High above the barrier that protected the human empire, the sky was filled with most terrifying creatures known to mankind.

Countless dragons hovered over Avaloria's shimmering dome, their shadows blotting out the sun. Some were colossal, their bodies like moving mountains; others were sleek and agile, circling the barrier in predatory arcs.

All at once, they attacked.

Roars shook the heavens as dozens of dragons inhaled deeply and unleashed torrents of flame. Waves of dragonfire crashed against the barrier again and again, turning the sky into a sea of burning red and molten gold. Others shifted into their dragon‑kin forms—humanoid bodies with wings, horns, and tails—coating their fists and claws with mana before hammering at the shield with full force.

Down below, civilians watched through windows and from sheltered courtyards, their faces pale.

Some clutched their children to their chests, others grabbed their loved ones' hands so tightly their knuckles turned white.

'Is this the end…?' many thought, hearts pounding as the barrier trembled under the onslaught.

Outside the royal palace, thousands of soldiers stood in formation across the city's outer rings, weapons driven into the ground as magic circles pulsed beneath their feet. Staves, swords, and gauntlets all glowed with mana, ready to be unleashed at a moment's notice.

Every guild in the human empire had answered the call.

Warriors, mages, healers, and rogues stood side by side—ready to fight for their home.

---

The devastating barrage didn't stop.

Fire, lightning, and draconic breath continued to hammer the barrier relentlessly.

Inside each of the seven sanctums, a hundred soldiers per unit knelt or stood around their respective magic circles, pouring as much mana as they could into the barrier network.

"DON'T STOP CHANNELING!" a commander shouted.

"ROTATION TEAM THREE, STEP IN!"

"MANA OUTPUT DROPPING AT SANCTUM FOUR! SEND MORE SOLDIERS THERE!"

Sweat, blood, and desperation mixed as soldiers forced every last drop of mana from their bodies. Veins bulged along their necks and arms. Some screamed as their cores felt like they were being scorched from the inside, mana circuits overloading and rupturing.

A few collapsed on the spot.

A few died—cores shattering, bodies going limp.

Fresh soldiers stepped forward without hesitation, taking their place and pressing their hands to the glowing lines of the circle.

Because if the barrier fell—

Everyone knew what would follow.

---

Outside the royal palace, Alicia von Crestvale stood at the front lines, her crimson cloak snapping violently in the wind. Her sapphire‑green eyes reflected the burning sky above, jaw clenched so hard it trembled.

"So many dragons," she murmured.

'Too many.'

Her sword rested against her shoulder, runes along its length pulsing softly as if sensing the incoming slaughter.

"Report," she said sharply.

An officer knelt beside her. "Barrier integrity at seventy‑three percent," he said. "Mana drain is accelerating. The only thing holding it together now is Lady Evelyn and the seven hundred soldiers assigned to each sanctum. Their mana reserves are the only reason we're still safe."

He hesitated.

"But if we keep this up, it won't be long before the barrier collapses."

Alicia's grip tightened around her hilt.

She looked toward Serena, Tania, Alyssa, and Aldric. "We won't be able to survive like this for long," she said. "We have to fight and decrease their numbers."

Everyone nodded.

"What do you have in mind?" Serena asked.

Alicia lifted her free hand.

"Mother. Ms. Tania. Headmaster. Ms. Alyssa."

They all turned toward her.

Serena studied her daughter's eyes and saw no panic—only cold calculation.

"I have a plan," Alicia said. "But it's risky."

"Risky how?" Tania asked, crossing her arms.

Alicia formed a mana projection between them—a glowing model of the dome‑shaped barrier hovering above the city.

"The barrier is too open," she said. "We're trying to defend everything at once, and it's killing our soldiers. The mana consumption is insane; if we keep spreading ourselves this thin, we won't be able to hold for long."

Alyssa Vega narrowed her eyes. "So you want to shrink it."

"Not the whole thing," Alicia replied. "Just a section."

Aldric Verlane's brows lifted. "A controlled collapse?"

"Yes," Alicia answered without hesitation. "We open a narrow breach—small enough that only one, maybe two dragons can enter at a time."

Silence followed.

Serena was the first to speak. "You're creating a choke point."

"And reducing the strain on the rest of the barrier," Alicia added. "We concentrate defense around that breach and turn it into a kill zone. They come in funneled and exposed. We strike them down the moment they cross."

Tania's lips curled into a grin. "Heh. Lure them in and butcher them up close. I like it."

"They'll realize it's intentional," Alyssa said, tapping the projection.

"They're too confident to care," Alicia replied. "According to Zara's intel, they're far too proud to believe they can lose to humans—even if they enter with small numbers. This forces them to fight on our terms."

Aldric studied her for a long moment.

Then he nodded. "Sound strategy—as expected of Selena's disciple," he said. "Bold. Decisive. Exactly what a battlefield commander should do."

Tania elbowed him hard. "Can't you choose your words more carefully, old man? Alyssa is right here and you're talking about her deceased daughter."

Realizing it, Aldric bowed his head slightly. "My apologies."

Alyssa exhaled. "Don't worry. It's fine," she said quietly, a faint sadness passing through her eyes.

Serena stepped closer and placed a hand on Alicia's shoulder.

"Your father would be proud of you," she said.

"I know," Alicia replied, smiling faintly. "I just wish he were here. But the situation at the borders is dire too, and we need forces there. We've already heard reports of new creatures—Frost Giants. If it weren't for Ethan, Azrael, and the other dukes, the borders would have been breached by now."

"You're right," Serena said. "They still think Alex is here in the palace. That's the only reason they're not panicking more about the dragons."

"It's better that way," Alicia said. "If they knew he wasn't here, they'd worry even more."

She lifted her gaze back to the sky, where dragons hammered the barrier with renewed fury.

"Let's give them hell," she said.

Serena smiled proudly.

"That's my girl."

Next chapter will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.