Upon learning the final outcome, the people in the hall seemed to fall into an even deeper silence than before.

If the story had ended with General Vladimir's ultimate sacrifice saving everyone, it would have been a tale worthy of respect and commemoration.

But... Erica du Cloye?

How was she able to stop such a monster?

The truth ignited doubts in the ministers' hearts, leaving them bewildered.

Regardless of the truth, Erica's disappearance had become an undeniable fact.

No one knew her current condition or whether she was alive or dead.

Silence once again became the keynote of this court session. The Emperor slowly raised his head, his expression unreadable.

"How is General Vladimir's condition?"

"Your Majesty... the General is severely wounded, but his life is not in danger."

The Emperor nodded and spoke softly.

"The north is secure for now. Send someone to summon him back to the capital."

"This old general must be in need of some rest by now."

After speaking, he stood up from his throne, clasped his hands behind his back, and slowly began to pace.

The ministers all stood frozen in place, not daring to make a sound, only able to stare at their aging sovereign.

Suddenly, Aubrey's hoarse voice rang out:

"What was that monster called? What were its characteristics?"

The ministers were all taken aback.

The reporting knight hurriedly responded:

"It... was enormous yet serpentine in form, able to fly without wings, with eyes more terrifying than a dragon's."

"Therefore... the White Magic Association's conclusion was... a dragon."

"Oh, a dragon, is it?" The Emperor chuckled, nodding with a smile.

He walked out to the palace exterior on his own, where sunlight filtered through thin white clouds, illuminating his figure.

Aubrey slowly raised his head, looking up at the azure clear sky, feeling the warmth of the sunlight.

"Send word to locate its position."

"Notify me as soon as it appears within imperial territory."

In that instant, the Emperor's vital energy began to surge.

The ministers seemed to see something in the Emperor's silhouette.

That phantom image flickered continuously until finally manifesting again as the red lion from before.

The crimson lion gradually grew enormous, and finally, with its incomparable imposing presence, sat beside Aubrey.

The Emperor narrowed his eyes, looking up at the clouds on the horizon.

'Levi.'

'What exactly did you leave behind for your daughter?'

...

In the southern Empire, at the Monster Rift grounds.

Yellow sand swirled in the air, with a scorching sun hanging in the cloudless sky.

Warm breezes kicked up bits of dust from the ground, making the air shimmer.

Countless people gathered in the surrounding streets.

Warriors with swords at their waists, male and female mages wearing various colored robes and holding magical implements, and muscle-bound men wielding giant axes.

Though they belonged to different professions, they shared a common title.

Adventurers.

And here lay the largest monster rift within imperial territory.

This was a place known as a paradise where danger and opportunity coexisted.

The Adventurers' Capital — Godinlima.

But now, this usually bustling city had received some unexpected visitors.

The adventurers unanimously cleared a path for the military force moving through the street.

Hundreds of demi-humans marched down the street.

Their cat and dog ears twitched atop their heads as they moved in perfect formation, wearing matching bone-reinforced armor.

Though they were demi-humans, the powerful pressure they emanated made even these fearless adventurers hesitate to approach.

If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

This was clearly a well-trained force.

At the front of this force was their leader.

She was a knight.

With flowing silver-white hair and cold pride in her eyes.

Her body was clad in silver armor that flowed with golden light, emanating an obvious imposing presence.

Everyone could see that this knight's equipment was far superior, certainly not ordinary quality armor.

The adventurers' eyes widened.

"Who... whose force is this?"

Someone spoke dazedly, as if spotting a familiar face, straining to look more carefully into the ranks.

"Hey, look at that woman."

"'Giant Blade Assassin' Elsa?"

Among the demi-humans, a human walked in their midst, standing out conspicuously.

Elsa's eyes were vacant, her expression neither happy nor sad.

The signature giant blade at her waist was gone, replaced by the same weapons used by the demi-humans.

"Wasn't her team disbanded long ago? Didn't she join the Reiser family with Cindy? Why is she back..."

"Not sure... wait, something's not right."

Behind the demi-humans, a white cloud slowly floated along, drawing all the spectating adventurers' attention.

"Hiss... an elf!"

The surrounding adventurers were all shocked when they clearly saw the being on the cloud.

