Westminster Bank

But just then, another longspear appeared, its pure-white tip meeting the blood-red point on its path to Freya. A sudden repulsive force burst from the point of contact, creating a storm of white and purple Spiritual Power.

The wielder of the spear was none other than the second son of the Hestia Family, Jill Hestia’s younger brother, Knight Commander of the Griffin Knight Order, and number one on Baron’s kill list—Roy Hestia!

Amidst the storm, Freya’s face was deathly pale as she stood behind Roy.

’She really wanted to kill me!’

With a flick of his wrist, Roy’s spear tip trembled, and the momentary storm of Spiritual Power dissipated. He deflected the crimson longspear, sending it plunging into the Magic Ice Crystal Freya had used to encase Isabella.

Cracks spiderwebbed out from where the spear had pierced the ice. A sharp cracking sound followed, and a figure of gold and purple burst forth, shattering her prison.

It was a magnificent creature.

Yes, a magnificent creature.

This was the only thought that came to mind for everyone who laid eyes on her.

Isabella’s appearance hadn’t changed much. She still had the same oval face, with its long, arched brows, almond-shaped eyes, and full, crimson lips that held a cool elegance. But now, light purple Dragon Scales covered her cheeks, and her hands remained ferocious, slender Dragon Claws. A waterfall of black hair cascaded over her shoulders, framing a waist so thin one could wrap a single hand around it.

The only other change was behind that slender waist: a new dragon tail, which glinted with a cold, metallic light and exuded a frosty aura. Its interlocking scales were as sharp as a freshly honed blade!

The jaws of everyone present hung slack, their faces etched with disbelief.

"So this is Tier Two Beastification."

Baron stroked the chin of his mask as he studied Isabella’s transformation. It didn’t look much different from a Contract Knight’s "Assimilation."

The only difference was that a Contract Knight’s Assimilation was limited to a single creature. With this Beastification, however... Baron had overheard a nearby Dragon Guide say that the Dragon Claws were from a Third Generation Dragon Descendant Killer Claws Dragon Beast, while the tail was from a Third Generation Thunder Blade Dragon Beast. They could be mixed and matched, almost like creating a custom character in a video game.

’Honestly, it’s pretty cool.’

’If I recall correctly, I have the Assimilation ability now that I’m Bronze Tier. But since I only just reached Bronze, my total Spiritual Power hasn’t caught up. I’ll just have to get a few more Dragon Scales tonight and put them to use.’

’Assuming Isabella agrees, that is.’

Isabella’s Dragon Eyes, now a pale gold instead of amber, fixed on Roy as he shielded Freya. Her dragon tail coiled around the crimson longspear and lifted it into her grasp. She gave a sharp shudder, shaking loose the remaining ice crystals from her body.

"You want to fight me, too?"

"She tried to kill me," Freya said in a low, icy tone from behind Roy. "That strike was meant to be fatal."

Hearing this, Roy’s brows twitched. He couldn’t recall Freya and Isabella ever having any conflict or even interacting before.

’But given Isabella’s current personality... perhaps she was just being too unreasonable?’

Roy took two Fifth Generation Dragon Scales from his robes and tossed them to Isabella. "Here is your compensation. What do you say we let this matter rest?"

"Let it rest?"

But Isabella just said coldly, "If I were to simply rob you all, I’d get far more than two measly Dragon Scales."

But Roy replied, "There are many of us. Miss Isabella, even with your great strength, you can’t possibly stop all of us..."

His gaze hardened. "Even the Beowulf Family cannot afford to provoke both Lancelot and the Hestia Family at the same time."

Isabella’s fine brows furrowed. She turned to Baron, who had been trying to remain unnoticed. "What’s your opinion?"

Isabella was asking someone else for their opinion... Everyone turned to look at Baron, their brows furrowed. ’Isn’t that Master Jack?’

’My opinion? Since when do you ask for my opinion? Your usual method is just to burn, kill, and pillage... *cough cough*, I have no opinion.’

Seeing all eyes on him, Baron’s heart skipped a beat. He didn’t understand why Isabella was dragging him into the line of fire, but he nodded at her, gesturing for her to be sensible.

Isabella nodded. "More Dragon Scales."

’Damn it! She’s redirecting the disaster onto me. This woman is bad news.’

Baron now understood why Isabella had suddenly asked for his opinion.

Roy narrowed his eyes at Baron. For some reason, whenever he met Master Jack’s emerald eyes, he felt an instinctive discomfort. It was an unsettling feeling, like the first time he’d killed a "Beast" from the fog as a child and had to look it in the eye.

