Betrayal at the Dragon King's Palace
Leysia, who had taken to the skies in haste, soon arrived at the Dragon King's Palace on the 99th floor.
At the sight of the half-collapsed palace, Leysia concealed her impatience behind her usual impassive expression as she entered the interior.
The inside of the Dragon King's Palace was littered with the shredded corpses of monsters.
Though they were somewhat lower in rank compared to those deployed on the battlefield, these were the ones Leysia had trusted enough to leave in charge of the palace during her absence.
Ignoring their bodies as best she could, Leysia pressed deeper inside.
Passing the grand hall she had always guarded, and beyond the corridor behind it, to the chamber housing the remains of the Dragon King—there, Leysia discovered her younger brother occupying the spot in place of their father's remains.
The fierce aura she had been suppressing erupted.
In an instant, a savage pressure filled the vast cavern, causing Le Ganus—who had leisurely devoured their father's remains and was sitting there smugly—to rise slowly.
[You're a bit late, sister.]
[Le Ganus. How dare you... to our father's remains...!]
[I didn't want it to come to this either. But you and Lehatna are the ones who cornered me.]
[Was the throne of the Dragon King that tempting? Enough to commit such filial impiety!]
[From the start, all I was ever taught was how to seize, sister. I'm merely following what I learned.]
[...I didn't coddle you just because you're my brother... I'll set you straight right now.]
[Too late for that, sister.]
As Leysia unleashed her seething energy, Le Ganus countered by radiating his own.
A intense aura exploded forth, one that not only matched Leysia's but overwhelmed her.
In a flash, the pressure crushed not just the cavern but the entire Dragon King's Palace.
Leysia's face twisted savagely before that tremendous power, reminiscent of the former Dragon King.
[Do you feel it, sister? I've finally surpassed you!]
[Borrowing our father's power instead of your own—and you stand there so proudly? Have you no shame?]
[I didn't borrow it. I seized it! From none other than you!]
As if no more words were needed, Le Ganus charged at Leysia.
Even before this incomparably greater power, Leysia stood her ground and fought back fiercely.
[You're no longer a match for me, sister! Give up quietly!]
[You think a reckless fool who can't even handle his newfound power can defeat me?!]
The clash between the two dragons raged on for some time.
The cavern collapsed from the shockwaves, and the Dragon King's Palace crumbled.
The battle, neither too short nor too long, finally ended when Le Ganus pierced one of Leysia's wings.
Leysia plummeted endlessly into the abyss below the skies.
Le Ganus watched her fall impassively before letting out a savage roar.
The roar echoed thunderously across the heavens, proclaiming the victor.
And as Leysia tumbled into the endless void below, she gazed back at Le Ganus impassively.
...Foolish Le Ganus. Do you really think Father chose a successor without any safeguards?
Foolish little brother.
He committed the ultimate impiety by devouring Father's remains, yet he hasn't obtained the full power of the Dragon King.
Because the most crucial part wasn't in Father's remains—it's already in someone else's hands.
...Lehatna. I hope that poor child can pull it off.
Father and I... have we burdened her with too much?
Worried for her youngest sister, Leysia couldn't close her eyes in peace.
With Leysia's form vanishing into the abyss below, the perfect victor was decided.
Defying all expectations, it was not Leysia, but Le Ganus.
His second savage roar thundered across the entire sky.
It had already been several days since Lehatna, Giryu, Pelte, and I began raiding Le Ganus's rear.
After the initial strike, monsters had come several times to stop us, but even that had abruptly ceased.
Did they run out of forces to send?
No matter their strength, we'd crushed every wave that came, so they must have decided sending more was a loss.
If so, weren't they a bit slow to realize?
Le Ganus didn't seem that foolish, so perhaps his subordinates were the problem.
Whatever the reason, it seemed they no longer intended to engage us, so our role here was done.
Now it was time to join Leysia's forces and confront Le Ganus directly.
Of course, we probably wouldn't even get our turn.
The tide of battle had already turned completely.
If we joined Leysia's side, we'd likely just mop up stragglers before the war ended.
It was disappointing, but unavoidable.
Without our intervention, the war would drag on, and who knows what variables might arise.
Since it was ending anyway, better to join quickly and wrap it up fast.
Thus, we halted the rear raids and hurried preparations to join Leysia's camp.
We had to pass through the heart of Le Ganus's territory en route, so extensive preparations were needed against potential threats.
I could just ride on Pelte's back, but the others couldn't.
As we rushed preparations, a monster came flying toward us in haste.
Thinking it might be an enemy, I gathered mana and watched intently, but Giryu—having sensed it too—quietly held me back.
[Not an enemy. It's 'Deabel.']
As Giryu said, the monster flying desperately toward us was no foe.
A familiar face I'd seen multiple times at Lehatna's lair.
This griffon, identical to Pelte, was none other than his little sister.
Not yet fully grown, she was only A-rank, but Pelte had bragged countless times that she inherited his speed, making her exceptionally fast for her rank.
She felt so familiar from all the stories.
Anyway, at the sight of the griffon Deabel hurtling toward us, Pelte asked.
[What brings you all the way here? You were supposed to guard the other monsters...]
[B-Big trouble, brother! We were raided!]
At Deabel's frantic cry, Giryu and I—who had been watching the siblings' reunion leisurely—froze.
[What do you mean, Deabel? Raided?]
[Exactly that. We were raided!]
