"Annan, look out!"
Rus, who was rushing toward them, lunged and hurled a dagger. But Illymoyas was faster. As the dagger pierced the Ratfolk Elder, who had swollen like a balloon, her dragon claw came down with Fel Energy.
Thud!
A muffled blast sounded beneath her claw, shaking the surrounding snow. Illymoyas cried out, staggered, and fell, sending up another great spray of snow.
"Illymoyas!" Annan rushed toward the Blue Dragon in alarm.
Illymoyas struggled to raise her head. Her enormous, clear eyes reflected Annan's anxious face. "Annan Reeves, will you grant my final wish and let me lie amid a sea of treasure...?"
After guarding the Treasury for so long, a mere mountain of treasure could no longer satisfy Illymoyas.
"Don't talk nonsense..." Annan searched his Ring for a Greater Healing Spell as he went to inspect Illymoyas's wound.
The moment he stepped around her claw, he fell silent.
Illymoyas's injury was a terrible sight... If he had waited any longer to check it, the wound would have healed!
Ignoring Illymoyas and her act, Annan turned to the Ratfolk Elder, whose remains were scattered all over the Great Pit.
That settled it. Whether Annan wanted to or not, he would have to groom someone new.
"Why?" Annan asked, baffled.
He and the Ratfolk Elder had never been enemies. Why had he insisted on attacking?
"If I didn't bring Albeck back, I'd die too..."
A piece of flesh suddenly twitched, and the Ratfolk Elder's voice came from it.
Annan stared at the lone piece of mouth in shock. "You're still alive?!"
"Give... my... nephew..."
With that, the Ratfolk Elder's mouth stopped moving. Annan looked hopefully at Rus as she approached. "Can he still be saved?"
Rus's voice was low. "No one I kill can be saved!"
Annan looked back at