A silver-white butterfly merely bowed slightly, gently pressing its antennae against the forehead of a swallowtail butterfly.

This battle was unlike any other.

According to the messages from the border city, this was a fight that surpassed the Crimson Queen's rules, and if they failed, what awaited them would most likely be death.

The cuckoo birds had already returned with news of other City Lords and their companions perishing in battle.

When she led the patrol guards to the Market District, the situation had completely descended into chaos. Countless Summoners had spontaneously formed combat squads, and their adversaries were clearly the "robots" mentioned by the whitehead. Most of their skin still retained human contour, but parts had undergone "mutation."

The swallowtail butterfly had never seen such a sight before.

Beneath the decaying skin was not flesh but mechanical parts. They used magical creatures whose prototypes were recognizable at a glance, most of which were common magical creatures near Mist Forest County. She found this far more terrifying than facing unknown magical creatures, and her unease soared to the peak upon seeing a familiar figure amidst the crowd.

That was her student.

The student who came to report the situation at the Market District stood stunned—the student was joining the Summoners when he left, but now, that classmate had turned into one of the invaders.

A crack had opened on the left cheek, exposing the metallic bone underneath.

And in a moment of distraction, they witnessed the reason firsthand.

A Summoner was attacked from behind, a needle piercing his abdomen, and he fell to the ground with a wail. However, the rolling motion did not last long, and the pierced portion was visibly repaired at a rapid pace. His cries gradually faded, replaced by silence and the same hollow gaze as other invaders, like living dead.

He issued a command to his similarly wounded companion, and the magical creature receiving the order instantly turned its spearhead against his former ally.

"The outcome of this battle is already determined."

Such a voice reached their ears, and the silver-white butterfly instantly positioned itself in front of the swallowtail butterfly. Its flapping wings stirred a powerful wind that blew two hovering hoses to the side.

The speaker was indeed the puppet-like robot mentioned by the whitehead. He did not partake in the chaos but acted as if conducting a performance.

"You should understand it's just a matter of time, shouldn't you?"

The puppet said, with those two wind-blown hoses slowly retracting back into the abdomen of the Mist Weaving Antelope—his partner, an unusually large Mist Weaving Antelope.

"What are you trying to achieve?"

The swallowtail butterfly confronted the man.

In terms of the situation, it was true. At this moment, the rules of the Crimson Queen had instead become the biggest constraint for the Summoners. They couldn't inflict fatal injuries on the invaders, and those "blackout-inducing" level attacks couldn't stop the invaders' advances.

"Robots" are different from the mechanical magical creatures mentioned in the cooing bird's daily report, which are driven by instinct. These possessed cognitive abilities and could communicate with humans.

"It is a revolution."

The man looked at the chaotic scene in the Market District, soon, chaos would completely engulf here, and the entire Mist Forest County would be occupied by them. But this was merely the first step toward revolution, "a revolution to awaken more people."

"Awaken more people? You're speaking nonsense!"

The swallowtail butterfly thought this robot must be mad, with an appearance resembling the crystallization of insanity.

"How tragic it is to live in a world of illusions, unaware."

"Robots" said coldly, "A world without death, without pain, like a child's play. What I'm showing you here is a real battle."

Losers would lose everything, including their lives.

"However, I can grant you an opportunity, a chance to awaken voluntarily."

Instantly, all the invaders in the Market District ceased their movements and rigidly turned their heads, step by step, walking towards the swallowtail butterfly.

"You are a top Summoner recognized by the Kingdom's royal household, so let us follow the tradition of the Summoners..."

The challenge was abruptly broken by a sudden wind pressure, the mist lingering in Mist Forest County was blown away by a huge shadow descending from the sky, and the moonlight accompanied by that white giant shadow spilled onto the Market Square in Mist Forest County. The agitated invaders quieted down one after another, lowering their heads, and, alongside the mutated magical creatures, entered a state of stasis.

