While towering over Judina, Lanzerossa heard a few more questions. She remained at her spot but turned her face towards the next question. "I'm glad to hear that, young boy that looks like an old man." Lanzerossa replied to Kon's daring statement. Even without being aware of what it might mean to become a Dragon Slayer, the white-haired boy signed himself up immediately. Time was going to tell whether he would be able to learn it in the end.

Another valid question popped up. Lanzerossa turned her head once more, but this time to reply to Kurisa's question. "Hmm, I can sense that you are strong. I guess there are many dragons outside our faction who don't bother themselves with the struggle against the Nachtians. Since the Nachtians went into hiding, they didn't consider the threat big enough to get involved. I know someone who could be persuaded to join our cause. But he won't be persuaded easily. I'll send you towards his direction after you tell me your name."

Since multiple questions were following up, Lanzerossa backed up from Judina to address everyone accordingly. "A pleasure to meet you, Alisa. I have known many Masters from Blue Pegasus back in the olden days. I hope that I can rely on you as I did on them in the past. Regarding the conditions, I am unsure. The way the magic was designed, it cannot be learned by all races. In the past, humans, demi-humans, elves, and dwarves were taught the magic. Humans who had forsaken their humanity were unable to learn it." It was the truth. Lanzerossa didn't want to give anyone false hope by telling them that everyone could learn the magic.

Once Lanzerossa finished answering Alisa's question, she turned her attention back to Judina. "Judina Karlinus, huh? Oh girl, we are going to have some fun. In order to unlock your magic, I'm going to make you train day and night. Since Dante picked you as his successor, the pleasure is all mine." Lanzerossa was given a task by Dante and she would see it completed. Dante's magic, no, Zaggarodh's magic, regardless of how vile and wretched it was could be the answer to their problems.

She thought it was finally done until she heard something unexpected. "Wait, what?" Lanzerossa said as she turned around. She was aware that everyone would have many questions, but she didn't expect this question at all. "I guess I am, little girl. But I'm not interested in anyone right now." Lanzerossa replied while laughing out loud. She walked towards the girl, grabbed her, and placed her on top of her shoulders. What a silly little human, she thought. Somehow, humans would always surprise her.

-- the topic can no longer be entered by other participants of the event.

Reaffirming his position on helping her, Kon approached with reckless regard to his own wellbeing. “I’m being deathly serious, no matter the cost, I am willing to learn, I have put my life down for society, been tortured, maimed, exiled, throw whatever you have at me.” His words held no malice, only used to strengthen his resolution. He was a survivor going through ordeals that would send the layman down a more destructive path. His resolution and fortitude were like pillars of steel nigh unbreakable. Time and time again, he had been tested, conversely through it he had made countless sacrifices receiving minor boons for his losses. Recognizing that he hadn’t even given the sky dragon his name, he finally revealed himself. “Please you can call me Kon, I’d prefer not to be defined by my hair color.” Ending with a smile overwhelmed by the rest of his face grafted with sadness.

Understanding there was far more than just the two of them, Kon remained absent for the remainder of the conversation as Lanzerossa unloaded more groundbreaking revelations to various members within the growing group. Implications of another dragon to Kurisa, further alarming information on this so-called Dragon Slayer Magic to Alisa, all while a more intimate one on one took place between Lanzerossa and Judina including the name of a former Guild Master of a dissolved dark guild.

A rapid shift in tone and emotion came about as the sky dragon responded to the woman who could only squeak out her questions. Frustration overcame Kon with him biting his lip as he watched the messenger of their doom distract herself. A small trickle of blue blood dripped down his front as his voice raised his pace and tone. “You come here to blame us for something we likely didn’t do, reveal a groundbreaking secret, offer the solution, and instead choose to distract yourself!” Shaking his head, sending his fresh, ice-cold blood to his sides. “You mentioned it only being “learned” by people who haven’t forsaken their humanity? I haven’t, I have merely received the blessings of Illumin does that mean I am unable to help your valiant crusade against the Nacht?, Call me a child, Call me impatient I don't care, I've seen this all happen before, we don't have time for niceties or pleasantries, unfortunately.”

"No worries, I'll take care of her, Kurisa, cause from this moment on she is my student." Lanzerossa then turned her attention towards Kon again. "While I appreciate your resolve, you really need to work on that temper of yours. We cannot risk teaching someone this magic who gets agigated quickly."

