As Lalyn was lost in thought, a loud alarm echoed through the city.

"What...? Another dragon attack today...?" She murmured softly.

Suddenly, the door burst open behind her. Marcilla emerged, supporting Amoria.

"Huh!!? You were still here!!?" Marcilla exclaimed, surprised to see Lalyn.

"Ahh..." Lalyn barely managed to reply as Marcilla noticed the badge in Lalyn's hand.

"Tsk, never mind! Hurry to the basement!!!! He's... That bastard's as big as Yagun!!" Marcilla urged, and they all descended the stairs. Amoria was slightly relieved to see Lalyn still there.

As they rushed down, panic ensued among the adventurers in the guild:

"Shit..!!! We're doomed this time!!"

"That thing is as big as the Academy itself!!! What in the Goddess's name is that size!!!?"

"IT'S LIKE YAGUN FROM 10 YEARS AGO!!!"

While the adventurers fled in terror towards the basement, Lalyn's curiosity was piqued. As Amoria and Marcilla hurried to the basement doors, Lalyn calmly walked towards the guild's gate amidst the chaotic rush.

"L-LALYN!!! THE HELL ARE YOU DOING!!?" Marcilla yelled as she shielded Amoria from the pressing crowd, guiding her into the guild's basement.

"Tsk, that stupid bitch..!! Magus ain't here to carry our asses!!" Marcilla muttered under her breath, spotting the guild's maid. "Misa!! Grab Amoria and protect her in the basement!!"

Misa quickly turned, "R-right!! What about you, Miss!?" she responded, taking over supporting Amoria.

"I have to get that knucklehead inside! She has no idea how screwed we are if that thing attacks!!!" Marcilla shouted, then turned back to reassure Amoria.

"Marcy...!!" Amoria called out worriedly.

Marcilla briefly stopped and turned, patting Amoria's head. "Don't worry, sweetie. I'll get that dumbass and we'll all be safe in the basement soon enough. Got me?" She smiled reassuringly.

Amoria caressed her hand, forcing a smile but feeling slightly relieved by Marcilla's confidence, then nodded.

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"Hurry please..." she whispered, before heading with the guild's maid to the basement.

Marcilla plowed through the crowd, catching a glimpse of Lalyn standing motionless outside, staring upward.

"This is no time to be fawning over a dragon, you dragon nut!!" Marcilla screamed as she burst through the doors to confront her.

"HEY!!! ICE BITCH!!! GET INSIDE!!! YOU COULDN'T STOP THAT THING EVEN IF YOU SUMMONED ARLYN!!! HURRY AND COME WITH ME TO THE BASEMENT!!" she yelled from the guild's entrance.

"Do you think..." Lalyn began, her tone causing Marcilla to halt.

"...Will there still be a basement left after that beast uses its roar?" she muttered, her voice trembling slightly.

Marcilla's eyes narrowed as she looked up.

"Only Magus could possibly stop that... Meanwhile, all we can do is hope it doesn't target our guild in its rage," Lalyn added, summoning her ice staff.

"I KNOW!! SO, GET IN!!" Marcilla yelled, anxiety evident in her voice.

"That's... Arutol, the Dragon King's direct offspring," Lalyn whispered.

Marcilla twitched.

"I REALIZED IT SEEING HOW BIG THAT FUCKER IS. SO GET IN, OR I'LL DRAG YOU IN!!" Marcilla screamed, stomping towards Lalyn, who pointed her ice staff at her.

"...Amongst us, I'm the only one with ranged magical attacks and the ability to fly. I'll take Arlyn and try to hold it back," she declared, determined.

"FORGET IT, JUST GET BACK IN!! WE BUILT THOSE STURDY BASEMENTS FOR A REASON!!" Marcilla shouted.

Ignoring her, Lalyn opened a portal. Her ice dragon Arlyn, fully summoned, lowered her back for Lalyn to climb on. Lalyn's face contorted with worry and anxiety as she thought of her daughter, sweat streaming down her face as she charged her staff, watching Arutol prepare its fire roar.

'Arutol came so suddenly... We won't make it up there in time to block its attack... That bastard got us..!!' Lalyn thought, her face full of worry as Arlyn spread her wings, sharing her sentiments.

"Lalyn...!!" Marcilla shouted, unsure whether to go back inside or climb onto the dragon with her...

...As they all braced for the inevitable.

Lalyn kept her intense gaze on Arutol, flying over a few kilometer in the air. Then, a thunderous noise reverberated, as if dozens of thunders had split the sky.

Before Lalyn's eyes, she witnessed the mighty Arutol, cleaved in half just as he emitted his fire roar.

For the first time in over a decade, Lalyn's mouth hung open, utterly stunned by the sight before her. As the two halves of the colossal dragon sailed over the capital's walls, a loud thud echoed through the air, mere seconds after Arutol's corpse disappeared from view.

"A... Miracle...?" Marcilla whispered, her voice filled with awe as her knees buckled.

[Master...] Arlyn, the ice dragon, began communicating with Lalyn through telepathy, her gaze fixed intensely on the sky through Lalyn's portal.

"Arlyn... What happened...? Did... The Goddess herself intervene...?" Lalyn asked, her eyes locked on the heavens, searching for an answer.

[No...! I am certain...!! I clearly saw what happened. It was no deity. The being who slew... No, slaughtered Lord Arutol... Is none other than Van Hellix..!! This accursed presence I sensed from above... It was unmistakably his! All it took was a single swing of his greatsword!]

Lalyn let out a soft chuckle, still looking up at the sky in disbelief.

"In... A single strike...? That... Meatshield? He's... Really here...?"

Lalyn mumbled as she slumped onto Arlyn's wide, light-blue, scaly back. Marcilla, staring the heavens above her face a mix of disbelief and pallor as she heard what Lalyn said.

"What... What did you say... Lalyn..!!?" Marcilla stammered.