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The vanguard of Marquis Angus’ army stood in a phalanx formation with spearmen at the forefront, creating a formidable wall of defense. The heavily armored soldiers were poised to crush the enemy from both sides if their formation wavered.

The formation itself was quite wide too, leaving a big distance from the forefront to where Julian was.

However, disregarding any obstacles, the red figure charged directly into the heart of the enemy ranks.

“They plan to break through head-on against so many of our men?”
“There is some possibility of it. She’s outside of the norm. Normal soldiers are no threat to her.”

As Julian moved his hand, the rain moved. It poured down like a raging torrent, becoming a merciless blade and striking Setulev’s defensive forces with a force akin to that of a water dragon.

Yet, it burst and scattered without managing to rob a single life. From the fractured ground, a scorching radiance erupted, thwarting the water attacks effortlessly. Amidst the swirling vapor, the knights surged forward, deflecting thrusting spears and braving injuries as they clashed head-on with the opposing forces.

Amidst the tumult, battle cries and defiant roars echoed from both sides, accompanied by the clamor of weapons and armor colliding. In this chaotic scene, the crimson girl shone with dazzling brilliance.

With supernatural agility, she gracefully maneuvered above the soldiers’ heads, skillfully evading thrusting spears and swords while unleashing fiery explosions to clear the vicinity. Swords, shields, and helmets burned and disintegrated, falling in charred pieces upon the scorched earth.

Seizing the opportunity now that a hole had opened up in the formation, Julian delivered an attack with his Regalia. The water spear, sharp enough to skewer the very ground, pierced through the swirling wall of flames… but the girl was no longer on the other side.

Emerging from the dissipating smoke, the girl leaped into the heart of the enemy ranks, crushing incoming wind magic with torrents of flames and incinerating dozens of soldiers in a matter of moments.

“What… what should we do, Your Grace?”
“We stay the course. Have the strike teams focus on countering the Variants.”
“What!?”

The knights, shaken by the relentless power of the small dragon, were taken aback by Julian’s response.

“Now that the Red Dragon is gone, as long as we eliminate her no one will be able to oppose the Regalia. In other words, victory will be all but guaranteed. Even if she’s as formidable as a dragon, facing this many soldiers will surely exhaust her and cause some injuries. That’s when my Regalia and your combined strength will finish the job.”
“But… how many soldiers will perish in the process?”
“In this situation, it’s impossible to protect every single soldier. You see, battle is a dangerous affair. Did you only find that out?”

Julian’s expression tightened with disdain as he looked at his foolish retainer.

“Everything is unfolding as planned. If I use the Regalia for the attack, Setulev’s destruction will be interrupted and the Red Dragon will come back. Thus I shall use it for restraint and the finishing attack. This army was specifically formed with this strategy in mind. Obey my orders and fulfill your roles. By doing so, we can minimize casualties and achieve victory. If any of you believe there is a better way to defeat her with fewer sacrifices, speak up now. Tell me a more effective method to bring her down without as many casualties. But if you let immediate danger cloud your judgment and dare to defy me…”

Julian’s gaze moved from one imperial knight to another. His surroundings were filled with particularly strong individuals, but those in the immediate vicinity were the trusted retainers that he had gathered for the future regardless of their social standings or their father’s positions.

“Then you would be fools who would be a threat to the lives of every soldier here and the prosperity of our kingdom. I shall personally eliminate you before she does.”

A portion of them seemed shocked and stood frozen in their places, but approximately half of them, particularly the young ones who had earned their positions through merit, displayed deep feelings of admiration and respect, almost akin to reverence, in their gazes.

There were no objections. Nor did they have time to continue talking. The sounds of battle were approaching rapidly, like a roaring tide.

The girl in crimson dashed forward, slicing through the formation like a shooting star through the night sky. Only a few dozen elite knights stood between Julian and her.

However, this presented no significant challenge. This was the battlefield, and now was the decisive moment.

“Come on! Press on and corner her! I’ll deliver the final blow!”

The knights all lunged at the girl in unison.

