The Grand Alliance had succeeded in breaking away from the territory of the "Grand Fafnir," but the next threat fell upon them.


    The dragon tribe, inspired by the cries of the "Grand Fafnir," suddenly became active and attacked the Grand Alliance.


    Ten ''Fire Dragons (Fafnir)'' are coming from the right!


    d*mn, not again.


    One after the other.


    Deploy the ''Shield of Firebombs'' on the right flank!"


    The "Guardians of the Academy" who still have enough durability of their "fire shields" deploy them on the right wing.


    Chi. What are the members of the Alliance Guild doing? We are the only ones fighting, aren''t we?


    Calm down, Sei-chan. They can''t stand up to the firepower of Fafnir.


    Yea, you useless bastards!


    Nevertheless, the "Guardians of the Academy of Magic" were able to cope with the "Fafnir" and dispose of them one by one.


    "Okay," said the "Guardians of the Academy of Magic. We can do it.


    Don''t be in a hurry. Finish them off one by one."


    Just when the entire army was relaxed, thinking that the threat of "Fafnir" could be eliminated, arrows suddenly rained down on the left flank.


    What is it?　What the hell is going on?"


    Bow and arrow?　Why are they shooting at us?　No way. ......"


    A group of men with white wolf emblems on their shoulders emerges from behind a rock.


    It was the bow team of the "White Wolf" bandit guild.


    That''s the Thieves'' Guild!


    d*mn, at a time like this ......


    The "Guardians of the Academy of Magic" have their hands full with the "Fire Dragon (Fafnir)". The allied guilds can handle this.


    Arul gave such instructions, but the morale of the allied guilds, whose rewards were still unclear, was low, and no one showed any willingness to avoid fighting as if to give in and drive away the "White Wolf" for the sake of the Grand Alliance.


    Thanks to the "White Wolf''s" bow attack, his strength and equipment were slowly being drained away.


    I''ll go myself in this situation. Get out of the way!


    Thane took up his sword and shield and tried to fight, but his current degraded equipment and status did not allow him to break through the rain of arrows and slash at them.


    Rather, he takes an arrow in the shoulder.


    Gugg!"


    Captain!　Are you all right?"


    I can''t. Please stand back.


    d*mn. If only I had the ''Dragoon''s Baskets,'' I could kick those bastards to the curb in an instant.


    Thane pulled himself free of an arrow lodged in his shoulder and slammed it into the ground in frustration.


    Jamil and Rodo, who were watching the battle from a slightly elevated position, sensed Sein''s exhaustion.


    Look at him," Jamil said. That son of a b*tc* is all worn out.


    Appraise me."


    Yeah.


    Status of Thane


    Arm strength (power): 40-90


    Endurance (toughness): 40-90


    Agility: 40-90


    Physical strength (stamina): 50-130


    Magic: 1-130


    Jamil grinned.


    How''s it going?"


    He can''t shoot the Dragoon anymore.


    "Oh."


    Good. Move the White Guard forward. Don''t be afraid of the dragon''s head.


    The attack by the "White Wolf" became more and more intense.


    The Grand Alliance was on the defensive, and one by one, they were taken prisoner.


    By the time the right wingers had finally cleared the "Fire Dragon (Fafnir)" and rushed to the left wing, the bandits had had enough and were quickly on their way out.


    d*mn, they got away!


    They sure are fast on the run, aren''t they?


    What do we do now?　Shall we pursue?"


    The still energetic "Guardians of the Academy" showed Arul that they were ready to chase after the "White Wolf.


    No, let''s leave it at that. No, let''s just let it go. We have to go back to the city first. However, if the "White Wolf" comes next time, we will ......


    Deputy captain!"　Also, it''s a herd of Fafnir.


    d*mn it, not again."


    The Grand Alliance (in effect, the "Guardians of the Academy of Magic") were forced to deal with the "Fire Dragon (Fafnir)" again busily.


    And as if anticipating this, the "White Wolf" attacked again.


    d*mn. Again.


    Why does Fafnir attack so conveniently for the bandits?


    (It sure is funny.)


    Arul also felt suspicious about the movement of Fafnir.


    (Since a while ago, Fafnir has been attacking only us and never going toward the White Wolf. I don''t think it is a coincidence. I don''t think it''s some kind of skill!)


    Look," he said. They''re going down the mountain along the river.


    Jamil said, pointing toward the river.


    From the other side of the river, shower them with Fafnir''s breath of fire.


    Here they come."


    Rodo put his mouth on the horn and played a tone that only a dragon could hear.


    It was the skill "dragon flute.


