Chương 50: Chapter 49

When Elias regained consciousness, he did not even have enough time to properly adjust himself. The moment his awareness returned, he felt it. An overwhelming presence pressed against the barrier. The sheer force behind the attack caused the entire structure to tremble, and Elias immediately understood the situation. The dragon was not finished. A small smirk appeared on his face.

"Not going down without a fight," he thought. Damien remained nearby within their shared consciousness, watching carefully and preparing to intervene the moment something went wrong. He observed Elias as he took control of the barriers, his expression remaining calm despite the pressure surrounding them.

"You should be careful," Damien warned.

"Even though that slash only destroyed three barriers, it does not mean the dragon will not attempt something more desperate." Elias glanced toward him.

"As if I don't know that." Despite the seriousness of the situation, his tone remained light.

"We still have everyone else working together. They are not just decoration, you know?" However, his actions betrayed the truth behind his words. The amount of willpower Elias poured into maintaining the barriers was immense. He was not going to allow another barrier to break as easily as before. His entire focus remained on reinforcing the defenses. His body stayed completely still. His mind remained locked onto the attack. And for a moment... It seemed as though they had stabilized the situation.

But then both of them noticed something. The dragon moved. Not just its claws. Not just another attack. Its entire body began descending toward the safe house. Elias' expression changed.

"No way..." The realization struck him.

"Is this dragon insane?" He immediately turned toward Damien.

"Damien, prepare to hold." The dragon had chosen to attack with its entire body. The massive creature crashed downward, its weight and magical force combining into a single overwhelming assault. The barriers trembled. Then they shattered. One. Two. Three. Four. The destruction continued. The force tore through multiple layers of protection at once. Fourteen. Fifteen. Sixteen. Elias gritted his teeth. This was not an attack meant to break through one barrier at a time.

This was an attack meant to overwhelm everything in its path. The pressure increased. His vision blurred. His connection weakened. And then he felt it. His persona. His identity. It felt as though it was beginning to dissipate. The feeling was unfamiliar. Terrifying. Because unlike physical exhaustion, this was something deeper. He was not simply losing strength. He was losing his ability to remain himself. But he had made a promise. He promised Lucian that he would hold on.

He promised that he would protect everyone. So he refused to let go. Even as his existence weakened, Elias continued forcing his will into the barriers. He would endure. He had to. But just as he reached his limit, he felt a sudden tug.

"What are you..." Before Elias could finish speaking, Damien forcibly pulled him away from control. Elias' consciousness was thrown backward as Damien stepped forward and took over the burden. Normally, Elias would have recovered immediately. Normally, he would have forced himself back into control. Normally, he would have stopped himself before reaching the subconscious. But this time was different. His identity was too weakened. His connection was too unstable. He could not fight against the pull.

He could only watch. Further and further away. Until the barrier separating consciousness and subconscious disappeared. Slowly, Elias was dragged into a deep sleep. He did not even have enough strength left to curse. Damien held on. The barriers continued breaking. Fifteen. Seventeen. Eighteen. Twenty. Thirty. Thirty-one. Thirty-two. Forty. This was the final barrier protecting the outer layer. Damien clenched his teeth. He prepared himself for the inevitable collapse. The barrier was about to break. But then...

The dragon was forced backward. Damien stared. The creature's body had suffered tremendous damage. Its scales were charred. Several of its red scales had been torn away. Its wings were damaged, making its movements unstable and its flight uneven. The attack had harmed the dragon as much as it had harmed them. For a brief moment, Damien felt relief. They had survived. But that relief lasted only a moment. The dragon opened its mouth. Another attack began forming. This time, the darkness within the flames was weaker.

But Damien immediately understood the problem. The attack was not stronger. It was larger. The range was enormous. The fireball expanded rapidly, filling the sky and covering the distance between them. Because of how close the dragon had moved, there was no time to prepare. This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. Damien's expression darkened. There was no way. Not with the remaining barriers. Not in their current condition. The final attack was coming. …

The fireball broke through the final outer layer. The barrier that had surrounded the safe house and the surrounding area, extending nearly the length of a football field, shattered under the overwhelming force of the attack. Beyond that point, only the barriers directly surrounding the group remained. The flames passed through the remnants of the safe house's defenses with terrifying ease. The structure that had once protected them began to crumble as the dark flames consumed everything in their path.