Flames she spewed could send them flying in groups, but if they knew the attack was coming, they could protect themselves.

These seasoned warriors were equipped with superior gear, robust bodies, and honed combat skills, allowing them to withstand the dragon’s onslaught without succumbing to immediate death. This resilience was crucial in the intense battle.

The mages swiftly cast healing and support spells to aid the knights as they persisted in their tenacious assault. Amidst the swirling flames, one of the knights lunged at the girl.

With remarkable agility, the girl deftly evaded the sword with nimble leaps, executing a mid-air somersault by kicking their helmet. As she landed with a fiery shockwave, she thrust both hands outward, delivering powerful palm strikes that shattered the knights’ armor and sent them tumbling.

“I have you now!”

In that brief moment when the girl’s movement paused, Julian tapped into the power of the Wisdom Eye Vortex and unleashed it upon her.

The attacks from Regalia, similar to the Dragon Breaths, were a primitive phenomenon that used the gears of the world directly to crush the target. For that reason, it wasn’t as apparent as normal magic, and was sharp and sudden.

In a split second, a soul-chilling cold emanated from the ground. Like giant spears thrusting out of the earth, a colossal mass of ice took shape, rivaling the size of a dragon.

Within the mesmerizing play of light and reflection on the ice, the crimson girl remained completely still.

Before the battle…

“Among adventurers, there is a phrase ‘First-Encounter Killer.’ Some Call it ‘Unknown Killer’ too.”

In the hillside fortress, Christophe, the leader of the defense unit, along with the members of the Golden Helmet, engaged in a strategy discussion in a hastily-made council room with nothing but a simple desk in it.

“Some monsters possess abilities that are difficult to anticipate merely by their appearance. Approaching such creatures without prior knowledge can lead to deadly surprises, resulting in fatal consequences. So like that, getting killed by approaching a monster without knowing about their abilities is called a ‘First-Encounter Killer.’ Furthermore, some monsters themselves are dubbed ‘First-Encounter Killers’ because of their likelihood to surprise and overpower unsuspecting adventurers.”

Christophe paid keen attention to Tim and Lucella’s explanation. Knights were warriors and military people. While they excelled in more structured and traditional battles, involving standardized tactics in large-scale confrontations, adventurers faced a vastly different challenge. Their encounters with unpredictable and extraordinary monsters required them to think on their feet, adapt swiftly, and make strategic decisions in various unforeseen circumstances. When it came to making use of strange powers, they were a step ahead of the knights.

“We should assume that Lucella’s abilities are known by the enemy to a degree. However, just the fact that the Variant numbers have increased should have thrown their plans into disarray. Moreover, Lucella has a new move she just obtained.”

“The Wisdom Eye Vortex is a water Regalia. I’m sure that it’s overwhelmingly stronger in comparison, but my Pseudo-Tidal Breath that controls water can somewhat fend off an attack from its armorized state. If they believe that I can only offset it by flames, it should definitely create an opening once. The rest is how to utilize it to secure victory…”
“Do you have a plan about that too?”
“Yes.”

Lucella nodded.

“I’m going to ask Mom for help.’”

During the military conference, the windows were obscured by red walls. Or rather, Kafal’s large face was peering in from the window.

If Julian had gained a bit more battle experience, or if he had received guidance from someone with such expertise, he might have noticed something unusual.

Specifically, the crimson-clad girl, who had effortlessly cut through numerous foot soldiers to reach this point, remained not only unscathed but also oddly pristine. Her appearance was untouched by the war’s dust and grime, making her look almost like a flawless painting.

On a typical battlefield, running through would have dirtied her body and equipment with soil and mud splashes. However, her rudimentary crimson human form had not yet fully replicated those physical characteristics.

Amidst the battlefield, a colossal block of ice stood… Yet, the crimson girl was no longer within it, her form seemed to have vanished, only to be replaced by a stunningly beautiful woman with fiery red hair, kneeling before the icy mass.

“What’s going on!?”
“…Deceiving…is…difficult,” She murmured, then promptly disappeared.

From beyond the mountain, the resounding roar of the Red Dragon echoed.