    The "fire dragons (Fafnir)" that had been wandering in the sky received Rodo''s message and flipped their wings.


    Immediately, shouts and screams echoed from the place where the "Guardians of the Academy of Magic" were located.


    The "Guardians of the Academy of Magic" were soon heard yelling and screaming from where they were. Success!


    Kukuku. Let''s have fun again then. A one-sided hunt with no counterattack.


    One of the members of the "Guardians of the Magical Academy" loudly accused the "White Wolf" of insidious attacks.


    ''Enough of this, you people!　Is this how they repay us for fighting for their city?　They do not even collect their own items, but only snatch what they can get from others. And then, they attack us from behind after we have fought so hard and exhausted ourselves?　You are all cowardly. Is that your way?　Shameless bastards!　Have you no pride in yourselves as adventurers?"


    He''s saying something.


    Rod said.


    Kukk. I can''t hear you. Keep attacking.


    Jamil said with a sneer.


    After that, the Grand Alliance continued to be repeatedly pinched by the "Fire Dragon (Fafnir)" and the "White Wolf.


    As they were repeatedly attacked in this way, the Grand Alliance''s stamina, equipment, and morale were gradually being depleted.


    Finally, some of the allied guilds began to surrender to the "White Wolf".


    Help me, please help me. We won''t resist anymore.


    I give up, please don''t shoot me."


    Sein sees this and is horrified.


    (Don''t be stupid, you idiot. If you guys surrender now, ......)


    Currently, the Grand Alliance is made up of those who have the strength of the "Guardians of the Academy of Magic" to fight the "Fire Dragon (Fafnir)," and the "White Wolf" attack was somehow able to be accomplished by using the Alliance guilds as shields.


    If the allied guilds were to surrender, they would not be able to support the attack from the White Wolf.


    As expected, the "White Wolf" white army did not accept the surrender of the allied guilds, but rather charged at them.


    The members of the allied guilds were driven back under attack and avalanche towards the "Guardians of the Magic Academy" who are currently engaging the "Fire Dragon (Fafnir)".


    The grand alliance was in chaos.


    "Ohhhhhh!"


    Oh, no!"


    The "Guardians of the Academy of Magic" tried to fight back, but they were exposed to the enemy''s attacks without being able to properly ready their weapons as the allied guild members fled to us in a state of panic.


    Finally, one of the mage knights had his armor destroyed and was badly damaged.


    The rare metals he had around him were scattered.


    Thieves swarmed around and picked up the rare metal.


    Sein was stunned.


    (The rare metal I had collected so much ......)


    Calm down. We''ll rebuild somehow."


    There was a movement to bounce back "White Wolf" in one of the allied guilds.


    (That was ......)


    Arul looks in that direction and sees a warrior (Warrior) from a micro guild fighting with a blue coated shield and armor.


    It was Erio and his "Shield of Dawn.


    Erio takes on the charging, heavily armed bandits single-handedly, rather than rallying.


    Thanks to this, the "Guardians of the Magic Academy" had time to get back on their feet.


    ''Oh, they''re doing it, aren''t they?''


    One of the mage knights said admiringly.


    ''That''s an unfamiliar piece of equipment. Is that design engraved on the weapon a spirit holding a hammer?


    Anyway, it sure helped. We''ll get you back on your feet now, sub-captain.


    Yes, those who have free hands can use the javelin. While the blue-armored men are holding up, let''s take advantage of the space behind them. Get ready for the assault position!


    Arle gave the instructions.


    Remember that we are proud to be knights of magic. Our strength is that we are mages, but we can also fight with white soldiers! Use the white blade to reap the enemy and stab them to death. Push and shove, don''t take a step back, and let the enemy run away.


    Sein blasted.


    The "Javelin" was a weapon for use against the "Fafnir" fire dragon, but it also functioned well as a weapon against humans.


    The heat emitted from the spirit that resides in the silver tip of the blade is powerful enough to burn iron, pierce shields, and pierce armor.


    The "Javelin" unit thus deployed charged forward to strike the "White Wolf" with a single, desperate blow.


    However, as soon as the "Javelin" crossed the shield of the "White Wolf," it was easily neutralized.


    （What is it?)


    One of the mage knights noticed that his "javelin" did not fire well.


    The shields of the "White Wolf"''s white army units were equipped with "silver crushing stones".


    It is the natural enemy of the "Javelin," which shatters silver, and is the worst weapon of all.


    The attacks of the knights were parried, and they were easily repelled.


    One by one, they were surrounded, damaged, and robbed of the rare metals they possessed.


    ''Such ...... nonsense.''


    Witnessing the hopelessness of the battle, Sein wanders and shivers.


