A beam of light struck the ground from the sky, its hues shifting from green to blue—a sign of a newly manifested dungeon.
Guildmaster Baran stood atop the Mavela Guild balcony, eyes fixed on the distant flare.
> "I hope it stops at blue," he muttered, worried.
But then—
> "Guildmaster! It just turned gold!" Aula shouted.
Baran's expression darkened.
"A Rank-S Dungeon…?" he muttered.
Aula quickly identified the location—Dendroit Town, it was built around an old Dungeon Crater. After a dungeon is conquered, a new one can randomly appear in any existing crater—and this time, it had.
Aisha and I watched in awe as the golden light suddenly fused with crimson. Baran burst through the Guild doors.
> "It's a Dungeon Break! All hands—prepare for evacuation and defense!" he roared.
I knew that term well. A Dungeon Break meant monsters would pour out into the real world before the dungeon could be stabilized. And if it was a Rank-S Dungeon, it meant disaster.
The Astarte Royal Guard, Royal Knights, and high-ranking adventurers were already mobilizing.
> "Hey, kiddo! Hop on!" Baran waved at me from a carriage.
> "Am I even needed?" I hesitated.
> "We need all the firepower we can get! You too, girl!" he shouted to Aisha.
---
We arrived at Dendroit Town just as reinforcements were setting up barricades. Familiar faces gathered—including one I didn't expect.
> "Well, if it isn't Ares the Rank-E Tamer," a voice sneered.
It was Ion, my old rival from Uruste Village.
> "Ion. Long time no see," I greeted casually. "How's training?"
> "Better than yours, I'm sure. Still raising that black puppy?"
Aisha stepped forward, her eyes flashing red.
> "Was a black puppy. Now I'm a Blood Howler—and a Beastkin."
> "Wha—what? No way!" Ion stammered.
> "Believe it," I said flatly.
> "How does a Rank-E nobody even have a girl like that?!"
Aisha clung to my arm, sticking out her tongue.
> "Bleh."
Ion stormed off, humiliated.
---
The ground began to shake. Roars echoed from the crater.
Then it happened—a pack of Rank-S Terrasaurus erupted from the dungeon, charging into town with earth-crushing speed.
The Royal Knights engaged first. Then the adventurers joined the fray. Baran and Aula leapt into battle, casting powerful area magic.
> "Aisha! Engage!" I commanded, setting up traps from the backline.
I used my Blood Magic only with the blood of monsters. Aisha collected some as she fought. The Terrasaurus' armor was nearly indestructible—but my Blood Boil Trap could damage their insides.
One got too close—I braced myself.
> "Behind you!"
A voice I recognized too well. The blow never landed—she had saved me.
> "Why are you here?! This is no place for someone like you!" she scolded.
> "Princess Aurora…?" I blinked, stunned.
> "Don't bow, I told you not to do that!" she said sharply.
> "I'm here… to level up?" I said sheepishly.
> "Unbelievable." She sighed, then added, "Be careful next time."
Aisha appeared behind me, her eyes narrowing.
> "Master, who is she?"
> "She's the Princess of Astarte Kingdom—Princess Aurora Astarte."
> "Your lover?" Aisha raised a brow.
> "No, I'm not!" Aurora blushed. "I'm just… his acting big sister."
> "Wait! Why did she call you Master?" Aurora questioned, catching on.
> "A lot happened," I said quickly. "Can we focus on the battle now?"
---
Even with our combined efforts, the Fossil Tyrant emerged—a massive Rank-S skeletal beast whose bones were tougher than steel.
> "Master," Aisha said softly, "I think… that's the one."
> "The one?"
> "Your second tame. For the harem."
> "Are you sure this is what you want?" I asked.
> "I made a promise," she said, placing a hand over her heart. "So please."
I looked at the battlefield. More Fossil Tyrants would emerge if we didn't act now.
I called over Ion and Aurora, outlining my plan. Ion resisted—until Aurora gave a royal command.
> "Light, shine through my blade! With your blessing—Archlight Thrust!" Ion's sword pierced through the beast's ribs, stunning it briefly.
> "Gentle breeze flow through me. Faster than wind—Hurricane Vortex!" Aurora danced through the air, slicing at its weak spots.
> "Blood boils within my veins—Hellfire and Blood! Drenching Disaster!" Aisha slammed her axe down, erupting flames and crimson.
Their chants shook the battlefield—but the Tyrant still stood.
I stepped forward, my fist glowing red.
> "Blood boils within my veins—Forbidden Punch!"
I struck its core, staggering the beast. Aisha nodded. I raised my hand.
> "I am your master. My name is Ares Meledric. From now on—you are mine. Tame!"
A light engulfed the Fossil Tyrant. It dropped to one knee.
The spell succeeded.
And before everyone's eyes—it transformed.
A flash of crimson and gold became a silhouette. The Fossil Tyrant's beastly form melted away, revealing a short, golden scaled girl. A Lizardkin.
> "Wh… what just happened?" Ion gasped.
> "She… became human?" Aurora whispered.
> "More than that," I said quietly. "She's my second tame."
But before we could catch our breath, three more Fossil Tyrants emerged.
A colossal abomination stood at the dungeon gate.
The real battle… was just beginning.