That Elusive and Enigmatic Male Lead (20)

The system was truly in a panic now. This couldn't be happening. How could something like this occur in Si Jiu's mission world? It was both anxious and flustered, its voice trembling: "H-h-host, d-don't panic. I'll contact the main system right away. I’ll, I’ll go offline for a moment. Can you manage on your own?"

"Don’t you panic. Go quickly."

The system whimpered a few times and promptly disappeared.

Si Jiu brushed away Charles’ hand and pressed her fingers hard against her brow. “Don’t get distracted—we’re still in the middle of a fight.”

Charles looked her over carefully, realizing she truly wasn’t afraid. He wasn’t sure whether to feel relieved or disappointed. Pressing his lips together, he shielded Si Jiu behind him, throwing himself into battle with renewed vigor.

The fighting in the sky and on the ground raged on with unrelenting fury. But the battle in the air reached its conclusion first. As the undead mage’s magic was nearly spent, the three skeletal dragons were seized by the black dragon and hurled viciously toward the earth. With thunderous crashes, massive craters were smashed into the ground.

Two of the dragon riders had already been torn apart by the black dragon. The one who had captured Princess Daya, however, was cunning; he’d escaped from the skeletal dragon’s back before the black dragon struck.

The black dragon let out a roar, spewing a torrent of fire toward the Hamann soldiers. The ones at the front were instantly reduced to ashes.

“Retreat, retreat now!”

The commander at the rear shouted frantically, dragging the mage beside him in a desperate flight. Even as he ran, the mage glanced up at the black dragon, his eyes blazing with wild and feverish fervor.

The soldiers of Valenjir, filled with newfound courage, raised their voices in a triumphant roar, chasing after the Hamann troops with reckless abandon. The tide of battle turned in an instant.

Charles, breathless and unable to hide his joy, glanced at Si Jiu. “We’ve won.”

But Si Jiu was still mired in her own confusion—how could there be two protagonists? Where had the bug occurred? What was to become of her mission? Lost in thought, she stood there, dazed.

The Hamann army, so fierce when they’d arrived, now fled in utter disarray. Around them, cheers erupted; those who had survived wept with relief, while the soldiers who had risked their lives embraced one another in celebration.

Charles cast aside his bloodied sword, dropped to one knee before Si Jiu, and took her hand, bowing his forehead to the back of it. “I have not failed you, Your Highness.”

His golden hair was tied high, his face spattered with blood, and his silver-white uniform was tattered and stained. Yet, as he looked up with a radiant smile, his sapphire eyes sparkled like jewels.

Si Jiu had no time to respond before a fierce gust of wind swept over them, flinging Charles—who still held her right hand—away. A familiar darkness descended, shadowing everything above her head.

Once again, she found herself pinned beneath the black dragon’s claw.

Charles barely had time to react; he could only watch, eyes wide with horror, as the dragon’s talon came down over Si Jiu. His vision reddened with fury, and he charged at the black dragon without a second thought, bare-handed and heedless of danger.

The black dragon’s fearsome slit-pupils locked onto him, as if daring this insignificant little insect to come and meet his doom.

Those who dared to covet his treasure must all be crushed.

Everyone who had survived the ordeal was watching the black dragon’s every move, witnessing this scene unfold. They saw the black dragon, without even blinking, seemingly strike down the sacrifice.

What was happening?

Hadn’t the dragon been quite fond of the sacrifice just a moment ago? Why strike her down so suddenly?

Indeed, the black dragon was evil—acting entirely on his own whims.

Next, they saw their captain of the guard, the kingdom’s bravest warrior, Charles, about to throw himself at the black dragon.

“No—”

“Don’t anger the Dragon God!”

Cries of alarm rose all around.

Charles heard nothing. He didn’t even realize he was unarmed, charging at the black dragon with nothing but his bare hands.

The tip of the black dragon’s tail twitched.

Everyone thought that Sir Charles was about to be sent flying. A collective gasp swept through the crowd.

But in the next instant, the dragon’s tail dropped back down, and his eyes shifted away from Charles, settling on his own forepaw.

He seemed to hesitate, then, with evident reluctance, lifted his claw just slightly.

Those with faint hearts, unwilling to see a bloody mess, covered their eyes.

Even the bravest averted their gaze in pity.

At that moment, a clear, ringing girl’s voice rang out: “Big Black, if you cover me up like this one more time, I’m going to be truly angry.”

The words were full of spirit and rang out sharp and bright.

Everyone turned to look at Si Jiu, their expressions the same: utter disbelief!