Alden narrowed his eyes, sensing the pressure rolling off the two dragon‑kins in front of him.

"Judging by that aura," he said, "both of you are around grandmaster mid‑rank, huh. Looks like they are pretty strong."

Beside him, Alex smiled and clapped a hand on Alden's shoulder.

"Alright, buddy," he said, grinning, "you're up."

Realisation hit Alden like a brick.

"No, no, no," he snapped. "You bastard, you're not leaving me with all the work again, are you?"

Alex didn't bother answering.

He just kept smiling, gave a casual two‑finger salute, and said, "See ya."

The next second, his figure blurred and vanished from his vision.

"You fucking slave driver!" Alden yelled after him. "I hope that Marcus guy beats your ass black and blue!"

Pyrax and Kyra, seeing Alex disappear, both exhaled in visible relief.

Their gazes shifted fully onto Alden.

"This one doesn't look that strong," Kyra said, eyeing him up and down.

Pyrax smirked. "Let's test that."

He vanished in a blur.

A heartbeat later, his fist slammed straight into Alden's cheek, the impact sending Alden skidding back across the stone. Dust kicked up behind his boots as he dragged to a halt.

"This one really isn't that strong," Pyrax said, lowering his hand.

Alden lifted his head.

He was smiling.

"Think again, asshole."

Pyrax's smug expression faltered as he felt a burning pain in his hand. He looked down and saw several of his fingers ablaze with black fire, the flames eating into flesh and scales alike.

"Shit—!" he hissed, quickly slicing the burning fingers off before the flames could spread.

Kyra rushed to his side, pressing her hands over the wounds as healing magic flared, sealing the damage.

"Don't take dragon form," she said sharply. "It'll only make it easier for him to target us. He can use those black flames too. We kill him like this."

Pyrax gritted his teeth, then nodded.

Alden exhaled slowly and raised his sword.

Black flames surged along the blade, coating the metal completely. He shifted into his stance, shoulders relaxed, eyes sharp and mocking.

"Come on," he said. "Let's see how far I've come."

In the next instant, all three figures disappeared in a blur, their clash turning into flashes of flame and steel across the base.

---

Meanwhile…

Elaria stirred, her eyelashes fluttering as consciousness slowly returned. The lingering haze of pain and exhaustion made her body feel heavy, but the first thing she noticed was warmth.

A soft, soothing voice reached her ears.

"Looks like you're finally awake, huh, baby."

Elaria's eyes opened fully.

She found her head resting in someone's lap.

She blinked once, twice—then her breath caught in her throat as her vision focused.

Platinum hair flowed around her like a silver curtain, and violet eyes filled with gentle worry gazed down at her. Even in this dim place, even with the fatigue and strain visible on her face, the woman above her was radiant.

Aeliana Moonshade Lareth'Thalas.

Her mother.

"Mama…" Elaria whispered, voice trembling.

In the next second, she shot up and threw her arms around Aeliana, hugging her tightly.

"Mama… mama, you're okay," she sobbed. Tears spilled down her cheeks as she clutched her mother's clothes. "I was so afraid they'd done something to you…"

She pulled back just enough to look into Aeliana's eyes, searching them desperately.

"You're okay, right? You're really okay… I'm so glad."

A small smile touched Aeliana's lips. She lifted a hand and gently wiped Elaria's tears away with her thumb.

"Don't cry, baby," she said softly. "Don't forget—your mother is even stronger than…"

Elaria sniffed, a faint smile breaking through the tears.

"Than the King of the Elves," she finished.

A smug grin spread across Aeliana's face. "Damn right I am," she said. "So don't worry. Nothing's going to happen. Our forces are already here—I'm sure they'll find you soon."

"Us," Elaria corrected instinctively. Then she frowned. "You mean us, right?"

Aeliana's smile faltered for just a moment.

"…Right," she said after a tiny hesitation. "Us."

Before Elaria could think too much about that, Aeliana smoothly changed the subject.

"But first," she said, "tell me—how did you end up here?"

Realisation dawned on Elaria's face.

She swallowed, then started explaining everything—how she had gone to Alex for help, how that infuriating silver‑haired bastard had used her as bait to locate Aeliana, and every reckless decision in between.

By the time she finished, Aeliana was laughing—really laughing—for the first time in what felt like ages.

"So," Aeliana said between chuckles, "you're quite fond of that guy, hmm?"

Elaria's cheeks turned bright red.