[...Who? No need to ask. At this timing, it's obvious who would raid our rear.]
I nodded slowly at Giryu's low mutter.
As he said, at this juncture, the only ones who would hit our rear were Le Ganus's forces.
They'd done nothing for days—who knew they'd target not us, but behind us.
[Damage report?]
[Fortunately, not severe. We prioritized evacuation as instructed before you left.]
[That's a relief.]
Giryu exhaled in relief, and Deabel continued cautiously.
[But several of the young ones who aren't fully grown are badly hurt.]
[......]
[Ah...!]
Giryu clamped his mouth shut in silence, and Lehatna—who had been quietly listening out of consideration—let out a sigh.
[The kids are okay?! Are they hurt bad? No one's dead, right?!]
[...I'm sorry, miss. We should have protected them better...]
[Ugh...]
I gently patted Lehatna, whose face twisted as if she might cry any second.
[They're not just taking it lying down, then. Repaying what they've suffered while delaying our join-up with Leysia as much as possible?]
Seeing they'd switched from sending monsters to this method, it was probably Le Ganus's direct order.
[...What happened to the raiders?]
[They retreated for now, but they're still nearby. I spotted them on my way here to report.]
[They just let you go?]
At my question, Deabel paused as if she hadn't considered it, then nodded.
[Yes. They must have seen me, but no attacks—just let me fly off.]
[They want you to report back to us.]
I nodded at Giryu's words.
Same thought here.
[We can't just ignore them.]
[Agreed. No idea their full strength, but leaving them be would escalate the damage.]
[Didn't mind when we were doing it to them, but getting hit back feels awful.]
I muttered lowly while quietly assessing the situation.
[We can't all go.]
[Agreed. That's exactly their aim.]
[Split our forces.]
Giryu nodded once and spoke immediately.
[Giryu and Pelte will join the eldest miss. Nix, handle the rear.]
I stared at Giryu silently.
Meeting my gaze steadily, he continued flatly.
[Don't give me that look. No special reason. You just seem worried. Got some kids on your mind?]
I nodded slowly at his words.
As he said, the raid news brought the pink slime and others to mind instantly.
If those kids had been hurt...
Suppressing the rising killing intent, I looked at Giryu again.
To the one watching me with the same impassive eyes, I asked softly.
[You sure? You must be worried too.]
[Can't all go back together. Someone has to stay. This time, it's me.]
[Got it... Don't worry. I'll punish them plenty for your share too.]
[That's reassuring.]
Giryu grinned faintly before adding.
[Take care of the miss.]
[No worries there. Not a single scale harmed.]
[Good. I trust you.]
With a light nod, he exchanged brief farewells with Lehatna.
[Then please take care, miss.]
[Yeah. You too, Giryu. Oh, Pelte too!]
At Lehatna's urging, Giryu flashed a confident smile and took off with Pelte.
I watched those departing first to join Leysia's faction, then we remnants hurried our own departure.
I'd thought we'd ride Deabel since Pelte left with Giryu.
But Lehatna, anxious over the injured kids, wanted to hurry, so we rode her instead.
Slower than Giryu, but as an SS-rank dragon, she moved at tremendous speed.
Retracing our path back to the 88th floor, Lehatna's lair.
The place had changed drastically from before we left.
The floating island was utterly wrecked.
The flower field where Lehatna and low-rank monsters played was dug up and ruined; the forest where she sometimes rested was gone entirely.
At her lair turned complete chaos, Lehatna raged unusually fiercely.
[I won't forgive them! Absolutely not!]
The aura bursting from her in that moment was in no way inferior to Le Ganus or Leysia—it was shocking.
Was Lehatna the type who got stronger when angry?
After a brief fluster, I couldn't just watch, so I soothed her carefully.
She calmed quickly, but still emanated a fierce aura, unable to forgive those who trashed her precious home.
[Then, Deabel. Where did you last see them?]
[The border zone one floor up.]
[Let's go there now! I won't let any of them go!]
[...Lehatna says so too. Mind guiding us?]
[Yes! Leave it to me!]
Following Deabel's lead, we headed to the 87th floor where they'd last been spotted.
Fortunately, no need to search—they were right there.
Two SA-rank, about thirty S-rank.
Even after we'd devoured so many, Le Ganus's forces still had this much left?
They charged the moment they spotted us, as if waiting.
I clicked my tongue briefly.
No suitable floating island nearby to shift to main body form.
[Lehatna, let's move a bit. Hard to fight here.]
[Nix, just watch! I'll handle these guys!]
With that, Lehatna didn't dodge the charging foes but flapped her wings powerfully instead.
As the distance closed instantly, I quietly pressed my forehead.
I'd boasted to Giryu about not a single scale harmed.
Lehatna, head hot with rage, wouldn't listen anyway. Here, best to support quietly.
Numbers were decent, but not too dangerous.
Lehatna was unusually fired up, so I could step in if needed.
More surprising: I'd thought Le Ganus ordered this personally, but their forces suggested otherwise.
Did they think this was enough against us?
Discards just to harass?
Yet their charge was deadly serious.
Did they not know they were expendable?
Or did they know and charge anyway?
I frowned quietly at foes ignoring wounds, heedless even of death.
Something felt off, like I was missing it.
...Suspicious, but first, deal with these decisively.
They'll pay dearly for harming the young and weak.
Joining forces with Lehatna—who fought diligently like a true SS-rank monster—we cleaned them up before long.