The modified disaster beasts did not understand the concept of retreat.
Even as calamity descended upon them, they chose to obey orders, attacking the Lizardmans within their reach.
No matter how strong or weak a beast, as long as it understood the rules, it could disperse the calamity.
But the black dragon before them understood nothing of such rules. It didn't disperse the calamity—instead, it relied purely on violence, wielding the flames from its belly.
Centered on the dragon, flames scorched an area nearly a kilometer in radius, evaporating all rainwater within the zone.
The rain turned to a sea of fire.
The searing dragon breath charred the earth, leaving Garde surrounded by disaster beasts with no way to avoid it.
He could only endure.
Boom!
The moment the black dragon unleashed its breath, everyone understood Garde's plan.
This was a battle between titans, and mortals were caught in the crossfire.
Garde intended to exploit the black dragon's recklessness to tear through the city's outermost defensive barrier.
While the dragon's flames didn't kill Garde, they obliterated the disaster beasts around him, incinerating at least several hundred in the inferno.
The scent of roasted flesh emanated from his scorched scales. Using the fire as cover, Garde broke free from the encirclement of disaster beasts and bolted toward the heart of the city without looking back.
The dragon hesitated for a split second, then resolutely gave chase.
As long as it intercepted Garde before he reached the sanctuary, it would count as a victory. After all, the sanctuary's structure was so sturdy that, once its gates were closed, no amount of external chaos could affect those within.
As for the disaster beasts and mechanical sentinels in the vicinity, their fates were of no concern to the dragon.
"We have only this one chance!"
The moment Kal'tsit saw the dragon's initial attack fail to kill Garde, she understood his intention.
There was no point in relying on the Lizardman anymore. But if Garde could keep advancing and use the black dragon's strength to break through the ancient civilization's defenses, they could reach the sanctuary and stand a chance of turning the tide.
"I'm coming too!"
Saria glanced back at the Rhine Lab operators. She wouldn't blame them for faltering now—after all, even if they joined the fight, their contribution would likely be minimal.
"I'll get you all inside!"
Misery nodded in agreement. If enemies filled the city from the outskirts to its center, it would be impossible for him to get everyone through alive, no matter how much effort he expended.
But with the chaos already spreading throughout the city, they still had a chance!
As Saria, Kal'tsit, and the others departed, the operators left behind began to waver.
"Are we really just going to stand here doing nothing?"
"What else can we do? If we go in, we'll only be a burden."
"We need their strength!"
Carnelian turned her gaze toward the Lizardman. She understood that in a battle like this, her own abilities were no different from an ordinary person's.
But if she could rally the Lizardman who had lost their will to fight, five thousand Lizardman could be as formidable as five thousand disaster beasts.
There was still a sliver of hope!
Carnelian refused to be just another powerless bystander.
Meanwhile, Surtr stood in place, gazing at the black dragon soaring in the sky.
She had an odd sense that she'd seen this dragon before—but where?
Clutching her greatsword tightly, she felt the heat radiating from it.
"Laevatain, do you think I should run now? That creature glanced at us just now, didn't it? Did we cross paths with it before?"
"No, you haven't."
"Then it's just a matter of losing the fight," Surtr muttered as she sprinted toward the city.
"If I lost once, I'll fight again—and this time, I'll win!"
As Kal'tsit prepared to set out with the group in their vehicle, she noticed Surtr running toward them.
"Can you still use it one more time?"
"Probably."
"I promise, if I'm still alive, I'll find you."
"No need!"
Surtr didn't trust this white-haired woman in the slightest. She was certain Kal'tsit had deceived her in the past, which led to her grudge with that enormous black monster.
Surtr didn't dwell on complicated thoughts. She simply felt that if she didn't step up, these people might all die.
If they're going to die, fine—but at least don't die in front of me! she thought.
Surtr cast a provocative glance at Ascalon, who was standing in the corner.
Ascalon turned away, puzzled as to why Kal'tsit would allow someone like this seemingly ordinary Sarkaz girl to join their squad.
"This team," she thought bitterly, "is basically walking to its death, isn't it?"
"Hey, cold-looking lady," Surtr called out. "Take me up to the wall later—get me as close to that black dragon as possible."
"What are you planning?"
"I'm going to help that crocodile man out," Surtr replied, puffing her chest proudly.
In the city.
Garde's body was beginning to bleed.
The black dragon's flames had burned him to the point of exposing raw flesh. His scales were charred black. Running out into the streets now would surely make him look like a monster.
But he kept running, heading toward the sanctuary.
Not only did he have to endure the flames raining down from the sky, but he also had to contend with the relentless disaster beasts and mechanical sentinels blocking his path.
From above, the black dragon's mocking laughter echoed:
"Adakrys, is this the best you can do? Didn't you say you'd drain me dry? Look at yourself—you're about to bleed out!"
"Come down and fight me one-on-one!"
"Why don't you fly up here and cut me down yourself?"
The black dragon wasn't foolish. Four years ago, it made the mistake of descending to Garde's level, and it ended up unable to take off again. There was no way it would repeat that mistake now.
Still, the dragon found it odd. By all accounts, this Adakrys shouldn't be reduced to merely enduring its attacks.
"Four years apart, and this crocodile got weaker?"
The black dragon's taunts rained down, and Garde's expression darkened. He couldn't understand what had gone wrong.
Why couldn't he unleash his fury?
Images of Gavial, Laurentina, and Saria flashed through his mind.
Suddenly, it dawned on him.
Was it fear?
Was he afraid that if he unleashed his rage, he'd never be able to return to his normal self?
These so-called bonds had become chains.
Garde had tried to use these bonds to retain a sliver of clarity in his anger, ensuring he could recover afterward.
But instead, they had shackled him, leaving him constrained.
Garde chuckled bitterly to himself. In the end, he had only sabotaged himself.
If this continued, he might really die here.
Suddenly, a voice broke through his thoughts.
From behind the black dragon, a brilliant light shot into the sky.
A massive flaming arm extended from the high wall, wielding an immense flaming sword hundreds of meters long.
The blade descended in a fiery arc, slashing toward the black dragon in midair.
Surtr's voice reached Garde's ears:
"Laevatain!"
<+>
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