The battlefield remained drowned beneath the inferno for several long moments after Erend released his flames. Fire stretched across the plains in every direction while waves of heat rolled against the walls of Leonora in waves that were hard enough to make the air shimmer.

The ground looked as though it had been scorched. Countless undead corpses twisted and collapsed inside the blaze while black corruption burst from their bodies like smoke before being consumed completely by the fire as well.

From atop the battlements, the knights and mages could only stare in stunned silence while shielding their faces from the overwhelming heat.

High above the burning plains, Erend remained motionless while observing the battlefield beneath him carefully.

His senses spread through the inferno itself to search for any lingering trace of movement or corruption that might survive the destruction.

One by one, the foul presence inside the undead beasts disappeared until finally nothing remained except scorched earth and drifting ash. Only after confirming that the entire horde had truly been destroyed did he slowly lower his hand.

The effect came immediately.

At first, the soldiers thought the flames were merely beginning to die naturally after consuming everything in their path. But within seconds confusion began spreading across the battlements because what they witnessed next completely defied logical explanation.

The colossal inferno covering the battlefield began shrinking unnaturally fast. Vast walls of flame folded inward upon themselves while entire waves of fire collapsed and disappeared as though the blaze itself was being erased directly from existence.

Then the impossible happened.

The fire vanished completely.

Not gradually or slowly like ordinary flames losing fuel. One moment the plains burned like the end of the world itself, and the next only blackened earth and drifting smoke remained behind.

The entire inferno disappeared within mere seconds.

Silence spread across the walls afterward.

The king stared toward the scorched battlefield with narrowed eyes while nearby knights exchanged stunned glances with one another.

Several archers lowered their bows entirely without even realizing it. The mages looked even more shaken because they understood far better than the other how unnatural that had been.

Fire of that scale should have continued burning for hours. Yet Erend had extinguished it as easily as someone closing a hand.

One knight swallowed visibly while staring across the plains.

"What kind of Magic even is that?" he muttered quietly.

Not far from him, the senior mage remained completely silent, even though the tension in his expression revealed enough on its own.

The more he witnessed of Erend's power, the less confident he felt in measuring its limits at all.

Far above the walls of Leonora, inside the highest tower overlooking the city, Archmage Velrion also sensed the change immediately.

Within his study, ancient tomes and glowing arrays filled every corner of the room while layers of research covered his desk in chaotic stacks.

The Archmage had been working continuously without pause ever since the corruption first appeared across the kingdom doing the task assigned to him. But the moment the overwhelming burst of fire spread across the battlefield, his hand stopped.

His eyes lifted sharply.

That Magic…

Without wasting another second, Velrion moved toward the tall window overlooking the plains outside the city.

By the time he reached it most of the inferno had already begun disappearing unnaturally fast. Even from this distance he immediately understood that this was no ordinary fire. The control behind it alone surpassed anything he had seen from mortal mages.

Then he felt the familiar presence within the fading flames.

The sense of recognition appeared across his face almost instantly.

"One of the Dragonborn is here?" he murmured softly.

The pressure within that Magic was unmistakable to him now. Ancient, vast and overwhelming beyond mortal understanding.

It was one of the Dragonborn named Erend.

A long breath escaped Velrion afterward as relief finally loosened some of the tension that had gripped him for days.

"I'm glad he's helping us," he said quietly.

Hope returned to him in a genuine form. If one of the Dragonborn had personally come here, then Leonora had a higher possibility of surviving what was coming.

But Velrion still did not allow himself to linger at the window long.

His gaze shifted back toward the countless unfinished notes and glowing arrays spread throughout his study. There was still too much work left unfinished. Every moment mattered now more than ever.

"I need to finish this quickly," he muttered under his breath.

As for the situation outside, Velrion trusted the king to handle it himself.

Back at the battlefield, Erend remained hovering above the scorched plains for a few moments longer while carefully confirming that no trace of undead movement remained beneath the ash.

When he finally felt certain the battlefield had truly fallen silent, he slowly folded his Dragon wings and descended toward the battlements.

This time, he moved carefully. Gone was the overwhelming force and terrifying speed from earlier. He lowered himself slowly enough to avoid frightening the soldiers further, even though tension still spread across the walls the moment the knights realized he was approaching directly toward them.

Several royal guards immediately stepped in front of the king with their shields lifted.

Even after witnessing Erend save them, standing this close to someone carrying such overwhelming power still made their bodies react with caution.

Erend noticed their unease immediately.

So before landing, he simply raised his hands peacefully to show he meant no harm.

Then he touched down lightly atop the battlements.

The soldiers around him remained tense despite everything. Some of them stared openly at the Dragon wings extending from his back while others kept tight grips around their weapons.

The mages looked even more apprehensive because unlike ordinary soldiers, they could truly feel the monstrous pressure hidden beneath Erend's calm presence.

Erend offered them a small smile, trying to ease the atmosphere as much as he could.

Though honestly, he already understood that it would not be easy after what they had just witnessed.

"Your Majesty," Erend said politely while looking toward the king. "Are you alright?"

For a brief moment, the king simply studied him.

Shock still lingered inside his heart but years of rule and discipline quickly forced his emotions back under control. His posture straightened fully while his expression returned to the composed regal calm expected from Leonora's ruler.

"I am well," the king answered steadily. Then he inclined his head slightly toward Erend in acknowledgment. "Leonora owes you thanks for your help."

Erend smiled. "I'm glad I arrived in time."

—