"Fusion?"
The instant Mare Rhine spoke, Akira's mind snapped to the trait listed in her profile—
[XX! Fusion!][XX! Fusion!: Upon receiving recognition, she may be mounted and fused with. After fusion, the rider gains the "Crimson Dragon Valkyrie" armor. Damage taken is shared between both parties. (You may forcibly mount.)]
The exact mechanics of the trait had always been an unknown variable. But judging from the absolute confidence blazing in Mare Rhine's eyes—
Even against a Level 78 Star Knight, they might have a fighting chance.
Akira glanced at her status panel.
[Mare Rhine (Mythic)]Level: 45 (0 / 22500)Race: Red Dragon / ValkyrieStrength: 1300 / Agility: 1260 / Mana: 1350 / Constitution: 1490Growth: 15 + 5 (Gains +15+5 to all attributes per level)Skills: (Expand)Traits: [Inextinguishable Flame][Valkyrie][Red Dragon][Dragon Egg of Destruction][XX! Fusion!][Multiple Combat Forms]
Compared to Morris, Mare Rhine—at only Level 45—was clearly outmatched in raw stats.
Even so—
Akira chose to trust her.
"Alright. Show me what a dragon who symbolizes destruction is really capable of."
He smiled faintly, anticipation burning in his chest.
One more thing caught his attention—the trait description mentioned she could allow anyone she recognized to ride her.
Which meant…
Multiple Valkyrie armors?
Could there be dual riders? Triple riders?
Of course, that would require Mare Rhine's consent.
Except—
As her master, Akira possessed the authority to forcibly mount.
"Give me your hand!"
Steam burst violently from the seams of Mare Rhine's dragon-scale armor. Her entire body ignited in radiant crimson light as an overwhelming torrent of magic erupted outward.
Each scale vibrated with metallic resonance, clashing together as though preparing for transformation.
"Right."
Akira extended his hand without hesitation and clasped hers.
In that instant—
A colossal surge of magic poured through their joined palms and into his body like a tidal wave.
It felt as though a slumbering dragon within his soul had awakened.
"Buy us five seconds!" Mare Rhine called out to Roselyn. "First time… needs a bit of synchronization!"
"Leave it to me!"
Roselyn stepped forward immediately, blade raised, facing an opponent vastly stronger than herself.
Meanwhile, Morris's gaze had never left Akira.
There was something about the aura radiating from him—
Familiar.
He had felt it before. Somewhere.
That hesitation delayed his first strike.
But the moment Mare Rhine's terrifying magical output flared into existence—
Morris's expression hardened. He drew his sword in a flash.
"By the laws of the Star Kingdom… your crimes are punishable by death."
Lightning crackled beneath his boots.
In the blink of an eye, he appeared directly before Akira, blue blade thrusting toward his heart.
Roselyn moved instantly.
She interposed herself, deflecting the killing blow.
Even so—
The sheer force behind the strike blasted her backward several meters.
Morris did not pursue.
He shifted targets immediately, accelerating toward Akira with lightning-like speed.
But Roselyn's soul-light wings flared brilliantly. She reappeared before Akira again and again, intercepting Morris's assaults in rapid succession.
All of this—
Occurred within barely two or three seconds.
"What an impressive Enforcement Knight."
Morris frowned. He had not expected this female knight to endure his onslaught with such tenacity.
"Senior Roselyn! We'll help!"
Beatrice and Flora cast simultaneously—
High-tier magic: Water Dragon Spirits.
Two roaring water dragons surged forward, engulfing Morris and forcing him to halt once more.
"Elemental magic barely affects you?"
As he dispersed the twin dragons, Morris noticed something astonishing.
The violent torrent of water that battered him had seemed like nothing more than a passing stream against Roselyn earlier.
Elemental resistance of that magnitude—
Even for someone who had lived nearly a century—
Was unheard of.
Even he had needed to exert real effort to neutralize that spell.
"If I bring you back to Prince Telles… he will be most pleased."
With a cold declaration, Morris severed the Water Dragon Spirits and charged Roselyn again, lightning flaring at his feet.
His blade crackled as he infused it with thunderous elemental energy.
"Fall back!"
Roselyn shouted to the elf sisters.
Her grip tightened on the Oath Sword. Black-gold brilliance erupted from the blade.
She swung—
High-tier sword art: Radiant Oblivion.
A colossal dragon phantom coalesced from her sword aura, roaring as it unleashed a blast of black-gold dragon breath straight toward Morris.
Yet—
With an almost eerie movement technique, Morris evaded it effortlessly.
In the next heartbeat, he appeared at Roselyn's flank.
His lightning-wreathed blade thrust toward her abdomen.
As a Star Knight proficient in lightning manipulation, even the slightest contact would paralyze her body instantly.
"It ends here."
His voice was cold as judgment.
The sword descended with unstoppable force.
Roselyn—
Had no time to react.
And then—
A massive, crimson, scale-covered hand shot forward and caught the blade mid-strike.
"What?"
Morris turned sharply.
Shock flooded his eyes.
The dragon-scale armor that had belonged to Mare Rhine—
Now covered Akira's entire body.
Compared to Mare Rhine's petite frame, Akira's fused form was colossal—nearly four meters tall.
Crimson scales shimmered across his armor, each etched with radiant, ancient patterns that pulsed like runes alive with power.
He exhaled—
White steam hissed from the gaps between scales, heat distorting the air around him.
With a casual squeeze—
Morris's blue sword shattered into fragments.
"My sword… broke?"
Morris stared at the ruined hilt in disbelief.
The blade had been forged from rare materials, imbued with potent lightning energy—a treasured weapon.
Crushed.
Bare-handed.
Impossible.
Akira himself stared at his transformed hands in awe.
He felt—
Overwhelming power surging through every fiber of his being.
After fusion, Mare Rhine's entire attribute set had overlaid onto him.
And this—
This was fusion?
She had literally become armor—
Clinging tightly to his body.
Strangely—
It felt incredible.
His clothes had vanished during the transformation, yet the scales covering his skin felt astonishingly natural—like they had been crafted precisely for him.
More than that—
The armor felt alive.
It pulsed faintly in rhythm with his breathing.
"This should be enough to handle him."
Mare Rhine's figure appeared within Akira's soul space, hands on hips, confidence radiating from her.
"Go. With my power—grant him destruction."