Chapter 534

Then, the gargoyle's blood-red eyes flashed, and its sharp, crimson-stained bone wings shot out like bullets from its wings, hurtling rapidly toward Luo Mio.

Seeing this, Relli hurriedly tried to warn them, but the next second, a magical scene appeared before her eyes.

Luo Mio stretched out her right hand, and a crystal-clear blue Knight Lance appeared in Luo Mio right hand.

Relli looked at the weapon in Luo Mio's right hand and murmured in confusion.

"That's... Sword Device 'Sword Device'?"

But it doesn't look like it at all...

Then, Luo Mio was seen wielding a crystal-clear blue Knight Lance, and suddenly unleashed a sweeping slash at the Crimson Bone Wings that were attacking from the front.

The blue light slashed by the spear was accompanied by wisps of shimmering Golden radiance.

"Clang clang clang—!"

What appeared to be an ordinary strike instantly shattered the gargoyle's Crimson Bone Wings.

Just as the sword was about to strike, Luo Mio's figure flashed and she appeared in front of the gargoyle.

Looking at the gargoyle in front of her, Luo Mio said calmly.

"This is your weakness, isn't it, monster?"

After saying that, a similar crystal-blue Knight Lance suddenly appeared in Luo Mio's left hand, and then she swiftly thrust it towards the gargoyle's brain!

"Checkmate."

"Hunter's String Drawing Gale" (PS: Third hit of the basic attack)

Just as Luo Mio pierced through its brain, a sound like shattering glass rang out inside the monster's body.

The "Courage Crystal" revealed an energy core, seemingly resembling a heart, in the monster's brain. Perhaps this was why the monster hadn't died immediately after Luo Mio's first attack.

As the core shattered, the gargoyle's body began to swell, and then—

"Bang—!"

The intense heat of the explosion instantly enveloped Luo Mio's figure.

Meanwhile, on the other side, Relli stared blankly at the scene before her.

"Clatter."

Footsteps sounded, and from the dust of the explosion, the blonde girl slowly emerged.

Then, as the Relli girl approached her, looked at her, and chuckled, she said...

"Can we have a proper talk now?"

Chapter 3: Royal Military Academy 'Academi'

There are many countries in this world.

The great power that ruled over one-fifth of the world's territory was the Arcadia Empire, also known as the Old Arcadia Empire. It boasted the world's strongest military and used its overwhelming military power to carry out tyranny.

The Old Arcadia Empire was a country that took the male supremacy of women to the extreme. In their traditional culture, it was taken for granted that women should obey men. As men, nobles could arbitrarily fabricate excuses to kidnap ordinary female citizens or poor girls and use them as their sexual objects or laborers.

Even noble ladies were not immune to certain circumstances, such as when the Imperial military was selecting Human Experimentation subjects.

Perhaps it was because of this country's long-standing tyranny and its utterly corrupt and despicable ideology that it was overthrown and destroyed five years ago through a coup.

Similarly, this is also the predecessor of the New Kingdom of Artysmart. Five years ago, it was Count Artysmart, the lord of the East, who launched a coup against the Old Arcadia Empire.

However, he died from severe injuries sustained in the coup. His sister, Rophie Artismat, succeeded him as Queen and adopted his daughter, who became the country's first Princess, Liz Sharlty Artismat.

In this world, besides the New Kingdom of Artysmart, there are other countries, such as the great northern country headed by the Pope, a nation with strong faith, and the Yumir Theocracy, which has a lineage of gods and angels and regards them as objects of worship.

The Heiburg Republic, whose territory is second only to the Old Arcadia Empire and the New Kingdom of Artysmart.

And the Brakund Kingdom and the Vanhime Duchy.

"Ruin"

Seven ancient ruins discovered around the world are mysterious ancient buildings containing a wealth of ancient documents and treasures.

The internal structure of the ruins is extremely complex, consisting of many overlapping layers, the exact number of which is still unknown.

Moreover, all seven discovered ruins can only be accessed to the second level, and according to ancient texts found within the ruins, access to the third level requires a 'key'.

The "Abyss" are mysterious mythical beasts that inexplicably appeared from the ruins. There are many kinds of Abyss, and they will attack any human or animal they find without hesitation, killing indiscriminately.

Unlike wild beasts, Abyss possesses immense power, an incomprehensible ecosystem, and each Abyss has a unique ability.

The demon-like monster that Luo Mio just killed was the "Abyss," and among its types, it was the particularly troublesome "Gargoyle Type." Of course, this only applies to ordinary people or soldiers.

Because hasty investigations could lead to the emergence of other mythical beasts within the ruins and their rampage, the progress of investigations into the ruins by various nations has been extremely slow.

To prevent thieves and bandits from stealing ancient weapons and resources from the ruins, and to further prevent the appearance of mythical beasts, all ruins discovered in the country are off-limits and subject to strict control by various countries.

The same weapon used to fight against the Divine Beasts is the "Dragoride".

The "Dragoride" is also an ancient weapon found and excavated in the ruins.

It can be summoned using the 'Sword Device', which allows the summoner to be enveloped in mechanical armor simulating a legendary dragon for combat.

