Without the slightest warning...
The dragon's presence suddenly vanished...
As though it had never existed...
Everyone remained a safe distance away from its massive body. Some kept their guard up, while others lacked the courage to take even a single step closer.
Valerius gathered himself, drew a long, deep breath, and finally allowed his tense muscles to relax. Cautiously, he approached the dragon's corpse...
The others desperately shouted for him not to get any closer, but he ignored every warning...
When he finally stood beside it, he slowly placed his hand upon its enormous body, confirming it for himself.
Nothing...
It was nothing more than a lifeless corpse...
It no longer moved...
It no longer breathed...
Valerius let out a deep sigh of relief. His body went completely limp as he collapsed onto his back, a broad smile spreading across his face...
The silence lasted only a heartbeat before it exploded into thunderous cheers...
They had done it...
The dragon whose very existence had terrified them...
was gone forever...
Some decided to take one of its horns...
Others pulled out several of its fangs as keepsakes of the impossible victory.
Together, they marched home, overflowing with joy, each feeling as though they had become heroes who had saved the world itself.
Some still struggled to believe that they were alive.
The gates of Crag slowly opened...
Before long, the news spread throughout the entire city.
"The heroes have slain the dreadful dragon!"
Celebrations erupted everywhere...
People applauded.
Songs were sung.
Stories of their courage echoed through every street.
Yet every tale shared one common conclusion...
Valerius was its greatest hero...
He was treated with unmatched admiration.
The women of the village rushed toward him one after another, each asking for his hand in marriage, to the point where they nearly fought among themselves over him.
Meanwhile, Valerius simply stood there, frozen in complete disbelief.
Then, suddenly—
"Vaaaal!!!"
A familiar voice shouted from behind...
"You arrogant idiot!!!"
The color instantly drained from Valerius' face.
His expression shifted from pride...
to pure fear.
Raya stormed toward him without hesitation, yelling at him while repeatedly scolding him...
Meanwhile, Valerius lowered his head like a child caught doing something wrong, desperately trying to justify himself...
The sight filled everyone around them with laughter...
Amid the festivities, one of the city guards suddenly raised his voice.
"Attention, everyone!!!"
The celebrations gradually quieted.
"Our great ruler, Griem, has an important announcement for all of you."
Griem slowly climbed onto a raised platform...
Though old age had taken much from him, he straightened his posture with dignity before speaking in a voice that carried across the entire gathering...
"Ladies and gentlemen...
I am delighted to announce that the terrible threat which endangered our beloved city of Crag has finally been eliminated..."
Thunderous applause erupted once again...
He raised a hand, asking everyone to settle down before continuing...
"Such an achievement, however, did not come without sacrifice...
We lost seven brave men during this battle.
Their families will receive every compensation they deserve, for these heroes chose the safety of our people over their own lives."
His expression softened.
"But now...
I have one final announcement."
"I have grown old.
I no longer possess the strength I once had.
And because of that..."
He turned toward Valerius.
"I hereby declare that tonight's greatest hero...
the strongest man in all of Crag...
Valerius...
shall become the next ruler of this city..."
The cheers became even louder than before...
Hope filled every face...
Every eye turned toward Valerius...
Meanwhile, he stood there, completely embarrassed...
"N-No... I'm not fit to be a ruler..."
"I only want everyone to live safely..."
An old man laughed loudly...
"You fool...
That's exactly the kind of ruler everyone wishes for!!!"
The celebration continued late into the night...
Completely unaware...
that everything was far from over...
Elsewhere...
Beside the fallen body of Gyre...
Two dragons finally arrived...
Agnyr...
and Aculeus...
The sight before them left both of them speechless.
"By the heavens..."
"What in the world happened here?!!"
Aculeus roared in disbelief.
His eyes darted frantically across the battlefield...
"Did that bastard wait until we were separated??!"
Before he could continue, Agnyr quietly interrupted him...
"Look, you foolish needle...
Aren't these... human corpses???"
Their eyes met...
Neither needed to speak...
Both had reached the exact same conclusion...
"...Did humans do this???"
They carefully examined Gyre's body...
One of his eyes had been torn out.
One of his horns was missing.
The wounds covering his body clearly did not resemble those inflicted by another dragon...
"It couldn't be more obvious," Aculeus growled.
"Humans did this.
Those filthy, inferior creatures."
"Our lord forbade us from starting another war against humanity..."
"...but they attacked first..."
"They are nothing but lowly creatures."
"So be it."
"If this is what they desired..."
"...then they shall have it..."
The two dragons exchanged one final glance...
Words were no longer necessary.
"There is a massive gathering of humans nearby."
"I sensed it quite some time ago..."
Agnyr muttered...
"I simply ignored it."
Aculeus clenched his teeth.
"You fool...
All of us sensed it."
"But they were nothing more than insects."
"...Have they truly grown this powerful?"
"We will destroy them..."
"...and avenge Gyre."
"Hey, Agnyr..."
Aculeus paused for a moment before sighing deeply...
"...I can't believe I'm about to say this."
"We'll have to work together..."
"...if we want to survive from this point onward."
For the first time...
Agnyr offered no objection...
The two legendary dragons spread their wings...
and charged toward Crag at incredible speed.
Their eyes burned with overwhelming fury.
Meanwhile...
The celebrations had yet to end.
Far above the city walls...
Valerius walked alongside Raya...
Far away from the noisy festivities.
It was a peaceful evening.
A quiet moment meant only for the two of them.
Their eyes met...
Filled with warmth...
Filled with longing...
"Val..."
"You won't leave me...
right???"
Valerius smiled gently...
"Heh...
You silly girl...
How many times are you going to ask me that???"
"We made a promise right here when we were children..."
"Don't think I've forgotten it..."
Blushing, Raya threw herself into his arms...
"Idiot..."
Valerius smiled...
Slowly...
he leaned closer...
Closer to her lips...
Then—
A deafening scream...
followed immediately by the sounds of destruction...
echoed from below...
A dragon's furious roar shook the heavens...
"You wretched humans..."
"YOUR END HAS COME!!!"