Rain shattered and evaporated, turning into hazy, electrically charged mist that swirled around it. Visible lightning coiled around the blade-wings behind the Glazed Dragon's back, blasting out scorching, electrified steam.
Both sides in battle—the Empire's defenders and the unknown attackers—raised their heads and gazed up at the brilliant point of light above the clouds.
"What kind of monster is that?"
"The Empire's secret weapon?"
"The attackers' trump card?"
"Have the Magic Beasts gone berserk? But what kind of Magic Beast is that?"
"So beautiful..."
A thousand people, a thousand thoughts.
When Ian flew into the skies, the battle on both sides paused for a moment—no one knew which side this suddenly appearing monster belonged to, so they cautiously prepared for any response.
Ian, who had intended to deal with an attack from either the Empire or the attackers and test the strength of the Glazed Dragon's body, was rather disappointed. "What's this? Is everyone really being so cautious?"
But now, with his lofty vantage point, Ian could also see the state of the battlefield.
The Empire had around twenty-five thousand defenders, most of them naval forces from the surrounding area, holding their ground with the Atlan Megacity as their stronghold. There were four Third Energy Level combatants among them. Ian even recognized one of them: Tesov, once a disciple of Master Gose and now Count Tesov.
This defensive force was already exceedingly formidable. At its peak, there had also been a Fourth Energy Level combatant stationed here, while two other Fourth Energy Level combatants and the Third Energy Level subordinates under their command had been deployed nearby.
But now, Ian faintly sensed an utterly terrifying energy fluctuation coming from the distant sea. Black snow was falling at the edge of the horizon. The snowflakes were ice-cold, battling against the surging