Journey to Become the Zenith

Crimson Flame and Divine Judgment

The creature completely blocked the road leading toward Fantom City.

If they wanted to survive, they would have to break through.

The dragon took a step forward.

BOOM!

”What terrifying pressure...” Natalia whispered.

The two holy maidens immediately stepped forward.

Protective divine light emerged around their bodies.

One of them raised her shield.

The other gripped her weapon tightly.

Behind them, Clara quietly took position.

Unlike Ruby’s fearless expression, Clara appeared much more cautious.

She understood her own limitations.

An undead dragon was far beyond anything she normally fought.

But retreat wasn’t possible.

Not anymore.

The creature completely blocked the road leading toward Fantom City.

If they wanted to survive, they would have to break through.

The dragon took a step forward.

BOOM!

The earth cracked beneath its claws.

Green flames leaked from the gaps between its bones.

Death mana surged outward.

Videl’s grip tightened around her weapon.

Every instinct screamed danger.

Yet she refused to show fear.

Not now.

Not in front of everyone.

”We only need an opening,” Videl said.

Ruby nodded.

”If we can distract it long enough, we can escape.”

”Easy for you to say.”

”Did you have a better plan?”

”...No.”

The dragon spread its wings.

The surrounding forest darkened.

A suffocating silence descended.

Then Ruby stepped forward.

Unlike everyone else, excitement burned in her eyes.

She looked less like someone facing death and more like a warrior finally encountering a worthy challenge.

The divine symbol of the War God glowed upon her body.

Battle intent erupted from her figure.

The oppressive atmosphere cracked slightly under her fearless spirit.

Videl stared.

This woman was insane.

Absolutely insane.

But strangely...

It was exactly the kind of madness they needed right now.

Ruby slowly lifted her chin.

The corner of her lips curved upward.

The dragon’s terrifying aura washed over her.

She welcomed it.

Embraced it.

Celebrated it.

Then brilliant divine light burst from her body.

A magnificent halberd appeared within her grasp.

The weapon radiated holy power.

Its edge gleamed beneath the sunlight.

Ruby planted one foot forward.

The ground cracked beneath her strength.

Her laughter echoed across the battlefield.

”How wonderful an opponent that could satisfy my Goddess’s thirst for battle. I Ruby the holy maiden of the temple of the War Goddess Kia, shall show my might in battle!” Ruby summoned her halberd and gladly welcomed the strong opponent.

A fierce crimson light exploded around her.

The divine symbols engraved along the shaft of her halberd glowed one after another as if answering her battle cry.

The ground beneath her boots cracked.

The wind itself seemed to bend around her fighting spirit.

Videl stared in disbelief.

”She’s actually excited...”

”That’s a battle fanatic for you,” Eon muttered while shifting Lane’s unconscious body on his back.

Ruby pointed her halberd toward the undead dragon.

Her golden eyes blazed with excitement.

”Come then, ancient beast! Let me see whether the legends surrounding your kind deserve their reputation!”

The dragon’s hollow eye sockets burned with eerie green flames.

Death mana rolled off its skeletal frame like dark mist.

Yet Ruby didn’t retreat.

Instead, she smiled wider.

Meanwhile, another figure stepped forward.

Natalia.

Unlike Ruby’s fiery enthusiasm, her expression remained calm and composed.

Cold.

Steady.

Like a judge preparing to deliver a sentence.

The chains around her weapon rattled softly.

The massive guillotine blade reflected pale sunlight.

”Pitiful creature, that has lost the pride of dragons, and has been made a tool by the heinous elder lich, I Natalia the holy maiden of Jenna the Goddess of Justice, shall grant thee the justice you deserve,” Natalia spoke in a neutral tone as she summoned her weapon that was the blade of a guillotine that was attached to chains.

Her golden eyes never left the dragon.

For a brief moment, there was almost pity within them.

Not fear.

Not hatred.

Pity.

Ruby folded her arms while watching.

”You always have to make your introductions sound dramatic.”

Natalia didn’t even look at her.

”And you always mistake dignity for drama.”

Ruby snorted.

”Still annoying.”

”And you’re still immature.”

The two holy maidens exchanged a glance.

The hostility between them was obvious.

Yet despite that, both stepped forward at the exact same moment.

Neither hesitated.

Neither questioned the other.

When battle came, their personal feelings no longer mattered.

The dragon suddenly moved.

As if it had patiently allowed them to finish speaking.

Then violence erupted.

ROOOOOAAAAARRRR!!

Its wings exploded outward.

The air shook.

Its enormous skeletal claws descended like mountains.

The dragon attacked.

Ruby laughed.

Instead of retreating, she charged.

”That’s more like it!”

BOOM!

The earth exploded beneath her feet.

She shot forward like a crimson comet.

The dragon’s claw descended.

Ruby twisted her body.

The gigantic claw narrowly missed her.

The pressure alone shattered nearby trees.

At the same time, Ruby thrust her halberd upward.

The sharp tip aimed directly for the dragon’s skull.

CLANG!

The impact echoed like a giant bell.

Sparks erupted.

Ruby’s expression immediately changed.

The attack bounced off.

The dragon’s skull remained intact.

”Tough bastard!”

She landed and slid backward.

Her hands trembled slightly from the impact.

The hardness of the dragon’s bones far exceeded her expectations.

Before the dragon could follow up, Natalia moved.

Her body flashed to the side.

The chains around her weapon whipped through the air.

”Judgment binds the guilty.”

WHOOSH!

The massive guillotine blade flew forward.

The weapon slammed into the dragon’s ribs before curving around its body.

The chains wrapped around one wing.

Then another.

In moments, Natalia had successfully entangled both wings.

The dragon roared furiously.

Green flames erupted from its body.

The chains trembled violently.

Natalia narrowed her eyes.

”Stay still.”

A dazzling silver light erupted from her body.

Crackling sounds filled the air.

Lightning.

Divine lightning.

The power surged through her arms.

Flowed into the chains.

Then exploded into the dragon.

CRAAAAACK!!

Silver lightning raced across the undead dragon’s skeleton.

The creature convulsed.

Its movements abruptly slowed.

The death mana surrounding it became unstable.

”It’s working!” Clara shouted.

Videl clenched her fists.

”Now!”