Chapter 77

The Great Alliance managed to escape from the territory of the 'Huge Fire Dragon,' but the next threat soon descended upon them.

The dragons, roused by the malevolent roar of the 'Huge Fire Dragon,' suddenly became more active and attacked the Great Alliance.

"Ten 'Fire Dragons' are coming from the right!"

"Damn, again?"

"Chii, one after another."

"Deploy the 'Fire Bullet Shield' on the right flank!"

Those of the 'Guardians of the Magic Academy' who still had the endurance to maintain the 'Fire Bullet Shield' moved to the right flank.

"Chii. What are the allied guilds doing? It's only the 'Guardians of the Magic Academy' who are fighting."

"Calm down, Sei-chan. They can't withstand the firepower of the fire dragons."

"Damn, useless bunch!"

Despite this, the members of the 'Guardians of the Magic Academy' skillfully dealt with the 'Fire Dragons,' taking them down one by one.

"Good. We can do this."

"Don't rush. Take them down one by one."

Just as they thought they had repelled the threat of the 'Fire Dragons,' the entire army's morale relaxed, and suddenly, a rain of arrows fell on the left flank.

"What? What's going on?"

"Arrows? Why are we being shot at? Could it be...?"

A squad with a white wolf emblem on their shoulders emerged from behind the rocks.

They were the archers of the thief guild 'White Wolf.'

"Those are the thief guild!?"

"Damn, at a time like this..."

"The 'Guardians of the Magic Academy' are busy with the 'Fire Dragons.' The allied guilds need to handle this."

Alru gave the order, but the morale of the allied guilds, still unclear about the rewards, was low. They avoided combat, passing the responsibility to each other, and no one showed the resolve to drive away the 'White Wolf' for the sake of the Great Alliance.

As a result, the 'White Wolf's' arrow attacks gradually wore down their health and equipment.

"Damn, if I have to, I'll go. Move!"

Sein tried to fight with his sword and shield, but his degraded equipment and stats made it impossible to break through the rain of arrows and attack.

Instead, he was hit by an arrow in the shoulder.

"Ugh."

"Captain! Are you okay?"

"It's no use. Fall back."

"Damn. If I had the 'Dragon Head Gauntlet,' I could scatter those guys in an instant."

Sein pulled the arrow out of his shoulder and angrily slammed it on the ground.

Jamil and Rodo, observing the battle from a slightly higher position, quickly noticed Sein's deteriorating condition.

"Look, that guy is completely worn out."

"Check his stats."

"Sure."

[Sein's Status]

Strength: 40-90

Endurance: 40-90

Agility: 40-90

Health: 50-130

Magic: 1-130

Jamil smirked.

"How's that?"

"Magic at a minimum of 1. He can't use the 'Dragon Head Gauntlet' anymore."

"Wow."

"Alright. Advance the melee troops. There's no need to fear the 'Dragon Head Gauntlet.'"

The attacks from the 'White Wolf' became even more intense.

The Great Alliance was forced into a defensive position, and one by one, they were captured.

"Damn, they got away."

"Those guys sure run fast."

"What do we do? Should we pursue them?"

The still energetic members of the 'Guardians of the Magic Academy' showed a willingness to pursue the 'White Wolf' to Alru.

"No, let them go. Right now, we need to retreat to the city. However, if the 'White Wolf' comes again..."

"Vice Captain! Another group of 'Fire Dragons'!"

"Damn, again?"

The Great Alliance (essentially the 'Guardians of the Magic Academy') was once again forced to deal with the 'Fire Dragons.'

As if anticipating this, the 'White Wolf' launched another attack.

"Damn, again?"

"Why do the 'Fire Dragons' keep attacking us so conveniently for the thieves?"

(That is suspicious.)

Alru also felt something suspicious about the 'Fire Dragons' movements.

(The 'Fire Dragons' have been attacking us all this time and haven't gone near the 'White Wolf.' It can't be a coincidence. Could it be some kind of skill!?)

"Look, they're heading down the mountain along the river."

Jamil pointed to the river.

"Hit them with the 'Fire Dragons' breath from the other side of the river."

"Alright, here we go."

Rodo put his mouth to a horn and played a sound that only dragons could hear.

