Lothar's Death

The paladin gripping the Dragon-Slaying Crossbow had veins bulging across his face. This small, delicate-looking crossbow was like an insatiable vampire, constantly draining his blood, holy radiance, and even his life.

Though enshrined by the Holy Church, it did nothing to change the weapon's inherently vicious nature.

Yet as the paladin, long prepared to face death, grew weaker and weaker, the sacred prayer he chanted only became more impassioned.

Amid the dragons' resentful, venomous roars, twisted golden radiance behind him reflected the shadows of hideous demonic dragons, their bodies grotesquely warped as though they had endured countless years of torture in hell.

Their greedy eyes remained fixed on the terrifying demonic dragon that rampaged through the sky, as though it were Satan incarnate.

That was why Lothar had been able to use this crossbow to pierce Red Lightning's heart so precisely.

For those dragons' greedy gazes had never once shifted away from the source of that dragon's life.

General George wanted to urge the paladin on, but seeing the expression on his face, as though he were enduring immense torment, he stopped himself several times. They had never tested the power of this divine artifact before, because its price was human life.

And it had to be the life of someone strong enough.

Only a "humanoid demonic dragon" like Lothar could rely on his powerful physique to withstand such depletion. After killing Red Lightning and seizing its bloodline power, he had been able to continue fighting the three-headed demonic dragon ridden by Mahmud II.

Boom—

Scalding lava burst forth from the cracks in the earth once more, burying countless people in a sea of flames.

At the center of the dragonfire, the Iron Duke, pinned beneath the dragon's claws, was enduring some unknown calamity. The Royal Mages and paladins left