256 Go home, Evlin (1/2)

Evlin couldn't stop looking at the giant dragon right in front of her. She tried to think back and realized that she never saw an actual dragon in her life before.

She heard that Daren and Marceus faced two of these things back when they were working for East, but the most they could accomplish was to knock them out long to escape safely, and it took a fused form to perform such an act.

There was also that incident where a pair of these guys attacked her school but Leona and Marcus managed to hold them long enough for all the students and teachers to run away from the danger. Right before one of them pulverized the building like it was nothing.

And then there was her recent encounter with Wrath not too long ago, where she almost tore her body apart to try to defeat him, but the most she managed to do was to bite his hand off, not that she even remembers how she did that, followed by him standing up later as if nothing happened.

In an attempt to access her memories, Evlin realized she never heard of anyone ever defeating a dragon, only escaping from it. According to Hana, only terminal fire could take a dragon down, but there was no way she could access this kind of power in her current state.

”Your eyes tell me you get the situation you are in...” Knucker spoke again.

”Ugh...” Evlin whispered, angry that she couldn't deny that her group was at a disadvantage.

If it was only Dria, Lilith could handle her all by herself. But Wrath? The same Wrath that had some of the most absurd defensive power she has ever seen? The same guy that just reacted to his limb being removed as it was some minor inconvenience like forgetting to buy milk right after returning from the grocery store?

On the other hand, what did she had? Many of the members of her team were still tired, hurt, or simply had no means of fighting back.

For a moment, Evlin began to realize she was once again right where Knucker wanted. They always were at a place that was good for him and bad for them. All because of his power to see the future and making arrangements that meet his desire beforehand.

”Evlin!!” Daren shouted, which made her come back to reality.

”W- What...?”

”We are with you!!”

”...”

She looked again at every single member of her group. They all had fight in their eyes. There was a giant dragon right in front of them and they all still looked like they had no second thoughts about taking their chances with it.

But that was exactly the problem. These people were warriors. This was in their nature. They had no problem with the idea of dying while fighting for what they believed because, in this world, death is just as natural as life.

She was the only one who knew just how serious this was and how much they could lose.

[We are running away? Did you found out where Knucker's body is?] Ria replied.

[I don't give a damn about his body right now... Let's just get out of here safely and live to fight another day...]

[O- Ok! Just give me some time... I'm not at my best right now so this might take a while...]

Leona, Gustav, and Daren all stepped forward and stood side-by-side with Lilith.

[We will buy you some time...] Daren replied.

Knucker looked at their expressions, ”Seems like your minds are made up...”

”Let's go!!” Daren shouted while rushing with his metal claws in hand.

Gustav and Lilith also moved while carrying pieces of metal as well. Leona began to charge her fire magic to summon her avatar ape. Auren observed the situation and carefully prepared to conjure an energy shield to support his team. All while Ria focused on creating a portal while holding Cia in her arms.

”Everyone...” Evlin whispered, ”Be careful...”

Leona's fire ape was formed and began to surround the flaming mage as if it was her arms and legs. The blond woman glared at Wrath and charged at it to sock its face with a fist of fire.

Knucker observed while the red dragon continued to be smacked over and over by the spell.

”Magic and holy energy... Not bad... You almost got there...” he whispered while holding his chin, ”But it's still missing cursed energy...”

Leona kept hitting Wrath with everything she had until she ran out of breath. She tried to stop for a bit and realized that the attacks were having no effect at all.

The dragon glared at her and began to turn its body to slap her with its massive tail, which also ended up destroying parts of the wall in the process. Auren tried to stop his tail with a shield, but the dragon just destroyed it like it was made of glass.

”My castle!!!” the king cried while pulling his hair out, ”Knucker!! What's all this!!?? This isn't what you told me was going to happen!!”

Knucker just shrugged in response, ”Not everything always goes as we planned... What can I say?”

Leona was knocked against the was and lost her consciousness making her fire avatar disappear.

Lilith and Daren jumped in next and tried to slash the body of the beast, but just like before, the attacks had no effects since all they had was the pure blessed energy from their weapons provided by Marcus.

”That is barely going to help against dragon skin...” Knucker commented.

Wrath raised its claws and stomped the ground, which created a small earthquake making Lilith and Daren lose their balance. The beast then took a deep breath and blew them away as well with nothing but the power of the wind released from his lungs.

”Guahhhh!!”

”Kyaahhh!!!”

Daren and Lilith were both knocked out as well as they smashed against the walls.

”Now then... Where is the blond one...?” Knucker whispered.

”Right here!” Gustav replied as he appeared right behind Knucker and stabbed him with a knife.

”Ugh!!!” the white-haired man cried, ”What do you hope to accomplish?? This body is not real!!”

”Maybe... But the mind is!! Now... Show me where the real you is hiding!!” Gustav responded as he tried to use his ability to enter inside Knucker's mind.