It was the skill 'Dragon Horn.'

The 'Fire Dragons' in the sky, receiving the message from Rodo, changed direction.

Immediately, shouts and screams echoed from the location of the 'Guardians of the Magic Academy.'

"Alright, success."

"Hehe. Let's enjoy this one-sided hunt without any retaliation."

One of the 'Guardians of the Magic Academy' could no longer endure the 'White Wolf's' underhanded attacks and loudly criticized them.

"Cut it out, you guys! Is this how you repay us for fighting for the city? You don't gather items yourselves, just steal what others have obtained. And you even attack us from behind when we're exhausted from fighting? What a cowardly move. Is this how you operate? Shameless bunch! Do you have any pride as adventurers?"

"That guy is saying something."

Rodo said.

"Hehe. Can't hear him. Keep attacking."

Jamil said with a sneer.

The Great Alliance continued to suffer from the pincer attack by the 'Fire Dragons' and the 'White Wolf.'

As they repeatedly endured these attacks, the health, equipment, and morale of the Great Alliance gradually wore down.

Finally, members of the allied guilds began to surrender to the 'White Wolf.'

"Help us. We won't resist anymore."

"We surrender, don't shoot."

Sein was shocked to see this.

(What, fools. If you surrender now...)

Currently, the Great Alliance's formation was maintained by the 'Guardians of the Magic Academy' dealing with the 'Fire Dragons' and using the allied guilds as a shield against the 'White Wolf.'

If the allied guilds surrendered, they wouldn't be able to withstand the 'White Wolf's' attacks.

Sure enough, the 'White Wolf's' melee troops ignored the surrender of the allied guilds and instead launched a charge.

The allied guilds, exposed to the attack, were driven towards the 'Guardians of the Magic Academy,' who were still engaged with the 'Fire Dragons.'

The Great Alliance fell into chaos.

"Uaaaaaah!"

"Kyaaaaaaah!"

The 'Guardians of the Magic Academy' tried to counterattack, but the allied guilds, in a panic, fled towards them, leaving them unable to properly wield their weapons and exposing them to enemy attacks.

Finally, one of the magic knights had his armor destroyed and suffered major damage.

Rare metals he was carrying scattered around.

The thieves swarmed and picked up the rare metals.

Sein was stunned.

(All the rare metals we collected...)

"Stay calm. We need to regroup."

In one corner of the allied guilds, there was a movement to repel the 'White Wolf.'

(That's...)

Alru looked over and saw a warrior from a small guild fighting with a blue-coated shield and armor.

It was Elio and the 'Dawn Shield.'

Elio single-handedly held off the heavily armored thieves and began to turn the tide.

Thanks to this, the 'Guardians of the Magic Academy' had the chance to regroup.

"Wow, those guys are doing well."

One of the magic knights said admiringly.

"Unfamiliar equipment. The design on the weapons looks like a hammer-wielding spirit?"

"Regardless, we were definitely saved. Vice Captain, let's regroup while we can."

"Right, those with free hands, prepare the 'Fire Spears.' While the blue-armored guy holds them off, let's use the space behind them. Prepare for a charge!"

Alru gave the order.

"Remember the pride of the magic knights. Our strength lies in being able to handle melee combat despite being mages! Cut down the enemy with our blades and pierce them. Push forward without retreating, and rout the enemy."

Sein rallied them.

The 'Fire Spears,' designed to combat 'Fire Dragons,' also functioned well against humans.

The heat emitted by the spirits residing in their silver tips was powerful enough to burn through iron, pierce shields, and penetrate armor.

The 'Fire Spear' unit, positioned accordingly, charged to deliver a decisive blow to the 'White Wolf.'

However, the 'Fire Spears' were rendered powerless the moment they intersected with the 'White Wolf's' shields.

(What?)

One of the magic knights realized his 'Fire Spear' wasn't igniting properly.

The melee troops of the 'White Wolf' had 'Silver Shatter Stones' embedded in their shields.

These stones were the worst possible match for the 'Fire Spears,' which were designed to shatter silver.

The magic knights' attacks were deflected, and they were easily countered.

One by one, they were surrounded, damaged, and had their rare metals stolen.

"No... This can't be."

Sein trembled at the desperate situation.