White wings, covered with white scaled armor all over, forced people's gaze to fixate after just one glance.

Riding on the back of the white dragon was a girl with a golden single ponytail.

"Let me be your opponent."

She stood between the swallowtail butterfly and the "robot," her gaze unwavering.

"Charlotte!"

"The daughter of the City Lord of Moon Forest City!"

Someone in the Market District recognized her.

Dragon affinity was an innate gift that made Charlotte a focal point since childhood. Her reputation had long spread throughout the surroundings of Moon Forest City, and now, this young Summoner who had just undergone her coming-of-age ceremony responded to everyone's expectations, descending from the sky like a savior when the Kingdom needed her the most.

Accompanying her was a white flying dragon never recorded in the magical creature catalog.

"How did this dragon grow so big?"

The whitehead slipped away from the patrol guards during the chaos and hid in a corner, witnessing this scene. They left Moon Forest City almost simultaneously with Charlotte, all witnessing the process of the whelp dragon's descent from the sky.

It had only been less than a day since the miracle occurred, and the whelp dragon that was only palm-sized in Moon Forest City had already grown to the juvenile stage.

The "robot's" gaze lingered for a long time on the white flying dragon, unable to shift away. He saw even more.

He saw the "wounds" on the invaders caused by infection healing under the moonlight's illumination, and he also saw those whom he had awakened returning indiscriminately to slumber.

Even knowing it was a false dreamscape, they indiscriminately indulged in it.

This wasn't Charlotte's own power; the white flying dragon bore the power of the Crimson Queen, repairing the dream that was becoming full of holes.

The Mist Weaving Antelope also took a step back.

Now wasn't the time to confront the Crimson Queen's servant.

Then, "Robot" saw a figure blending into the Market District, holding a giant egg in his arms.

Almost at the moment of meeting the young man's gaze, he felt a familiar summons.

More intense and soul-stirring than directly facing the suspended deity in slumber.

Without a doubt...

This was the echo from the "real world"!

"Robot" opened his arms fervently, and the Mist Weaving Antelope beside him let out a long howl, activating the weaving mist ability.

He saw it, saw the moment when fate intertwined!

The cracking sound resembled the melody of celestial music, attracting the attention of everyone in the square to the first cry of the newborn's arrival. Naturally, they also saw the black figure emerging from within the white eggshell. The black wings breaking through the eggshell weren't feathered, but rather reflecting cold metallic luster.

A newborn whelp dragon, yet unlike one hatched from a dragon egg, more akin to a creation of human technology.

Yellow lightning streaked across the night sky as if responding to this cry.

Then, the black whelp dragon affectionately burrowed into the young man's arms, burying its head in the young man's chest.

The swallowtail butterfly fixed her gaze on the young man.

He didn't display the same madness as the "robots."

The same dragon affinity person, yet he was entirely unlike Charlotte, with the one cradled in his arms being a heresy overturning everyone's understanding, an existence that should never belong in this world.

A semi-lifeform mixed with mechanical craftsmanship, even in the whelp dragon state, it was enough to pose a threat to everyone.

This newly born life would, sooner or later, overthrow this world.

Such thoughts surfaced in all their minds.

Charlotte rode atop the dragon, step by step, approaching Ethan.

Her heart pounded fiercely. She knew the nemesis who called himself Sakaki was also awaiting her arrival.

A fated showdown, regardless of its outcome, everyone would remember this moment.

"Sakaki..."

She had already witnessed Ethan's prowess as a Summoner firsthand back at Moon Forest City. Even with the help of the white dragon, could she defeat this formidable rival?

"Charlotte, you've come just in time."

Hearing this, Charlotte held her breath.

She exhibited as firm a stance as possible to the people present.

Come, issue the invitation for the fated showdown!

"Where's the milk shop and barbecue shop?"

Her response was unexpectedly answered with a reply. His slightly anxious tone was akin to a rookie dad.

——"The child just hatched, hungry!"