The boy with the mask was worried about connections to Dragons. While Lanzerossa was unsure what he meant, she thought it referred to the subservient contracts signed by mortals to receive powers from the Seraphim and Demons. "Should you be able to learn the power, there will not be any bond of connection between you and the Dragon. We do not bind people to our wills via ancient magics such as the Seraphim and Demons when teaching them. It comes from a place of trust since we are teaching you something that is harmful to us in the end."

"Contrary to what has been told to many in the past, Dragon Slayer magic is not entirely necessary, Kazimir. Most magics can harm Dragons, however, Dragon Slayer is the most powerful magic that can be used against us. The other races supported us with their armies and mages when battling against the Nachtians. Out of them, only a few were actually Dragon Slayers." She replied to Kazimir.

Lanzerossa briefly paused her explanation and looked at the dungeon. Something was off. She couldn't sense Zagan being inside anymore. "The actual threat is the Nachtians trying to find a method to return Nacht, and inside that Dungeon, we sealed one of them away. We could not defeat him at the time since we lacked the numbers when encountering him and he turned out to be surprisingly strong. The fastest solution was to seal him, the Demon Lord Zagan, inside this Dungeon. We are unsure why he has aligned himself with the cause of the Nachtians."

A similar question was then asked by Alisa, the Master of Blue Pegasus. "I shall tell you the tales if we survive this ordeal. As I told Kazimir, we shall have strength in numbers. Dragon Slayer or not. It depends on their potential. Some learn it faster than others." Lastly, Lanzerossa answered Judina's questions. "Ah, your name is Alistair? Nice to meet you." Lanzerossa said while looking at the Cattian. "Alistair needs to be trained as well to assist you more properly in what is to come. I guess both of you need to train together to create a synergy between your moves."

Lanzerossa didn't want to scare everyone and tried to act somewhat lightly about the situation by picking up the child on her shoulder, however, in reality, she wasn't completely focused on the adventurers. She was constantly observing the Dungeon while waiting for her kin to show up in time to stop Zagan should he break free. Unfortunately, they were too late. She had to drop the act. "Everyone! Get behind me right now!"

Lanzerossa placed Mary back on the ground behind her after which she turned her face towards the Dungeon's entrance from which she stood 30 meters away. There was enough space for everyone to move because the area surrounding the dungeon was an open field up to a radius of 100 meters. If necessary, the adventurers could flee into the woods.

Without a battle for his release, Zagan casually walked out of the Dungeon's exit with a cool and confident demeanor. Odin, Steel, Zane, and Ko followed the Demon from behind as they moved through the halls. The dark corridors of the dungeon were replaced with the summer sun shining brightly on their faces. Zagan had been waiting for this moment for a while now. He reached inside the inner pocket of his suit and pulled out a cigarette which he then nonchalantly placed in his mouth while lighting it up with his finger. He saw that Lanzerossa was already here, but the other Dragons weren't around. Lanzerossa was probably the closest one to the scene. Right now, the cards were in his hands.

"Hey, Lanzerossa. You here to put me back inside again? It took a whole group last time to get me in here. I don't see anyone else around this time except for the adventurers. I must say today's weather reminds me of that time back in Seven when you and Jurgander tried to ambush me and failed miserably. Oh, how his fragile ego got hurt by that. I cannot even finish this story without laughing again. Anyway, what's the plan? Stall me here long enough till the rest shows up? Unfortunately, I have matters to attend that are long overdue. So, if you don't mind, we have somewhere to be."

His perhaps overzealous attitude had shaken up the group with many shivering in their boots at his outburst, meanwhile, others shared his sentiment. It was only Alisa who chose to belittle him and to an extent Lanzerossa herself. Rather than throwing insults on the Wizard Saint or the Sky Dragon, he remained steadfast before her as she merited his concern for temper. It did certainly seem to give results however cutting through all of the fat that was being created with roughly half a dozen people talking. Holding his tongue further, Kon listened on as she unloaded more onto individuals within them. Truly a monolithic speech, only halted by Lanzerossa’s command, filled with an almost panic. Urging them to shield themselves behind her as mysterious figures exited the dungeon. A frown grew upon his face as both familiar and unfamiliar auras drew closer.

There was something foul afoot to be sure, this was undoubtedly the cult. Knowing little outside of what he had been told in the lengthy dialogue between them and the dragon, Kon took her comment under advisement and fell back tapping his chest before tapping her on the shoulder. “I might be on edge, but I’m no fool, please take this in the hopes it might protect you.” He muttered as he fell back staying within range just enough. As he did so, he also removed his Timcanpy safely stored within his pocket and threw it into the air pointing at the dragon, tethering immediately to her. With any luck his efforts would help her in what was to come, the worst-case scenario he’d just have to remake his beloved golden companion.