    Oh, no. Oh, no.


    Arle said as if spoon-fed.


    Seyi-chan, any more will only drain your strength unnecessarily. We''ll just have to run away in pieces and make it back to the city.


    d*mn. How could we, a venerable guild, turn our backs on a bunch of bandits and fall back? d*mn!　What an abomination!


    The Grand Alliance collapsed and was forced to flee.


    Erio and the other "Shield of Dawn" stayed on until the end, fighting against the "White Wolf.


    However, this backfired and they were completely unable to escape.


    Erio was hurrying on his way to the city while standing on the shingari for all the guild members to secure a way out.


    He was standing on the road to the city, making sure that all the guild members were able to escape. We are almost there.


    Leon, the leader, calls out to Jeff, the archer.


    He was out of breath, leaning on Leon''s shoulder and somehow managing to keep on walking.


    He had been caught in an unfamiliar mix-up and was deeply wounded.


    I''m sorry," he said. It was my fault.


    What are you talking about? What are you talking about? Now, if you have time to whine, walk.


    Cecil, the thief (shifu), said to cheer her up.


    Elio escorted the party, looking worriedly at Jeff.


    (They had already reached the forested area at the foot of the mountain, but the distribution of the monsters had changed significantly as the hordes of "Fafnir" were rampaging all over the place, and the tough monsters of the upper "metal lines" were now on the move. Monsters were roaming around.


    ).


    (If you manage to escape to the city, please contact ....... Please. Monsters, please don''t show up.)


    However, Elio''s wish came true, as a large shadow covered the sky with a deafening cry.


    Erio looked up at the sky with a start.


    d*mn. It''s Fafnir!


    （Oh no. They found me.)


    Shit."


    Erio draws his dagger and faces "Fafnir" with his shield at the ready.


    He counterattacks, catching the claws of the incoming "Fafnir".


    Fafnir" screams "gah gah gah" and returns to the sky.


    I''ll hold them off, guys. Take Jeff and get out of here.


    Erio says so, and the three of them do so, looking frustrated.


    They knew very well that they would be slowed down by being here.


    Fafnir," who thought his own claws were ineffective, began attacking Erio with his "breath of fire.


    However, even "Breath of Fire" could not break through Erio''s armor.


    However, even Erio could not touch him because he was not wearing any anti-aircraft equipment.


    Erio and "Fafnir" glare at each other as if trying to find the right moment.


    Fafnir" flapped his wings irritably.


    (Be angry, be angry. While you''re dealing with me, you can''t touch the three of them. If you get tired while doing so ......)


    However, such an aim of Erio''s was vain, and a scream came from the three of them.


    A "fire dragon (Fafnir)" stood in front of them.


    （Oh, there''s another one?)


    Cecil draws his dagger and holds it ready.


    However, it was too unreliable a weapon against the flying, steel-scaled "Fire Dragon (Fafnir).


    Don''t worry about me," Cecil said. Leave me and run away."


    Jeff grunted.


    Don''t be silly. I would never do that.


    Leon''s face contorts in bitterness.


    Abandon Jeff or wipe out the party.


    It all depended on his decision.


    But it was too heavy a decision for him to make.


    Fafnir''s mouth is filled with the breath of fire.


    （Oh no, that''s it.)


    Suddenly, three red arrows cut through the sky.


    They hit "Fafnir" directly, piercing his wings and throat.


    Fafnir" staggered and crashed to the ground, his "breath of fire" puffing indigestion.


    （What the hell?　(You''re saved?)


    Leon stared at "Fafnir" lying on the ground, feeling as if he had been pinched by a fox.


    Are you okay?"


    I looked back at the voice and saw a young man who looked like a playful person and his sisters who looked solid in contrast.


    The voice asked, "Was that attack by you guys ......?"


    I''m not sure. We are the guild "Heavenly Horse Arrows. You guys have a partnership with the Arsenal of Spirits, don''t you?"


    Hans holds up his "Ryusenkyu" and shows Leon the crest engraved on it.


    That equipment is ......!


    Leon''s eyes stopped on a familiar emblem on an unfamiliar bow and arrow they were carrying.


    The sigil of a spirit with a hammer.


    Yes, the new "Dragon Piercing Sky" equipment from the "Arsenal of the Spirits. I was actually told by Roland not to get involved with the Grand Alliance. But then I saw that emblem on your weapons. As a fan of the Arsenal of Spirits, I felt I had to help you.


    Hans smiled that infectious smile.


    We''re here now, and you''re safe," he said. Between here and the city, we, the Arrows of Heavenly Horse, will protect you from the threat of the Fire Dragon (Fafnir).


    <>