirm it’s truly dead."

"Daijoubu! Daijoubu! Even if it’s alive, losing that much blood can’t be good for it!"

Brushing off his warning, Jikuhir laughed fearlessly and skipped toward the pit.

She wanted one last look at the wretched dog that had chased her so relentlessly—a small, final act of kindness befitting a Dragon Sovereign.

But the instant Jikuhir stood half a step from the cave mouth—as if waiting just for her—a bloodshot, whip-like shadow shot from the depths. No time to react. It lunged straight for her face.

"Eh?!"

As the shadow swelled, large enough to swallow her whole, realization struck.

She tried to summon wings.

Too late.

That claw would’ve cost the little girl more than just pride.

At the last second—a familiar hum in the air. A silver flash slashed past her nose, mere centimeters away. She was slammed flat to the ground.

Then…

"Damn, that hurts!"

"Cang Xiaoxi!"

Pain flickered across the boy’s youthful face—unnatural, raw.

Through gritted teeth, Jikuhir saw it: blood dripping from his back onto her.

*He got slashed… saving me?*

Shock. Confusion.

They were temporary allies—why risk himself?

Cang Xiaoxi didn’t know either.

It was pure instinct.

"Tch. That destructive power really takes after that husky. How much kibble would it take to heal a scratch like that?"

Sweat beaded his brow, yet his tone stayed light—as if playing with a puppy.

*Doesn’t it hurt at all?*

"Awooo!!!"

"So… it’s not over yet."

The thrashing from the cave swallowed their fleeting relief.

Then—the bloodstained wolf claw clawed up from the earth. Terror returned.

"Even this couldn’t trap it?"

Jikuhir’s troubled face held none of the Silverfrost Dragon Queen’s former pride.

Being hunted by the Boundless Realm beast—Fenrir—was about to happen again.

But…

"No. There’s still a turning point," Cang Xiaoxi said firmly, eyes locked on the crimson-streaked claw struggling upward.

"A turning point? You mean…" Jikuhir stared, surprised.

*Since the trap plan… this human’s tricks are unreal. Nothing like a normal kid.*

*Seventeen? Then why so small? Elf blood? A curse? He says he’s not from this world… How?*

Questions swirled—but whenever she saw his serious back, a quiet voice insisted: *Trust him. No matter who he is.*

"What do you need me to do?" she asked calmly.

"Oh, as expected of the Dragon Sovereign. You understand without explanation. Truly a relief."

Cang Xiaoxi exhaled. For the first time, he didn’t see her as a silent, emotionless little girl.

He hastily reinforced his wound with magic.

*Time to test the Dragon’s Eye.*

"Your Majesty, with your current magic, you can still release a simple frost breath, right?"

"Don’t underestimate me! Frost breath? I could fire dozens of ice spears at that husky!" Jikuhir shot back. "So—attack it? Then what?"

"Then? Hehe. Just attack."

Cang Xiaoxi left it hanging.

Jikuhir glanced between him and the husky’s second claw emerging.

Decision time.

"Cang Xiaoxi—don’t you dare disappoint me!"

She poured every ounce of magic into the frost breath.

Absolute zero. Air itself froze. This was the Silverfrost Dragon Queen’s Divine Tier ice magic—the power to freeze all creation.

"Hey! Then what?! What next?!"

True, the frost restrained Fenrir—but freezing, shattering, refreezing… not sustainable.

Cang Xiaoxi gave no answer.

Instead, he stepped forward and placed his hand over hers.

"You…"

Jikuhir froze. First time an outsider touched her.

*Should feel disgust… but… warmth?*

Confused, she felt an overwhelming magic surge onto her hand—power beyond her own.

"Th-this…"

Her eyes widened. His irises now glowed silvery-blue.

*Dragon’s Eye.* He was channeling magic into her spell—like imbuing an Arcane Artifact—reinforcing it.

"Hey! Are you suicidal?! Forcing magic into a formed spell makes it collapse!"

Like overfilling a cup—overflow, destruction!

*Should’ve asked first… Now just grab him and run!*

But…

"Huh? It’s… not collapsing?"

The magic stabilized—then surged, restoring to her peak power.

The little girl stood dumbfounded.

Stranger still: foreign memory fragments flooded her mind.

*What are these…?*

"Give it your all!" Cang Xiaoxi shouted, unaware.

"R-right!" Shaken, Jikuhir roared back.

Together—their voices fused. Fenrir froze solid in the pit.

No movement. None.

"Finally over."

Jikuhir slumped to the ground, exhausted.

She stuck her tongue at the ice-sculpted husky.

"Pbbbt~! Go on, bark! Where’s that tough act now? Hahahaha!!!"

For the first time, post-battle felt exhilarating.

Before Cang Xiaoxi? Instant wins. Never this tired. Never this *alive*.

*I owe him…*

Thinking of his kindness—how he felt different from all others, human or not—and those fleeting, otherworldly glimpses… a quiet thought bloomed.

"Cang Xiaoxi… would you like to—"

She turned.

The ever-cocky boy now collapsed backward, face twisted in pain, back drenched in blood.

"Cang Xiaoxi!"

Everything happened too fast.

She lunged to grab him—

—but the ground shattered from the cave outward. As frozen Fenrir plummeted, Cang Xiaoxi tumbled backward, limbs flailing, into the abyss.

Jikuhir’s hand shot out.

"Cang Xiaoxi!"

Reaching into the dark… until both vanished into silence.