On the cold, icy throne.

A sense of contentment swells within me as I watch my friends gearing up for the battle. I'm here with Nova, who decided to stay out of this fight, and Ash, who has returned at some point when we aren't looking.

Both of them feel as though there is no need for their involvement.

In this case... I think they are correct. I believe just two or three of any members are enough, but I am more curious about the effect of horror on 'higher' creatures like dragons.

Well? It all depends on this one's mental fortitude, isn't it?

Although the dragoness in front of us easily towers over a small castle, and her scales can withstand a multitude of penetrative magic, the same can't be certainly said about her mind. Of course, considering that she also has [Domination], a signature skill for any monarch, she shouldn't crumble too easily.

Evidently, even as my side begins to surround her, there is, somewhere, a calmness in the way her eyes move or the way her tail ripples in the air. Beyond that, an unwavering arrogance, seeing that she still only looks at me amidst all.

Eyes burning as if wanting to challenge me directly.

Throat swelling, glowing with the inferno's flame that is about to come out of her mouth.

''...''

I see. 'A frog in the well' might be a correct analogy to use on this dragoness. I almost want to teach her a lesson myself, but since I've already promised to only watch... well, here we go.

The first strike belongs to Smiley.

It isn't a physical one, but it does seem to work wonderfully well. As the husky's dreadful howl fills the chamber, piercing the space with his unique power, the dragoness's movement abruptly comes to a halt.

For a moment, her eyes have lost their intelligent look.

By the time she recovers, her neck has already been sent flying in the air, whipped by Mister Slen's tentacles—the cluster of them. Some sparks of fire are spewed out of that colossal jaw, yet they remain weak embers, forever dwarfed by Skely's cannons of light, ones that hold a power comparable to the most potent of artillery shells in modern times.

Those gusts of light spring toward the dragoness's exposed neck, blowing away dozens of scales whilst spraying deep red blood in the air.

In just a few seconds, the battle has tilted incomparably.

Not even having the chance to scream, the dragoness hastily bounces back to its fighting stance, deploying some quick barriers as her eyes jump around nervously.

Needless to say, the other members aren't sitting around doing anything, either. Ariel is already perfectly assuming her supportive role, maintaining intricate yet sturdy armor for the rest. The remaining two—049 and Blob—are lurking somewhere in the black mist, ready to deliver...

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

''Oh?''

She has good perception skills.

I thought those two were hiding quite well, but the dragoness has now seemingly noticed them. That fire breath into the ground to eliminate nearby threats indiscriminately says everything. Or is it just caution?

Nevertheless, if she wants to do something meaningful, that much firepower isn't enough. There is a reason Ariel was called 'Saintess of Absolute Domain,' after all. Heroic tales say that her barriers could even withstand a god's strike. Whether that is true or not... I don't really know.

Now, it seems that the dragoness has realized the actions she needs to take. Most reasonably, but perhaps in panic, she tries to squash the banshee with her right claw, roaring angrily.

Not too much of a 'thinker,' no?

Banshees can't be damaged physically if they are in their incorporeal state. Only light magic and exorcism-type skills work. I doubt she even has either of them, anyway.

Well, it's only unfair in this case. No other banshees are remotely too dangerous. At my range of levels, they are annoying at most.

Yes. I'm a bit bored here. That is why I am analyzing it in such detail like this.

In reality, before the claw even hit Ariel, Mister Slen and Skely have blocked it nonetheless. The cluster of tentacles belonging to Slenderman is now strong enough to take on such a force head-on, and the former archmage's magic can push it away.

Expectedly, the dragoness decides to just blow it all up the next moment. Blowing everything away with absolute firepower, is it?

Alas... that option isn't going to work against so many opponents. No sane creature will wait for her to finish that lengthy wind-up. Oh, is she counting on those barriers she has created?

During those seconds in which the dragoness charges up her fire breath, a certain deer-like creature calmly approaches her, carrying a man in black on its shoulder. Of course, this is all observed by those slit pupils, which are burning with rage.

''...It's over.''

Blob has decided to move. If so, the fight is essentially over.

Even if Blob is technically inferior to its opposition, there is something that is unique to the creature, and I'd argue that it is what makes the Not Deer so powerful—unpredictability.

Look, even I wouldn't be able to guess that in the span of a second, a small, innocent-looking deer will have a dozen grotesque, fleshy, bony, and sharp limbs burst out of its stomach, creating a sort of giant spider with only the deer facade hanging in the air.

This is maybe the largest I've seen Blob so far. Its size easily rivals that of a juvenile dragoness if I ever see one.

Either way, Blob, still hanging 049 on its back, springs forward, crisply piercing several barriers in one go as if they are mere glasses, and confidently latches onto the dragoness's swollen neck.

Shaken, the lizard tumbles backward.

At this point, it isn't really a scramble anymore, just... a one-sided bullying. When those bloody blades of Blob are about to make their way through the exposed flesh, and when the doc's gloved hand reaches for the scales...

''Stop.''

At my order, the assault halts. The most surprised one out of the bunch is the dragoness herself, who seems more dazed than anything.

Slowly, as I rise to my feet and then take leisurely steps forward, everybody also retreats behind me, leaving an utterly flabbergasted lizard stumped in her place.

''Down.''

With the power of ice, I conjure a length of chains, with which I immediately wrap around my opponent's neck and pull it down. With the kind of STR I have, it is no surprise that I have her kneel half a moment later.

Looking into her eyes, I speak,

''Is this enough?''

''You...!''

''How insolent... should I have not spared you at all?''

For some reason, her tone is still quite mighty. Does she have something else?

''It doesn't matter what you do to me.'' The dragoness huffs, blowing my cape back. ''In the end, all of you will die in our lord's claws...''

''Is that so?''

I have an inkling of who or what this 'lord' is, but if she says that I can do whatever I want, then...

It won't matter if I make her my subordinate, right?