The news of Edward Phoenix's ascension to the 9th Circle and his slaying of the dragon spread like wildfire.
The tremble of awe and fear echoed across borders.
Marquis troops stationed on the Empire's edge stood unwavering, and both the Brook Royal Army and the forces of the Elise Kingdom retreated in fear.
"Edward Phoenix... he reached the 9th Circle? And killed a dragon?" a trembling Elise general muttered.
Back in the war room of Arthur Brook—
He slammed his palm onto the heavy oak table. "How can this be how could edward pheonix reach 9th circle even killing blue dragon he grabbed dark mage's cloak look at this now even dragon's are useless he replied your majesty don't worry edward pheonix isn't master of all element like his mother he uses light element we sent blue dragon that wasn't a counter to light element we have silver dragon it's crystal element is perfect counter for edward even if he is at 9th circle he won't be able to kill it arthur replied hmph hasten the growth of dragon"
Meanwhile, deep within Reyon's consciousness—
The ruins of the Brook Kingdom stretched before him. Crumbled walls. Burnt spires. Ash carried by the wind.
Reyon walked slowly through the devastation. His steps echoed on broken stone.
"This... this was once home," he mumbled.
He reached the meeting square, the place where mages once gathered.
Two figures stood at the center.
Ray and Alice.
Reyon's heart twitched. Even if it was just a dreamscape... reyon wasn't even aware of it , for him he was living it like it's his current life seeing them warmed the fracture in his soul.
Ray looked different now. More composed. His aura... 8th Circle.
Ray raised his voice, solemn and firm.
"I'm here to tell a sad but brave tale. The tale of the strongest magician... Edward Phoenix."
Murmurs. Silence. Then stillness as everyone listened.
"When the silver dragon attacked our household, the Marshals and my father fought courageously. But... in just four exchanges, every Marshal fell."
Ray clenched his fist.
"Only my father remained. As he stood on the brink of death, he broke past his limits... and reached the 9th Circle."
Gasps echoed.
"But it was too late. No healer nearby. Half his body... gone. Blown away by the silver dragon's breath. But even then... in his last breath, my father launched a spell so powerful it shook the entire continent."
He looked down.
"But the silver dragon... it was the perfect counter. It created crystal barriers a perfect counter for light element that resisted even 9th Circle magic. But still the dragon was heavily injured and lost a wing. And... Commander Phillip had to sacrifice himself to finish it off."
Ray's voice darkened.
"But that wasn't the end. The blue dragon appeared... right after. It annihilated Brook Kingdom. And now we're here. Gathered to end that monstrosity."
Cheers rose. Flames of purpose lit every eye.
And with that, the march began.
South. To where the dragon slept.
Along the way, laughter and debate.
"Ray or Alice? Who's stronger?"
"There's no comparison," one mage chuckled. "Alice reached the 8th Circle way before Ray."
"Yeah," another joined. "Ray's a veteran 8th Circle. But Alice... she's at the peak."
The chatter died as the sky darkened.
They had reached it.
The blue dragon.
Its massive body coiled, scales emitting a faint pulse of lightning even in slumber.
Death hung in the air.
Ray whispered, "Let's do a sneak attack."
He raised his hand. Casted—
Laser.
A thin white line sliced through the air towards the dragon's head.
But its eyes opened. The spell missed.
Still—
SHHHK!
The wing fell.
Ray blinked. "Wha... it cut off its wing?!"
Cheers erupted. But were silenced just as fast.
The severed wing... grew back.
Ray's eyes widened. "What?! The silver dragon couldn't regenerate..."
Alice narrowed her eyes. "This one's different."
WHOOM!
A single flap. Lightning surged outwards.
Ray activated his artifact—
"Sun Barrier!"
A golden dome emerged, protecting them.
But then—
The breath.
A blue pillar roared out.
Most dodged. But those who didn't...
Ash.
Ray gritted his teeth. "How are we supposed to kill it with that kind of regeneration?!"
Alice looked calm. Sharp.
"I have an idea. If we cut something off, I'll freeze that area. It'll stop the regeneration."
Ray nodded. "Sounds good."
Suddenly—
A voice behind them.
"What about the lightning? The one emitting from its very body?"
They turned.
Someone cloaked.
No one sensed him until now.
Alice narrowed her eyes. "Who are you? You must be an 8th Circle mage. i didn't knew there were any remaining 8th circle mage other than me and ray"
The figure lowered his hood slightly.
"No," Reyon smiled faintly. "I'm not an 8th Circle mage. But my power is on that level."
Ray blinked. "Wait... what?"
Reyon stepped forward. "Follow my plan. You two distract the dragon. I'll sneak up... and cut off the wing."
Ray frowned. "You'll die."
Reyon looked forward, eyes steady.
"If that dragon falls, my sacrifice won't be in vain."
Alice nodded. "Let's move."
A coordinated assault began.
Alice cast—
"Icicle Storm!"
Shards of frozen death rained.
The dragon flew. Dodged.
Mages hurled fire and wind, but anything below 8th Circle barely left a scratch.
Ray launched another laser.
The dragon dodged.
But that was the trap.
Reyon was waiting.
His eyes glowed.
"Aqua Slash!"
Vectors enhanced the blades. Thousands of sharp water crescents raged toward the beast.
The dragon tried to shift—but it was too late.
SHRAAAK!
Its left wing was slashed off.
Immediately—
Alice chanted—
"Point Freeze!"
The severed area turned to solid frost.
The dragon screeched and fell.
BOOOM!
The ground cracked beneath its weight.
But now—
Its eyes turned.
To Reyon.
The mark of death.
Its breath gathered.
And the impact of its fall... blew Reyon's hood off.
Ray gasped. "That's Reyon?!"
Alice's voice broke. "That can't be... how did he cast something like that?"
But no time.
The breath fired.
Reyon stared, frozen in place. Too close to dodge.
"Damn it..."
Ray teleported.
"Sun Barrier!!"
He stood in front of Reyon.
The attack crashed.
The shield cracked.
Some of it broke through.
Ray's head was gone.
His body fell.
Reyon's knees collapsed.
"Ray..."
Tears fell.
The dragon rose. Preparing another attack.
Alice's eyes narrowed.
She began chanting.
"Absolute Zero Dome."
A glowing spell circle.
The area around the dragon turned white.
A dome, 50 meters wide.
An advanced version of absolute zero enhanced by alice not spreading across miles. It condensed everything in a dome
Complete freezing.
Every drop of mana, every cell.
Crack.
The dragon's body froze solid.
Alice stepped forward.
Drew her blade.
SLASH!
SLASHSLASHSLASH—
Pieces.
Tiny, sand-sized particles.
The blue dragon—
Gone.
Alice dropped the sword.
Walked toward Reyon.
He was still kneeling. Trembling.
Near Ray's body.
Alice knelt down.
Hugged him from behind.
She whispered, "He protected you... even in death."
Reyon's voice cracked.
"He always did."
She held him tighter.
And the battlefield... fell silent.
End of Chapter 92.