Without the protection of the building itself, everyone inside immediately felt the intense heat pressing against them. Those with ice-based abilities reacted first. They poured their mana into their spells, creating waves of cold air that spread throughout the area in an attempt to counteract the rising temperature. The heat was unbearable, and even breathing became difficult as the flames surrounded them. They could no longer see the outside world. All they could see were flames.

The world beyond the barriers had disappeared, replaced entirely by a sea of fire. Those with enhancement abilities immediately redirected their power toward the ice users, strengthening their bodies and increasing their magical output so they could maintain their spells for longer periods of time. Meanwhile, those with water-based abilities continuously supplied their mana, allowing the ice users to create stronger and stronger freezing techniques to fight against the overwhelming heat. Everyone worked together.

Not because they were confident. But because there was nothing else they could do. Damien watched as the final outer layer collapsed. His expression became grim. The only barriers remaining were the fifty surrounding everyone in the circle and the one hundred protecting him directly. He clenched his teeth. He could not allow the attack to break through the final barrier surrounding everyone. Even if he survived. Even if his own defenses collapsed afterward. He remembered Nina's words. Everyone was going to die.

At the time, he had not understood why she had said it with such certainty. But now... Now he understood why this situation had frightened her. And he refused to allow it to become reality.

"I won't let this happen." Damien forced more power into the barriers. The first barrier. The second. The third. The fourth.... The twentieth. The twenty-first. The twenty-third. Each barrier weakened as the flames continued to push forward, but Damien refused to release his hold. He held on with everything he had. Yet no matter how much strength he used, the attack continued. It was too powerful. His body was reaching its limit. Then... A hand rested on his shoulder. Damien froze. Lily stood behind him.

She shook her head gently. Damien understood immediately. He did not want to let go. He wanted to continue. But his identity was already beginning to weaken. The strain was too much. Slowly, reluctantly, Damien released his control. His figure began fading.

"I'm sorry," he whispered.

"I couldn't hold on for longer." Lily watched as he disappeared into the subconscious.

"It's fine." She spoke softly.

"You held on as long as you could." Unlike the other identities, Lily had one major advantage. Her skills were the states this body currently in-bodied. Because of this, excluding Nina herself and the system, Lily possessed the highest level of authority among the identities as of this moment. Therefore, even after the others fell into their subconscious states, Lily remained. She still had control. She still had the strength. And she still had a responsibility.

From the remaining 20 barriers surrounding the group, she combined ten barriers merged into one. Leaving the other ten as individuals. Layer by layer, Lily condensed the 10, creating a single barrier stronger than anything the dragon had attempted to destroy before. The barrier moved outward. The dragon's fireball for the first time it did not event affect the upgraded barrier. Not even a scratch appeared, the flames which collided against the barrier completely dissipated.

Lily finally allowed herself a moment to breathe. But that relief lasted only a second. Because she felt it. Something. A connection. A presence. Now, because she was the one controlling the body, because she possessed a deeper control of its structure, she could sense things the others could not. With a thought, she found the person responsible. But it was already too late. She did not know what method the person had used. She did not know what agreement they had made.

She did not know what had allowed them to control the dragon. But one thing was certain. This person needed to disappear. Lily picked up one of the swords belonging to the people nearby. Step by step, she walked forward. Dragging the sword behind her. Everyone watched in confusion. What was she doing? Why was Rosa Roosevelt walking away? Before anyone could stop her, Lily reached the person. She grabbed the sword. And stabbed downward.

The blade destroyed the object the person had been using to maintain the connection. The wisp of dark magic inside it attempted to escape. Lily immediately brought forth one of the barriers to trap the dark mist. It twisted and struggled inside the barrier, desperately attempting to break free. She use another barrier and wrapped around the entity, insuring it would not escape. Only then did Lily turn her attention toward the person responsible. She stared directly into his eyes. The man stepped backward.

For the first time since this began... He looked afraid. The people around them who had been preparing to stop Rosa hesitated. There was something different about her. The gentleness she normally carried was gone.