"Ah, it's no good. This is it."

Alru said, giving up.

"Sei-chan, continuing this will only waste more of our strength. We need to scatter and retreat to the city."

"Damn. For a prestigious guild like ours to have to retreat from thieves. Damn! What a disgrace!"

Here, the Great Alliance collapsed and was forced to retreat in defeat.

Elio and the 'Dawn Shield' continued to hold their ground against the 'White Wolf.'

However, this backfired, and they were left behind.

Elio, standing guard to ensure the retreat of his guild members, hurried towards the path to the city.

"Hang in there. We're almost there."

The leader, Leon, called out to the archer, Jeff.

Jeff, barely able to breathe, leaned on Leon's shoulder and stumbled along.

He had been badly injured in the unfamiliar melee.

"I'm sorry. It's because of me."

"Don't say that. We help each other in times of trouble. Come on, walk instead of complaining."

Cecil, the thief, encouraged him.

Elio, worried about Jeff, escorted the party.

Among this group, the only one who could properly fight the monsters in the area was Elio (they had already reached the foothills of the mountain, a forested area, but the distribution of monsters had changed due to the 'Fire Dragons' rampaging, and tough monsters from the upper 'Metal Line' were roaming around).

(If we can just make it to the city... Please, monsters, don't appear.)

However, Elio's wish was in vain as a loud screech filled the air, and a large shadow covered the sky.

Elio looked up, startled.

"Damn, it's a 'Fire Dragon.'"

(Not good. We've been spotted.)

"Damn."

Elio drew his dagger, raised his shield, and faced the 'Fire Dragon.'

He intercepted the 'Fire Dragon's' claws and counterattacked.

The 'Fire Dragon' let out an unpleasant screech and returned to the sky.

"Everyone, I'll hold it off. Take Jeff and run."

Elio said, and the three, though reluctant, followed his order.

They knew they would only be a burden if they stayed.

The 'Fire Dragon,' realizing its claws were ineffective, began to attack Elio with its 'Fire Breath.'

However, the 'Fire Breath' couldn't break through Elio's armor.

Elio, lacking anti-air equipment, couldn't retaliate.

Elio and the 'Fire Dragon' faced off, sizing each other up.

The 'Fire Dragon' flapped its wings irritably.

(Come on, get angry. As long as you're dealing with me, you can't touch the others. If you tire out, maybe...)

However, Elio's plan was foiled as a scream came from the three.

Another 'Fire Dragon' had blocked their path.

(What, there's another one?)

Cecil drew her dagger.

However, it was a pitiful weapon against a 'Fire Dragon' flying in the sky with steel-like scales.

"Forget about me. Leave me behind and run."

Jeff groaned.

"Don't be ridiculous. We won't leave you behind."

Leon's face contorted in anguish.

To abandon Jeff or to let the entire party be wiped out.

It all came down to his decision.

But it was a heavy decision for him to make.

The 'Fire Dragon's' mouth filled with 'Fire Breath.'

(Damn, is this it?)

Suddenly, three red arrows sliced through the sky.

They struck the 'Fire Dragon,' piercing its wings and throat.

The 'Fire Dragon' staggered, its 'Fire Breath' fizzling out, and crashed to the ground.

(What, did we get saved?)

Leon looked at the fallen 'Fire Dragon, feeling as if he had been bewitched.

"Are you okay?"

Startled, he turned to the voice and saw a carefree-looking young man and a serious-looking sister.

"Was that attack... from you guys?"

"Yep. We're the guild 'Pegasus Arrow.' You guys are also partners with the 'Spirit Factory,' right?"

Hans showed Leon the emblem on his 'Dragon Piercer.'

"That equipment...!!"

Leon's eyes were drawn to the familiar emblem on the unfamiliar bow and arrows they carried.

The emblem of the spirit holding a hammer.

"Right, the new equipment from the 'Spirit Factory,' the 'Dragon Piercer.' We were actually told by Roland not to get involved with the Great Alliance, but when I saw the emblem on your weapons, I thought, as a fellow 'Spirit Factory' fan, I had to help."

Hans smiled warmly.

"Since we're here, you're safe. We, the 'Pegasus Arrow,' will protect you from the 'Fire Dragons' on the way to the city."