Unlike ordinary armor, the "Dragoride" uses the "Phantasy Core," the dragon's power source, to provide its own energy, which can greatly enhance the mobility of the equipment parts.

The Dragoride and the Sword Device are weapons that are used in pairs and are indispensable.

Dragoride are usually housed in locations called 'hangars' in various places.

The user can simply draw the Mecha Shell Sword from its sheath and press the button on the hilt to teleport, or summon, the corresponding Machine Dragon.

The standard type of Dragoride is also known as the 'General Purpose Dragoride'.

The 'General Purpose Dragoride' is also divided into: the Wyvern with excellent maneuverability (Wyvern), the Wyrm with excellent close combat and defense capabilities (Wyrm), and the special-purpose dragon (Drake) with a series of logistical support functions such as target acquisition, camouflage, support, and assistance.

The pilots of the Dragoride are called "Dragoknight".

——

After listening to everything Relli said, Luo Mio nodded thoughtfully.

'So that's how it is. No wonder I remembered what that mythical beast looked like...'

Then Luo Mio raised her eyes and looked at the bright moon in the sky, which was radiating a soft glow.

'So this is the world of the' The Unbeatable Dragon '...?'

That being said, I've long forgotten any memory of it.

Luo Mio shook her head self-deprecatingly.

With his appearance now, the world will unconsciously change its original timeline.

At this moment, Relli looked at Luo Mio and slowly spoke.

"Excuse me..."

Luo Mio looked at Relli, chuckled, and then said, "Just call me Durandal."

"Then... Miss Durandal, may I ask where you are from?"

Relli looked at the mysterious blonde girl in front of her, who was about the same age as her sister.

It's important to know that Divine Beasts are powerful monsters that ordinary General Purpose Dragoride cannot defeat on their own. Even Gargoyles require a team of several General Purpose Dragoride to successfully defeat.

But the girl in front of them was all alone, and she didn't even need Dragoride; she could easily kill the gargoyle with just her mortal body.

Such immense power reminded Relli of someone.

My own sister...

Because of the Human Experimentation by the Old Arcadia Empire, although he now has a human body, a part of his inner self has been transformed into a monster.

In addition, the girl in front of him was about the same age as his younger sister.

Thinking of this, Relli couldn't help but look at Luo Mio with a maternal and compassionate gaze.

"..."

Seeing Relli's expression, Luo Mio knew that the other party must have misunderstood something.

Then he said.

"Although I don't know what you've misunderstood, I am undoubtedly a human being."

Relli looked at Luo Mio with an expression that said, "I know everything, I understand everything."

"I know, I know..."

Seeing Relli's expression, Luo Mio sighed and decided not to explain further.

Relli glanced at the night sky and then spoke to Luo Mio.

"Durandal, if you don't mind, you can come back with me."

"Go back?"

"Yes, the Royal Military Academy 'Academi' in the Fortress City Crossfield."

——

Midnight.

With Luo Mio's company, Relli safely returned to the Fortress City Crossfield.

On a small hill behind the Fortress City Crossfield, there is a very special building.

Upon seeing the building, Luo Mio's eyes flickered slightly.

That is...

Royal Military Academy 'Academi'.

A school for aristocratic girls, but also a school for candidates to become Dragoknight.

Under the influence of the long-standing patriarchal environment and system of the Old Arcadia Empire, women were almost always forbidden from using dragons.

However, after the establishment of the New Kingdom of Artysmart, it was discovered that women were far superior to men in terms of both the aptitude for manipulating movement and the compatibility of controlling the body.

In order to ensure that its military strength would not be weaker than that of other countries after the coup, the New Kingdom of Artysmart established a special training institution for Dragoknight and devoted itself to training Dragoknight officers who were no less capable than those of other countries.

This is the reason for the creation of the Royal Military Academy 'Academi'.

Meanwhile, the Fortress City Crossfield, where Academi is located, is situated between the ruins and the capital of the New Kingdom of Artysmart.

In this way, if any mythical beasts escape from the ruins, Academi's students will launch an attack to meet and subdue them.

After Luo Mio accompanied Relli into Academi, she saw a figure walking towards Relli.

"You're finally back, Headmaster."

"Oh dear, what happened, Legri?"

A beautiful, dignified woman with short green hair and glasses walked towards us.

"Actually..."

When Legri saw Relli, who was covered in mud and disheveled, she exclaimed in surprise, "What happened to you, Headmistress?!"

When Legri asked her a question, Relli just smiled gently.

"I ran into a little trouble, but thanks to the child next to me, I'm safe and sound."

Upon hearing Relli's words, Legri also noticed the delicately beautiful light blonde girl beside Relli.

"She is..."

Seeing Legri's murmurs, Relli asked as well.

So what happened?

Upon hearing Relli's question, Legri realized what was happening and quickly explained to Relli.

"Actually, just now, a man broke into the girls' dormitory and eventually fell off the roof of the girls' bathhouse."

"Moreover, at that time, many students were bathing in the bathhouse, including Classmate Kurokushifa and Lisha-sama. It is said that the man even had close contact with Lisha-sama."

Upon hearing Legri's words, Relli's expression immediately turned serious.

"Has the identity of that man been determined?"

Legri nodded.