Leo followed the guild master to his office, feeling the weight of the situation pressing down on him. The guild master walked behind his desk, opened a drawer, and pulled out a scroll. He handed it to Leo with a grave expression.

Leo took the scroll, his eyes flicking to the guild master's somber face before he unrolled it. It was a quest—an extermination quest. Specifically, it was Amanda's request for the extermination of the Orc Dominion. His brow furrowed as he read through it.

"What's the issue?" Leo asked, confusion evident in his voice. "Someone already defeated the Orc Lord right?"

The guild master nodded slowly. "You're correct. That person came here to claim his reward."

Leo's confusion deepened. "Then what's the problem?"

The guild master gestured to the scroll. "Read the reward section."

Leo's eyes scanned the text until he reached the reward section. His heart stopped.

Reward: Amanda.

The words hit him like a punch to the gut. Shocked, he dropped the scroll onto the master's table, his hands trembling. "Who claimed to have defeated the Orc Lord?" he demanded, his voice barely a whisper.

The guild master's face tightened. "The Dragon Lord."

A cold shiver ran down Leo's spine. It was just as Ranna had warned him; the Dragon Lord, a system user, was infamous for his power and ruthlessness. The master's eyes were filled with concern as he looked at him. "You mustn't do anything rash, Leo. The Dragon Lord is incredibly dangerous, and confronting him would be suicidal."

Leo's mind raced, emotions swirling in a chaotic storm. He felt a surge of anger and helplessness. The thought of Amanda being handed over to someone like the Dragon Lord was unbearable.

"I can't let this happen," Leo muttered, more to himself than to the master. He straightened up, a steely determination in his eyes. "I need to save her."

The guild master sighed deeply. "I understand how you feel. But you need to be careful. The Dragon Lord is not someone you can simply challenge. You need to think this through."

He thanked the guild master, his voice steady despite the turmoil inside him. "I'll be fine," he said as he turned towards the door. Just before stepping out, he paused and looked back, his eyes hardening with resolve. Leo hesitated for a moment, feeling the weight of his words.

"Because I was the one who defeated the Orc Lord."

The guild master’s eyes widened in shock. His secret, one he’d kept even from Amanda, was now out. There was no turning back.

He quickly followed, his steps hurried and anxious.

Leo moved swiftly down the stairs, heading straight for Ai, who was waiting at the front desk with an air of calm readiness. The guild master was close behind, trying to process what Leo had just revealed.

"Ai," he said, his voice firm, "can you teleport me to the Dragon Lord's place?"

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Ai nodded, her demeanor confident and unflinching. She gestured in front of her, as if scrolling through an invisible screen.

She navigated the map with expert precision, each gesture methodical as the tension in the air thickened. The moment she tapped the location, the ground beneath them began to hum with energy. A magic circle appeared, its glow growing brighter as power surged through it. Leo’s pulse quickened—there was no turning back now.

In an instant, it moved upwards, engulfing them in a bright light.

Inside the guild center, people stared in amazement and shock. The master and others were left speechless, their eyes wide as they tried to comprehend what had just happened. The sudden disappearance of Leo and Ai left a ripple of murmurs and gasps among the adventurers and clerks.

They were teleported instantaneously, finding themselves standing before the imposing gates of the Dragon Lord's mansion.

The mansion's gate and walls were as tall as those of the capital, exuding an aura of grandeur and intimidation. The gate itself was designed like a grill, allowing a view of the opulent property within. The center of the gate bore a menacing dragon head, a clear symbol of the Dragon Lord's dominion.

Two guards stationed outside the gate immediately stepped forward. "Go back," one of them commanded. "The Dragon Lord is busy today."

Leo's eyes narrowed, his determination unwavering. He took a step forward, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. "I have urgent business with him," he declared, his voice carrying a weight of authority that made the guards hesitate. "And I won't be leaving until I've spoken to him."

Inside the Dragon Lord's chamber, he began to remove his armor, each piece falling away with a heavy clink. His expression was one of smug satisfaction as he looked at his servant. "Go outside and let no one disturb this room," he commanded.

His servant bowed deeply, her eyes briefly flickering to Amanda, who was sitting on the bed, her posture tense and her eyes downcast. The servant hesitated for a moment, her gaze filled with pity before she turned to leave.

"I knew you would honor your word," the Dragon Lord said, his voice dripping with condescension. He approached Amanda, a twisted smile on his lips. "I will take care of you as one of my concubines."

Amanda’s eyes filled with tears, her body trembling as the Dragon Lord’s words sank in. She had always been strong, always been a fighter—but here, she felt helpless, trapped in the grip of a monster she couldn’t hope to overpower. The sobs came unbidden, and with each one, a piece of her resolve shattered.

He sat down beside her, his presence overwhelming and suffocating. He reached out, running his fingers through her hair and inhaling its scent. Amanda recoiled, trying to pull away from him.

With a cruel laugh, he grabbed the front of her dress and ripped it open. She gasped, fear and despair mingling in her eyes. Just as he was about to touch her, a loud commotion erupted outside the room.

The Dragon Lord's head snapped up, irritation flashing across his face. "What's happening out there?" he shouted.

His servant, who had been standing guard outside, started to respond, but before she could utter a word, they all felt it—a powerful, threatening aura that seemed to fill the entire mansion. The air grew heavy, and the temperature dropped noticeably. The Dragon Lord's eyes widened in shock and anger as he recognized the intensity of the presence approaching.

Amanda's sobs turned into hopeful breaths as she sensed the change.

The Dragon Lord immediately stood up, his face contorted with anger. His body was enveloped in a soft red light, which pulsed and shimmered as he moved forward. Some of the light remained suspended in the air, glowing ominously. As he advanced, the light began to solidify, transforming into a fearsome dragon armor.

The armor was a stunning display of power, resembling red dragon scales that covered his entire body as if they were his very skin. The scales glistened menacingly under the dim light of the room, creating an intimidating presence. A long, sinuous tail extended from the base of his spine, twitching with barely restrained fury.

His helmet was designed to look like a dragon's head, complete with horns and sharp ridges. The opening of the helmet was the dragon's mouth, revealing only his eyes, which burned with a fiery rage.

He took a step forward, the ground beneath him trembling slightly from the weight and power of his armor. His aura radiated outwards, causing the very air to hum with tension.