Chapter 3: The Battle of Fate
Meanwhile, in the sky above.
The once-fierce red dragon was now covered in wounds, moaning softly, her body scarred deeply, with a golden radiance seeping into her injuries, constantly corroding them.
Her wing membranes were tattered like torn cloth, each flap making a whistling sound through the gaps, adding to the desolate sight.
Yet she only considered this opponent troublesome, not believing that they could completely defeat her. After all, she was a red dragon, wielding Tiamat's power, possessing scorching flames, and having various means yet unused.
"Boom!"
The red dragon struggled to land on the mountain, causing the rocks to rumble and loose stones to fall.
For the first time, hesitation crept into her voice: "Half-elf, you are strong."
"Unlike those mortals, your power far surpasses theirs, so you are worthy of a noble true dragon's attention."
"Become my vassal, and together we can rule the Anzeta Wilderness!"
But the half-elf paladin did not respond, only slowly raising her silver sword, her gaze resolute. Her slightly charred silver armor still faintly glowed.
"To pursue sworn foes or banish lesser evils, I vow to challenge greater wickedness."
"And to sworn enemies, there shall be no mercy."
Rhea leaped lightly into the air, the silver sword in her hand emitting a light akin to the glow of a setting sun.
Though not particularly bright or intense, it carried a steadfast resilience, a light that would shine even in the darkest hours.
This was the origin of the name "Twilight Blade."
"Spirit of Vengeance!"
With a clear shout, countless ethereal spirits appeared around the half-elf paladin.
They were children burned to death in a fire, mothers crushed under collapsing homes, men who raised pitchforks to fight only to be turned to ash by dragon flames, warriors who stood against evil but were crushed by claws, and—paladins burning with a will for vengeance.
Rhea began to fly, ethereal black wings sprouting from her back, making her resemble an avenging angel.
At that moment, she was high above the mountain peak.
"Roar——"
Arclenia let out a furious roar, her absolute red dragon pride refusing to let any lesser creature dare look down on her.
Now, the power flowing through her bloodline surged to its peak, unleashing primal, brutal physical strength, using the red dragon's specialty—close combat—
She launched herself forward with unmatched momentum!
"Boom!"
The impending clash of two mighty forces caused the mountain to tremble and the entire Anzeta Wilderness to shake.
This sight made Cassius, who was fleeing for his life, unable to resist turning his head to sneak a glance at the terrifying scene.
"Holy Slash!"
Rhea gathered all her strength, gripping her silver sword and striking down, disregarding the red dragon's ferocious, gaping maw.
The silver longsword was cloaked in twilight's radiance, slicing diagonally.
"Swish——"
The sword sliced through the dragon's scales, harder than armor, with ease, tearing through her searing, pulsing veins and flesh.
The ethereal spirits around her formed a massive legion, roaring and charging at the red dragon's wounded neck.
Each impact drove the wound deeper by several feet.
In immense pain, Arclenia threw her head back and let out a wail, but the reflexive movement only worsened the wound, sending hot blood gushing like a spring.
"Aow——"
The red dragon started with a painful cry, but once her throat was completely severed, she could no longer make a sound.
It all happened so fast.
So fast that the red dragon didn't have time to swing her mighty claws or lash her thick tail.
She didn't even have time to unleash her unmatched power granted by Tiamat.
But the silver sword had mercilessly severed her throat.
The red dragon, stretching dozens of meters in length, struggled mid-air before her wings went limp, and she fell heavily onto the mountainside.
"Boom!"
The earth trembled as her massive body rolled down the slope, bringing an end to her evil and greedy life.
Her soul might be claimed by Tiamat, or it might be shattered by the spirits of vengeance.
But one thing was certain.
This red dragon was dead.
...…
Meanwhile, at the foot of the southern slope of Cloud Peak.
"An avenging angel with wings—a top-tier black knight, truly terrifying."
"Time to go, time to go."
Cassius couldn't help but sigh.
Near-legendary level power, a top existence even in the 4.0 version of the previous life, with only a few hundred among tens of millions of players reaching that level.
And those who could step into the legendary path were even rarer.
With this in mind, the young red dragon became even more determined to escape, quickly using the ability of the Swift Mage's Ring he had swallowed to cast a spell on himself,
"Grease the soles!"
Instantly, his speed became even swifter.
Cassius dashed like a red streak of lightning, sprinting toward the distant forest.
As for flying?
He dared not risk it now.
If luck ran out and this near-legendary paladin sensed him, he might be struck from hundreds of meters away with an anti-evil slash, sending him directly to Tiamat.
That was a near-legendary paladin, after all.
Having innate divine sense was only natural.
Cassius was too busy with his frantic escape to think of anything else.
He had no idea that the half-elf paladin now stood atop the mountain peak, her body drenched in the still-warm dragon blood, looking down toward the southern slope of Cloud Peak—
—the very direction the young dragon was fleeing.
A trace of doubt flickered in Rhea's amber eyes.
For in her perception of evil vision, the young red dragon in the distance was not cloaked in the black aura representing the evil alignment typical of red dragons.
Instead, he bore the colorless aura representing the neutral alignment.
"A neutral red dragon? How could that be?"
After a brief moment of thought, she raised her silver sword, pointing it in the young dragon's direction, deciding to investigate further.
"Monster Hold!"
As her silver sword pointed, a glimmer of magical light shot into the distance.
If it hit, that young red dragon would be immobilized, unable to move.
But just as the light was about to touch the dragon's scales—
An invisible barrier suddenly appeared around Cassius, blocking the Monster Hold completely, then shattering.
[Spell Nullifying Barrier]
Cassius was horrified, realizing that his Magic Nullifying Amulet could only be used once per day, and he had no second chance.
"Run!"
Under the pressure of life and death, the young dragon flapped his still-developing wings frantically, flying with all his might.
He fled desperately, diving into the forest in the blink of an eye, disappearing into the dense woods, completely vanishing from sight.
Rhea gazed at the endless Bokara Forest, her brow furrowed, then she shook her head in resignation.
A red dragon with a neutral alignment.
Perhaps she had just created a fearsome future enemy, or perhaps this dragon would bring a positive change to the world, or perhaps nothing would happen at all.
Yes.
She would not kill him merely for the potential of future evil, but if that red dragon committed monstrous crimes, Rhea was confident she could, as she did today—slay him entirely with her unmatched silver sword.
This was the creed of the paladin of the Vow of Vengeance.
"To evildoers, no mercy."
"Or perhaps... a chance for grace to an old foe."
The half-elf slowly removed her helmet, revealing a cold yet beautiful face, murmuring to herself.