The Calamity Dragon's mouth was still snapping shut from the kick.
"Ragalia… I'm just going to call you by your real name," Malphas said.
For some reason, he kept changing his name like it could erase his past.
"Silence, you demon," Ragalia hissed.
"Please don't flatter me," Malphas said.
"Ragalia… whatever you want to be called," Malphas continued. "But to her, you shall remain the coward that didn't stop her from challenging me."
Malphas tapped his chin like he was trying to remember.
"Her name… what was it again? Something Japanese, and beautiful as snow…"
His smile sharpened.
"Oh, that's right."
"Yuki. Was it?"
Ragalia's face tightened.
He ordered the dragon forward with him standing on its head.
"Go. Attack."
Ragalia held his position like he was surfing a storm, searching for any opening—any slice, any cut—anything against the child Malphas.
Malphas dodged cleanly, like he was stepping around bad timing.
And while he dodged, he kept talking.
"While you waste your anger swinging at me," Malphas said, "I've been hearing heroes are escaping from the Holy Kingdom."
"Finding a new life. Running off to the Neutral Kingdom…"
"FIRE!" Ragalia shouted.
The Calamity Dragon fired a fireball so devastating that it could destroy a village.
Malphas sighed as it came close.
Then he raised his hand and chopped.
The fireball split in half.
But it cost him.
His vessel arm cracked—then crumbled into dust.
Malphas stared at it and spoke as if he were apologizing to a tool.
"I'm sorry," Malphas said, "but you're going to be used—every single part of you—so it won't go to waste."
Ragalia screamed while charging.
"You sick devil!"
Ragalia swung again and again—more devastating each time, heavy enough that even Riku would feel the weight of it.
But to Malphas…
It was just a game.
Malphas dodged, then flicked a skill onto the dragon's head.
[ BLACK FIRE BASKET ]
It did no real damage.
It just made the dragon panic.
And it cost Malphas again.
His vessel leg crumbled.
"Calm down," Malphas said. "I'm not here to fight you."
"Clearly, you can see I don't have much time."
"But I just wanted to let you know…" Malphas continued. "Maybe you can drop this revenge thing against me."
He sounded almost bored.
"Like, come on…"
"As if you can even try to kill her."
Ragalia froze for a beat.
"What do you mean by that?" Ragalia demanded.
Malphas glanced at his other leg.
It started to crumble too—along with his shoulder.
"The chess pieces are almost in play," Malphas said, lying back in the air like the sky was his bed.
Ragalia snarled. "You are still sick, you know that? Using corpses as your dolls."
"Me… sick?" Malphas said. "I believe you forgot who I am."
He sighed.
"This relationship between you and me is getting dull."
"So why keep me alive?" Ragalia snapped.
"Uh… didn't you know?" Malphas said. "This is just a warning."
"I won't stop you," Malphas added. "But if you continue down this road…"
His eyes sharpened.
"You are just going to be a stepping stone for her progression."
Ragalia snarled at the idea, which offended him.
"As if your daughter can take me down."
"I'm the legendary hero Ragalia," he said, praising himself like armor. "The only hero to slay the demon king before you!"
Malphas blinked.
"Oh, right," Malphas said. "Thanks for that."
He smiled.
"I didn't have to dirty my hands."
Malphas looked at his body.
"This is it for this body," he said quietly.
"Choose wisely."
Dust fell from him.
Ashes.
Ragalia's voice went low.
"As if I can live in peace."
"Getting to this point came with consequences," Ragalia said. "I betrayed my own party—friends and family—to get this strong."
"Stealing all their blessings only left a trail of blood that follows me wherever I go…"
Ragalia lifted his sword.
"Forward to the Demon Kingdom!"
The Calamity Dragon roared.
ROAR.
WHOOM.
WHOOM.
"It's too late for me to stop."
Ragalia's eyes flicked to his status window.
And it popped—cold, official, like the world itself was judging him.
Titles do not appear unless the world agrees you deserve them.
