Once more, the serpents attacked, entwining as they struck from opposing directions. Caesar quickly spread his arms, summoning a dual magic barrier, but in the blink of an eye, the serpents shattered his defenses. Sensing imminent danger, Caesar leaped upward, his hands gathering power as he muttered an incantation under his breath: "Thunder Burst!" At that instant, one of the serpents lunged at him, maw wide. His spell exploded forward, scorching the serpent and slicing it into smoldering fragments that scattered upon the ground.
The second serpent seized the opportunity, charging from behind, but Caesar's agility as a demon lord allowed him to evade effortlessly. With a swift counterattack, he struck it down. Blood and charred remains littered the scene, yet Caesar sensed his strength waning drastically. He frowned and murmured to himself, "That Thunder Burst was noticeably weaker—more than half its usual power… Have I, too, had my strength siphoned away?"
Picking up a segment of the serpent's corpse, Caesar gathered dry branches and kindled a fire, huddling beneath a tree to roast his catch. He muttered to himself, "For now, I'll set aside questions of my dwindling power, my location, and Barn… All will become clear in time. For now… I need to replenish my strength." The rain continued to fall, and night gradually embraced the forest. Leaning against the tree, Caesar drifted into sleep, the day's fierce battles having drained his energy and magic, nearly costing him his life.
Meanwhile, in Mistveil City, night had deepened. Zoe watched anxiously for any sign of Lord Barn's return. "How strange…" she murmured. "Such a simple rescue mission should have been over in minutes, considering Lord Barn's power. How could he still not be back? Could he have finished and gone off on his own…? No, Lord Barn isn't one to idle about like that. But lately… it seems powerful humans are appearing out of nowhere, challenging him repeatedly. It seems… Lord Barn truly does need more training." Determined, she added, "Once he returns, I'll see to it that he practices. But first… I must find him."
Zoe summoned a bat demon and commanded it to gather information on the White Citadel. This creature was part of an intricate network of bats capable of transmitting information through faint sound waves across vast distances. Before long, the bat returned with news. Startled, Zoe sprang up. "What? Lord Barn was defeated again? Strange… Why did I say 'again'?"
Incredibly, in a mere month, Lord Barn had suffered several defeats. Zoe's concern grew as she questioned the bat, "Can you locate him?" The creature conveyed that Lord Barn and the blue dragon had fallen at the edge of the Mistveil Forest. Zoe did not hesitate; she donned her armor, took up her dagger and bow—her specialized weapons as a dragon archer, known for precision and lethal skill.
The Mistveil Forest's creatures recognized only Lord Barn, attacking any outsider on sight. Zoe summoned a swift dragon mount with raptor-like features; its back and forelimbs were feathered, enabling it to glide short distances. After fastening the saddle, she mounted and gave a quiet command: "Go." The swift dragon darted southward, plunging into the night.
The Mistveil Forest at night teemed with deadly beasts that hunted in the dark. Yet, with her mount's speed and agility, Zoe maneuvered swiftly, avoiding the lurking monsters. Along the way, she noticed a vibrant green light beaming down upon the forest in the distance. She hesitated, then urged her mount forward to investigate. The green light transformed into an enormous teleportation circle, prompting Zoe to mutter, "A green teleportation circle? What's coming through?"
Moments later, a woman descended from the heavens. Zoe observed from afar, her suspicion growing. "Who could this be… daring to teleport so openly into Mistveil Forest? No ordinary human would attempt such a thing." Her keen intuition warned her that this was no ordinary arrival.
Zoe's suspicions proved correct; the newcomer was indeed one of the guardians of this land—the Earth Goddess herself. She descended gracefully, casting a serene gaze around her before noticing Zoe's presence. With a gentle voice, she spoke, "Come out, girl. I know you're there."
Slowly, Zoe emerged astride her swift drake, her bow drawn and her eyes sharp with caution. "Who are you, and what business do you have in our Mistveil Forest?"
"There's no need for hostility," the goddess replied calmly. "I am Gaia, the Earth Goddess, and I have come to aid your lord, Barn."
Zoe started, her disbelief clear as she asked, "What? You've come to help Lord Barn? I can't understand…"
After a pause, she added coolly, "According to our intelligence, you deities have recently aligned with the humans and waged countless attacks against our dragon clan. Why should I trust that you would come here to assist Lord Barn?"
The Earth Goddess smiled faintly and inquired softly, "What is your name, girl?"
After a brief hesitation, Zoe answered, "You may call me Zoe."
A flicker of admiration crossed Gaia's face. "Zoe—a fitting name. It seems you are a loyal warrior of the dragon clan. Lord Barn is indeed fortunate to have one such as you in his service."
With a gentle nod, Gaia continued, her tone shifting. "Zoe, I am indeed here on behalf of Lord Barn. This morning, the Goddess of Wind dispatched her three chief spirits to cast the 'Gravitational Seal'—a spell designed to drain Barn's soul and magic. By the end of the battle, it appears they succeeded, sealing much of Lord Barn's power and spirit."
Zoe's heart pounded with alarm. "What? Do you mean… Lord Barn has perished?"
Gaia shook her head, sighing softly. "Hear me out. Though the seal is strong, it seems to contain a foreign force. This anomaly suggests that Lord Barn has not been fully sealed—he still lives. However… a strange power now resides within him, and it is this force that has allowed him to survive thus far."
Lowering her head in thought, Zoe pondered the goddess's words before finally looking up. "Then how exactly do you plan to help Lord Barn?"
The Earth Goddess offered a faint smile. "Originally, I intended to summon an earth spirit to aid Barn in reclaiming his power. But seeing you has changed my mind… Perhaps you are the one best suited to this task."
Zoe furrowed her brow, confusion evident. "Reclaim his power? Why would you help Lord Barn regain his strength? Haven't the deities and dragons always been at odds?"
Gaia exhaled, a note of weariness in her voice. "It's true—the enmity between our realms is long-standing. But Lord Barn is different. As a dragon king, he holds his own pride and dignity. My intent to aid him is not out of goodwill; a greater threat looms over this land… The other demon lords are beginning to awaken, and we need Barn to counterbalance their power. Among these lords—who have yet to fully awaken—Barn is one of the few who retains both reason and humanity."