"I hate that guy to the core," she protested. "That narcissistic bastard is too much to handle. He even made me praise him!"

Aeliana laughed harder.

"He sounds a lot like you," she said.

Elaria puffed her cheeks. "How could you say that… I am nothing like him!"

Before Aeliana could tease her more, a new voice chimed in.

"Looks like you two are enjoying yourselves."

Both of them turned toward the source.

Outside the cell, leaning casually and striking an exaggerated pose with a smug smile on his face, stood a silver‑haired boy.

Alex.

Elaria's breath hitched.

"You… you're here," she said. "How? That old man destroyed all the trackers…"

"Don't underestimate me, Your Elviness," Alex replied, shrugging. "I have my ways."

Elaria's mouth twitched.

"Whatever. Just get us out of here."

Alex's smile strained for a second at her tone, but when he looked at Aeliana, he straightened and put on his most confident face.

He grabbed a nearby guard who was barely conscious, yanked him up by the collar, and pressed a blade lightly to his neck.

"Open the cell," Alex said coldly, "or you die."

The terrified guard fumbled with the keys so fast he nearly dropped them. He managed to unlock the door, and the moment it swung open, Alex chopped him on the back of the neck, knocking him out cold again.

Aeliana watched the whole scene, barely suppressing her laughter.

Alex stepped inside and offered his hand to her with an overly formal bow.

"My queen," he said, "I have come for your rescue. Will you grant me the honour of escorting you out?"

Before Aeliana could react, a hand smacked the back of his head.

"Stay away from my mother, you creep," Elaria snapped.

"I was just helping a beautiful lady," Alex shot back. "What's your problem, ugly?"

"What did you just say to me?" Elaria shouted.

"Do you have hearing problems too, huh?" Alex replied.

Aeliana burst into open laughter now.

She reached out, grabbed both of Elaria's cheeks, and gently squeezed them.

"Remember," she said softly, eyes warm, "no matter what happens, I will always be there for you. Alright?"

Elaria's anger faltered.

"Why are you saying something like that?" she asked quietly. "You're coming with us too, you know."

Aeliana didn't answer immediately.

She looked at Alex instead, her expression turning serious.

"Alex," she said, "can you do me a favour?"

Alex straightened, eyes lighting up slightly.

"Of course, my lady," he replied. "Just say the word."

Aeliana's gaze hardened.

"Please take Elaria out of here first," she said. "And take all your forces as far away as possible."

The colour drained from Elaria's face.

"What are you saying, Mother?" she whispered. "Just come with us."

"I can't," Aeliana said softly. "I… drank something extremely dangerous. I don't know how long I can control myself before I go berserk."

Even as she spoke, a faint, ominous crimson aura began to seep from her body, coiling around her like smoke.

"Mother?" Elaria's voice trembled. "What's happening? Say something… please…"

But only one word left Aeliana's lips, forced out with all the control she had left.

"Run."

The aura exploded outward.

Black wings tore out of her back, unfurling with a sickening rip. Scales began to spread across her skin, covering her arms, neck, and cheeks. Her elegant features twisted with pain as her eyes turned a deep, nightmarish red. Bones cracked, reshaping, as her body transformed into a terrifying elf‑dragon hybrid.

"MOTHER!" Elaria screamed. "Mother, what's happening to you?!"

Alex stood frozen for a moment, horror flickering across his face as he watched Aeliana's transformation.

The air trembled from the sheer pressure of her power.

Elaria, sobbing, turned to Alex, grabbing onto his clothes.

"Alex… Alex, do something!" she begged. "I'll do whatever you say, just—please, please save my mother!"

"Hey, listen to me," Alex said, but she didn't seem to hear, her words dissolving into frantic pleas.

He gritted his teeth—and slapped her hard.

PAH!

Elaria gasped, shock snapping her out of her daze.

Alex held her gaze.

"Don't worry," he said, voice steady. "I'll save her. But first, you need to go and evacuate with all our forces. Now."

For a second, Elaria looked like she wanted to argue—but then she saw the seriousness in his eyes and the monstrous power raging behind him.

She nodded shakily.

"O‑Okay…" she whispered.

Alex stepped forward.

Above them, Aeliana's hybrid form let out a roar that shook the entire base, the walls cracking, the floor trembling under the force.

He took a deep breath.

Inside his mind, a cold notification rang out.

[ Skill : Origin Collapse Has Been Activated. ]

----

A/N:

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