It was one thing for demi-humans to appear here, as there were plenty of demi-human slaves in this adventurer's city.

And in this chaotic gathering place for adventurers, demi-human slaves were even more common than in prosperous cities.

But what was this elf doing here?

Though this elf... seemed somewhat easy to bully.

Because she maintained a drowsy appearance, half-lying on that pure white cloud.

Following behind the demi-human forces, she seemed completely out of place with their style.

It even made people forget to question what that floating cloud actually was.

Suddenly, the demi-humans stopped at an open space in the middle of the street.

They halted in place, placing one hand on their chests and bowing slightly forward.

As if welcoming someone.

Under the watchful eyes of all the adventurers.

Suddenly, black patterns flashed across the ground, passing through the crowd and gathering before the demi-human forces.

A black magic array began forming spontaneously on the ground, with a hexagram slowly rising from the black outline.

A pair of massive black wings materialized above that array, suddenly spreading wide as countless black feathers swirled in the sky, gently falling to the ground.

The wings folded, gradually shedding and dispersing all their feathers.

Under this baptism of black feathers, a dark figure gradually emerged from among the feathers. He stood silently in the center of the array, a crow perched on his shoulder, appearing incredibly elegant amid the dancing feathers.

But the shocking pressure emanating from him constantly filled everyone's surroundings.

If before some might have offered comments, upon seeing this man they felt as if frost had penetrated their bones.

No one dared make a sound.

Who was he?

No one could answer them.

The man ignored all the onlookers, simply standing on the array and giving a slight bow to the air.

The black array at his feet instantly changed color, brilliant light shining forth. Within that strange light, an elegant small castle suddenly rose from the ground.

Towering spires reached toward the sky as peculiar colors flowed across the castle walls.

The great doors slowly opened.

Countless white doves broke free, bursting from the doorway and flapping their wings skyward with a flutter.

Among the flock of birds, a delicate hand in a pure white glove extended, resting in Viktor's palm.

That noble and elegant figure slowly emerged from within the castle.

She wore extremely noble and luxurious armor, crowned with a diamond-studded diadem. Faint pure white magical energy rose around her, with white divine light shining behind her, making her stand out like the moon among stars.

Who... was she!?

Upon seeing Aurelianne, all the adventurers were stunned.

Just looking at Aurelianne from afar made them feel an urge to kneel.

This entire force was extravagant beyond belief from start to finish...

Just who were they?

Soon, another military force approached from the distance.

The Crown Prince, wearing golden armor, slowly walked out among his entourage.

He approached Viktor with a smile.

The observing adventurers couldn't help but look up, their emotions becoming extremely respectful.

Just because of his arrival.

In this Adventurers' Capital — Godinlima, everyone knew whose territory this truly was.

The adventurers at most just hunted monsters around the rift to make a living.

Only he was the true master here - the Empire's Crown Prince, Prince Albanie.

All the surrounding adventurers gathered around the street, secretly watching the scene before them, not daring to make a sound.

Suddenly, the Crown Prince's friendly voice rang out:

"My dear sister, I've heard what happened, though I didn't expect you to arrive so quickly."

"Please forgive your brother for this inadequate reception."

In the shocked silence, a sense of awe grew in all the adventurers' hearts.

That girl adorned like the stars and moon among her entourage.

Was actually... the Crown Prince's sister.

Which meant, she was the Princess!?

No wonder this force had no less than three Fourth-tier auras that the adventurers could sense.

Only the Emperor's daughter would warrant such terrifying military might as escorts.

Aurelianne smiled sweetly at her royal brother.

"Dear brother, you need not feel guilty. I failed to notify you in advance of my hasty arrival, please forgive me."

The Crown Prince continued smiling gently, saying to Aurelianne:

"The journey must have tired you. Allow me, as your brother, to welcome you properly."

As the Crown Prince spoke, he reached out to grasp Aurelianne's arm.

But suddenly, a repulsive force stopped him, preventing his hand from touching Aurelianne's arm.

The Crown Prince frowned slightly, not understanding, and instinctively looked up.

He met Viktor's utterly cold gaze.

"Your Highness, the Princess has grown up," a frigid voice, devoid of any courtesy, sounded in his ear:

"Growing children always have their rebellious phase, don't you agree?"