Journey to Become the Zenith

Chapter 275: The Adventurer Guild Master Arrives

The Adventurer Guild Master Arrives

"Dragon Breath."

The surrounding group immediately fell silent.

Even those unfamiliar with dragons knew that name.

It was one of the most feared attacks in existence.

The signature ability of the strongest race to ever walk the world.

Videl looked upward.

Her heart sank.

The concentration of mana was absurd.

"Can we stop it?" Clara asked.

Natalia slowly shook her head.

"Not in time."

Ruby tightened her grip on her weapon.

"Then we endure it."

Ruby—extended her hand.

A crimson flash appeared.

Her halberd instantly reappeared in her grasp.

The divine weapon hummed violently.

She stepped forward beside Natalia.

For once, neither woman exchanged insults.

They simply looked at each other.

Both saw the same thing.

Danger.

Real danger.

The kind that could kill everyone present.

Natalia raised her hand.

Ruby did the same.

A massive barrier of holy mana began forming above the group.

Golden and crimson lights intertwined.

The shield expanded rapidly.

Ruby spoke first.

"Don’t die before I prove I’m stronger."

Natalia’s lips twitched slightly.

"Likewise."

The shield thickened.

Its surface shimmered like liquid glass.

Videl watched everything unfold.

Frustration filled her chest.

Her hands clenched.

She hated this feeling.

Helplessness.

Everyone else was fighting.

Everyone else was giving everything.

And she could barely stand.

But giving up wasn’t an option.

Not while Victor’s city stood behind them.

Not while her companions were risking their lives.

Not while Lane remained unconscious.

"I refuse to be dead weight."

She forced herself upright.

Pain shot through her exhausted body.

Still, she stood.

Inside her mind, she called out.

’Amura, Rika please grant me all the mana you have left.’

’As you wish my master,’ Amura answered as per usual.

The spirit’s calm voice echoed within her consciousness.

Then another voice followed.

’If that is your wish, master,’ Even the silent Rika answered.

Warm streams of mana immediately flowed into Videl’s body.

The two weapon spirits gave everything they had remaining.

Videl smiled faintly.

"Thank you."

Amura responded gently.

"Your battles are our battles."

Rika added quietly.

"Just don’t collapse before Victor gets here."

Videl nearly laughed.

With renewed determination, she stepped forward.

Standing beside Ruby and Natalia.

Mana poured from her body.

The holy barrier immediately became more stable.

Ruby glanced sideways.

"Good. I was wondering when you’d stop acting injured."

"I’m still injured."

"Then suffer faster."

Videl rolled her eyes.

Nearby, Brinda stepped forward.

Her purple hair danced wildly in the wind.

Without hesitation she raised her hand.

A torrent of mana surged into the barrier.

"I’m not letting all of you take the glory."

The shield brightened.

Natalia nodded slightly.

"Good timing."

Then Clara arrived.

Unlike the others, she remained in relatively good condition.

Without saying a word, she poured every bit of her mana into the barrier.

The shield immediately expanded.

A powerful wave of light swept outward.

The four women stood together.

United.

The dragon finally finished charging.

Silence filled the battlefield.

For one heartbeat.

Two.

Three.

Then—

ROOOOOOAAAAARRRRR!!!

The Dragon Breath descended.

A colossal beam of icy destruction erupted from the dragon’s mouth.

The world turned white.

The attack slammed into the barrier.

BOOOOOOOOM!!!

The impact shook the entire region.

Cracks instantly appeared across the shield.

Everyone felt their hearts stop.

"So much power..." Eon muttered.

The Dragon Breath wasn’t fire.

It was ice.

Pure freezing death.

Everything it touched froze instantly.

Grass became crystal.

Trees transformed into sculptures.

The earth itself froze solid.

The battlefield rapidly became an icy graveyard.

The barrier groaned.

More cracks appeared.

Videl gritted her teeth.

Mana poured from her body faster and faster.

Ruby roared.

"Hold it!"

Natalia’s hands trembled.

"Don’t let it break!"

Brinda’s face became pale.

Yet nobody withdrew.

Nobody stepped back.

The icy breath intensified.

The cold became unbearable.

Videl could barely feel her fingers.

Ruby’s eyelashes froze.

Natalia’s lips turned pale.

Brinda’s entire body shook violently.

Even breathing hurt.

Nearby, Eon had no mana left to contribute.

So he did the only thing he could.

He stood directly in front of Lane.

Shielding her unconscious body from the freezing winds.

Ice slowly formed on his clothes.

On his hair.

On his arms.

Still he refused to move.

"You’re seriously heavy," he muttered toward the unconscious woman.

No response came.

Eon sighed.

"At least wake up and complain."

The Dragon Breath continued.

Seconds felt like years.

Then finally—

The attack stopped.

The dragon’s mouth closed.

The horrifying beam vanished.

The battlefield fell silent.

Crack.

Crack.

Crack.

The barrier shattered.

Fragments of mana dispersed into the air.

Ruby dropped to one knee.

Natalia leaned heavily on her weapon.

Videl nearly collapsed.

Brinda was breathing so heavily she couldn’t speak.

Everyone looked exhausted.

Everyone looked broken.

But they had survived.

Then they saw the dragon again.

And their relief vanished.

The undead dragon was gathering mana once more.

Another Dragon Breath.

A second one.

Videl felt despair creeping into her heart.

They had nothing left.

No mana.

No strength.

No miracles.

Ruby stared upward.

"Damn it..."

Natalia closed her eyes briefly.

"So this is how it ends."

Even Clara remained silent.

The second attack rapidly took shape.

Death approached.

Then—

A familiar voice echoed across the frozen battlefield.

Lazy.

Annoyed.

Completely unimpressed.

"Really, you guys just keep on giving me trouble."

Everyone froze.

Videl’s eyes widened.

That voice...

Before anyone could react, a gigantic magic circle suddenly appeared beneath their feet.

Runes lit up.

Space distorted.

The dragon unleashed its second breath.

BOOOOOOM!!!

The attack struck the ground.

But nobody was there.

A flash of light swallowed the group.

The next moment they reappeared several hundred meters away.

Everyone stumbled from the sudden teleportation.

Then they saw her.

Long purple hair.

Black eyes.

A lazy expression.

One hand casually resting in her pocket.

The woman stretched her body before letting out a huge yawn.

She looked completely unconcerned.

As if facing an undead dragon was merely an inconvenience.

Her gaze swept across the battered group.

Then she spoke.

"You guys head back to town and recuperate. I’ll handle the oversized lizard."

This girl that had no motivation as she casually said she would deal with an undead dragon, was the one and only Guild Master of Fantom City’s adventurers’ guild, Isabella.