"If you answer this question truthfully, I will let you go." Her voice was calm. Cold.

"What do you feel when you look at me?" The man opened his mouth but hesitated. Lily's expression did not change.

"If you refuse to answer, or if you lie, your life is forfeit." The man's body trembled.

"I..." He swallowed.

"I feel afraid." A faint smile appeared on Lily's face. The man relaxed. He believed he was safe. He was wrong. The next moment, Lily drove the sword into his chest. The blade pierced his heart. She twisted it. The man's body collapsed.

"Does anyone here possess fire magic?" Her voice remained calm. The people stared.

"This person worked with the enemy." Silence. Then a small hand slowly rose. A young girl stepped forward. Lily looked at her. Then she lowered herself to the child's height.

"Do you trust me?" The girl nodded.

"Yes." Her voice was small, but firm.

"That person was a big meanie. Even if I'm little, I want to protect you." A faint warmth appeared in Lily's eyes.

"Thank you." The girl used her magic. The flames consumed the body. Lily turned away and looked toward another person hiding in the corner.

"You." The person flinched.

"Who am I?" The person hesitated.

"You're Rosa Roosevelt."

"Are you afraid of the situation?" Lily's gaze sharpened.

"Or are you afraid of me?" The person immediately shook their head.

"The situation." They looked toward the remains of the safe house.

"I can't believe he did that. We trusted him." Lily nodded.

"Good." She pointed toward them.

"I need your ability." The person froze.

"My ability?"

"To control souls." Lily looked toward the trapped mist.

"I need you to ensure this cannot be used for necromancy." The person quickly nodded.

"Yes." After the little girl finished burning the body, the person stepped forward and cast their spell. A formation appeared. The soul was contained. The person looked at Lily with confusion.

"How did you know I could do this?"

"Isn't your father Mr. Flores?" The person froze.

"Yes."

"I heard his son would be attending this event. After researching everyone present, I knew you possessed this ability." She glanced at the formation.

"Not at your father's level, but enough to keep the soul contained."

"Oh." Lily turned back toward everyone.

"Who is afraid of me?" Silence. Nobody raised their hand.

"Who is afraid of this situation?" Several people slowly raised their hands.

"Who believes we can survive?" Only a few hands rose. Lily nodded.

"The person controlling the dragon no longer exists." She looked toward the trapped mist.

"Unless the situation outside has become worse, we should be able to survive." She paused.

"Do you trust me?" A united response echoed.

"Yes."

"Good." Lily returned to the stool she had been standing on earlier and carefully handed the sword back to its owner.

"I apologize." Her voice softened.

"This was traumatic for everyone." She raised the barrier containing the black mist.

"The situation occurring outside is not safe." She pointed toward the barriers surrounding them.

"Currently, I have one barrier created from the combination of ten barriers protecting us. Beneath it are 8 additional barriers prepared in case the first one fails." She looked around.

"Under normal circumstances, this should be enough." A pause.

"But I need everyone's help." She tapped the ground. The hidden barriers became visible.

"Those who possess barrier magic, please transfer your mana into these barriers." She smiled faintly.

"If the dragon attacks again, we need every bit of strength we can gather." As she spoke... Lily coughed. A mouthful of blood fell into her hand. But it was not red. It was dark. Almost black. She stared at it silently. Then she looked outside. So this was what the others were facing. She coughed again. And again. The pain spread through her body. She attempted to remain standing on the stool, but her strength began failing. She had no choice but to sit down. Everyone watched.

The person they had seen as an overwhelming figure. The person who had protected them. The person who had stood before danger without hesitation. Was now coughing up blood. A healer quickly approached. They attempted to heal her. The magic brought her some comfort. But it did not stop the coughing. After the fourth mouthful of blood... Lily's eyes darkened. She understood. Each path. Each pain. Each sacrifice. They were connected to everyone who had suffered. The final cough had been different.

The blood had returned to its original color. Bright red. That one... That one belonged to her. Lily looked outside. The smoke from the destroyed safe house slowly cleared. Beyond it, she could see the others still fighting the dragon. She tightened her grip. I need to hold on. Just a little longer.