[ TITLE: PARTY BUTCHER I ]
[ EFFECT: SOLO BUFFS ↑ ]
[ STR ↑ ]
[ AGI ↑ ]
[ DAMAGE RESIST ↑ ]
[ TITLE: PARTY BUTCHER II ]
[ EFFECT: SOLO BUFFS ↑↑ ]
[ STR ↑↑ ]
[ AGI ↑↑ ]
[ DAMAGE RESIST ↑↑ ]
[ CRIT RATE ↑ ]
[ TITLE: COMPANION KILLER ]
[ EFFECT: SOLO BUFFS ↑↑↑ ]
[ STR ↑↑↑ ]
[ AGI ↑↑↑ ]
[ DAMAGE RESIST ↑↑↑ ]
[ CRIT RATE ↑↑ ]
[ FEAR AURA ↑ ]
[ LEVEL: 200 / 200 ]
[ CLASS: MASTER SWORD SAINT ]
[ DUAL WIELDING MASTERY: SELF ]
[ MAGIC MASTERY: MAX — STOLEN ]
[ GODDESS OF DIVINE HEALING: MAX — STOLEN ]
[ AEGIS MASTERY: MAX — STOLEN — KNIGHT ]
Ragalia stared at it like it was proof.
Then his smile returned—thin and ugly.
"Your blessings won't go to waste for my revenge," he whispered. "Thanks for your sacrifices…"
"Friends…"
Then his smile turned sharp again.
"Now. Go onward to the Demon Kingdom."
"Wait for me…"
"Demonic Saint."
Scorin was under a waterfall.
He had been ordered to be there by Vaelrick—because Scorin kept getting distracted by his UI about the Calamity Dragon.
It was on a delay.
But now…
The UI popped again.
[ CALAMITY DRAGON — ON THE MOVE ]
Scorin's eyes opened.
He pushed up from the stone, water pouring off him, and dried himself with a towel as if he were trying to dry off the stress, too.
He looked past the waterfall and out into the distance.
He could see it—the Neutral Kingdom building.
The rails were extending out like veins, connecting toward each kingdom.
Not too long from now, it would be done.
"I should get going, though…" Scorin muttered.
He looked around.
"…Where are my clothes?"
"I took them," a voice said.
Scorin turned.
Vaelrick stepped in and looked him straight in the eyes.
"It's time," Vaelrick said. "To learn how to become a full dragon, brother. The time is now."
Scorin's jaw tightened.
"I can't," he said. "It's on the move again."
Vaelrick didn't blink.
"Like I said before," Vaelrick replied, "if you were to leave now, you would be eaten by that dragon."
Scorin's hands clenched. Vaelrick continued, colder.
"But even if you try to leave here… I won't allow you to."
He stepped closer, voice low.
"Not when you're still half a dragon."
Scorin exhaled hard.
"Sigh… let's get this over with."
Vaelrick nodded once.
"Good. Now let's get to the shrine."
They left the waterfall section and flew.
Fast.
Quiet.
Straight to the Dragon Shrine of Soul.
Vaelrick's voice was calm, like he'd said this speech a hundred times.
"This shrine will make you fight yourself," Vaelrick explained.
"But with a twist."
Scorin's eyes narrowed.
"It's in dragon form."
The air shifted. The ground trembled.
ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAR!
Scorin stepped back. A massive dragon shape rose—too familiar. Scorin swallowed.
"…Is that supposed to be me?"
Vaelrick moved away.
"Well, yes," he said.
"But if you were to die by it…"
Vaelrick's eyes hardened.
"…it will take control over you."
Scorin's breath slowed. Vaelrick spread his wings. Then he flew up and away like he was leaving Scorin to drown on dry land.
"If you manage to defeat it, you are free to go," Vaelrick called down.
"But under the condition…"
His voice echoed.
"…that you turn into a full dragon. Able to slay yourself."
Vaelrick paused in midair, then added the final stab:
"Now, brother… good luck."
Scorin yelled after him, furious:
"AT LEAST GIMME MY CLOTHES BACK!"
Vaelrick didn't even turn around. Somewhere in the distance, his voice floated back like an insult:
"Neutral rails don't matter if a calamity crosses the sky."
Scorin stared at the dragon version of himself. Then he muttered, half annoyed, half honest:
"Man… all this for one demon elf girl…"
Scorin raised his hands. His eyes flared.