Having fallen behind the Sky Dragon, he drew up his inner strength, sending mana through his right arm, causing lightning to radiate from his Prosthetic replacing that which had been torn from his body. His sleeve turned to shreds as he watched more leaving the dungeon led by Zagan, later confirmed by one of their henchmen. Typically he would have liked to have shielded everyone, but there was just no time!

Spells:

Companion Spells:

"Correct, she is Lanzerossa, the Sky Dragon." Zagan whispered as he turned his head around towards Ko. He then returned his gaze towards the battlefield in front of him. "It seems like she is going to try to stall us, boys." Zagan sighed. Even though the cards were in his hands, Lanzerossa was not going to let him off that easily. She knew it would be better, in the long run, to try and stall Zagan right now to seal him once more with the aid of some others.

Zagan slipped his hand into his suit and pulled out a dagger that would change the course of this battle. It was the same item that turned the tide the last time. Zagan firmly wrapped his fingers around the hilt of the dagger while staring down Lanzerossa from a distance. If she wanted blood, she was going to get it, however, it was not going to be his this time. "Are we going to do this, Lanzerossa? Last chance." Zagan bellowed. His voice echoed through the forest and enfeebled the adventurers. Even the men standing with him would be surprised to witness Zagan with such a different composure in comparison to their brief meeting in the Dungeon. Regardless, it was made clear to the others, including Lanzerossa once more, that Zagan was not an opponent to take lightly.

Suddenly, Zagan disappeared. There was no trace left of him. Almost as if he was never there in the first place. As the adventurers would wonder about his whereabouts, Zagan reappeared among them while holding onto Masami's neck from behind with his open hand. He lifted the boy up and pointed him at Lanzerossa while glaring at her. With his fingers squeezed deeply into the boy's neck, he rendered him nearly immobile while hovering him above the ground. "Or would you rather let me spill their blood here?"

Zagan, the man in black, made it clear to Lanzerossa that he was not here to play games anymore. He wasn't above using Lanzerossa's weakness against her. Zagan sensed that there were some fierce adventurers standing with Lanzerossa, but would they be willing to sacrifice this child to have a chance at sealing him or would Lanzerossa make that decision for them?

Lanzerossa didn't have any time to reply to the others anymore. All she could do was focus on the threat in front of her. Zagan was right, she could not possibly attempt to subdue him by herself. Not with that item. Still, there were others here who could be of great assistance to her in the forthcoming battle. She was weighing her options carefully as she carefully observed Zagan's moves. While some were surprised about what had just happened, the more seasoned adventurers realized it was ready to arm themselves. Whether to protect themselves or others.

Lanzerossa didn't give in to Zagan's taunts and demands and kept on analyzing him till he disappeared. He couldn't have gone too far away, she thought. As she looked around in distress she saw Zagan standing much closer to her than before. This time, however, holding someone hostage to negotiate. While some of her faction might have argued that saving one life wasn't worth over potentially saving many more in the future, she did not hesitate when making her decision. Her smooth skin quickly turned into white scales as her size expanded tremendously.

The Sky Dragon was no longer in her humanoid form. She was once again a behemoth in order to protect the adventurers from Zagan's threats. As she towered over the flock in her immensely grand form, she opened her maw and let out a thundering roar to intimidate Zagan. Quickly, she snapped Masami from Zagan's grasp with her maw and threw him up in the air while catching him on her head. She manifested her magic to hover everyone else from the ground onto her back while glaring back at Zagan. She knew that Zagan had won this round, but she would return one day with these adventurers and her faction to face him once more.

Today was not the day, she thought to herself. She spread her wings widely and flew away towards the sky. At that moment, she could see Zagan still looking her straight into her eyes. His menacing expression had changed into a smirk. A cheeky smirk. As if he knew that Lanzerossa would do this. The bastard had forced Lanzerossa to play into his hand and ensure his departure. With the adventurers on top of her, she turned around flew away into the distance.

"It has begun. Now, we must teach you the Dragon Slayer magic and other methods to obtain it." She said to the adventurers. Lanzerossa would continue to fly till she reached somewhere safe to drop them off. After that, she would meet up with her faction to discuss what was coming next.