But thinking of the mission he shouldered, he swallowed his unease. He tried to avoid looking at the White Mask and instead urged the other Trial Takers to part with some of their Dragon Scales for Isabella.

The Trial Takers were reluctant,

but Isabella had Baron collect the Dragon Scales and still didn’t leave. Instead, she said, "The Dragon Guides have to pay up, too."

What!

The Dragon Guides accompanying the Trial Takers thought they had misheard.

But then the scales on the woman’s dragon tail clicked together with a sharp ring. Her pale golden eyes grew brighter, and the vicious Dragon Claws on her hands extended, making it clear she was ready to fight at a moment’s notice.

"I will not repeat myself."

A dreadful majesty, like that of a monarch surveying their domain, began to radiate from her.

Baron frowned, but this time it wasn’t because of the intensifying aura of the Dragon Race coming from her—an aura that even he found threatening. It was because of the blue veins now visibly throbbing on her face.

"We Dragon Guides may not be Law Enforcers, but we’re not to be trifled with! Even for the Beowulf Family, this is bullying. This is going too far!" someone in the crowd muttered.

The next instant, Isabella was at the man’s side, hoisting him high into the air with one Dragon Claw.

The man’s eyes bulged beneath his Black Iron Mask, shot through with blood. His legs flailed helplessly in the air, like a dog being strung up.

The sudden attack terrified everyone. Freya looked to Roy, who tightened his grip on his spear and frowned, shouting, "Miss Isabella!"

"It’s no use! She’s lost control!"

His younger brother, Denero, spoke with a trembling voice. "This is the price of the Blood Curse! The Beowulf Family’s Blood Curse gives those who awaken their bloodline an unmatched Dragon Mighty, but at the same time, that power inevitably causes the Dragon Slayers to lose control..."

"It is both a power and a curse! Look at her eyes! She’s awakened her Dragon Mighty, but the Dragon Blood has caused her to lose herself... This is the curse of the Poison Dragon Glanville’s blood. Now I understand why the Elder doesn’t support her bid to become Patriarch. So this is the reason..."

Everyone turned to look at Isabella’s face. The Dragon Slayer of the Beowulf Family had a look of cold indifference that not even a dragon possessed.

Denero continued, "This is also why the Beowulf Family, despite its burden of Dragon Blood, belongs to the Silver Faction and not the Beast Faction. The power of the bloodline is too immense; only Magic Potions concocted by the Silver Faction can suppress it..."

Roy, standing opposite, couldn’t hear what Denero was saying. He only sensed instinctively that something was very wrong with Isabella. He lowered his voice and said to Freya, "I could probably win, but it would be a tough fight. Our best move is to leave now."

Freya snorted. "If Jill were here, things wouldn’t have come to this."

Roy frowned but said nothing more.

"Is there a solution?" Baron asked Denero.

"There is," said Denero. "I’ve seen my grandfather and father suffer from this Blood Curse. The solution is usually for the family to open a gap in the Barrier and throw them inside... then they just patiently wait at the eastern mountain pass, where there is no Barrier, for them to regain their senses."

’Isn’t that just fucking turning them loose?’

Baron cursed under his breath. He looked at Isabella; her striking face showed the strain of the battle between reason and savagery.

The Black Iron Dragon Guide in her grasp was still struggling, but the kicking of his legs was growing weaker. He wouldn’t last much longer.

Information about Isabella flashed through Baron’s mind. After a moment of deliberation, his thoughts settled on a particular diary entry.

He then drew his Scale-Stripping Saber, sliced open his palm, and squeezed the blood from the wound as he stepped forward.

Denero blocked his path, frowning. "What do you think you’re doing?"

He had more disdain than respect for Master Jack, even after what had happened with the Thunder Wolf Dragon Group. Who was to say it wasn’t just Isabella’s awakened bloodline and released Dragon Mighty that had scared off the dragons?

Two other Dragon Guides jumped out. "Are you trying to lure her with your blood? You’ll get us all killed!"

Baron said, "Damn it. I’m a Silver. If you know how to fix this, then by all means, go ahead. If not, shut the hell up."

He kicked away the Dragon Guides who were still trying to block him, stepped out from the crowd, and called to Isabella, "Want a taste of my blood? It’s sweet."

But his heart was still pounding. ’This is just a gamble.’

Isabella stared at him blankly, then tossed aside the Dragon Guide she was holding. Clarity returned to her eyes.

She gripped her longspear and sneered. "Master Jack, blood tastes of iron."