Westminster Bank

"The Dragon Tide is coming up the mountain!"

With that one cry, all the Trial Takers present were jolted from their focus on the contest between the siblings, Isabella and Jose, and the fight for the Patriarch of the Beowulf Family.

Everyone came to their senses and went to the edge of the plaza to look down.

A great horde of Dragon Descendants was indeed surging up the steep cliff. Creatures that were once natural enemies—or even predators and prey—were now packed shoulder to shoulder. The grating of Dragon Scale on Dragon Scale was like the clang of a hammer on molten iron, a sound that conjured images of flying sparks.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

This was the sound of the Earth Dragon Species tearing apart the rocks in their path.

WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!

This was the violent gale stirred up by the flapping wings of the Winged Dragon Species.

And amid this cacophony of gales and crashes, the Barrier over Dragon Spear Plaza actually began to crack. It was likely because, following Jose’s concession, the Dragon Spear atop the Dragon Bone had once again started erupting with pillars of golden light. The resulting waves of Spiritual Power had continuously slammed into the Barrier, shattering it.

"They’re drawn to the Ancient Dragon Aura on the Dragon Spear! Alert! Alert!"

The Dragon Guides bellowed the warning, and the Trial Takers sprang into action—drawing swords, readying spears, and brandishing chains. The coordination among the descendants of the Old Blood Clans was admittedly superb; with just a single command, they had already taken up positions around the plaza according to their respective Tiers and roles.

Jose watched all this unfold, clutching his chest that still ached from the fight. He looked at his elder sister and said:

"You won. Go, quickly, absorb the Ancient Dragon Aura from the Dragon Spear. You can use its power to repel the Dragon Tide... And I’ll have to count on you for the potential Dragon Calamity that follows."

"As for me," Jose downed the Dragon Blood, "now is the time to show the might of my Beowulf Dragon Slayer bloodline."

Unlike Isabella, who had begun her Dragon Transformation the moment she drank the Dragon Blood, Jose’s body only showed a brief inclination to do the same before the Silver Faction’s Alchemy Circuits suppressed it. The only changes were the addition of gold flecks to his Bronze Hunter’s Eyes and a palpable condensation of his Spiritual Pressure.

"I never really cared about being the Patriarch. I was just pissed that you hogged all of Grandfather’s affection, Isabella... But I see now that I can’t beat you. I’m still not happy about it, but there’s nothing to be done."

"I know when I’m beaten. You’re definitely stronger than me and Tune. Even with the Elder Council supporting me, you still fought me to a standstill on the Dragon Spear Pattern. There’s nothing more to say about the outcome."

Jose pulled his own spear from the ground—the descendants of the Beowulf Family all wielded spears. "Especially since ’he’ has already taught you all the techniques outside of the *Dragon-Deficient Spear*."

"What techniques?" Isabella’s face showed a flicker of emotion for the first time.

"The move you used to dodge my Dragon-Deficient Spear. Grandfather once said that only someone who has learned the complete *Dragon-Deficient Spear* can use it."

Jose’s Alchemy Circuits crawled over his spear, appearing like coiling black vines. "I never understood why Grandfather favored you so much, but I think I’m starting to."

Isabella gave him a stunned look. Jose said nothing more, simply hefting his spear and charging toward the Dragon Descendants that were rampaging around the plaza’s edge.

’Learned the complete *Dragon-Deficient Spear*...’

Isabella thought of the mysterious man who had posed as Master Jack. She finally just composed herself, leaped onto the Dragon Bone, seized the Dragon Spear, and instantly absorbed the aura clinging to it into her body.

Watching this, the Dragon Descendants at the edge of the plaza grew even more hysterical. Several Trial Takers were directly overrun.

But a High-Tier Law Enforcer quickly filled the gap. Roy thrust his spear through the head of a Fierce Horse Dragon Beast and shouted:

"Hold Dragon Spear Plaza at all costs! We just need to hold on until Miss Isabella finishes the ritual, and this Dragon Tide will be over!"

A chorus of agreement rose from the crowd.

He looked to his Dragon Guide. "Master Baron, you’re experienced. Take one of the Trial Takers and guard Miss Isabella. Protect her at all costs."

Master Baron nodded and departed.

Adam declared, "Let’s see who kills the most Dragon Descendants! Everyone has to give one hundred pounds to whoever kills the most!"

Before the others could even process the implications of Adam’s challenge, he let out a great laugh, tore off his shirt right in front of them, activated his Tier Two Beastification, and charged into the horde of Dragon Descendants.

Jose shouted, "Fine! Let’s see who kills the most!"

The spear in his hand was completely engulfed in a black aura. His Dragon Mighty flared, forcing the surrounding lower-Tier Dragon Descendants to recoil in fear. He charged with the black spear, cutting a bloody swath through the horde, an intimidating aura of slaughter surrounding him.

This scene was projected onto the giant screen outside the mountain range, causing the eyes of the young ladies from the Old Blood Clans, who were watching from a distance, to sparkle. Their earlier disappointment that Jose had failed to defeat Isabella gradually transformed into admiration and affection.

Tune felt he also had to seize the opportunity to prove himself, to not be looked down upon. He immediately cleared his throat and said, "Everyone..."

ROAR!

A sudden dragon’s roar interrupted him.

Everyone’s head snapped toward the direction of the roar, their pupils contracting in shock.

The two Silver Masters lost all composure, their eyes widening in shock as they exclaimed:

"Of course... Of course. No wonder this Dragon Tide is so massive. This is actually a..."

"A Flying Dragon Subspecies... a Gale Dragon!"

.........

On the platform, Isabella felt the Spiritual Power within her—already elevated to the Silver tier by the Dragon Spear Baptism—begin to solidify. A profound, almost mystical sense of majesty filled her.

In her daze, she heard a dragon’s cry:

"Open your eyes."

Isabella frowned. Her eyes were already open, so what was there to open? ...Suddenly, as if she understood, she "opened" the third eye in her mind.