Zevran blinks. "…Lower class?"

Mero bursts into a laugh, circling around Alix's head. "Master, with your strength—you could easily build a middle-class force in this continent. This continent is one of the three main continents of the world. Why settle in lower continent?"

Alix walks toward the balcony and pushes the curtains aside. Moonlight washes over his eyes.

He stands at the balcony railing, the city's distant lanterns flickering like stars fallen to earth. His cloak sways gently in the cold night breeze.

"Why settle?" Alix repeats, his tone soft, almost contemplative.

Then his voice hardens—like iron drawn from fire.

"Because I will conquer this world."

Mero freezes mid-spin.

Zevran's eyes widen, instincts flaring—pure draconic instinct roaring to the surface. Conquer the world? Even ancient dragons, beings of pride and greed, would never dare to speak such words so boldly.

But Alix continues, gaze focused far beyond Sona City—beyond this continent.

"That includes the Lower Continent. The Middle Continents. The Upper Continents…" His hand lifts slowly, as if holding the entire horizon in his palm. "Everything will kneel under Erevaris."

The moonlight catches his silver eyes—they burn with terrifying clarity. Not madness. Not delusion.

Conviction.

Zevran's breath trembles… and then a slow, dangerous smile stretches across his face.

"Master…" his voice rumbles, barely containing the thrill surging through him, "to follow you in conquering this world… just imagining it is exhilarating."

His pupils narrow like a predator preparing to take wing.

"The crazier your ambitions are—the more I like them."

There's a thrill in his voice. Dragons live for domination. For the first time since becoming Alix's follower… he feels the fire in his blood roar.

Mero hovers silently, staring at Alix's back. He feels the air shift—thicker, heavier… filled with impossible destiny.

His throat goes dry.

"…you're seriously crazy, master" he mutters.

But there's no fear in his voice—only disbelief… and awe.

After a moment, a grin forms on Mero's lips.

"Still… I get the feeling you might actually pull it off."

Alix turns slightly, and that faint, confident smirk reappears.

"That's because I will."

-----

The next day, morning breaks with chaos.

Warning bells scream across the walls of Sona City. Soldiers rush through the streets, armor clattering, crossbows and spears in hand. Civilians are herded away from the gates, panic spreading like wildfire.

From the battlements, the horizon churns with dust—an ocean of beasts rushing closer, their roars echoing like thunder.

A beast tide.

Vordon stands tall atop the western wall, crimson cloak snapping in the wind. His sword rests at his side, aura sharp and ready. Beside him, his five Tier 6 subordinates clench their weapons, eyes locked forward.

The ground shakes long before the beasts are visible.

Horns blare. Commanders shout orders. Archers line the battlements in tight formation. Mages begin chanting, their staves glowing with defensive runes.

Vordon's gaze is steely as he scans the distant wave of fur, scales, and claws. The air is thick with the stench of danger.

Varon steps beside him, armor rattling as he salutes.

"My lord… did you inform His Majesty Alix about the beast tide?"

Vordon doesn't look away from the field. "I did not."

Varon's brows knit. "But—"

"No." Vordon's tone sharpens. "His Majesty is busy. As long as he does not leave his quarters on his own… no one disturbs him."

Varon clenches his jaw but bows his head. "…Understood."

One of the younger Tier 6s shifts uneasily, gripping his spear.

"My lord, the scouts confirmed the leaders of the tide?"

"Yes." Vordon nods, exhaling once. "One peak Tier 6. One high-level Tier 6."

He sweeps an arm toward the soldiers—thousands strong, shields locked, faces pale but resolute.

"Sona has defended against worse. We will hold."

A harsh wind whips against the wall as the beast tide draws closer—an unending carpet of fangs and muscle.

Roars shake the air. The battlements tremble as if the city itself is afraid.

Varon's fingers tighten around his halberd. "Even so… there are too many."

Vordon doesn't deny it. His gaze remains fixed on the black mass in the distance, growing larger by the second.

"We only need to take down the Tier 6 beasts," he says. "Once they fall, the lesser ones will scatter soon after."

The other Tier 6s nod with stern expressions. Confidence—tinged with fear.

The roar of the command shakes the battlefield.

The tide surges like a black sea.

The ground troops collide with the first ranks of beasts—steel and fangs clashing in brutal chaos.

Shields splinter. Blood sprays. Screams mix with thunderous snarls.

A captain bellows, "Push them back! Don't let them break the formation!"

But the pressure is overwhelming—twenty thousand soldiers and thirty thousand adventurers seem small before this endless horde.

Vordon grips his sword, the steel trembling with compressed power. "Varon!"

"Yes, my lord!"

"You and the others—take down the Dreadmaw Lizard!"

"What about you?"

Vordon's eyes lock on the towering Bonehide King at the rear, its bone plates gleaming like armor forged from white steel.

"I will handle the peak one."

Varon's jaw tightens. "But you can't kill that thing alone!"

"I won't need to."

Vordon turns, cape billowing as mana crackles around him. "Once you all finish your enemy, all of you will aid me."

The five bares thier sharp fangs in a battle grin. "Understood!"

The five Tier 6s launch into the air together—each leaving shockwaves in their wake.

Wind howls around Vordon as he rockets toward the massive beast leader.

----

The Bonehide King senses him and bellows—ground splitting beneath its massive fists.

Vordon raises his sword high.

"Tier 5 skill: Earth Pulse Slash!"

The blade carves a crescent shockwave of brown-gold light—slamming into the beast's chest.

"BOOOOM!"

Dust erupts. But when it clears—

Vordon exhales harshly. "As expected… Beasts are tough."

The beast charges, claws wide enough to crush a house.

Vordon stomps the air—

"Tier 5 skill: Stone Step!"

Rock forms beneath his feet midair—springboards of hardened earth.

He zips sideways, narrowly missing a swipe that tears the wind apart.

The beast spins, tail like a siege pillar—

Vordon blocks—

THUD!!

He's flung backward, crashing through a chunk of floating stone he created.

Vordon snarls and slams his palm toward the ground.

"Tier 6 Skill — Rise: Earth Spikes!"

The ground shudders violently. Jagged pillars of stone erupt in a deadly forest of spikes, skewering dozens of lesser beasts in an instant. Even the Bonehide King isn't spared—its massive limb crashes down, only to be pierced by several rising spires, earning a furious bellow of pain.

Its bellow sends shockwaves—enough to rupture eardrums.

-----

The other five already fighting the dreadmaw lizard.

The Dreadmaw hisses, body lunging toward the battlements with terrifying speed—jaws stretched wide to devour dozens at once.

Varon leaps first.

"Tier 6 skill: Lightning Fang Strike!"

Thunder arcs along his halberd—he slashes the jaw, lightning ripping scales aside.

The Dreadmaw roars in pain—but now enraged.

A spear-wielding Tier 6 thrusts forward—

"Tier 6 skill: Flame Burst Lance!"

Fire erupts in an explosive shockwave from the spear tip.

Two low-level tier 6 mages among the five chant simultaneously—

"Tier 6 skill: Water Bind!"

"Tier 6 skill: Wind Carve!"

The last of the five roars—

"Tier 6 skill: Rockfall Cannon!"

A massive boulder forms over his head and launches downward—

CRASH!!

The Dreadmaw slams into the dirt, pinned.

Varon doesn't hesitate.

Electricity rages along his halberd—eyes blazing with sparks.

"For Sona City—DIE!!"