"…She really sets my soul ablaze."
Scorin launched like a jet—straight toward himself. The dragon roared back, and the shrine lit up like it was hungry.
Then Scorin's UI popped again, sharp and urgent:
[ CALAMITY DRAGON — INBOUND ]
[ DEMON KINGDOM ETA: 11:00 AM ]
8:00 AM.
Three hours until the Calamity hits.
"Gwah…"
I woke up in my room inside Father's castle. Noxx was beside me, and Nira was breathing through the lantern like she was recharging.
"Hmm… I wonder if it still works…"
I stuck my hand out and focused. Umbral ice formed—a sea horse.
"Kyuuu~"
"There you are, cutie!"
A servant knocked on my door. Knock knock.
"Come in!"
"Princess Sophia, good morning. How are you feeling?"
I paused because I remembered everything from last night. My mother and Aunt Sera's family came to kill us. The prince clearly had a problem. And I had a brother…
B… Bel… Belzagus?
I'm just going to go with Bel.
And that girl—Madina. Wow.
She was stunning… and her tail looked so fluffy. I hope she lets me touch it one day.
"Princess Sophia," the servant continued, "your father and mother are waiting for you with your brothers in the dining room. Please get ready to present yourself."
He smiled a little.
"And this morning is your favorite…"
Nira chimed in.
"Here comes the endless pit…"
"It's pancakes!"
"YES!" I shouted. "I'll be there shortly, Alfred!"
I ran into my bathroom.
Noxx chased after me. I washed up, got dressed, and headed downstairs. The Ledger seemed quiet today. Nira hovered closer.
"Yeah… for some reason I can't access it right now."
That made my stomach feel weird. The dining room was already full. I saw Riku and Draxx sitting at the table, eating slowly, as they'd already heard bad news. Their moms sat across from them. My mom sat at the end, elegant as always, drinking her Aetherplum. Riku and Draxx's moms were eating too, but their faces looked worried.
I sat down and started going to town. Nira leaned in like a coach.
"Breathe. Make sure you lather it with syrup."
"And don't forget your protein," she added. "You're a growing girl."
Noxx was eating his dog food next to me. Clearly, we were starving. Father sat beside me, and he didn't say anything about my gluttony display. I took a breather, sipped my tea, and asked the whole room:
"So what's the problem?"
8:45 AM.
Finally, the Ledger lit up again.
[ CALAMITY DRAGON — INBOUND ]
[ ETA: 11:00 AM ]
[ CLAUSE: PREPARE FOR BATTLE ]
Something about the wording felt ominous. My mom noticed me putting two and two together.
"We have a problem coming," she said. "Eat your fill. We're going to battle shortly."
Noxx growled at the Ledger as it had personally offended him. Nira's voice went sharp.
"Uh oh…"
I blinked.
"What do you mean, uh oh?"
Nira leaned close to my ear.
"That Calamity Dragon has problems with Noxx."
I looked at Noxx like he did something.
"…Nah," I whispered. "Can't believe it."
Noxx stared back like, yeah, sure. Nira continued, quieter.
"He took what was supposed to be the dragon's position."
My stomach sank. I stared at him.
"Oh, right…"
I guess it was on the way to set things straight. Nira nodded.
"Mhm."
Noxx pressed his head against my leg like he already knew I wasn't leaving him behind.
I pushed my food away and stood.
"I'm going to the hospital."
Riku stood immediately.
"I'm coming too."
Draxx pushed his chair back.
"I'll follow."
Before we left, Father finally spoke.
"Try to buy time."
He said it like sending his kids to their deaths was normal. I turned back, heat rising in my chest.
"Do you actually care about us… or are we just tools to you?"
Riku tried to stop me.
"Sophia—calm down."
Draxx looked scared. Father sipped his coffee.
"That dragon is nothing," Malphas said.
"But this could fuel you and your brothers… to strive to be stronger demons in the future."
He set the cup down.
"Now go do me proud."
All of Malphas's wives looked at him like he was the worst person in the world. But did they question him? …No.
I turned away and headed out with my brothers.