Realizing that Belle's impending attack possessed enough raw power to threaten its life, the dragon's primal survival instincts overrode its malice.
It let out a panicked roar, unfolded its massive wings, and turned to flee in the opposite direction.
"It's running away?"
Laurier cried out, disbelief clear in her voice.
Most monsters simply followed their instincts, mindlessly attacking anything they deemed an enemy without a second thought.
But this creature was demonstrating an eerie, calculating self-preservation.
'Another intelligent monster.'
"Everyone! Don't let it escape!"
"If a monster that strong escapes to the surface... who knows what kind of damage it will cause to nearby towns and villages."
Asfi shouted out commands without missing a beat.
As a veteran adventurer who had spent years exploring the Dungeon, she knew that the stronger a monster became, the more likely it was to develop a certain degree of intelligence.
The remaining fighters immediately sprang into action.
Mages unleashed rapid-fire, short-chant spells, while the vanguards switched to long-ranged throwing weapons.
Spells and blades tore through the air, striking the dragon's hide and causing dark blood to splatter.
Yet, despite its wounds, the dragon didn't slow down.
It pushed through the pain, surging toward the massive breach in the ceiling.
At this rate, it wouldn't be long before it escaped through the giant hole in the ceiling and vanished into the outside world.
'Damn it! If only I still had my Talaria Sandals!'
Asfi cursed inwardly, her knees buckling slightly as exhaustion threatened to consume her.
But just before the dragon could fully escape, its eyes widened and its massive body abruptly halted midair when it saw something flying directly toward it.
Everyone looked up and saw a familiar female chienthrope carrying a giant blue crystal over her head.
"Lulune! She's here!"
One of the Hermes Familia members shouted in recognition.
"Eeep! What is going on?! I just flew by and there's suddenly a scary dragon right in front of me!"
Lulune shrieked, her face pale with terror.
The dragon let out an angry snort, smoke billowing from its nostrils before it opened its jaws, preparing to unleash a stream of fire toward her.
But at that exact moment...
The sound of a grand bell echoed through the ruins.
Directly below, Belle had already taken position, her arm raised toward the dragon flying above.
The Falna on her back glowed brilliantly, its radiance spreading across her entire body.
'Limit Off…'
Hermes observed quietly from the side.
"Thanks for distracting it, Lulune!"
Belle shouted with a smile as magic power surged into her palm.
"Firebolt!"
A magic attack empowered by a fully charged three-minute Argonaut.
A colossal pillar of roaring flames and crackling white lightning erupted from her hands, surging skyward.
The brilliant flash completely illuminated the dark depths of the ruins.
The dragon's pupils constricted into narrow slits as its entire body was swallowed whole by the attack, a roar of agony bursting from its throat.
"Kyaaa!"
A high-pitched scream escaped Lulune as the aftershock of Belle's attack nearly threw her off balance.
She flailed in panic before barely managing to stabilize herself in midair.
The dragon let out one final roar as its body slowly disintegrated.
crack
A sharp sound rang through the air as its magic stone shattered into pieces.
When Belle's attack finally subsided, the dragon was entirely gone.
Only drifting ashes remained, scattering into the wind.
"Woohoo! Belle! You did it!"
Hestia screamed happily as she ran over and threw her arms around Belle in a tight hug.
Seeing the threat neutralized, Asfi and the others exchanged glances and finally let out a long, collective breath of relief.
"As always, you continue to surprise us, Belle."
Welf said with an exhausted smile.
"That was amazing…"
"To think a Level 2 could unleash that kind of firepower…"
Praises echoed from both the Artemis and Hermes Familias, causing Belle's cheeks to flush faintly as she rubbed the back of her head.
However, just as everyone began to relax...
rumble
Another violent tremor shook the ruins, as if a massive shockwave had erupted somewhere far away.
The entire structure quaked violently.
Giant cracks spider-webbed across the walls, and massive boulders began to rain down from the ceiling without stopping.
"This place is going to collapse!"
Rethusa shouted, sweat pouring down her face.
Realizing the gravity of the situation, Asfi immediately ordered everyone to evacuate as quickly as possible.
"Move! Let's get out of here before we're buried alive!"
Belle immediately grabbed Hestia and started running, while Asfi hoisted Hermes over her shoulder like a sack of potatoes before sprinting toward the exit.
"Uhm… couldn't you carry me a little more delicately, Asfi?"
Hermes said with a wry smile, only to receive a sharp "Shut up" from his captain.
"Everyone! Follow us!"
Falgar shouted as he carried two injured members over his shoulders and rushed ahead.
Every able-bodied fighter carried someone who was wounded, sprinting through the crumbling corridors as the ceiling gave way behind them.
"Waaah?! I just got here and now we're already leaving?!"
Lulune complained, only to immediately shut up when a massive boulder crashed down beside her, making her jump in fright.
She activated the Talaria Sandals on her feet and quickly flew after the others while carrying the sleeping Artemis.
"Miss Lulune, please be careful. That is our Goddess you're carrying."
Rethusa warned as the rest of the Artemis Familia looked toward Artemis with relieved expressions, seeing their deity safe from Antares' clutches.
"Oh jeez… alright, alright!"
Lulune yelled back, ducking beneath a falling stalactite.
"Heh… I'm getting a sense of déjà vu… don't you agree, Asfi?"
Falgar said with a strained smile as the ruins continued collapsing around them while they desperately navigated their way out.
"Don't even get me started… I don't want to remember that incident."
Asfi replied flatly.
"Look! The path's blocked!"
Hestia exclaimed, pointing toward a corridor buried beneath a massive pile of rubble.
Belle reacted instantly and thrust out her hand.
"Firebolt!"
A volley of flames and lightning exploded from her palm and slammed into the rocks, blasting them apart and clearing a path forward.
"Finally!"
Laurier cheered.
The outside world and the cool night air finally came into view.
One by one, the exhausted adventurers tumbled out of the cavern mouth, overwhelmed with relief at the sight of the night sky above them.
Belle plopped onto the ground, her chest heaving, breathing heavily from exhaustion.
"Belle…"
Hestia muttered, only to be interrupted by a deep, violent crack echoing from behind them.
Everyone froze.
Then they slowly turned around in unison.
The Elsos Ruins trembled violently.
Massive fissures spread across the ancient structure, running from the very top of the temple all the way down to its foundation.
The relentless sound of fracturing stone filled the air, as though the ruins themselves were screaming while falling apart.
"Get back!"
Someone shouted.
The cracks widened.
The structure groaned.
Then the entire temple began to tilt.
And finally…
It collapsed.
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