The forest grew thinner as Yukki, Pecorine, and Kokkoro pressed onward.
The air became colder. The ground beneath their feet slowly turned from soft soil to jagged stone. Towering before them, like a scar carved into the earth itself, rose a rocky mountain—its peak hidden by swirling clouds.
Yukki checked the map once more.
"This is it," he said quietly. "The location matches."
Pecorine looked up, shielding her eyes. "That thing lives up there…?"
Kokkoro nodded. "The mana density is extremely high. There is no doubt—the dragon's lair is at the summit."
They began their climb.
There were no proper footholds. No ropes. No climbing gear. Only bare hands, scraped fingers, and aching muscles.
Sharp rocks tore at their palms. Loose stones crumbled beneath their boots, sending pebbles raining into the abyss below. More than once, Yukki nearly slipped—only for Kokkoro to grab his arm.
"Careful, Yukki-sama!" she called out, breathless.
"I'm fine—just… keep moving," he replied, teeth clenched.
Hours passed like this.
Their lungs burned. Their legs trembled. Sweat mixed with blood where skin had split against the stone.
Pecorine, despite her strength, was breathing heavily. "This is… tougher than fighting monsters…"
"At least monsters don't move the ground under you," Yukki muttered.
At long last, they pulled themselves onto a wide stone platform.
Before them yawned the entrance to the dragon's lair.
It was massive—an arch carved naturally into the mountain, blackened by fire. Melted rock dripped like wax along the walls. The stench of sulfur and smoke filled the air.
Kokkoro swallowed. "This is… where it lives."
Yukki tightened his grip on his sword. "No turning back now."
They stepped inside.
At first, there was only darkness.
Then—
A faint glow.
The ground beneath their feet shimmered. As their eyes adjusted, they realized the truth.
"…Gold," Pecorine whispered.
Thousands—no, millions—of gold coins, gemstones, weapons, armor, relics of fallen adventurers… scattered endlessly across the cavern floor.
And then—
They felt it.
A pressure.
A presence so overwhelming it crushed the air itself.
A low rumble echoed through the lair.
From atop a colossal mound of treasure, something shifted.
The dragon.
One massive eye snapped open—the other a ruined, scarred hollow. Its chest expanded.
It roared.
The sound slammed into them like a physical blow.
"DEFENSIVE FORMATION!" Yukki shouted.
The battle began.
The dragon unleashed Fire Breath.
A torrent of flame surged forward.
"Defender—ACTIVATE!" Yukki cried.
A spherical magic barrier exploded outward, enveloping all three of them just as the fire struck. The barrier crackled violently but held.
"Now!" Pecorine shouted.
She charged.
At high HP, her blade glowed brilliantly.
"Royal Slash!"
A sweeping arc of light tore into the dragon's scales, ripping flesh and sending sparks flying. The impact boosted her strength even further.
The dragon retaliated instantly.
It swung its massive tail.
"TAIL WHIP!" Kokkoro warned.
The ground shattered as Pecorine was flung back—but Yukki reacted.
"Right Hand of the Magic God!"
Power surged through Pecorine's body mid-air. She landed on her feet, eyes blazing.
Kokkoro raised her staff."Speed Boost!"
Their movements accelerated. Time itself seemed slower.
The dragon lunged, jaws wide—Crushing Fang.
Pecorine blocked with her sword, boots skidding across gold.
"GRAAAH!"
The dragon followed with Fireballs, explosive orbs detonating across the cavern.
"Spirit Wall!" Kokkoro shouted.
A translucent barrier softened the blast, while her Tri Slash carved into the dragon's foreleg.
The dragon took flight.
Its wings beat violently—Wing Beat—sending hurricane-force winds through the lair.
Yukki was nearly lifted off his feet.
"Stay together!" he yelled.
The dragon dove—Aerial Tackle.
It smashed Pecorine into the treasure mound.
Her HP dropped below half.
Her expression changed.
"Now… I won't fall!" she roared.
Her next Royal Slash glowed crimson—this time restoring her wounds as it tore into the dragon's chest.
Kokkoro raised her staff high.
"Aurora Blooming!"
Light exploded outward—healing all of them, flooding their bodies with power and TP.
"Yukki-sama!" she cried. "Now!"
Yukki lifted his sword.
"ALL BUFFS—MAXIMUM OUTPUT!"
The Right Hand of the Magic God surged again.
Pecorine leapt.
"UNION BURST!"
Her blade struck like a falling star.
The dragon screamed.
Blinded in one eye, bleeding from countless wounds, it roared again—Roar, inflicting crushing pressure.
Yukki staggered—but held.
"THIS ENDS—NOW!"
The dragon reared back for one final Flame Breath.
Pecorine ran straight through the heat.
With everything she had left—
She drove her sword straight through its heart.
The dragon froze.
Then collapsed.
The cavern shook.
Silence followed.
Pecorine stood there, panting.
"…It's over."
The dragon was dead.
Yukki fell to his knees, exhausted.Kokkoro rushed to him. "You did wonderfully, Yukki-sama."
Pecorine smiled—tears mixing with soot.
"For Landsol," she whispered.