The spatial crack that abruptly appeared in the sky, and the deep gray-cloaked figure who emerged somewhat hastily from it, were naturally captured by Sara and her group.
Luke’s face grew even paler. The fear and lingering dread from moments before had not yet dissipated.
He stared intently at the cloaked figure and the three Blood Pillars standing respectfully before the vampire encampment. His voice was dry and raspy.
“Senior Sara… look at them… that person in the cloak, is it…”
His Adam’s apple bobbed as he struggled to spit out the name.
“…the same guy who took Senior Yize?”
At this moment, without the Kamen Rider Transformation Device that granted him power, and without the black-haired Senior who always brought a sense of security in desperate situations by his side, Luke could no longer maintain his usual smug and cheeky attitude.
Sara took a deep breath, forcing herself to analyze the situation calmly. Her eyes reflected the mysterious dark-robed figure in the distance.
“When Yize disappeared on the city walls earlier, there were indeed strong remnants of Space Magic. Although I can’t be one hundred percent certain, judging by those familiar fluctuations and the attitude of the Blood Race… there is a very high probability it is him.”
Her words essentially confirmed the suspicion Luke was most reluctant to face.
Hearing this, Emma suddenly covered her small mouth. Her eyes instantly filled with tears, and her body swayed slightly.
“Why… why did only that person in black return?”
“Junior Yize… what happened to him…”
She lacked the courage to continue. The terrifying truth hidden behind her words was something she didn’t want to face right now.
“No, Emma, don’t jump to conclusions yet.”
Sara immediately turned around, her gaze sweeping over her pale companions.
“We have to believe in Yize!”
She had to stabilize their morale, especially in this desperate situation. As one of the core members of the team, she couldn’t allow her own emotions to collapse, nor could she let the team lose their will to fight because of Yize’s disappearance.
“Look closely,” Sara pointed toward the black-robed figure, straining to make her voice sound persuasive.
“When that person appeared, the spatial crack closed exceptionally fast and hastily, as if he was afraid of something chasing him out.”
“His posture after landing wasn’t composed either… he even looked a bit disheveled. That doesn’t look like someone returning in victory.”
She paused, a spark of light returning to her eyes.
“So, is it possible that the person in black suffered a loss at Yize’s hands and was forced to flee back in a hurry?”
“And Yize… perhaps he is simply not proficient in Space Magic and is temporarily stranded somewhere, unable to return immediately?”
This was the anchor of hope she forcibly constructed for herself and her companions in the midst of despair.
She had to make everyone believe that Yize was still alive and that there was still a chance of his return.
This was not only to soothe their emotions but also to maintain their flickering fighting spirit.
If even this last hope shattered, they might lose the courage to even put up a final struggle against the terrifying Demonic Dragon and the hovering Vampire Army.
Luke immediately nodded vigorously. Though his voice remained raspy, he forced out a bit of certainty.
“Right, right, right! Senior Sara is right! My Senior Yize is invincible!”
“That sneaky guy in the black robe was definitely beaten back by Senior!”
“Magic… especially Space Magic, is indeed Senior Yize’s… uh, slight weakness!”
“He just can’t make it back right now.”
Listening to their optimistic analysis, the heavy weight in Emma’s heart lightened slightly.
Although she was still worried, the crushing sense of despair had been somewhat dispelled.
She blinked hard to force back her tears and nodded, forcing a smile that looked more painful than crying.
“Yes… I believe in Junior Yize… he must be fine.”
Swan did not join the discussion. Her entire attention was locked onto the black-robed figure surrounded by the three Blood Pillars.
This was because, at that moment, the Iguneel inside her mind was reacting far more violently than she was!
‘Impossible! This is absolutely impossible!’
Iguneel’s voice sounded extremely agitated, filled with unbelievable shock and restlessness.
‘On this continent, besides me, how could there possibly be another existence emitting such a dense Dragon Aura?’
Swan’s heart tightened at Iguneel’s reaction. She asked urgently within her consciousness, ‘Iguneel… that… that person in black… is he a Dragon too?!’
The thought made her go cold all over. A monsterized Li En had already forced the Sword Saint into a bitter struggle; if there were another true Dragon… would the Human Empire have any chance of winning?
‘No… wait…’ Iguneel’s tone suddenly became extremely uncertain. ‘I… I can’t be entirely sure yet. His aura is very strange… it has draconic characteristics, but it’s mixed with something else, as if… it was forcibly pieced together and modified.’
‘Moreover, for some reason, just looking at him makes me feel an unspeakable… loathing from the depths of my soul! A very, very disgusting feeling!’
This was the first time Swan had heard such a serious tone from Iguneel. The always-proud Iguneel actually seemed uneasy.
‘He isn’t acting right now, and his aura is somewhat restrained, so I can’t accurately judge his background for the time being.’ Iguneel’s voice lowered. ‘I’ll have to wait for him to use his power to get a better sense of what he is.’
‘Swan… be careful of this person. He feels much more dangerous to me than that fallen brat, Li En!’
Swan’s heart sank to the bottom. She forced her gaze away from the person in black and turned back to the center of the battlefield. There, the battle between Laura and the monsterized Li En had reached its climax—or rather, a one-sided slaughter.
Seeing Laura struggle more and more under Li En’s torrential attacks, her wounds increasing and her azure Aura noticeably dimming, a look of resolve flashed in Swan’s eyes. She took a deep breath and spoke to Iguneel in her mind.
‘Iguneel… if… if the Sword Saint truly falls, I plan to… use the power of Dragonification.’
She thought of Yize. She thought of the Senior who always seemed lazy but never hesitated to stand in front of everyone at critical moments.
Why did he expose his secrets and take risks time and again? Wasn’t it to protect everyone and guard this land? What reason did she have to keep hiding while watching her companions die?
Even if she was misunderstood afterward, feared, or seen as a potential monster… she would accept it!
Iguneel was silent for a moment. She didn’t oppose as fiercely as before, but her tone remained heavy.
‘I… still don’t recommend you do this now.’
‘Because with your current control over my power, you are by no means a match for that monsterized Li En…’
She paused, her voice carrying a rare hint of helplessness.
‘However… as I said, this is your body and your choice. If you have truly decided… I won’t forcibly stop you. But you will have to bear the consequences yourself.’
Not long after Swan’s internal struggle and Iguneel’s words finished—an abrupt change occurred in the center of the battlefield!
After a long battle, the exhausted Laura had seen her speed, strength, and reactions drop significantly from her peak. A tiny lag after a parry was keenly captured by the monsterized Li En!
Squelch—!
Those dragon claws savagely tore through the protective Aura and light armor on the side of Laura’s abdomen! Blood splattered instantly, and a terrifying wound deep enough to see bone appeared on Laura’s body!
“Teacher!” Sara cried out in shock.
“Sword Saint!”
Emma cast a Healing Spell almost at the same time. However, the injury was too severe; in the short term, it could only stop the bleeding.
Yet, monsterized Li En’s attacks did not stop! He seemed to enjoy the process of crushing a strong enemy and inflicting pain.
Just as Laura’s movements faltered due to the intense pain and blood loss, and as she knelt on one knee to try and adjust her center of gravity, a thick, hideous dragon tail whipped out from a tricky angle with a whistle that tore through the air, slamming solidly into the thigh supporting Laura’s body!
Crack! The clear sound of bone fracturing was chilling to the bone.
“Ugh!” Laura let out a muffled groan. Her face instantly turned as white as paper, and cold sweat poured down her forehead.
She leaned on her sword, barely supporting herself from collapsing completely, but that leg was clearly no longer capable of bearing weight.
Even so, she kept her spine straight and lifted her head.